Grill Advice

[AuTX Buckeye]

Your old internet pal is thinking of saving up for a "treat yo-self" present for my birthday which comes in the early fall.
I've had my Weber Gas grill for 7 years and had to replace grates and heat deflectors and I'm ready to move on.

The one I'm eyeballing is a Traeger.

It's a woodpellet grill and smoker in one.
https://www.traegergrills.com/pellet-grills/pro/575

Now it's likely going to be $900 bucks. Especially because you have to buy the cover and I would like to buy a front grill shelve for it. But damn if the food cooked on the Traeger doesn't look fantastic.

Anyone have one? Or know of someone who has one?

pellet smoker....

Rectec....
www.rectec.com ... traegers by all accounts are shit... I got one from my family on the recommendation of my brothers friend who is a competition smoker (yes he’s legit the rubs and recipes he sends are legit the best shit i’ve cooked and tasted).

i wouldn’t use it to cook burgers but you can ... it was more of a supplemental grill to my normal Weber.

 

[exhawg]

Your old internet pal is thinking of saving up for a "treat yo-self" present for my birthday which comes in the early fall.
I've had my Weber Gas grill for 7 years and had to replace grates and heat deflectors and I'm ready to move on.

The one I'm eyeballing is a Traeger.

It's a woodpellet grill and smoker in one.
https://www.traegergrills.com/pellet-grills/pro/575

Now it's likely going to be $900 bucks. Especially because you have to buy the cover and I would like to buy a front grill shelve for it. But damn if the food cooked on the Traeger doesn't look fantastic.

Anyone have one? Or know of someone who has one?

I got one of these at Costco last year: https://louisiana-grills.com/lg-900

It was later in the summer so it was marked down 30% from regular. IIRC it was $350 (499 regular). I think you pay extra for the Traeger name. The cool thing about the Louisiana is the fire box is on the left side and has a slider so you can cook directly over the fire. I think the Traeger's have the fire box in the middle and I'm not sure if you can cook directly over it. The middle might make for even heat, but that only matters with high temp grilling if you have a full grill. I've grilled burgers across the whole thing and I don't know if there is much of a temp difference from the left to the right. Another drawback of the center fire is the screw that delivers the pellets from the hopper is longer and can allow the fire to jump up the screw.

As far as cooking on wood pellets it is the best easiest grilling I've ever done. It does take a little longer to heat up than gas, but the ability to set a temp and keep it while getting all the wood flavor makes for some amazing food. Everything I've cooked is better than my old gas grill or electric smoker. At least with my grill I highly recommend trying reverse seared steaks. The steaks can absorb the smoke at 250 for 25 minutes then sear them directly over the wood fire for a couple minutes. I always used to have to cook them in the oven then sear on cast iron so it is great being able to control the temp on the grill. So far the pork butt and rib smoking has turned out great as well.

I do question the durability of the pellet grills compared to gas since it does rely on electronics to control the temp. It is likely that I'll have to replace some parts at some point down the road/ You tend to have to do that with gas as well, but it will be more expensive with the pellet grill.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

Your old internet pal is thinking of saving up for a "treat yo-self" present for my birthday which comes in the early fall.
I've had my Weber Gas grill for 7 years and had to replace grates and heat deflectors and I'm ready to move on.

The one I'm eyeballing is a Traeger.

It's a woodpellet grill and smoker in one.
https://www.traegergrills.com/pellet-grills/pro/575

Now it's likely going to be $900 bucks. Especially because you have to buy the cover and I would like to buy a front grill shelve for it. But damn if the food cooked on the Traeger doesn't look fantastic.

Anyone have one? Or know of someone who has one?

Looked pretty hard at one of these earlier this year. Ended up with an XL Big Green Egg. Obviously pretty different but have been pretty happy with the Egg. My son who had a HS job at a BBQ place (best damn BBQ I’ve ever had... and not to start a war, but when we have friends from TX in, they request it) was pushing for the Traeger. He knows way more than I do and I probably should have listened to him... but still happy with the Egg. Translation: My son would agree with your choice.

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

These guys seem to prefer charcoal to wood.

Have any of you guys ever compared charcoal vs wood side-by-side?

 

[exhawg]

I'm way too lazy to deal with charcoal. Maybe it's better, but wood is sooo easy.

BTW if anyone does have a pellet grill don't buy Traeger pellets. They are all the same wood with flavoring for other types. Someone recommended Lumberjack pellets to me and they seem to work well. One store around me carries them and I buy them out every time they are in stock.

 

[AuTX Buckeye]

I'm way too lazy to deal with charcoal. Maybe it's better, but wood is sooo easy.

BTW if anyone does have a pellet grill don't buy Traeger pellets. They are all the same wood with flavoring for other types. Someone recommended Lumberjack pellets to me and they seem to work well. One store around me carries them and I buy them out every time they are in stock.

I use B&B pellets... you can find those a lot of places and they aren’t too expensive (again recommendations from the competition smoker guy)

 

[exhawg]

These guys seem to prefer charcoal to wood.

Have any of you guys ever compared charcoal vs wood side-by-side?

I just watched the video. I'm not going to argue with the guys on flavor, but the difference is that I can do the low and slow and sear on the same grill without waiting for charcoal to heat up or having the special sear apparatus that the dude had. I understand that might not be an option with other pellet grills. Give me (or any idiot with the instructions) 35 minutes starting with a cold grill and I can make one of the best steaks I've ever eaten and I doubt the video guy can say the same with his egg. There's probably a +90% chance the results will suck on the first handful of steaks before you learn to use the egg. Side note Lumberjack has a char hickory blend that has some charcoal in it. There is a chance I was using that blend for my steak. I used it from some brats and they turned out perfectly, but the smoke turned the outside black.

 

[buckeyebri]

I use a charcoal stove and the charcoal is ready to go in no time. I also add chunks of Hickory or Mesquite wood to the charcoal when I smoke. My Weber kettle does a great job when smoking most meats. I will admit I have not attempted a brisket on it.

 

[sparcboxbuck]

I use a charcoal stove and the charcoal is ready to go in no time. I also add chunks of Hickory or Mesquite wood to the charcoal when I smoke. My Weber kettle does a great job when smoking most meats. I will admit I have not attempted a brisket on it.

Just did my second brisket in the egg last weekend. Make no mistake, a 12+ pound brisket is a marathon.

 

[muffler dragon]

Your old internet pal is thinking of saving up for a "treat yo-self" present for my birthday which comes in the early fall.
I've had my Weber Gas grill for 7 years and had to replace grates and heat deflectors and I'm ready to move on.

The one I'm eyeballing is a Traeger.

It's a woodpellet grill and smoker in one.
https://www.traegergrills.com/pellet-grills/pro/575

Now it's likely going to be $900 bucks. Especially because you have to buy the cover and I would like to buy a front grill shelve for it. But damn if the food cooked on the Traeger doesn't look fantastic.

Anyone have one? Or know of someone who has one?

When we lived out in Oregon, these were very prevalent. I have never owned one, but consumed a LOT of food off of them. I like the taste profiles that a Traeger provides. The price point is a little high for me personally though.

 

[BigWoof31]

I'm way too lazy to deal with charcoal. Maybe it's better, but wood is sooo easy.

BTW if anyone does have a pellet grill don't buy Traeger pellets. They are all the same wood with flavoring for other types. Someone recommended Lumberjack pellets to me and they seem to work well. One store around me carries them and I buy them out every time they are in stock.

After doing some more research, I'm probably not going with a Traeger.
Apparently if you don't use Traeger branded pellets, it voids your warranty on the auger and the firebox.

That's annoying for something that already costs $800 dollars.