Heres What We Enjoyed
Great price point While it might be lacking the features of the 700D4E, theres no denying that the 700E is a large, well-made, grill for a very competitive price.
Flexibility With the adjustable upper shelf system, you have complete control over how your grill is set up.
Why Wasnt It Good
The screen is the 700Es very tiny LED screen that regulates temperature. In direct sunlight, it can be hard to see.
A great grill at a reasonable price. The 700E does have a few design shortcomings, such as the control display. However, these were corrected on the 700D4E. For our money, we would spend a little extra and get the latest version though.
See our Z Grills L6002B complete review. Now, its time to get down to basics with the L6002B.
Z Grills Multitasker 11002b
The Multitasker 11002B bears more than a striking resemblance to a Traeger Timberline with its bamboo chopping board on top of the pellet hopper. However, Timberline models are far more expensive than this Z Grill so Ive not used them for this comparison.
The Multitasker 11002B is the first Z Grills to some with WiFi integration: Images ZGrills.com
What the Multitasker also has in common with the Traeger Timberline is a fully insulated twin-wall cooking chamber. This type of construction helps a pellet grill reduce pellet consumption and be much more practical when using a pellet grill in winter.
- Total Cooking Area = 1,068 sq.in
- Pellet Hopper Capacity = 28 lbs
- Temperature Range = 180 to 500 degrees
- Direct-Flame Access? = No
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Can You Burn On Pellet Grills
Food is burnt when it is revealed to direct intense heat consider the sizzle a hamburger makes when it strikes a warm frying pan or grill grate placed over a charcoal or wood fire.
There is no abrupt, terrible experience with heat. Higher-end producers have reacted to clients recommendations by generating grills efficient in greater temperature levels that allow scorching straight over the melt pot on a perforated plate.
You can pre-heat an actors iron skillet, frying pan, or plancha directly on the grill grate and also burn on them. GrillGrates or Stevens cast-iron Tuscan grill grate can likewise deliver awesome grill marks when laid on top of the pellet grill grate.
Some suppliers have included mobile pellet grill versions to their lines, yet these in some cases evaluate 50 pounds or more. Absolutely except backpackers.
All pellet grills rely on power to power their digital controller, ignition system, as well as the augur that delivers pellets to the shed pot.
They can be powered with car or boat batteries, battery packs, or gas-powered generators. They are great for car camping, tailgating, celebrations, or lakeside living.
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Traeger Pro Series 780 Vs Louisiana Grills Black Label 1000
Where possible when I do my pellet grill comparison articles I try and pick one pellet grill from each brand that retails for the same or similar price point. Now, while both of these brands sell products through various retailers they also sell products directly through their own websites.
Therefore, Ive chosen a product from each brand at the same price point based on the brands website. Namely, the Traeger Pro series 780 and Louisiana Grills Black Label 1000, as both retail for $999. I chose an image of each of these grills for the introduction to this article above.
Right, lets look at how they compare on cooking area, cooking functionality, their control panels and other notable features.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Pellet Grill
Why youll love this:
Heres a smaller Pro Series. Its as good as all of the other Pro Series options, just a bit smaller. You get about 3 square inches less space than the one with the Echo Dot functionality, which isnt a bad trade given it costs about 2/3 what that one costs overall.
If you like this size, but dont need the wifi capability, this is an excellent deal. It comes with all the other great features that Traeger grills are known for electronic temperature control capability that makes smoking easy and efficient.
The construction is good, and it has that nice sawhorse design that makes it much steadier than the straighter legged design several of these grills share.
The only real issue with this grill is that theres not much to write home about here. Its just well made and great for what it is, but so are all of these other grills.
- Great price for the size.
What We Didnt Like
- Nothing particularly unique about it compared to other Traeger grills.
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Available Upgrades Accessories And Attachments
Though not an upgrade, exactly, the first thing youll want to get for your new Traeger Pro Series 22 pellet grill is more pellets! They come in a variety of flavors, and youll have fun experimenting and combining different foods with different woods.
Out of the box, theres no work surface available for getting prepped. Fortunately, Traeger sells a folding front shelf that runs the full width of the cook box. This is ideal for sliding large cuts in and out, and for last-minute mopping, rubbing, and seasoning.
For some storage space, check out the bottom shelf accessory. It attaches near the bottom of the frame, just about the wheels.
Holding a consistent temperature is the key to smoking and slow roasting. Unfortunately, thats not easy to do in cold weather! If you love to cook all year, consider the insulated blanket to help hold in the heat.
