Traeger Grills are an excellent investment for home chefs. They are of high quality, well made, and fall within the price of a typical home appliance.
So if you’re looking to buy a new grill, checking out Traeger products is worth it.
In this best Traeger grills review, I’m going to hint you on how Traeger started. Plus, I’m going to reveal to you the best Traeger pellet grills in the market today and help you choose the right one that meets your desired needs.
Joe Traeger invented Traeger pellet smokers in 1986. And ever since, they maintained the position of the top-rated pellet grill brand, even till now. Let’s get a bit into details.
- You may also like the article: Top 10 Best Pellet Smokers & Grills In 2024
Page Contents
- 1 How Did the Company Started?
- 2 Types Of Traeger Pellet Grills
- 3 The Best Traeger Pellet Grill Reviewed For 2024
- 4 1. Traeger pro series 575 pellet grill
- 5 2. Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker
- 6 3. Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22
- 7 4. Traeger Grills Tailgater 20
- 8 5. Traeger Grills TFB38TCA Renegade Elite
- 9 6. Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and Smoke 380
- 10 7. Traeger TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Tex Elite 22
- 11 Which Is The Best Traeger Pellet Grill?
- 12 Why Traeger smoker or grill is your best bet
- 13 How to select the best Traeger smoker
- 14 Conclusion
How Did the Company Started?
Traeger has been around for a while creating and selling one of the best pellet smokers in the world. I find the brand story interesting.
Decades ago, Joe Traeger and Jerry Whitfield experimented with wood pellet stoves.
Joe Traeger developed the pellet smoker in 1985 and had it patented in 1986. And for over two decades, Traeger was the only pellet grill brand in the market.
However, their pellet grills were pretty basic back then. They used the basic LMH controller type. LMH means low heat, Medium Heat, and High heat.
However, Traeger was only a family-owned business.
And in 2006, the original patent expired. That when new pellet smoker brands start bumping into the market. Surprisingly, by 2014, we have over 24 pellet grills companies. In that same year, Jeremy Andrus became a partnership member of Traeger and had the business moved to Salt Lake City.
Today Traeger still maintained the first position as a leading pellet grill manufacturer. I checked their stats and see that they sell over $300 million worth of pellet grill yearly.
Traeger made it know that all their residential grills were manufactured in China while the larger models were made in the U.S. Many people don’t like the fact that Traeger manufactures their grills in China. The truth is, other pellet smokers were also made over there.
Types Of Traeger Pellet Grills
It’s important to understand that not only does the Traeger grill come in a different model, you can also find the different models in 4 basic lines. Don’t get too confused; here’s what I mean. Traeger produces four basic lines of pellet grills. And you must clearly understand these lines before shopping for your grill.
Also, you must choose between purchasing the latest model and simply going for an old model. That’s because the market is stock with various old Traeger models. However, here are the four Traeger pellet grill lineup
Traeger Pro series
This is the most popular of the lineup. It features a Wi-Fi connectivity option that allows you to connect the grill to your Traeger app.
Traeger Ironwood Series
This is an advanced version of the Pro series. The size is a bit larger than the Pro series. You can also expect more advanced smart tech features like the TRU connection that helps boost your cook time.
Trust me; these versions are super techy.
There’s also the super smoke mode; with this smart feature, push a button, and your smoke is ramped up.
Traeger Timberline series
Here comes the most extensive option. It features two cooking space varieties: the 850 and 1300 square inches. Get ready to explore the features of these two line ups. Plus, you can also have your pellet levels measured on the app.
Traeger Tailgater
Okay, don’t expect much smart tech feature here. This lineup is all about portability. Hope you understand?
Also, I want you to know that the numbers you see on Traeger’s product imply the number of cooking surface areas. For example, pro 780 comes with a cooking surface of 780 square inches.
The reverse is the case in older models; the name implies the size. For example, the pro series 37 comes with a grilling rack of 37″ × 19.
The Best Traeger Pellet Grill Reviewed For 2024
That said, below are the pellet grills featured in this Traeger pellet grill review
1. Traeger pro series 575 pellet grill
I have the 575 and love it. Usually cooking for 5. But… if I had it to do over again. I would go bigger: Traeger PRO 780.
I’m starting this best Traeger pellet smoker review with this model because it’s the most popular in the Traeger series. When I checked on Amazon, I noticed that it is available in two sizes and two colors.
Talking of the sizes, it comes in 575 and 780 square inches. But I’m reviewing the 575 inches here. The 575 square inches allows you to cook up to 4 chickens on the go.
