Traeger or other pellet BBQ's

[Bofire]

  How high of heat can your turn up to for grilling? can you get 375-500??degrees?
thanks
Carl

[bearpaw]

You should be able to check the specs for your answer. I haven't used one but thinking of getting one someday, people are telling me the best meat they've ever eaten was cooked in a Traeger!

[Bofire]

 :)I have been reading and found that good grill temps are attainable. There are many brands, Traeger being one of the more reasonable priced. There are pellet smokers/grills and combos. They run from about 150$ for thin tin to $couple thousand!! or more.
Now I use a smoker and a grill, might be nice to have in one unit.
Turns out there are all sorts of pellets also and many brands. There are some real BBQ snobs out here one guy has about 8 smokers and grills and thinks $2000.00 is cheap and buys pellets at $40 for 5 LBS.
Carl

[buglebuster]

I have a traeger texas and I can get 450. It can sear a steak, but I wish it could get a little hotter. I love the thing, and use it almost dailey, but if I was to do it again I'd buy a louisiana grill. I believe you can reach 600 on it, and have the option to grill directly over your fire.

[Timberstalker]

I have a traeger texas and I can get 450. It can sear a steak, but I wish it could get a little hotter. I love the thing, and use it almost dailey, but if I was to do it again I'd buy a louisiana grill. I believe you can reach 600 on it, and have the option to grill directly over your fire.

This is exactly what I get on the Traeger's I've used. 

[Bofire]

the "Olive" claims 650 grill temp!! it is like 1500.00
Carl

[haugenna]

I used to own a traeger but got rid of it for a green mountain grill. The traeger had too many issues with temp fluctuation. I can get to 500 degrees on my gmg. Pick up some grill grates if you want to sear on these grills.

[MtnMuley]

I have a couple Traegers.  They get the job done, but I would recommend another brand.  I feel the GMG, RecTec, and the Louisiana Grills are built better and all around the same price.  I can't get either of my Traegers over 450.  I used an Louisiana and had it just under 700.  All those other brands seem to be built more stout as well.

[WCTaxidermy]

Bonfire, go to the Rec-Tec web-site and check their grills out.  I have had one for 3 years and will never own any other pellet grill.  They are built like a tank, and has less than a 5 degree temp swing. 

[grundy53]

I have a traeger texas and I can get 450. It can sear a steak, but I wish it could get a little hotter. I love the thing, and use it almost dailey, but if I was to do it again I'd buy a louisiana grill. I believe you can reach 600 on it, and have the option to grill directly over your fire.

This is exactly what I get on the Traeger's I've used.

Me too

[lamrith]

Check out Green mountain as well.

I looked strongly at the Louisiana because of the higher temps and direct flame ability but read that they have to start hot and then back down to smoking temps each startup.

Whatever grill you get check the temp settings, having 5* incremental adjustment is pretty important as none of them will run exactly the temp they are actually set at so that lets you dial it in for different recipes versus some lower priced grills that have fixed temp settings...

Keep an eye out also, I will likely do another pellet group buy in mid/late July.

[mossy8352]

I have the Traeger and I have replaced the firerod and the burn pot, after three years though and under warranty. I use mine almost daily for meals and then also for making jerky, pulled pork and Canadian bacon. I did buy the Trager insulating blanket before last winter and the temperatures are now much more stable. It is the Lil Texas Elite and is has replaced my upright gas smoker, my gas grill has not been fired up for three years now. At 450 with the convection style of cooking we did a t Bone last night for dinner 7 minutes on the first side and 6 minutes on the final side, Seared fine and was medium rare the way we like it. Buy your pellets at Harbor wholesale twenty pounds for under $10.00. Chicken fish pork beef and bread baking are a breeze!

[lamrith]

I bring in lumberjack brand for $16.50/40# bag. (Was 15.90 but they just had a price increase June 1.)

[KFhunter]

I'm still using the first Treager I bought probably 5 years ago, it's got some issues and isn't really reliable.

I'll replace it with a different brand, probably rec tec


Treagers kind of started the whole thing now I feel like they're coasting on their name recognition while other brands are trying to offer a better product and target people like me ready to step up from their first "cheaper" pellet grill.   I recommend you skip the entry level pellet grill market and spend a tad more for a higher end pellet bbq

[mossy8352]

I bring in lumberjack brand for $16.50/40# bag. (Was 15.90 but they just had a price increase June 1.)

