Are Traeger Grills Worth The Money

Traeger Grills Select Elite Wood Pellet Grill

Traeger Timberline 850 Review by Owner. Real World Examples. Is it worth the money?

Why youll love it:

This is the Big Kahuna of Traeger Grills. It combines everything that made any other grill on this list a good choice, save two: Its not easily portable , and it doesnt have the side grease drain.

What it does have is an even better front shelf around the grill, giving you plenty of space to rest your utensils, tools, trays, plates, and whatever else you need, without even the annoyance of it is a grate , and even MORE storage space underneath, giving you a whole cabinet to work with.

Im a real sucker for this kind of thing because I NEVER have enough shelf or storage space anywhere I live, so being able to combine multiple things into one space makes me excited every time. In this case, storage space is storage space. While you can store your grill related stuff here, it also gives you extra space for, say, a toolbox or something to get it out from under your feet whenever you walk on your back porchbut I digress.

The smoker box remains and is slightly larger than the others. In fact, everything is a bit larger than others on this list. It boasts an enormous 589 square inches of grilling space with an 18 lb hopper capacity. This is basically your nuclear option for grill space: if everybodys not fed with this bad boy you must be trying to feed an army or something.

And as you might expect, big size comes with a big price tag: It will run you near to a thousand bucks on average.

What we liked

What we didnt like

Traeger Pro Series 34

Overview

Notice we did not say the least expensive Traeger, this is not. But it delivers some characteristics that make it a great contender. For over a decade the manufacturing has been in China, and frankly that is the way it is in the pellet smoker world until you get to the ultra-premium high end units. It seems that Traeger, and many others, have gotten a better build quality from their manufacturing partners recently, although there are consumers who disagree. Combine that with a lagging reputation for customer service, and it explains why the market has allowed so much competition.

Their build is certainly sturdy, coming in at 136 pounds, these contain a lot of metal. The rack space at 884 square inches over two levels is impressive. The other components get interesting results. Our experience, echoed by others, is that they are very fickle when it comes to holding temperature. This unit still uses a dial with 25 degree increments, and their own spec says it will hold to within +/-15 degrees. It also can take a significant amount of time to get to temperature, especially the listed top end of 450 degrees. It does offer two temperature probe inputs, so you could monitor the ambient temp of the chamber, although we have our recommendations for a Bluetooth set up to accomplish that and more .

Specs to know

  • Weak customer service
  • Expensive for the category

Are Traeger Pellet Grills More Expensive To Operate

Maybe the initial cost of the grill is on the higher side, but the cost per hour of cooking in a Traeger grill is not that expensive. A bag of 20 pounds pellets can deliver heat to cook for 6 to 20 hours depending upon the type of temperature setting you are using for your grills. So, pellet grills are not as expensive to operate as one may think in terms of fuel consumption.

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Comparison Of Pit Boss And Traeger Pellet Grills And Smokers

Both companies make similar grill ranges, so lets take a look a some of the grills that shoppers commonly compare. There are entry-level, mid-range, high-end, and portable pellet grill options available from Pit Boss and Traeger.

Before we go into more detailed comparisons, here are two charts that will give you a quick overview of the models included in this article:

Its A Serious Pain To Clean

10 Best Pellet Smoker For The Money

Cleaning a propane grill isnât what Iâd call fun, but Iâd much rather clean one of those than a wood smoker like the Timberline. With pellet grills, dealing with food grease is just the start. All that wood smoke circulating within its main cavity creates a sticky residue. Called creosote, itâs a combination of wood tars and other organic compounds that lend smoked food its distinctive flavor. Ridding smokers of creosote makes for a very messy job.

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How Good Are Z Grills

The Z Grill is a wood pellet grill. Wood pellet grills give you that beautiful, smoky flavor that you just dont get on traditional grills . There are a variety of wood pellets available with different flavors, and you can get them from Z Grills direct or theres a range of pellets suitable for z grills on Amazon.

You can use the Z Grill to grill, bbq, smoke, bake, roast, braise and sear, pretty much anything youd cook in your kitchen. People are smoking their own bacon and salami, baking cakes, searing cakes, slow-cooking meats, your imagination is your limit, really. There are a lot of recipes on the website.

You can cook your food low and slow, like ribs, pulled pork and briskets. You can make your own smoked ham or bacon, or sausages with a smokey flavor. Cook pizza, cake, and steak, its a grill and oven in 1.

Learn more about how Z Grills work on their website!

They market themselves as the affordable wood pellet grill and judging by the prices and the functionality, this is quite true. You can find a price comparison above, and on their website. Their official video:

There are videos for the assembly of your z grill too, like the Z grills zpg-7002e below.

Can You Return A Traeger Grill

We accept returns only on items purchased directly through Traeger Grills via phone, sponsored event, or our website: www.traegergrills.com. You can return your product up to 45 days from the original date of shipment. All merchandise must be unused, unassembled, and returned in the original packaging.

