Traeger: Pros and Conns

[6KidSurf]

So 16 yrs ago my wife came home and told me I needed to buy a truck and a big screen TV (knew I married the right women!). Years later she told me to buy a boat and I did. Then 2 years after that she told me trade it in for a surf boat - did my research and bought the X20 (still loving it). Now she says we need a Traeger (she suggested the Timberline 850). Need TT member help. Pros & Cons?

I have no experience smoking food. Typically don't have the patience to not only sit there but I also lack the pre-planing to prepare meat the day before. So smoking meat/burgers/pizza/veggies etc will be a new skill I will need to acquire. Any advice?

Thanks for any guidance and suggestions anyone wants to give!

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[dvsone79]

My advice: she hasn’t steered you astray yet. In fact, it sounds like all her guidance thus far has been spot on! Might as well keep doing what she asks.

I don’t have a traeger, but have buddies that do. Honestly the only drawback that I’ve seen is it needs electricity.

[waterlogged882]

So 16 yrs ago my wife came home and told me I needed to buy a truck and a big screen TV (knew I married the right women!). Years later she told me to buy a boat and I did. Then 2 years after that she told me trade it in for a surf boat - did my research and bought the X20 (still loving it). Now she says we need a Traeger (she suggested the Timberline 850). Need TT member help. Pros & Cons?

I have no experience smoking food. Typically don't have the patience to not only sit there but I also lack the pre-planing to prepare meat the day before. So smoking meat/burgers/pizza/veggies etc will be a new skill I will need to acquire. Any advice?

Thanks for any guidance and suggestions anyone wants to give!

.

+1 on d-79's post........


The wife is always right... Right or wrong, she's always right. And to your own testimony of the past.......go get the gadget.

Hone your grilling skills is all I can say.....

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[BrooksfamX2]

Love my Lil Tex Elite 22 Traeger, no cons for me.

https://www.traegergrills.com/shop/grills/elite-series/lil-tex/TFB42LZBO.html?msclkid=907f7c72a1521c9138e62702ccca035c&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Shopping%20-%20Brand%20-%20Bing%20Ads&utm_term=4584894770304647&utm_content=All%20products

[tr6coug]

Get a Traeger smoker, they are awesome. I have 2!

Consider that a pellet smoker is more like a smokey oven than a grill. I wouldn't do steaks on a Traeger, but ribs, whole chickens, brisket is great. Bacon cooks well on a smoker also. I still keep my Weber gas grill for grilling.

[MC25]

My brother and my parents have one... they’re awesome!!!!!

[TN X-45]

Tregers are nice but you should consider a Big Green Egg that can do everything a smoker can do but also sear steaks, cook pizzas, etc. I threw my gas grill out as soon as I got it.

[h_2_o]

Green eggs are cool but from everybody that I know that has them I have yet to find one person that doesn't use it for one year and then go to something like a Traeger just because of the ease of use

[markmcfarland]

I have a green mountain, similar to traeger. So easy to use. It will get up to 500 so it grills as well.

[cookster22]

I absolutely love my Traeger. Wife surprised me last year for Father's Day and we have had a ton of great meat off that thing.

Listen to what she says.

No "Con's" whatsoever!

[dvsone79]

Out of the box, the traeger is probably easier for someone new to smoking. A big green egg or other komado type smoker will be more challenging to keep at a steady temp. It’s easy once you get the hang of it, but it isn’t quite set it and forget it. Whereas the traeger is pretty much just fill the hopper with pellets and it keeps feeding them to maintain that constant temp.

[gweaver]

I looked at Traeger and other brands of pellet smokers prior to buying mine. They all have their pros and cons. I ultimately bought a Yoder for a variety of reasons:
1) Yoder is made in the US, Traegers are made overseas
2) Yoder uses much thicker metal- don't quote me, but I think it's 3/16". I know it's 10ga. Traeger uses something on the order of 1/16" material.
3) Customer service- I ordered mine from All Things BBQ in KS, and while freight costs on 350lbs to CA adds to the cost, just being able to get on the phone and talk to a human when I need to is priceless.

I've never had issues with my Yoder besides initial priming with pellets. I bought the Grill Grates for it, and I'm able to get a good sear on steaks. We've made pizza, grilled chicken, veggies and steak, baked apple pies and smoked brisket and salmon. Haven't had a bad meal yet. It really is a quality cooking tool.

G

[Ski-me]

You are opening a big box here!

I have a Camp Chef which is similar to the Traeger. I do prefer it over the Traeger in this price range. I prefer the cleanout, leg stability and the optional Searing Box. But at the end of the day, both compete with each other. Google some comparisons on the two. If you are still looking, I'd also look at the Green Mountain. These are pellet type. Basically set it and forget it. $700-$800 or so.

If I was to spend a bit more and get a nicer unit, the Yoder YS640 is the way to go...top quality but you have to spend some bucks. $1500 or so. This will be my next one.

The Green Egg is also a big following but you do have to feed the fire with charcoal and wood, etc. A lot of people swear by them so do your homework. Another option next to the Green Egg is the Kamado. The same but a touch cheaper I believe.

[Ski-me]

I will add, my wife absolutely loves it and we are very surprise how much both of us enjoy everything that is cooked on it. Worth exploring for sure!

I also have a Weber Gas grill. Don't use it near as much but very nice for searing (I don't have the optional Camp Chef Searing Box). So I get best of both worlds.

Like TR6coug said, Steak cooking isn't the most ideal on a smoker....BUT, it really adds to the flavor to smoke it first, and then finish it on a much hotter grill (like my Weber gas grill or Searing box on the Camp Chef). To think you can get a really nice sear on a smoker.....I don't think so. But the added flavor is awesome!

[Ski-me]

All Things BBQ.....good source. Just got my Fireboard thermometer from them. Chef Tom has a lot of great videos!