Traeger grills are the ultimate backyard bosses when it comes to grilling, baking, roasting, smoking, or barbecue. The grills feature customizable options allowing you to cook in both high and low temperatures.
Outdoor fun is no longer centered on buying take-away food from restaurants, over the years people are finding real happiness and fun in get-togethers in their backyard. And to spruce up the sentimental moments, grills are usually adopted for the backyard cookouts. Traeger Grills are among the industry-leading cookout grills thanks to their customizable features.
Given the variety of Traeger grills in the market, most people find it hard to identify one that will suffice their cookout needs. The article below reviews various Traeger grills, to help you find one that suits your style and budget, read on.
Best Traeger Grill- Comparison Table
| Best Traeger Grill | Power Source | Check on Amazon |
|---|---|---|
| Traeger Grills Ironwood 650 | Wood-pellet charcoal | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Pellet Grills TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 Grill | Electric and wood-burning | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker | Wood pellet grill | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Grills TFB89BLFC Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker | Wood | Check Price Here |
| Traeger scout pellet grill | Wood | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill | Hardwood pellets | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Grills Ranger Grill TBT18KLD Wood Pellet Grill | Wood pellet | Check Price Here |
| Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker | Electric and wood-burning | Check Price Here |
The Traeger grill ironwood 650 series features a sturdy and durable build incorporating the industry’s first brushless motor and DC power that delivers consistency and precision. The grill has been designed to remain functional even in a harsh weather environment and comes equipped with a trap door that allows users to empty the hopper for a seamless pellet swapping process.
The adjustable bottom grate feature of the grill allows you to either place the food close to the fire when searing or further away when you need to smoke the food. The 650 series Traeger grill ensures even cooking thanks to the Tru convection system designed to direct smoke through the incorporated channels that create a vortex of heat and smoke. The latter ensures that your food gets cooked faster and evenly with minimal to zero chances of flareups.
Traeger Grills ironwood 650 allows you to monitor the cooking food via the meat probe thus no need to interfere with the temperatures by lifting the lid. The unit also ensures that users get to enjoy the best wood-fired flavor, courtesy of the downdraft exhaust system, designed to keep fresh smoke flowing overcooking food.
Pros
- Grill temperature can be set easily via the D2 controller
- The grill is equipped with a pellet sensor
- The grill can be customized through the Wirefire technology
- Double sidewall insulation ensures steady heat
Cons
- Wirefire technology does not connect easily
- Not convenient for the longterm
Tailgater Portable Pellet Grill
Tailgater portable pellet grill is perfect for use in the balconies, the grill offers a 300sq. in. total cooking space, weighs a manageable 62lbs and has a decent pellet hopper capacity of 8lbs. And before you bring out the chef in you, you must know that the max temp offered by the Tailgater portable pellet grill is 450˚ F, which is great for cooking steaks, chops, cedar-planked fish, and burgers.
The grill has incorporated the digital arc controller that keeps the food warm until it is time to eat. And the meat probe feature allows you to check on the status of the food that you are grilling without having to lift the lid.
Pros
- The grill retains a consistent temperature
- Can be used to smoke, bake, and roast
- Compact design makes it good for balconies
- Uses fewer pellets and heats up fast
Cons
- Has temperature swings
- The rod doesn’t heat up properly
Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
Featuring the Wirefire technology the Traeger grill Pro Series 575 allows you to monitor and control your grill from different locations through the Traeger application. And to ensure that your foods bring out their natural taste, you have been provided with the powerful D2 controller. The unit has incorporated rugged all-terrain wheels for easy transitioning from storage to the backyard.
The incorporated meat probe feature allows you to check on the status of your food without necessarily lifting the lid. And for consistent cooking, you get to use the Turbo temp which boosts the startup time and ensures that the grill recovers its temperature faster after once you lift the lid. The hopper cleanout has been fitted with a trapdoor that easily empties the hopper for pellet flavor swapping.
Pros
- The locking caster wheels offer stability
- Features an easy to use the controller
- The auger motor is silent
- Uses the wood pellets efficiently
Traeger Grills TFB89BLFC Ironwood 885 Grill and Smoker
The construction of the Traeger grill TFB89BLFC features full insulation and which enables the grill to maintain steady temperatures in any weather. And through the Traeger application users can monitor their pellet levels, the feature works with the Traeger pellet sensor.