And when it comes to color, this model is available in bronze or black color.
Thanks to Traeger that keeps improving on its pellet grill. The pro lineup now features a new WIFI technology.
With this feature, you can connect this grill to the Traeger app and have it controlled from your room or anywhere with an Internet connection.
The pro D2 direct drive controller, which comes at a range of 180-450°F, controls the temperature of the grill. It comes with an RTD probe that ensures that your smoking temperature is maintained evenly.
The cleanout feature of the grill allows you to change your pellet flavor when smoking.
Traeger pro series 575 is quite efficient and doesn’t suck up your wood pellet. It only uses around 2lbs of wood pellet per hour when used in high heat mode.
However, you must remember that the Traeger pro series 575 pellet grills comes at a maximum of the temperature of 450°F. So if you’re considering doing several searings, then you may want to check out other models.
I have the 575 and love it. Usually cooking for 5. But… if I had it to do over again. I would go bigger: Traeger PRO 780.
2. Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker
3. Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22
The first impression I got about this Traeger pellet grill is its great look. The black-colored grill has a great barrel-shaped profile.
It comes with a sawhorse-style undercarriage that makes it durable and eliminated all my doubts about the stability of the grill.
And the wheel design looks good too; you can roll the pellet grill to your desired smoking location.
The whole body part of this unit is made with stainless steel. Do you know what that means? The unit is durable and can retain more heat.
I checked under its lid and noticed that the grates are made from porcelain-coated steel. This not only ensures that heat is distributed correctly but also easy to clean, too.
The Traeger pellet grill comes at a total of 572 sq. In. of cooking space. The primary area took 418 sq. in while the upper rack has the remaining 154 sq.in.
The digital controller of the grill allows you to set your desired cooking temperature. You don’t have to babysit your grill. Just set your desired temperature, the auger will automatically add the number of pellets sufficient to cook at that temperature.
Oh, and not forgetting, Traeger Grills TFB57PZBO Pro Series 22 comes with two different probes that let you monitor your smoking temperature on the go. I recommend this grill if you’re planning to cook different kinds of delicious food.
4. Traeger Grills Tailgater 20
One word is best used to describe the Tailgater series from Traeger- portability.
If you want to enjoy the comfort and flavor of pellet smoking from a portable grill, then Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 is a smart choice.
The 300 square inches cooking space isn’t large. I was able to cook up to 4 racks of ribs. And some other time, I also cooked 2 chickens.
At 62lbs, the weight is minimal, making it easy to transport. The hopper can hold a weight of up to 8lbs. That way, you can cook up to 6 hours without the need to refill.
It features foldable legs that let you transport your grill from to your desired location. However, with its portable feature, you have some other features to lose. For example, Traeger Grills Tailgater 20 has no WIFI feature or more advanced features that you can find in the Ironwood, pro, or Timberline pellet grills.
Even with that, I love the excellent performance of the grill and its capacity to smoke anywhere between 180-450°F.
It also comes with a digital controller that helps you maintain a steady cooking temperature with 20 degrees accuracy.
Although, when camping, grilling with charcoal sounds pretty nice, the versatile nature of a pellet grill is top-notch. That you can grill, smoke, and bake, is the incredible advantages of using pellet smokers.
5. Traeger Grills TFB38TCA Renegade Elite
Renegade Elite from Traeger is a rebel. Coming at 380 square inches, it is a bit bigger than the tailgate.
During the best Trager pellet smoker review, one thing I noticed about this pellet smoker is that the manufacturer designed the product to enhance the quality of life rather than looking luxurious.
Thanks to the front gate, you can quickly load up your grill. Plus, you don’t need a different side table anymore.
I love the tool feature of this series from Traeger; for example, the included tool basket that allows you to store your grill accessories in one basket. Feel free to put the fork, scraper, and other accessories in your basket. That way, you won’t have to go here and there to take or store your accessories.
The hopper is simple to clean and maintain. To replace the pellet, what I do is to open the hatch at the back and have the pellets tumble out.
It makes it easier for you to change your pellet or literarily clean the hopper. I also love the addition of the side grease drain.
6. Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro Pellet Grill and Smoke 380
Here’s another recommendation from the Renegade series – the Renegade Pro pellet grill.
Even with its top-notch features, I’m surprised to know that many BBQ lovers never looked into the direction of this Traeger grill.
When it comes to construction, I can compare this grill with the Tex Elite 22 (in fact, I think it’s better).