Furthermore, do Traeger grills have a lifetime warranty?

Traeger Pellet Grills LLC warrants this barbecue grill against defects in material and workmanship under normal use and maintenance for a period of three years from the date of original purchase. To process a warranty claim, Traeger Pellet Grills LLC may require proof of your date of purchase.

Secondly, how long do Traeger grills last? Our grills use 1-3 lbs. per hour. Our bags are 20 lbs., which powers your grill for about 20 hours on Smoke and about 6 hours per bag when cooking on High.

Accordingly, can a Traeger be used as a grill?

Traeger Grills are the most versatile cooking solution on the market, you can do more with your Traeger than just grilling. With 6-in-1 versatility, you can grill, smoke, braise, bake, roast and BBQ. Take your BBQ skills pro by learning tips, tricks, and techniques from our Traeger pros.

Are Traeger grills worth the money?

When it comes to pellet smokers, Traeger is widely considered king. If you’ve got the money for one of Traeger’s high-end smoker models, there’s may be no better option. But if you don’t, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with something subpar.

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Compare Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill And Pit Boss 700fb Pellet Grill

Traeger rangerPellet Grill Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill
As the name suggests, Traeger Ranger Pellet Grill uses pellet as its main power source and comes with 2 packs of 100% food-grade hardwood pellets. Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill uses wood pellets as the power source, and it comes with 2 packs of pellets.
With a 184 square inches cooking area, eat your grilled food wherever adventure takes you. Its 700 sq. inches grilling area and a second-tier rack is enough for a group of four to six people to have a BBQ party.
With a max temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit and Advanced Grilling Logic for precise temperature maintenance, cook your delicious food even in the mountains. The range of cooking temperature of it is 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit which provides a reliable temperature to cook anything you want.
The Traeger ranger is equipped with a state-of-the-art Arc D2 Controller with AGL which maintains your desired temperature precisely. You can customize what cooking style you want with the LCD readout thermostatic controls which also control the temperature.
The rangers provide a porcelain-coated grill grate and a cast-iron griddle which you can clean effortlessly. The grill grates are made of porcelain-coated cast iron which made them fairly non-stick, and they are easy to clean.
Check Price

Green Mountain Davy Crockett

Traeger Timberline 1300 The Best Smoker Money Can Buy -Is It Worth IT?

This unit gets first billing because it has a slight edge on overall portability. Lightweight at 68 pounds it has folding legs for easy transport. It includes 110V and 12V adapters for use away from the grid. Will it drain your car battery on 12V? Yes, eventually, but it is pretty efficient so you have quite a few hours. In car camping or RV situations it will work just fine.

The technology in this small package is also impressive. PID technology and Wi-Fi controls set this way ahead of the pack. We also keep mentioning small, at 219 square inches of grill space, it is. To offset that slightly it has a high peaked cover to accommodate whole chickens, pork butts or other taller foods.

You do trade off some cleaning aspects to have it so compact. The drip tray is perforated, which allows smoke to circulate, then the grease drops through to the bottom then runs out the drain. With other models you can line your drip tray with foil for easy cleaning which this does not allow. All that being said, the company gets excellent reviews for customer service and offers an outstanding value product. Its affordable price point and versatility landed it on our gifts for grillers wish list.

Specs to know

  • Cleaning and maintenance challenges

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What Is The Healthiest Grill To Use

8 Gas Grills for a Healthy Backyard Barbecue

  • Brinkmann 2 Burner Patio Propane Gas Grill.
  • Gridiron 348 sq.
  • Char-Broil Classic 4-Burner Gas Grill.
  • Dyna-Glo 2-Burner 30,000 BTU Smart Space Living LP Gas Grill.
  • Weber Spirit E 320 Gas Grill.
  • Weber Genesis E-330 38,000 BTU Gas Grill with 3-Burners.
  • 6-Burner Dual Chamber Gas Grill in Stainless Steel with Grill Cover.

21.06.2016

Q: How Important Is Wifi On Pellet Grills

A: WiFi is a convenient feature but it is not critical to have for a pellet grill to operate. WiFi will allow a user to monitor the pellet grills temperature, amount of wood pellets in the hopper, and adjust the cooking temperature remotely. However, a pellet grill without WiFi can smoke and cook food just as well as a WiFi-enabled pellet grill.

Ultimately, the importance of WiFi comes down to how important convenience is to the user. WiFi allows someone to run errands and leave the home while the pellet grill is smoking food.

If convenience is important to you then WiFi is an important feature on pellet grills.

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What If I Don’t Want To Use Wifi With My Grill

Theres no obligation to use the WiFi within your grill. It will still cook everything with Traegers signature wood-fired flavor. You just wont be taking advantage of your grills full capabilities. We also recommend connecting your grill to ensure your Traeger is getting the latest updates and running optimally.

What If I Don’t Want Everything To Taste Super Smoky

Pin on Portable Indoor &  Outdoor Grill

You can actually decide how smoky your food will taste. The higher the temps the grill is set to, the less smoke there will be. Food cooked at temps between 165° – 225°F is going to have more smoke flavor than food cooked at higher temps.