Users also get to use the D2 controller that comes complete with the digital display used to set the temperature of the grill, the feature allows users to adjust the temperatures. The incorporated auger which is also the industry’s best drivetrain conveniently delivers the hardwood pellets into the firepot. And to get things cooking, the fire pot has been equipped with an auto-ignition feature that sets the pellets on fire.
For consistent heat distribution, the grill has featured a variable speed fan that ensures smoke and heat are uniformly circulated to your food.
Pros
- The trigger is versatile and can be used for baking
- Fueled by 200% natural hardwood pellets
- Can integrate with Alexa for easy customization
- The pellets remain efficient in cold weather
Cons
- The grill peels on the inside
- Rarely smokes
If you are thinking of going on a camping trip and want to want to enjoy some freshly grilled steak then the Traeger scout pellet grill will suffice. The simple compact drill has incorporated a digital pro-controller with an easy-to-use temperature dial that offers different settings such as smoke and sear. The pro-controller feature allows users to cook a variety of foods.
And the pellet hopper offers a 3-pound capacity thus will efficiently cook your food for hours. The Traeger scout grill space is 184 in.2 and you will therefore get up to 16,000 BTU of cooking power in a small footprint. And to keep both you and your food safe, the Traeger wood-fired grill, cook using indirect heat, and all the drippings are effectively channeled into an external grease pan for disposal.
Pros
- Features a wide grilling space
- Equipped with a high capacity pellet hopper
- Compact design makes it portable
- Minimizes flareups
Cons
- Has problems with regulating temperature
- Cleaning the grill of ash is hectic
Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill
The Pro series 34 pellet Traeger grill features a new pro controller designed used to maintain the internal temperatures within =/- 15˚F regardless of the external temperature. The bottom part of the grill has been equipped with a sawhorse chassis with thicker legs that ensure stability and a wide-angled stance that ensures the grill remains firm on different surfaces.
Users also get to utilize the dual meat probes which offer up to 60 readings per minute and which also monitors the internal temperatures. The top part of the grill comes with an extra grill rack, thus provides up to 30% more grilling and smoking room. Hopper capacity is 18lb and which offers up to 20 hours of grilling or 40 hours of smoking on a single bag of pellets.
If you wish to change the pellet flavors, you can do that on the fly via the easy hopper clean-out feature. All you have to do is open the back door and empty the pellets. The Pro series has also been equipped with all-terrain wheels that are not only bigger but offer improved mobility and will remain durable over pavers and rocks.
The wheels have also incorporated the locking casters that ensure the grill remains stable as you load it up. You can also easily move the grill using the side lift bar.
Pros
- It is a versatile barbecue grill
- Made with water-resistant material
- Equipped with a precision temperature control feature
- Comes with a bag of enhanced flavor pellets
Traeger Grills Ranger Grill TBT18KLD Grill
The ranger grill TBT18KLD is a small-capacity Traeger grill and has incorporated all the features of the large Traeger grills. You will, therefore, get to use the digital arc controller, to set the right temperatures. The keep-warm mode ensures that your food retains the right temperature and can be eaten when you are ready. The unit features a latched lid, which ensures that all the components remain intact as you go on your adventure.
For this grill, you also get a griddle, the flat rectangular cooking surface which makes it easy for you to cook foods like bacon, eggs, home French fries, pancakes, and sausages. The unit also features porcelain coated grill grates which are perfect to use when cooking food on low heat. If you, therefore, wish to enjoy some delicate foods in your adventure the porcelain grill grates will deliver a fine meal of vegetables and fish.
The grill comes with a meat probe that allows you to check on the status of the food without necessarily lifting the lid.
Pros
- Good for both delicate and tough foods
- Easy to use and clean
- Smokes beautifully
- Maintains consistent temperature
Cons
- Problem with timer and temperature feature
- It is a small capacity grill
Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker
The Pro series of the Traeger grills are a re-invented version and has been equipped with a PRO D2 controller that allows you to set the right cooking temperatures and leave it to cook. The feature allows you to spend more time with your guests and less time cooking. The unit can cater to 6 unique cooking applications such as baking, grilling, smoking, and roasting.