You can also grab a variety of extra shelving and specialty racks for ribs, poppers, or extra smoking space. From a practical standpoint, some foil liners for your drip bucket will make and easy clean-up even easier!
As always, though, the most important accessory for your Traeger is a fitted cover. This low-cost investment will extend the life and protect the appearance of your beloved barbecue by keeping out moisture between uses.
What Is The Best Pellet Grill
Traeger Pro Series 575 Grill.
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Z Grills Vs Traeger Grill Reviews
We thought it would be helpful to go over a few reviews of each brands most popular models, so that you can get an even better sense of which is best for you between these two brands.
Note, you can also check out our resource on the Z Grills 700 Series of grills if you want a closer look at one of their top lines of grills.
How We Picked And Tested
Traeger isnt the only company that makes pellet smokers, but it is the company that invented them. And from what we can tell, its lineup is still the most popular choice. Although we did test two less-expensive pellet grills from other companiesthe Camp Chef SmokePro DLX and Green Mountain Grills Daniel Boonewe went into this guide with the main goal of determining whether Traeger earned its reputation as well as the hefty prices on its smokers.
Since we couldnt test every pellet smoker Traeger makes, we decided to focus on its entry-level options, and after carefully comparing specs, we ultimately settled on testing the Traeger Pro 575. It isnt the most basic entry-level model the company makes Traeger still produces some simpler, older-generation models like the Pro Series 22. But we thought that the updated features on the Pro 575such as more-precise temperature control and Wi-Fi connectivity to your phone or a smart speakerwould be useful to budding pitmasters, even though these additions made the grill more expensive.
Before we opened the first bag of wood pellets, we had to unbox and assemble the grills. We noted whether the assembly manuals were easy to follow and evaluated the skill level needed to put these things together.
After a marathon week of smoking a total of 100 pounds of meat, we gathered some Wirecutter staffers at our Los Angeles office to taste and judge.
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Pit Boss Austin Xl Pellet Grill
If you are looking for maximum cooking surface area at an affordable price, the Pit Boss Austin XL is an extremely popular grill that features just over 1,000 square inches of cooking surface area to work with.
It also has a 31 pound hopper capacity, which is a definite upgrade from most other pellet grills in their catalogue.
The Austin XL also comes kitted with a built-in probe meat thermometer that will display the internal temperature of your food on your control panel while it cooks.
Similar to the classic 700, the Austin also comes with the flame broiler feature that allows you to convert your pellet grill to a direct heat cooking set up.
Traeger Vs Big Green Egg: Which Is Better For Grilling Meat
We threw a slice of venison on the two fanciest grills around to find out which cooks best
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Both propane and charcoal briquets pollute the taste of your meat. Thats why serious barbecuers use either pellets made from select hardwoods or natural lump charcoal, containing only hardwood. Those two approaches are epitomized by Traeger and Big Green Egg, respectively. But, is one better than the other? The answer surprised us.
The Traeger is a wood pellet grill. In it, pellets are drawn from a side-mounted hopper into a central burn chamber by an auger, then ignited by a hot metal rod. Those mechanisms run on electricity, so youve got to plug it in. It offers precise, digital temperature control integrated with meat thermometers. To operate it, all you have to do is fill the hopper with pellets, turn it on, and dial in whatever temperature you wantanything from smoke to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Why Traeger Grill Is A Bargain Traeger Grill Any Good
Traeger grills have a lengthy history in the pellet grill market, making Traeger among the most widely known names in the market. Traeger introduced the idea of using wood pellets in a grill in the 1980s, sparking a new means of grilling as well as smoking cigarettes meat beyond the typical charcoal or lp grill.
But even if Traeger was the first to introduce pellet grills for consumers doesnt guarantee the brand still lugs the most effective worth and also item high quality today. Many manufacturers now offer the wood pellet method of grilling.
Traeger sells greater than a lots various grill designs, varying in cost from a couple of hundred bucks to numerous thousand. The much more pricey grills are bigger and also a bit a lot more functional than the less costly grills from Traeger. Continue analysis to learn whether Traeger grills are a good value for you!
Traeger Ironwood 650 Wood Pellet Grill
The Ironwood series is a new addition to the Traeger lineup of pellet grills.
Available in either 650 or 885 square inches you get a larger, more versatile grill than the pro series, without the large price jump you see on the the Timberline series.
Having said that even the smaller 650 square inch Ironwood is over the $1,000 mark so this is definitely not a budget grill.