That still is a good price for food grade pellets. The only problem for me (not anyone else) is with my back the forty pound bags are too heavy.

[jrebel]

I bring in lumberjack brand for $16.50/40# bag. (Was 15.90 but they just had a price increase June 1.)

That still is a good price for food grade pellets. The only problem for me (not anyone else) is with my back the forty pound bags are too heavy.

Have someone help get them where you want them, then just cut them open and scoop the pellets out with a coffee can.

[lamrith]

I bring in lumberjack brand for $16.50/40# bag. (Was 15.90 but they just had a price increase June 1.)

That still is a good price for food grade pellets. The only problem for me (not anyone else) is with my back the forty pound bags are too heavy.

Have someone help get them where you want them, then just cut them open and scoop the pellets out with a coffee can.

Have someone help and dump a bag into this.  It will hold an entire 40# bag, and seals airtight.  Comes with a scooper too, and I find the smaller container ontop is great for keeping spare meat probes, my ET732, a pair of welding gloves, laser thermo and a few oven thermometers in with room to spare.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007RBB4ZU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00

[mossy8352]

How high of heat can your turn up to for grilling? can you get 375-500??degrees?
thanks
Carl

What ever you decide the results should be the best cooked/smoked meal going. We have for a long time done our own pizza on the Traeger and it  is hard to beat anywhere!

[black hog]

I own 3 traegers and have had problems with them all I have a couple friends with the Rec Tec much better bbq hold temperature much better and are not much more money and will reach 500 degrees none of my traegers will do that the pellets lamrith brings in are great I've used close to a half of ton of them without any problems

[MtnMuley]

No wonder your Traeger have issues if you've used nearly 1000lbs of pellets. 

[Quackwhacker]

Anyone using a Yoder out there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[mossy8352]

Here is a good site for information on smokers, pellets and some good recipes.

http://pelletheads.com/index.php

[shadowless_nite]

Here is a good site for information on smokers, pellets and some good recipes.

http://pelletheads.com/index.php

  get on there and search on all the different sections. Honestly the real question that should be asked is what is it the OP wants to do with it. These are pellet grill/ smokers best used for smoking and some grilling. I myself run a traeger Texas that I built a custom hopper for as well as cart managed with a ortec controller. Works great for large cooks and big batches of jerky. Not so great for quick steaks or burgers. Also the size sucks for daily meals for 4 people considering I could be cooking a whole lot more at the same time. If anything I really want a GMG Davey Crocket! Portable and can be powered by battery! I think this would super awesome during hunting season..... set it to cook before you hunt in the morning and by the end of the day when your boots are drying by the fire your having pulled pork  with enough left over for lunch the next day! 

[Timberstalker]

I recently purchased the Louisiana LG-900.  Here is a picture of just under 700 Degrees.  I've also had it down around 175 and it holds nicely.  I'm impressed so far. 

[lamrith]

I recently purchased the Louisiana LG-900.  Here is a picture of just under 700 Degrees.  I've also had it down around 175 and it holds nicely.  I'm impressed so far.

Awesome!!
How long you had it and how you like it so far?

I considered the Louisiana but heard stories about startup having to go high temp and back down for low n slow.  how long it take from startup for you to get stablized @ 175?

Your grill I think also has direct flame grilling option if I recall, THAT is handy for an all around rig..

High temps like you show are also very handy for Pizza cooks!!

[KFhunter]

No wonder your Traeger have issues if you've used nearly 1000lbs of pellets. 

They're suppose to be made like a home pellet furnace, imagine if those were only good for 1000lbs or so.

I'd pay more for home pellet furnace quality and longevity. 

[MtnMuley]

True

[trophyhunt]

I have a treager and wanted to sear my steaks, it only goes up to 450 so I recently just started cooking my steaks on a cast iron skillet which I set right on the grill. Best steaks I've ever eaten.  I think the cast iron helps with searing the meat and the ridges boil the juices under the steak.  Traeger owners should try using a skillet!

[sagerat1]

I had a treager for a couple of years and used it off and on. Gave it to my son. Bought a vertical propane smoker and a SS 6 burner BBQ. Never looked back.
I can put some smoke on then finish in BBQ. Also better for smoking fish,sausage and pepper sticks. IMO..

[lamrith]

the pellets lamrith brings in are great I've used close to a half of ton of them without any problems

Going to start up another group buy here in the next day or two, STAY TUNED!

[cletus]

Anyone using a Yoder out there?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a Yoder and am very happy with it!