And the accompanying wood pellets offer 100% hardwood flavor, the unit is technologically advanced to which end you will be able to interact with the WireFire technology, which allows you to access various cooking recipes on the Wirefire application. You can also access the grill at any time and from anywhere. The advanced Pro Series grill also features the D2 drive which provides the grill with more power and which ensures that you get the real natural flavor of foods.
The grill is durably built, thanks to the incorporation of the single-piece auger and the brushless motor. And in case you have many guests and want to keep their stomachs full, the Pro Series 780 comes equipped with an extra capacity grill rack. Other accompanying accessories are such as the meat probe that allows you to check the internal temperatures, you also get the exterior grill hooks for the extra grill rack and a magnetized hopper cleanout.
Pros
- The grill features the all-terrain wheels
- Works with Alexa
- It is a versatile barbecue grill
- Perfect for large family cooking
Cons
- The control panel is not durable
- The Wi-Fi feature failed to work
Buying Guide for the best Traeger Grill
Grill capacity and family size- Traeger grills come in different sizes, including ones that are compact and suitable for camping. If you have a big family or a long list of friends, you could get the Pro Series 780 that comes with an extra rack so that you get a lot of food done in one go. Also, consider the size of the grill and the spacing at your home. High-capacity grills are huge and will occupy a large footprint when compared to small-capacity grills.
Technology- given that you will be inviting friends and family for a barbecue there is a lot of catching up to do and a technologically advanced grill will free up most of your time. The Pro series Traeger grills have a lot of customizable features and all you need to do is set the cooking temperature and leave it to cook. The meat probe can be used to check on the status of the food without lifting the lid and if it has incorporated the Wirefire technology then you can tweak the settings from the comfort of your living room.
Budget – depending on what you want, you will always get the option of choosing a low-end unit with few features or a high-end unit with more advanced features. If you are tight on budget, you can get the low-end Traeger grills that are equally effective though they may have a small capacity and not entirely customizable. The high-end Traeger grills are quite costly but durable and robustly built, they suffice for a large setting and the customizable options make them highly reliable.
Don’t forget that you will incur extra costs to purchase the natural wood pellets, so depending on the size of the grill and use, you might have to spend more than you had budgeted for. Not to worry though because some of the units reviewed above can use both electricity and wood.
Foods that you plan to cook- it is not uncommon for individuals to overlook this subject, so what you must know is that some grills are not designed to handle large chunks of meat or the racks of ribs. For example, the ranger grills and the scout grills are limited in the types of foods that you can cook as they have a small power source capacity. So, if you want a grill for light foods, such as fish, vegetables, chicken, sausages, or burgers then the small-sized grills will suffice.
FAQ’s
Why does the temperature of my Traeger grill fluctuate often?
The temperature of your grill fluctuates because, you keep opening the grill, or you have overloaded the grill with food. Heavy foods in the grill discourage airflow.
Will my Traeger grill, grill under the rain?
Yes, your Traeger grill will remain functional when used under rain however, you must ensure that the pellet hopper does not accumulate too much moisture.
Must I clean my Traeger grill every time I use it?
No, it is not a must for you to clean your Traeger grill every time that you use it. Ideally, your Traeger grill should be cleaned once every 5 times.
Conclusion
When it comes to buying a Traeger grill, it will depend on the number of people that you anticipate to feed, the frequency of use, and the types of foods that you wish to prepare. Also, you have to consider the features of the Traeger grill, such as the size of the pellet hopper, and whether the grill has been equipped with a pellet sensor. Check for the internal grease management feature, and the construction of the grill grates, some are made of stainless steel material, while others are made of porcelain. The stainless steel grill grates conduct heat better, while the porcelain grill grates are good if you don’t want any food sticking on the grates.
Gavrie Ricci
Gavrie Ricci is a design manufacturer and one of his latest projects is the Eco grill, an electric grill that comes equipped with a revolutionary heating system. Gavrie is a design enthusiast and is passionate about simplification, there are so many types of grills in the market but people find it hard to narrow down to one unit that will suffice for all their grilling and smoking needs. The comprehensive articles about grills at Grillception are, therefore, a guide to choosing the perfect unit that suits different user needs. Gavrie seeks to empower people with knowledge about grills, to simplify their search process.