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Traeger thoughts

Hello all! 

I’ll start with I absolutely love both my eggs and wouldn’t trade them for anything! That being said, through my work I had the opportunity to get a traeger brand new for 50% off as we just started to partner with them on some stuff.

I decided to pull the trigger getting a pro 780 wifire model for under $500. Excited to have another option in the arsenal!

Any thoughts from owners of both? Any tips or tricks I can proactively be thinking about? 

Thanks in advance!

Brandon - Ohio

Comments

  • WeberWho
    WeberWho Posts: 11,008
    "The pig is an amazing animal. You feed a pig an apple and it makes bacon. Let's see Michael Phelps do that" - Jim Gaffigan

    Minnesota
  • I don't like the thought of plugging in a grill but for under $500 I might be willing to test one out but with extremely low expectations.


    Rockwall, Tx    LBGE, Minimax, 22" Blackstone, Pizza Party Bollore. Cast Iron Hoarder.

  • My brother in law has one.  He seems to like the food it cranks out.  I’ve used them a few times and suspect like anything else in this space it has its wheelhouse.  

    These things are really the ultimate “set it and forget it” machines.  They’re easy to use and pretty cheap too.  Years ago @stlcharcoal told me that pellet grills were flying off the shelves compared to BGEs and KJs or any other kamado.  I wonder if that’s still the case.  
    "I've made a note never to piss you two off." - Stike
  • Ozzie_Isaac
    Ozzie_Isaac Posts: 18,943
    I have a Traeger.  It works well.  It is like using an oven.  I have not found any pellets that give me the same flavor profile as my eggs, but it is nice to just turn it on, wait 10minutes, then throw protein on and walk away.  It is pretty much idiot proof and turns out good food.
    A bison’s level of aggressiveness, both physical and passive, is legendary. - NPS
  • Canugghead
    Canugghead Posts: 11,453
    edited November 2021
    Congrats

    Use the search function.
    Lots of info in this thread for example,
    https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1224709/ot-my-son-married-and-a-one-year-old-wants-a-pellet-grill-700-800-top-spend-inputs-welcome-ot

    Love my Traegers, my recent turkey cook on Traeger Pro 34, no wifi though ;(
    https://eggheadforum.com/discussion/1229042/cross-border-thanksgiving


    canuckland
  • ewyllins
    ewyllins Posts: 461
    I love reading threads like this because of the different opinions on pellets and eggs. I have a combo of all and sometimes too many. In my opinion, the only thing that matters is the end result no matter how we get there.

    With that being said I do enjoy the journey with my eggs and offset. There is no satisfaction after a long cook on a pellet. However, I mainly use my pellet for veggies and chicken and it does a great job. I do not have a Traeger and use the Grilla OG which can put out a lot of smoke flavor. 


    O-Town, FL

  • Hansm
    Hansm Posts: 214
    Hmmm, $500 for a Pro 780 is a good deal.  I had a Pro22 Gen1 that we got for a great deal as well. For me it was kind of OK'ish. It is a smoker an not a grill. Doesn't make steaks or burgers worth a hoot unless you do a long and  involved reverse sear. Now that I have a BGE, the only way for me. I am more of a griller than a smoker. I would recommend not to use Traeger pellets, mixture or oils, flavor and junk despite what they say. I hear B&B makes great pellets?
    LG BGE,  Weber Genesis gas, Weber 22" Kettle, Weber Smokey Joe
  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,110
    I recently got a Weber Smoke Fire. We love the mild smoke profile. Heat control up and down is soooo easy. Except for the fact it normally doesn’t work right.lol

    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • What’s a good model traeger?  The one I got my hands on at the Costco road show felt flimsy but I figured it was a cheaper model.  I have a recteq but someone I know is asking about traeger models for her husband for Christmas. 
  • loco_engr
    loco_engr Posts: 5,759
    My only experience eating food from a Traeger was an open house for a new business.  I had a hamburger, it was so-so at best.  Nothing like the grease dripping on coals for added flavor!
    aka marysvilleksegghead
    Lrg 2008
    mini 2009
    XL 2021 (sold 8/24/23)
    Henny Youngman:
    I said to my wife, 'Where do you want to go for our anniversary?' She said, 'I want to go somewhere I've never been before.' I said, 'Try the kitchen.'
    Bob Hope: When I wake up in the morning, I don’t feel anything until noon, and then it’s time for my nap
  • CtTOPGUN
    CtTOPGUN Posts: 612
     I have a Cuisinart pellet grill and also a portable Pit Boss tabletop pellet grill. I will be doing the Thanksgiving turkey on the BGE, but the pellet units are so easy to get cooking right away. If I cook at low temps I get enough smoke for my/my family's tastes. It is an outdoor wood fired oven. Set and forget. They both have pretty good temp control with no effort on my part. I think you will find it a good tool in the arsenal.
    LBGE/Weber Kettle/Blackstone 36" Griddle/Turkey Fryer/Induction Burner/Royal Gourmet 24" Griddle/Cuisinart Twin Oaks/Pit Boss Tabletop pellet smoker/Instant Pot

     BBQ from the State of Connecticut!