Traeger Ironwood 650 Specifications:
| Weight | 146 Lbs |
Design wise the Ironwood is similar to the more expensive Timberland. You get the DownDraft Exhaust and TRU Convection features that used to be unique to the Timberland.
While it does sound a bit like marketing jargon, these features promise to help circulate fresh smoke, keeping smoke in the chamber and maintaining even temp.
All things that we like to hear.
Youve also got some handy features that make this grill easy to use. Like the keep warm mode and options to create custom cook settings via the digital control panel or app.
What we like:
- Option for searing The bottom cooking grate can be lowered for searing, or raised for grilling and smoking.
- Better insulation The Ironwood uses double side 304 stainless steel for better insulation and temperature control.
The Ironwood series is all about offering a middle range between the pricier Timberline and smaller more basic Pro series.
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Why Arent You Getting Enough Smoke With Your Pellet Grill
Although pellet grills have many significant advantages over other grill models, you might find that they dont produce as much smoke as youd like. Thats because these units produce indirect rather than direct heat.
You might think that setting your temperature preference higher than normal will produce more smoke, but that wont work with a pellet grill. These models are designed so that the more indirect heat you apply to your spare ribs or chicken wings, the less smoke the grill produces.
A complete guide on how to get smoke from your Traeger.
Where To Buy Z Grills
There are several places where you can buy Z-grills. However, I recommend two places that give in my opinion the best prices.
Not all models are available and shipping might take some time so this is not my first choice. You cant use their discounts.
All models are available of course, sometimes I see a model being sold out here.
I had several good looks at both over a period of time and the Z-grills website usually has more deals and discounts.
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Are Traeger Grills Worth It
While Traeger makes excellent grills there are other companies that make equivalent or better pellet grills which are also less expensive. With a singular exception, Traeger grills are not worth the price given the products from other high quality pellet grill manufacturers.
Extra Features And Attachments
Some higher-priced units offer some sweet bonuses to tease a few more dollars out of your wallet. Some are truly useful, like a side shelf for prep, while others are more gimmicky, like a magnetic bamboo cutting board.
If youre used to grilling without these extras, well, you perhaps wont miss what youve never had. That being said, extra work and storage space is always a plus. If you think you might want shelves, check if the model youre considering either comes with them or has them available for purchase.
Consider, too, what adding on missing features later might cost. It could be that its worth investing in a model that includes everything you want upfront versus buying them separately down the road.
Of course, some features arent available as upgrades from the accessory shop. For example, the hopper you get is the hopper youre stuck with, so be sure its big enough out of the box for your needs. The same goes for a meat temperature probe port get it now, or get it never.
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Is The Traeger App Good
While almost every device or cooking gadget seems to have an accompanying app these days, I loved using the Traeger App, which continues to help enhance the overall experience of using my Traeger Grill.
Traeger
In addition to the aforementioned list of recipes and cooking tips , the app also lets you monitor your cooking status, adjust grill temperature, set a timer and more. All Traeger smokers, including our Ironwood 885, come with a meat probe, which lets you measure food temperature and doneness. Pair the meat probe to your app, and you dont even have to lift the lid to get a reading everything can be conveniently monitored from your phone.
The app also tells you how many pellets you have remaining, and there are buttons for the Super Smoke feature, as well as easy heating and shut down controls.
Is Pit Boss Owned By Traeger
The company, Traeger, is no longer a family-owned business. Interestingly, Joe Traeger sold it in 2006 and now works for rival company, Dansons, the owners of Pit Boss. Where are Traeger grills made? Traeger were originally made in the US but have since moved their manufacturing to China like most competing companies.
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Pit Boss Vs Traeger: Is It Worth The Premium
Two of the most popular brands in pellet smokers, two different price points and a whole heap of models to choose from! Its a lot to take in and youre totally right in wanting to make the best purchase decision for your needs. You are, after all, planning on getting A LOT of good smoking years out of this barbecue.
In this guide, we dive into the differences between Pit Boss vs Traeger pellet grills, objectively highlighting where each company shines and where theyre a bit behind.
Youll also find reviews of the most popular pellet grills from both Pit Boss and Traeger, followed by a side by side comparison so you can clearly see how these brands stack up in real life. Lets jump in!
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What Brush Should I Use To Clean My Traeger Grill
You want to use a firm wire brush when cleaning your grill grates. They can remove any food and ash left behind on your grill.
Those that are wide can clean several grates at once, so you can cut your cleaning time in half. Keep in mind that Traeger does make a wire brush specifically for the Pellet grills and the grates.
However, you do not have to use a Traeger brush when cleaning if you do not have access to one.
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