Joined the Traeger Family

[Russ McDonald]

Well done decided to jump on board.  Got the Model TFS81PZD new model just out.  Traeger reps are out at the new Bonney Lake Costco.  MSRP $1299 they have them for $999 the also threw in some good accessories too.  Cooking some chicken on it tonigh. 

[jrebel]

Looks like you have some good smoked meals in your future.  Congrats!!!!   


Now make sure you find some lumberjack pellets.....they are the best.   

[Timberstalker]

Nice. Pellet grills are a blast. I cook everything on mine: Meat, veggies, cinnamon rolls, Peach pies and more.

[mossy8352]

You will enjoy it there is a short learning curve then it is all good eats!!!!!

[Russ McDonald]

Cooked some chicken breasts on it tonight.  Awesome the Traeger seasoning was mediocre at best.  I have much better seasoning then that.  Have to realize that it cooks like more like a oven.

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[Jpmiller]

Cooked some chicken breasts on it tonight.  Awesome the Traeger seasoning was mediocre at best.  I have much better seasoning then that.  Have to realize that it cooks like more like a oven.

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Yeah it's not a BBQ replacement but it does slow cooking and baking VERY well. I tried the traeger seasoning once and was so underwhelmed I ditched the rest.

I'll also second the lumberjack pellets. So much better smoke taste. You're in for a great time cooking and eating on that thing!

[Timberstalker]

Turn that traeger up. It will grill. Get it to 600 and it will sear burgers or a steak.

[The scout]

Mine barely breaks 400 there is know searing going on . And not a lot of smoking either unless you are cooking something for a long time. The best part to me is you can’t get flare ups on it. Steaks dripping, burgers dripping, doesnt matter they won’t catch fire.

[Timberstalker]

Mine barely breaks 400 there is know searing going on . And not a lot of smoking either unless you are cooking something for a long time. The best part to me is you can’t get flare ups on it. Steaks dripping, burgers dripping, doesnt matter they won’t catch fire.

Interesting. I don’t have a traeger currently. I have a Sawtooth and I can get it to 600 pretty easily.
I’m pretty sure the newer Traegers will get hotter.

Is yours newer or older?

[jrebel]

Mine barely breaks 400 there is know searing going on . And not a lot of smoking either unless you are cooking something for a long time. The best part to me is you can’t get flare ups on it. Steaks dripping, burgers dripping, doesnt matter they won’t catch fire.

I have an older one and it will get hot enough to put a light sear on steaks.....easy 500 degrees.  I use to have problems but I bought the insulation blanket for it and it works amazing.  Also using half the pellets it use to....which is simply amazing becuase it has always been good with pellets. 

I can smoke a briket for 24 hours with approx 30 lbs. 

[Russ McDonald]

Mine is a new model this year.   375 is last setting before ir says high.

Mine barely breaks 400 there is know searing going on . And not a lot of smoking either unless you are cooking something for a long time. The best part to me is you can’t get flare ups on it. Steaks dripping, burgers dripping, doesnt matter they won’t catch fire.

I have an older one and it will get hot enough to put a light sear on steaks.....easy 500 degrees.  I use to have problems but I bought the insulation blanket for it and it works amazing.  Also using half the pellets it use to....which is simply amazing becuase it has always been good with pellets. 

I can smoke a briket for 24 hours with approx 30 lbs.

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[The scout]

Blanket must make a heck of a difference. I have a new one, and I have a couple buddy’s that have the older ones and they all get just over 400.

[carpsniperg2]

  I had one as well and didn't have a blanket and mine would max during the summer at 375-400. Winter I didn't even use it could not get it hot enough. Now days with the insulation blankets and etc much better.

[lamrith]

Welcome to the Pellet pooper party Russ!!  You will love it once you figure it out.  They are probably the most versatile cooking unit around.

[b23]

Well done decided to jump on board.  Got the Model TFS81PZD new model just out.  Traeger reps are out at the new Bonney Lake Costco.  MSRP $1299 they have them for $999 the also threw in some good accessories too.  Cooking some chicken on it tonigh.

I just put that exact same one together for my sister a few weeks ago, she got hers at Costco as well.  I have the Lil Tex, it's not quite as elaborate or fancy, my sister calls mine the redneck version.    That model is called the Select Pro or something like that and at a glance they don't even look like a pellet grill and look more like a conventional gas grill.  I know it's got a sh1t load more pieces to it and takes about three times as long to put it together, too.

With her new fancy one and my regular one, about 450 is the hottest it'll ever get and it better be facing the sun or it won't even get that hot and in the winter, I'm lucky to get much over 400, if that.  Doesn't seem to be much of a problem though because everything seems to turn out ok. 

I don't really care for turkey so I did a big ass Prime Rib from Costco on mine at Christmas and it turned out amazing!  I'll be honest though, having never done one that big, I was sweating bullets and worried the whole time I was effing up a $140 prime rib and potentially ruining everyone's Christmas dinner, if it turned out effed up but I was lucky and the internet instructions I followed worked out perfect.

There is DEFINITELY a learning curve to using these things but I think if you're a pretty good cook/grill master the learning curve is considerably less, but if you kind of suk at cooking like I do, the learning curve is a little longer.  The biggest thing I've had to learn about using mine is I have to be patient and willing to dedicate a certain amount of time to it because it's definitely a bit more involved than using a gas grill.