Should You Acquire The Traeger Pro 780
You may have some sticker shock when you go to pull the trigger. The grill has so much flexibility by being able to grill, smoke, bake, bbq, braise as well as roast.
Having the potential to smoke and also barbecue on one device is an unbelievable worth. , if you desire to save a little you can go a little smaller with the Pro 575 for 799.. The results on both normal grilling and also smoking were terrific.
Traeger Pro Series The Most Bang For Your Buck
The Pro 575 retails for $799.99 USD and the Pro 780 retails for $999.99 USD. The Pro Series is Traegers best-selling line and rightfully so. Theyre an amazing value, perform very well and are easy to install. If youre looking into buying a Traeger grill right now, theyre actually currently on sale for $100-off for Fathers Day.
Thanks to a complete product overhaul in 2019, the Pro Series are actually better than ever. They now come standard equipped with WiFire® Technology, which allows you to control your grill from your phone using the Traeger App. The new D2® Direct Drive drivetrain improves start-up and temperature control speeds, which were previously lagging. And thanks to a very recent 2020 software update, the new Pro Series grills can now churn out a maximum temperature of 500F. In fact, on a hot, summer day, my Pro780has gone up to 506F, which makes for excellent searing capabilities.
If youre just looking to grill and have no desire for any additional bells and whistles, the Pro Series is for you. Its the best bang for your buck. However, I highly, HIGHLY recommend purchasing one of the 2019 or later models so that you can get these new features, updates and designs. They seriously make a world of difference!
Overall How Does The Traeger Ironwood 650 Pellet Grill Perform
Overall, we had very few complaints about the Ironwood 650. We loved the grills small features, like how the pellet hopper has a light inside when you open the lid. We also appreciated the sliding door on the back that made it super easy to change out pellet flavors. While cleaning a grill is never fun, Traeger makes it a little less painless.
The drip pan can be covered with aluminum foil. Traeger also sells proprietary grill and bucket liners) for a perfect fit. The grill design is tried-and-true, and we didnt have any safety concerns while using it. It rolled easily into our garage for storage, and the grill cover fit snugly, a good option if you plan to store it out in the elements.
The best part: It produced restaurant-quality food at both high and low temperatures. Our chicken wings were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside, the brisket had a great smoke ring, and our pulled pork was tender and shreddable. In the end, isnt great food what its all about?
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Exactly How A Traeger Pellet Grill Works
To begin using the grill, pour wood pellets into a hopper . Press the beginning button to stir up the pellets, which are fed right into the fire box with an auger, where a regulated variety of pellets are lit and also shed.
The auger changes the variety of pellets going into the fire box to keep the wanted temperature level. Can You Smoke And Grill On A Traeger
The system distributes air via the fire box and right into the grill location, enabling evenly distributed warmth. This specific control provides the wood pellet grill the capacity to very closely manage temperature, executing like a wood-fired stove.
Memphis Grills Beale Street Wi
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This Wi-Fi pellet grill by Memphis Grills has everything that you want in a pellet grill. It can smoke, sear, grill, bake and roast. You get 575 square inches of cooking space with an optional grate that expands up to 848 square inches . It also has a 12 lb pellet hopper capacity so thats good if youre trying to put a lot of pellets in. The build is made with 430 stainless steel so you know its durable. Its also a 26 freestanding grill so you can wheel it anywhere that you need the grill to be.
This model runs on cloud based Wi-Fi so what they mean is you turn the grill on and then you download their app and youll have it connected. It has an average temperature range of 180-550 degrees so there is a good varying of temperatures that you can play with.
Pros:
- 557 square inches for cooking
- Different temp ranges
- 12 lb hopper means it can cook for 18 hours at 350 without checking on it
- 5 year warranty
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Delivery Is Not Available To Apo & Fpo Addresses But Overseas Customers May Be Able To Pick Up This Item From Eligible Stores
Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill
Fixed Payment Plans That Fit Your Budget.36 Month Financing48 Month Financing60 Month FinancingDon’t have a MILITARY STAR& reg Card?
Financing Details:MILITARY STAR promotions subject to credit approval. Interest will be charged on promotional purchases from the purchase date at a reduced 9.99% APR and fixed monthly payments are required until promotion is paid in full and will be calculated as follows: on 36-month promotions, 0.0323 on 48-month promotions, 0.0254 and on 60-month promotions, 0.0212, of initial promotional purchase. The fixed monthly payment will be rounded to the next cent. Failure to make minimum payments for three billing cycles will cancel promotional rate. Standard account terms apply to non-promotional purchases. As of March 16, 2020, a variable 10.24% APR applies to non-promotional purchases, and a variable 18.24% APR applies to accounts subject to penalty APR. Existing cardholders should see their credit card agreement for applicable terms.Suggested Monthly Payment:Estimate the monthly payment amount of a purchase using our easy Payment Calculator. Simply enter the purchase amount, select the desired period, then calculate.
