Buying guide for best traeger grills
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Among grilling fans, Traeger grills have a kind of cult status. Once you’ve looked into one, you can understand why. Traeger grills sit at the intersection of electronics, design and tradition, allowing you to not only grill, but also roast, sear, and above all smoke meats and other foods with almost push-button simplicity.
Traeger grills are pellet grills that use wood pellets as fuel. The whole process is automated: set a desired temperature, press a button, and the Traeger feeds wood pellets from a hopper into the grill, where a blazing electric-powered rod heats them red-hot. Convection moves the hot air and smoke around the food, allowing for both high-heat searing and low-and-slow smoking. The wood pellets come in a variety of flavors that further enhance the taste of your meal.
Our team here at BestReviews has acquainted ourselves with the Traeger lineup. We’ve looked at classic, fan-favorite models and the latest innovations from Traeger itself. Our top pick is the Traeger Woodridge Pro pellet grill, with WiFIRE wireless control, low-temperature smoke enhancement, hopper fill alert, and a broad cooking surface.
Traeger grill features to consider
Traeger grills enable you to grill, braise, smoke, bake, roast, or barbecue in your backyard with one cooking device without the use of charcoal or gas.
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The process starts when you load the hopper with wood pellets. There are many types of wood pellets available, such as apple, cherry, and maple, and each imparts a unique flavor to the food.
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An auger at the bottom of the hopper moves the pellets to the hot rod, which ignites the pellets.
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A draft induction fan circulates air into the grill to cook the food.
Traeger grills come in a number of sizes and with different features to think about before you buy.
Grill size
Grill sizes range from a tabletop model (173 square inches of grill space) to large models for the patio (1,300 square inches of grill space with three racks). To decide what size you need, consider the number of people you regularly cook for and what kind of food you want to cook. For convenience, Traeger tells you the size of their grills as well as how many whole chickens, racks of ribs, and hamburgers will fit on the grill.
Design
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Tabletop pellet grills: These models weigh around 40 pounds, measure about 20 inches x 19 inches, and have a small hopper, but they provide the same barbecuing and grilling capabilities as larger models. If you only cook for two or if you want to smoke and grill while camping or tailgating, a portable tabletop model might be right for you.
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Traditional pellet grills: These models look more like a typical backyard charcoal or gas grill than the distinct hopper design. But on the inside they have all the features of a pellet grill, including a hopper and digital controller. These grills can do everything other pellet grills can with the addition of underneath storage with doors. Some have double racks for extra grilling space.
- Pellet grills with or without smoke pipe: This easily recognizable design has a hopper on the side, a barrel-shaped grilling area, and a smoke pipe. Some have a sawhorse-like frame for extra stability. Others have straight or foldable legs. The grill size varies, but if you want to create competition-worthy barbecue, these are the grills for you.
Hopper clean-out
The hopper clean-out feature enables you to empty the hopper while you’re cooking, so you can switch the pellets for different flavors as you grill. Not all Traeger grills have this feature. You’ll probably only need it if you’re cooking different foods for a crowd or you like to use lots of different flavors in a meal.
Hopper capacity
The bigger the grilling area, the bigger the pellet hopper. Tabletop models hold 5 pounds of pellets, while the largest models hold 24. Keep in mind that larger hoppers won’t need to be filled as often.
Legs
Traditionally, Traeger grills have straight legs with two or four wheels. Some of the smaller models have legs that can be folded to make the grills more portable. A few models now feature legs that resemble sawhorse legs, providing a wider, more stable base.
Controller
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Digital Elite: This good, basic digital controller provides accurate temperature control but doesn’t include meat probe connectors.
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Digital Pro: This controller includes either one or two meat probes that display the meat temperature on the controller display and let you easily adjust the temperature.
- WiFIRE: This trademarked controller connects to a smartphone app for mobile control from anywhere within range. You can check the temperature and status of your food simply by checking your phone.
Traeger grill prices
Expect to pay between $300 and $1,600 and more for a Traeger wood pellet grill.
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Inexpensive: For $300 to $500, you’ll find a tabletop Traeger grill or a small grill with around 300 square inches of cooking space. You can smoke and grill enough food for two to four people. These models include the Digital Elite controller.
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Mid-range: In the $500 to $1,000 range are larger grills with 520 to 880 square inches. That’s enough room for 40 hamburgers on the largest models in this price range. Many of these grills have the hopper clean-out feature along with a sturdy side handle and all-terrain wheels for moving the grill over rocks and gravel. These models have either the Digital Elite or Digital Pro controller.
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Expensive: For $1,000 to $1,600, you’ll find large grills for the serious crowd pleaser. If you want a pellet grill that looks like a traditional barbecue grill, this is where you’ll find it. Most have anywhere from 425 to 800 square inches of space or room for 32 to 40 hamburgers.
- Premium: At over $1,600, you’ll find Traeger grills with up to 1,300 square inches of grill space, three grilling racks, and hopper clean-out. The WiFIRE digital controller with smartphone app enables you to check the temperature and control the grill from anywhere within WiFi range. All-terrain wheels let you move these grills over gravel or sand.
Tips
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Match the temperature range of the grill to your grilling needs. Most Traegers have a maximum temperature of 450°F, but a few top-of-the-line models reach 500°F for quick-cooking skirt steaks or kebabs.
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Match the accessories to your needs. There are a number of extra accessories available for Traeger grills, such as a full-length grill cover, a bottom shelf that attaches to the legs, and a power inverter that connects the grill directly to your car battery for the ultimate in portable grilling. If you live in a cold climate, don’t forget the insulated cover that enables you to cook in winter temperatures.
- Match the wood pellets to the food. Different foods taste better when cooked with certain types of wood pellets. Slightly sweet maple goes great with pork. Or try mesquite with fish. If you’re looking for an all purpose pellet, alder has a mild flavor that works well with almost anything.
FAQ
Q. How do you manage grease and drippings with a Traeger grill?
A. An angled drip tray directs grease and drippings into a grease bucket. Every three to six months you’ll need to remove any built-up grease from the drip tray using a non-metal scraper. You can empty the drip bucket as needed.
Q. Do Traeger grills rust?
A. With a powder-coated steel body, there’s plenty of protection, but you still want to be careful because exposed steel will rust. Any kind of scratch or dent could potentially be a problem. Traeger recommends covering your grill if it will be out in inclement weather.
Q. How long does it take a Traeger grill to warm up and cool down?
A. These grills reach cooking temperature fairly quickly. Depending on what you’re cooking and the outside temperature, it can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. When you’re done, the grill needs an hour to cool completely.