       Jim
  • caliking
    caliking Posts: 18,727
    Hansm said:
    Hmmm, $500 for a Pro 780 is a good deal.  I had a Pro22 Gen1 that we got for a great deal as well. For me it was kind of OK'ish. It is a smoker an not a grill. Doesn't make steaks or burgers worth a hoot unless you do a long and  involved reverse sear. Now that I have a BGE, the only way for me. I am more of a griller than a smoker. I would recommend not to use Traeger pellets, mixture or oils, flavor and junk despite what they say. I hear B&B makes great pellets?
    B&B pellets are flavored. Competition grade pellets are made from the actual wood i.e. pellets made from hickory, mesquite, etc. vs. “hardwood” pellets flavored with hickory, etc. They are a good bit pricier. 

    #1 LBGE December 2012 • #2 SBGE February  2013 • #3 Mini May 2013
    A happy BGE family in Houston, TX.
  • TechsasJim
    TechsasJim Posts: 1,908
    Nothing wrong with having another toy…
    LBGE, 28” BS, Weber Kettle, HCI 7.8 SE Texas
  • littlerascal56
    littlerascal56 Posts: 2,104
    edited November 2021
    My friend was the largest Traeger distributor in this region.  I bought 4 of them in the past (traded every 3 years), and put up with the failed igniter rods, augers, control boards, etc which always occurred during a big cook for family & friends.  I bought pellets from Seth (bbq pellets online)by the pallets.  Finally sold my last Traeger, and my friend is dropping them and took on Napoleon grills.  He said Cosco is a good fit for the Chinese built Traeger!  Look for the Traeger brothers to introduce a new line of pellet grills soon, which will be built in the USA again!
  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,110
    My friend was the largest Traeger distributor in this region.  I bought 4 of them in the past (traded every 3 years), and put up with the failed igniter rods, augers, control boards, etc which always occurred during a big cook for family & friends.  I bought pellets from Seth (bbq pellets online)by the pallets.  Finally sold my last Traeger, and my friend is dropping them and took on Napoleon grills.  He said Cosco is a good fit for the Chinese built Traeger!  Look for the Traeger brothers to introduce a new line of pellet grills soon, which will be built in the USA again!
    That’s my biggest issue with pellet grills…there are so many components, mechanical and electrical, that can fail and stop your cook. They are simple and easy until they stop working in the middle of a cook.
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • Canugghead
    Canugghead Posts: 11,453
    Touch wood, my Traeger Pro 34 is over fours years old, all parts original.
    canuckland
  • dstearn
    dstearn Posts: 1,702
    I do not have a Traeger but my Stepson has a Traeger Ironwood 650. The Ironwood has double wall construction, better temp control and a super smoke feature for low and slow cooks. If I were to go with a Traeger it would be the Ironwood or Timberline models. 
  • I think they fixed the “burn back” issues they had. If wind conditions were just right, the pellets burned back thru the auger tube, and caught the pellet hopper on fire.  Happened to my sons Traeger while he was doing a pork butt.  He went out to patio, and whole grill & butt were totally consumed in fire! Total loss, and warranty had expired.
  • Photo Egg
    Photo Egg Posts: 12,110
    I think they fixed the “burn back” issues they had. If wind conditions were just right, the pellets burned back thru the auger tube, and caught the pellet hopper on fire.  Happened to my sons Traeger while he was doing a pork butt.  He went out to patio, and whole grill & butt were totally consumed in fire! Total loss, and warranty had expired.
    A good company would have made that right even after the warranty…
    Thank you,
    Darian

    Galveston Texas
  • But Traeger is now a Chinese manufacturer.  Sheet metal is so much thinner, and very poor quality control compared to the original USA made grills.  If you want a quality USA made (Kansas) pellet grill, buy a Yoder.  It will last a lifetime, and is so well built!
  • GregW
    GregW Posts: 2,676
    But Traeger is now a Chinese manufacturer.  Sheet metal is so much thinner, and very poor quality control compared to the original USA made grills.  If you want a quality USA made (Kansas) pellet grill, buy a Yoder.  It will last a lifetime, and is so well built!
    Cookshack also makes an excellent pellet grill. Made in Oklahoma.
  • danhoo
    danhoo Posts: 675
    I have a pellet. Pit boss not traeger and I bought it for the set and forget, but it's just OK, and it is likely the next one voted off my island. 

    Maybe the traeger is superior, but I get better cooks on my BGE.

    Main advantage of the pellet is the size, being much larger. 
    current: | Large BGE |  Genesis 1000 | Genesis E330 | 22 inch Kettle | Weber Summit Kamado
    sold:| PitBoss pro 820  WSM 22