Traeger made this product using coated steel with a powder finish. That way, it can withstand harsh weather conditions or any rough handling. It is also equipped with wheels, which lets you transport your grill anywhere.
However, I noticed that the cooking space is narrow (around 380 square inches). But you can still smoke 3 racks of ribs, 2 chickens, and even 12 burgers at once.
Renegade Pro is sufficient enough for a small family of, let’s say, 3-4 members. And if there’s anything else I’m sold for about this grill, it’s the portable 6-1 functions that allow you to smoke, roast, grill, bake, barbecue, or braise anything on the go.
Furthermore, the digital pro controller feature helps in the cooking process, coming at +/- 15 degrees F. Feel free to choose Low and slow, or hot and fast, along with other settings.
However, I noticed that this unit doesn’t go well with extra accessories like drip trays or smoke racks.
I hope Traeger will fix this accordingly.
7. Traeger TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Tex Elite 22
It does not matter whether you’re a beginner or experienced smoker, this unit from Traeger is definitely for you.
Coming at 418 square inches of cooking space, feel free to cook up to 5 racks of ribs, 4 chicken, and over 16 burgers on the go. The hopper can also hold over 8lb of pellet weight. That way, you can grill for hours without refilling.
The burner is durable and long-lasting, thanks to its high-quality steel materials. It comes with a digital controller that has your temperature maintained at the 20°F range. The controller makes it easier for you to set the temperature of your grill. To cook your food at a low temperature, choose the low and slow settings, or switch to the hot and fast setting for high heat cooking. At a max temperature of 450°F, enjoy a consistent cooking experience.
Set your grill to your preferred temperature and face other activities. I love that the LED display is clear enough to be read.
See also:
Which Is The Best Traeger Pellet Grill?
While our best Traeger pellet grill review cover 6 best Traeger pellets, I’m happy to choose the Traeger pro series 575 pellets grill as the best. And that’s because it offers good value for the money.
The pro lineup features an additional WIFI technology that lets you connect this grill to the Traeger app and have it controlled from the comfort of your room or anywhere with an Internet connection.
Furthermore, it features a pro D2 direct drive controller, which comes at a range of 180-450°F to control the temperature of the grill.
Why Traeger smoker or grill is your best bet
In this best Traeger smoker review, you will notice that these smokers function as a smoker and grill together. Because of this, we cannot determine which is better between a smoker or a grill. So if you’re planning to both grill and smoke, I’ll recommend going for an excellent quality Traeger pellet smoker.
How to select the best Traeger smoker
With several brands of Traeger, making the right choice can be difficult. I remembered feeling intimidated by the various Traeger lines.
However, to choose the best Traeger grill, you need to weigh your options. Here is a refactors that helped me when choosing a Traeger grill.
Size
If you notice, most of the Traeger pellet grills highlighted, start from 300-1300 square ft. Firstly; make sure you sort out how much food you want to cook.
The larger the size, the higher the price. So have that in mind. If you are cooking for a large guest, then don’t consider a small size.
However, you may waste more pellets or spend a lot of money if you go for a too-big brand. Also, you must consider the pellet hopper’s size.
Large hoppers accommodate sufficient pellets, and you would only need to refill after prolonged use, if necessary. I recommend going for a grill that is a buy larger than your requirements.
Features
There are two categories of buyers; those who prefer to have the grill stocked with the latest tech and those who never cared about the tech but prefer a grill with the excellent build quality.
What features would you prefer and which can you do without.
Here are some features you will find on pellet grills.
- Wifi connectivity- Do you wish you can monitor and control your Traeger pellet smoker from anywhere?
- Searing- Although most pellet grills do a great smoking job, some struggle with searing. That’s why most manufacturers added a searing feature as an attachment.
- Portable feature- Do you prefer a portable Traeger grill with foldable legs? Consider those times you may want to transport the grill.
Price
All the factors we discussed play its price in price determination.
Pellet grills come with more improved tech features, making them expensive than most smokers.
From $400-$2000, you can purchase one of the best Traeger smokers.
Conclusion
Traeger Grills comes in a series of impressive models, and most of them perform as grill and smoker. So always ensure you know the feature you want in a Traeger grill before buying one.
I hope our best Traeger smoker review has been able to help. Make sure you shop smartly. That way, you can find the perfect Traeger Grill that meets your needs and requirements. And in no time, you’ll enjoy a grilled flavorful wood-fired food from a Traeger pellet smoker.
