Wood pellet BBQ smokers such as Traeger ?

[om21braz]

I have heard some good things from a friend on the pellet grill/smokers. When my gas Holland gives out, I will do some shopping. Main issue with the Holland is that it does not get hot enough to sear steaks. Other than that, it is pretty fool-proof.

 

[ray66v]

We have had a Traeger in the family for many years.

It is the easiest, most convenient way to smoke things.

Can a qualified purest do better with a "real" wood smoker? Probably. But, a total amateur can have a great deal of success right out of the box with a Traeger. That doesn't happen, when the same inexperienced user tries it with a real wood fed smoker.

And, as the commercials say, you don't have to babysit it. I can put on things, I am used to making, and leave them alone for hours, with no worries.

I can make smoked meatloaf, ribs, baked beans, and jerky, that are better than anything I can buy, anywhere. I hope to master brisket this year.

The Traeger is best for smoking, (200F or below). It will also do very well with midtemp cooking. (250F or 300F).

Searing, and high temp cooking is better left for other appliances. There are ways to do it, but it's not the ideal cooker for that.

I only use Lumberjack hickory pellets. Rural King has them for a great price, (much better price than Traeger pellets), and they work just as well.



Mine has had quite a few "upgrades", and modifications.

 

[Luvmyhindra]

I own a Pit Boss pellet smoker and absolutely love it! I also have a electric and propane smokers. The pellet is by far my favorite. Love the way it maintains a pretty exact temperature to what ever I set it at! Prime Rib is my favorite on the smoker! Then again I pretty much like anything coming off the smoker. lol

I also bought a meat thermometer that I can stick in the meat and sit in the house on those cold winter days in my recliner and just look at my phone to see what temperature my meat is at. Love that for winter but, summer time a man needs to be outside next to his smoker having a cold beverage of choice! lol

 

[grsthegreat]

I have the yoder 640.its an amazing cooker. Makes incredable tasting ribs, tri tips and steaks. Has a heat diffuser that can be removed to sear steaks at 650F or smoke at 180 F. I use a harbor freight welding blanket to cover it in winter, and it maintains set temp even in very cold day within a few degrees. My only problem with the tragger was the thin metal there made from. The yoder is 10 ga steel or greater. this BBQ weighs an impressive 335 pounds. thats alot of steel. Not inexpensive by any means though. i got their optional searing grids....

Were planning on smoking steaks tonight. Reverse sear method.

 

[bunyip]

Have recently done some research into pellets and locally they come in hardwood, softwood, a mixture of the two and what is called waste wood.
I'm sure the latter is OK for pellet heaters but I wouldn't use it for cooking as there is no clear indication as to what is in them, we use the hardwood pellets for the pizza oven as they burn hotter, none of these are for smoking but BBQ stores do sell a variety of smoke pellets.
My understanding of wastewood is what is cleaned up after clear felling and will include bark, ground cover plants, dirt and probably some fuel spills, not exactly what I want with my food.

 

[RichM752]

I've had two Treager's over the years. Wore them both out. Now I have a Yoder YS 640 built in USA with 10ga. More better than a Treager. When Randy Treager sold out to a "venture capitalist" and they moved operations to China, I gave them up.

 

[hawkeye08]

We bought Treager based on daughter's recommendation and also brother. We like it, especially for steak and potatoes. After learning about them, likely get a sturdier built USA made next time.

 

[GSVette]

I have a Green Mountain Grill pellet smoker and love it- use it for everything except searing steaks as doesn’t get as hot (550F) as I want-so I use my gas grill to sear and the finish on the smoker.

Have cooked just about everything on the GMG-4 cheese mac-n-cheese, Thanksgiving turkey, pumpkin pie, pork tenderloin, smoked turkey jerky, smoked venison, brisket-cannot be beat

 

[tomplum]

I have heard some good things from a friend on the pellet grill/smokers. When my gas Holland gives out, I will do some shopping. Main issue with the Holland is that it does not get hot enough to sear steaks. Other than that, it is pretty fool-proof.

You know, it would be a good time to get something else and keep the Holland for special things. There aren't too many grills that can bake and roast quite like them. They make a good second grill. Myself I have my Ducane gas and a Weber Performer -which I'll do ribs on a few times a year. I came close to buying a Traeger, but as others pointed out, I wasn't sure about what is in the pellets. Maybe next one.

 

[Gunny]

I've been looking at the pellet grills pretty hard and so far the only thing that keeps me from getting one is the inability to sear steaks. I wish they would make one with a gas burner on the end to do that job, then transfer everything over onto the pellet side.

How do the pellet grills do on hamburgers and hot dogs? I like a mild sear on a burger and the wife, kids and grandkids don't consider a grilled hot dog done until it show definite grill marks with some charring of the skins.