Traeger is the top selling brand of pellet grills in the world. They invented the first pellet grill in 1986 and are still the most popular. We review the best Traeger grills to show you how they stack up against the competition and in what way is Traeger still king.But, before we delve deeper into the benefits of the four best Traeger grills, let’s pay attention to why you should pay attention to what these grills have to offer.
It may be very difficult to buy a Traeger grill. You have many different models and versions to compare with so many others in the market.
Traeger currently manufactures 4 main pellet grill lines, along with some more important models such as Renegade Elite, Bronson, and Junior Elite.
You must decide whether you wish to buy a new model, or seek to make an agreement on the slightly outdated stock.
Without any further ado, let’s take a closer look at what the best four Traeger grills have to offer.
The Traeger Pro is regarded as one of the best sellers. Two sizes are available. The 575 square inch model has sufficient capacity to cook 24 burgers, five ribs at a time, or four chickens to accommodate for the tastebuds of most people.
You may also decide to settle for a bronze or black colour.
The most notable upgrade during 2019 was that the Pro lineup now includes Wifi technology. This 'Wifi' feature enables you to connect and manage your grill from anywhere on the web with the Traeger Companion app.
In addition, the pellet grills start up more quickly due to the innovative D2® drivetrain that lets it heat up so much faster and produces better quality smoke, delivering reliable results with a pleasant wood-burning aroma.
Let us discover the various benefits and features this model has to offer:
One more thing to consider is that the Traeger 575 has a maximum temperature of around 232 degrees Celsius, which is not seen as the best option if you intend searing a lot.
Their offer of a portable grill is the epitome of pure convenience and flavourful cooking, using pellets.
With only 300 (1930cm) square inches of cooking space, it has the ability to handle 2 whole chickens, 12 burgers, or 3 racks of ribs.
Weighing only 28kg, the Tailgater is not all that heavy to move around. The pellet holder can easily hold around 4kg so one can look forward to a cooking time of 4 to 6 hours without having to refill.
A really cool feature is the EZ fold legs as it is very easy to simply move the unit onto the flatbed of a truck. This way you can smoke, grill, braise, roast, or BBQ wherever, whenever you please.
Unfortunately, the Tailgater does not offer Wifi functionality like some of the other models do. However, its popularity as a portable pellet grill certainly makes up for it.
Also, do not overlook the fact that Tailgater includes a digital elite controller that easily keeps temperatures stable, which is ideal for most cooking conditions.
While it sure is nice to engage in grilling sessions without the use of charcoal, especially when you’re camping, nothing comes close to the versatility of a pellet grill. You can grill, bake, and smoke to your heart’s content.
This griller is the perfect companion for small gatherings. We suggest you ask for the hopper insert to ensure the pellet flow runs smoothly. People with a small balcony will also benefit from using this unit.
Overall, it is a real asset to have a griller like this one. Not only do you get great flavor on any food you smoke, but it is super easy to use. The fact that the temperature regulates so well is a real plus so you may set side dishes while waiting on your main meal. Did we mention, how easy it is to clean?
This wood pellet grill unit is said to be Traeger's latest and greatest and it has a corresponding price point.
When the 2017 Timberline series was released it used to have some special features. Some of these have found their way down to the cheaper Traeger models this year so it's not as amazing as it once was.
But some significant changes remain. The Timberline is the only Traeger model to include a pellet sensor, as well as offering a whopping 1300 (3300cm) square inches of cooking space.
You can easily cook up to 8 rib racks, 9 chickens, and 6 port butts.
The biggest advantage to using the Timberline 1300 is the ability to remotely monitor the progress you’re making through your phone. You do not have to be concerned about the pellets running out either.
Although this should not happen too frequently , especially if you remember to fill the 24 lb hopper.
The fact that you don't have to think about running out of mid-cook and restarting it is always very convenient.
You get three adjustable grill grills which can be positioned for searing or smoking.
Seen as the premier cooking solution when outdoors, the Timberline Series pushes the limits as far as state-of-the-art grilling technology is concerned. Now, you can look forward to top-quality wood-fired flavoured meals.
The Ironwood series represents a recent addition to the pellet grill line of Traeger.
You can get a wider, more versatile grill than the pro-series in either 650 or 885 square inches, without stepping up the price on a large Timberline range.
However, even the smaller Ironwood of 650 square inches is more than a 1,000 dollars, so it is certainly not a budget BBQ Grill.
The Ironwood design is similar to Timberland, which is more expensive. You will enjoy the features such as the TRU Convection and the DownDraft Exhaust.
Although it sounds a bit like industry jargon, these features help fresh smoke circulate, keep smoke in the chamber and even maintain the right temperature.
All the things we like hearing about.
You will find this grill useful thanks to the numerous features. One of these being its ability to maintain warm mode and the handy custom cook configurations you can set via the digital control panel or app.