This smoker makes you feel like an instant pit master. I was skeptical of what I would be able to do with this pit as I have only ever used charcoal or gas grills. The first thing I smoked was a brisket and it turned out so good. My parents and family loved it. The second brisket was even BETTER. From classic BBQ, to beer can chicken, salmon, mac and cheese, jalapeño poppers, and brownies, this thing makes everything taste incredible. Honestly, I have no reason to ever buy BBQ again and I live in Texas! Nathaniel J., TX

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Camp Chef’s Woodwind Wifi 24 With Sear Box

Camp Chef’s Woodwind WiFi 24 with Sear Box smart grill — yes, as its name implies, it has Wi-Fi and a companion app — is so popular these days that it’s frequently sold out, but if it is, you can preorder it and be among the first to get it when it does come back into stock. It’s a little bit cheaper than Traeger’s Ironwood 650 and has more of a traditional stainless steel grill look. The sear box attachment allows you to combine pellet grilling with a bit of gas grilling when needed.

Alternatives Brands To Consider

I am going to lay out two branches for you to follow.

The first branch is for the people who just want an affordable pellet grill that gets the job done. They dont want fancy bling, advanced technology or slick marketing. They simply want a pellet grill that works. You have some great options.

The second branch is for people who are willing to pay for hard core quality upgrades such as precise temperature control and excellent build materials. You also have some great options.

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Are Pellet Grills Easy To Use

One reason we recommend pellet grills is that they are easy to use. As long as you can empty the bag of pellets into the hopper and touch a few buttons, you can use one of these grills. Youll need to add water to the drip pan, empty the ash pail, add some pellets and select the smoke level, temperature and timer. These models can both grill and smoke foods. A good example of a combo grill that we recommend is the Pit Boss Lockhart Model.

We Dont Monkey Around With Pricing

Traeger Wood Fired Grills | Are they WORTH IT | PRO Series 34

At Grilla Grills we know its important that our customers get bang for their buck. Thats why you never see a Grilla pellet smoker on sale because we cant price them any lower! Keep that in mind when youre comparing prices for your next grilling purchase. We dont deal with a middleman so we can offer the highest quality grills for sale that are half the price and every bit as good as some of our competitors. Thats how you know youre getting a good value when you decide to purchase a pellet grill Jungle Direct from Grilla Grills. The best part? Shipping is free and well deliver your new pellet grill right to your front door. It really cant get any better than that.

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I Ditched My Gas Grill For A Wood Pellet Grill And This Is What Happened

Thinking about buying a wood-fired smart grill with Wi-Fi? Here are some things to consider based on my experience switching from a gas grill.

The Traeger Ironwood 650 and my old Weber.

At one time, way back when, I was a charcoal-grill guy. But for the last 15 years or so, I’ve gone with a gas grill, upgrading to a midrange Weber Genesis around 2009. But last year when Traeger asked if I wanted to try its “smart” Ironwood 650 wood-pellet grill, I took the plunge. As a longtime charcoal and gas grilling aficionado, I was completely new to the pellet-grilling experience. Now, many months in, I still wouldn’t call myself a seasoned pitmaster like my colleague Brian Bennett, who tests grills for CNET at his Kentucky home, but I’ve become more proficient — or at least more adventurous.

There will always be a debate over the best grill type, and some people are hardcore in their preferences — my stepfather-in-law was a charcoal guy through and through and would scoff at any suggestion of moving onto something else. But in recent years there’s been a trend toward pellet grills, with Traeger, which developed the original wood pellet grill back in 1987, and Camp Chef among the leading brands — and even Weber has embraced pellet grilling with its SmokeFire line.

Read more: How to buy the right grill for you

Other Things To Think About When Shopping For Pellet Grills

With the numerous models and brands to choose from, deciding on what model to purchase could be overwhelming.

However, finding the right grill comes down to taking into consideration your requirements. I find it beneficial to consider several aspects when purchasing a new grill.

Size

The Pellet grills weve examined in this article range between 300 and 1300 sq feet. A simple method to narrow your options is to figure out the size youd like to get.

The bigger you go in size, the more expensive your grill will become, even though a big grill made by a low-cost brand such as Z Grills will still cost less than a premium brand such as Traeger.

If you choose to go with a smaller size, youll be unable to prepare enough meals to satisfy everyone in your party. If youre too large, the grill will cost you more to run, and youll use up the wood chips.

It is also essential to think about the size of the pellets hopper: the bigger the hopper, the longer time to cook without refilling it.

My advice is to pick an oven that is slightly bigger than the one you think youll need.

Features

Certain people prefer having all the latest technologies for their grills. However, others are more inclined to put all their money into the grill focused on top-quality construction.

Think about what attributes are desirable to include and which features are not negotiable.

The most common characteristics of pellet grills are:

Price

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