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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Introduction To The Best Wifi/app Functionality For Pellet Grills
So before I start to discuss what I think are currently some of the best examples of pellet grills with WiFi/App functionality for different budgets, we need to clear something up. Bluetooth is not WiFi. Bluetooth is purely for one on one communication between two devices, over a relatively short distance. Fitting WiFi into a pellet grill, on the other hand, can directly connect to a WiFi-enabled internet router. Hence, with a proper setup, a WiFi-enabled pellet grill/smoker can be controlled from anywhere in the world with a WiFi/Cellular connection.
This video discusses how Bluetooth works and its limitations compared to WiFi
Why is this important to point out? Well, some pellet grill manufacturers offer control panels with both Bluetooth and WiFi, Camp Chef being an example. However, there are several pellet grill brands who are fitting control panels which purely feature Bluetooth connectivity. There is nothing wrong with this per se, these are generally budget grills, and the cost is kept down by including just Bluetooth connectivity. However, I think there are quite a lot of people who do not understand the difference between Bluetooth and WiFi. Hence, they see a promotional image of a phone with an app next to the grill and think they can monitor/control the grill from anywhere they like.
Currently, the SmokeIT App from Pit Boss and Platinum Series control panels purely communicate via a Bluetooth connection: Image Pitboss-grills.com
Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett Wi
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Finally, we will round up this Green Mountain pellet grill. It is the smallest pellet grill on our list today but you can take this grill for camping or travelling as its small and portable. The material is made out of steel so you can be rest assured that this grill is durable and is a beast. It has the smallest hopper capacity on our list as it only holds 9 pounds of pellets but as we said if youre travelling or just need it for a smaller space, its perfect for you.
As far as Wi-Fi capabilities, even for a portable one, you can monitor all your grill functions and temp with your smartphone with their app. Of course itll need to be on IOS and Android systems, so those phones. Another cool thing with this grill because its portable, is that you can plug this grill into your car and grill/smoke away.
Pros:
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Silverton 620 Vs Pro Series 575
| Silverton 620 | |
|---|---|
| $699 | $799 |
The Pro Series models primary cooking area is 15 percent bigger than that of the Silverton 620. However, the latter compensates for that with its secondary grate, which is larger.
After purchasing the Silverton 620 grill, youll receive a work table fixed in front of the equipment, a grill cover, and a pellet hopper. The Pro Series 575 lacks these accompaniments, and you have to pay an extra 120 dollars to acquire the cover and table.
The vent system is another feature that differentiates the two models. For the Silverton 620, the smoke moves downward and surrounds the cooking area. This approach creates a closer contact between the meat and the smoke as a result of an improved convection heating process.
On the other hand, the Pro Series 575 model uses the upward and outward approach to release smoke. The grills outlet is mounted at the top, unlike that of the Silverton unit, which is mounted on the rear end.
Comparing Costcos customer reviews on the two units, the Pro Series model had a slightly higher 5-star rating than the Silverton grill.The latter topped the 4-star ratings with 12% overall, while the Pro Series unit had 9% of the reviews in that category.
The customers overall satisfaction with the Pro Series and the Silverton grills was 86% and 83%, respectively. The common issue under 1-star ratings for both models was the damaged attachments during shipping and inefficient control systems.
Who Is The Tailgater Well
The Traeger Grills Tailgater is well-suited for people who want a small, portable pellet grill that they can transport on a camping trip or to a tailgating party. With its weight of 62 lbs, it’s easy to carry around.
It could also work well for people who want a small alternative to their gas grill since it could fit on an apartment balcony. Someone who is looking to get into pellet grilling might want to check out this series.
Some feedback on Traeger Grill, however, noted that one downside is that this has more fluctuation at lower temperatures than it does at high ones.
Temperature control functions work better when the grill is heated to about 220 F , plus or minus 20 degrees, which is ideal for smoking. If you want to go lower, then you could have trouble keeping it there. It uses around 300 watts while it powers up and lowers to 50 watts for the remainder of the cooking period. But based on our experience with this grill evaluation, we did not have any problems.