What people love about the Ironwood 650 is:
The four grills we discussed are by no means the only models worthy of your consideration when looking for best BBQ grills as there are many other models that are popular and well worth investing your hard-earned money in.
Traeger Bronson, Pellet Grill – The Bronson is similar in size to the Tailgater, with 300 square inches of cooking space. The all-terrain wheels facilitate transport, but it does not feature EZ legs. The Bronson range will suit smaller families better.
Traeger Lil Tex Elite – The Lil Tex Elite has 418 square inches of cooking space and is made of stainless steel. It forms part of the older models that are no longer sold directly. If you can find a good deal, it's worth considering.
Renegade Elite – This BBQ is somewhat bigger than the Bronson grill and a tad bit smaller in size to the Pro 575. fIt is a lovely grill, but the main issue is that the modern Pro 575 is presently just marginally cheaper. Some of the notable features include functional tool rack and wire front rack. ⠀
Traeger reports that since 2008 every residential grill has been produced in China.
They also make larger commercial grills in the U.S.
Some people protested about Traeger 's switch to China to make their grills, but the simple truth is that most consumer grills are produced there.
If you want to buy a British or an American pellet grill, it might be important for you, although you are going to pay at least twice the price.
Thanks to the name Traeger wood-fired grills made for themselves, one is spoiled for choice as other models were introduced. These brands are hot on the trail of top grills like Traeger.
You may want to know how the other brands size up to Traeger. We thought it would be a nice touch to highlight the most useful take aways of these models for you.
This is one smoker grill that packs a punch in terms of versatility. It can be used for baking, frying, and grilling on top of smoking. Any food you put through the paces will give off a lovely smoke aroma once done.
Very easy to operate as you simply place your pellets in the container feeder and switch on your grill.
User-friendly grill as you can start smoking, roasting or grilling your meat within seconds, from the moment the light comes on after you added your pellets. As the pellets burn evenly you are assured of constant heat control. This is perfect for when you pull meat.
Some of the highlights of the Toro Pellet Smoker compares favourably against the Traeger brands in that this model is a pleasure to move because of the four 360 degree wheels it is equipped with and the large pellet container that easily holds up to 9kg of pellets.
Another very useful feature is the 3 smoking floor compartments that allow one to experiment with different meat groups.
Traeger might be more expensive but features Wifi connectivity that lets you operate the grill remotely.
This wood pellet electric grill might have a hefty price tag, but it proves itself a strong contender to the Traeger brand in that it features a removable upper cooking rack and comes with a weatherproof cover to ensure it stays protected during unfavourable weather conditions.
The Louisiana is very easy to clean and has no problem maintaining adequate temperatures with a lid thermometer and digital control centre.
BBQ lovers can look forward to as much as 8 different cooking styles such as, BBQ, chargrill, roast, grilling, baking, searing, smoking, and braising.
The stay cool handle is a bonus and comes in handy when there is a need to open the lid to inspect the condition of the content.
You can be assured of precise cooking control that ranges from 82 degree Celsius to 315 degree Celsius.
With features like these, what is there not to like about BBQ and all the wonderful prospects that go along with it?
These guys are known to be part of a company called Dansons that also manufacture Pit Boss that like the Louisiana grills are attempting to take on Traeger and present consumers with a grill that offers much of the same, but at a lower price.
The beauty of these grills is the fact that you can hit very high temperatures than most of the Traeger brands can. The built of these grills are quite similar to the robustness of a Traeger.
With a range of models made available, it can be challenging to make up your mind on what to buy.
Finding something suitable is also about weighing up your requirements. It is truly helpful to pay attention to a couple of factors when you are out to purchase a new grill.
Size Range
Most of the grills we had a look at today range from 300 to 1,300 square feet. This makes it so much easier for buyers as they just need to determine what size would suit their needs and it will be all systems go.
Usually the larger the size, the more you’ll pay for it. However, a large grill such as the Z grills will work out far less than a Traeger brand would.
On the other hand, if you settle for something too small, you won’t be able to prepare enough food to serve your guests. Too big a grill will result in a lot of wastage of wood pellets and valuable resources.
Also, the larger your peller hopper, the more cooking time you will get out of it before you need to refill.
Noteworthy Features
Some people love something that includes all the latest tech, while others will be happy with a budget grill that still gets the job done.
Give it some thought and know beforehand which features will suit you best.
Following are a few of the more important features buyers pay attention to:
Portability: Do you require a lightweight wood pellet grill that can be moved at will or where you can fold the legs?
Searing functions: Pellet grills make for top ovens and incredibly versatile smokers. Some of the brands struggle to sear. If this is important to you, then look out for manufacturers who include a searing attachment.
Wifi connectivity: Do you want to have control over your grill and the wood pellets, but from a distance? Then, models that cater for connectivity from your phone will serve your needs perfectly.
Every conceivable feature and added functionality contributes to the price you pay for the wood pellet grill. In most instances, it pays to opt for a Traeger grill as they are top of the range and will serve you for many years.