Related Comparison Guides:
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Best Wifi Pellet Grills/smokers Under $2000
With a budget up to $2,000, you are able to pick up some higher-spec Traeger/REC TEC pellet grills which feature the same WiFi/app functionality discussed above on their grills for under $1,000. So are there any WiFi enabled pellet grills that only come in the under $2,000 price bracket and are not available for under $1,00?. Well, currently the only pellet grill that I can think of is the Beale Street from Memphis Grills. This is a relatively compact grill, however its full stainless steel construction, hence the higher price point.
While I believe the Memphis Beale Street is an excellent pellet grill for under $2,000, is it one of the best WiFi pellet grills? Image BBQGuys.com
Now, while I think at its core the Beale Street is an excellent pellet grill with great features and build quality for under $2,000, on the WiFi side of things Memphis Grills apparently have some work to do. If you check out the App Store reviews for the Memphis App, they not exactly what you would hope them to be. The arent any better, hence it appears Memphis Grills have got their work cut out for them. Hence, this is an example of a great pellet grill/smoker with its fundamental cooking capabilities, however, its WiFi/App performance, not so much. Therefore, I think the best WiFi pellet grill options under $2,000 is either an Ironwood/Timberline grill from Traeger or a REC TEC pellet grill such as the RT-700.
How Much Food Do You Need To Cook
An important consideration when buying a Traeger is the amount of meat you need to cook at one time. Do you want to cook for large crowds once or twice a year? Or are you happy just grilling for your average-sized family? These are questions you need to ask yourself when deciding between Traeger models. Below is a table that compares the cooking capacity of each Traeger model.
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Quick To Heat Up And Respond To Temperature Changes
Our favorite feature of the Ironwood 650 was its speed. We cycled it on and off several times, setting the initial temperature to 225°F or 500°F to see how long it took to preheat. It averaged 10 minutes to reach low temperatures and 19 minutes to reach its highest temperatures. We assume it might take a little longer to heat up on a cold, winter day, but we were thrilled at the quick turnaround. It was equally responsive when increasing the temperature from 225°F to 500°F, reaching the new increased temperature in about five minutes.
Traeger Town & Travel Grills
On the other hand, the Town & Travel grills are best for outgoing individuals who want good food on-the-go.
These models are very portable and easy to use, so you can cook up some great-tasting meat/fish even when you don’t have access to a big space or a fully-stocked kitchen.
Town & Travel Grill Models
- WiFIRE technology for remote control via the Traeger application or Amazon Alexa
- D2 controller with digital display
- Grill insulation to maintain high temperatures even during cold weather
- Built-in meat probe to monitor food temperature without having to lift the lid
- Durable all-terrain wheels to withstand rocky or rough terrains
- Automatic alerts when pellets are running low
- Exhaust system for a smoky and impeccable flavor
- Super Smoke mode for maximum wood-fired flavor
- Dual-position smoke/sear bottom grate to control heat exposure
- Hopper cleanout trapdoor for easy pellet swapping
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What Is Traeger Wifire
The future of grilling has arrived with Traeger’s WiFIRE® technology. Take command of your grill from the couch, or on-the-go with the new WiFi controller that connects your smartphone to the grill via the Traeger App. Bring the true power to your fingertips. Just download the Traeger App on your smartphone and connect to the wifi-enabled controller for total control.
Traeger Pro Series Grills
In our opinion, the Pro Series line is the best representation of the Traeger brand. These grills are convenient, easy to use, and offer great value for money, as they have all the features you could possibly need for aBBQ cookout.
They may lack the more advanced functionality of the Timberline and Ironwood options, but we don’t think the add-ons are absolutely necessary for the average Joe.
Pro Series Grill Models
- WiFIRE technology for remote control via the Traeger application or Amazon Alexa
- D2 controller with digital display
- Built-in meat probe to monitor food temperature without having to lift the lid
- Durable wheels to withstand rocky or rough terrains
- Hopper cleanout trapdoor for easy swapping of pellets
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Is A Traeger Tailgater Worth Buying
Based on our evaluation and customer feedback, the Traeger Tailgater is worth buying because it offers heavy-duty construction that is more durable than other pellet smoker models. We recommend it because it provides a portable solution to smoking and grilling your favorite meats. It may be a great fit for summer trips.
It also uses an economical fuel source since the pellets only burn at a rate of 1 lb per hour. If you think that this smoker is a good option, then click below to take a peek.
Our #1 Recommendation
- Set it and forget it design
- 8 lb hopper capacity
