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Costco Traeger Pellets
Costco sells wood pellets made by both Traeger and Bear Mountain to fuel the wood pellet grills in their lineup.
Traeger themselves recommends that you only use their wood pellets, and can void warranty coverage for damage caused by using another brand of pellets.
Traeger’s pellets are made using a proprietary three-stage drying process and are extruded under high pressure to maximize their structural integrity.
Other wood pellet manufacturers like Pit Boss and Bear Mountain don’t have such exacting standards, which can leave a lot of excess wood fibers behind in the bottom of the pellet hopper.
While you can use other wood pellet brands in a Traeger grill, it’s wise to sift them first through a coarse sieve to keep the wood fibers in the bag from getting into the Traeger’s hopper.
Then make sure to purge the pellets and clear the auger when you are done grilling.
This two-stage strategy of sifting and purging will go a long way toward preventing auger jams and burn-back problems.
If you use another brand of wood pellets, and your Traeger grill is damaged by something like a severe auger jam or a burn back incident, Traeger might not honor the warranty coverage for the repair.
This is part of the fine print language that states warranty coverage on a repair is voided “If non-compatible fuels are used.”
Does It Matter What Pellets You Use in a Traeger?
Traeger recommends that you only use their brand of wood pellets in their grills.
If you use another manufacturer’s pellets and excess wood fibers damage the auger or cause a burn back fire, Traeger might not cover the repair under the fine print language of their warranty.
Different types of pellets and blends produce different smoke characteristics, which can influence the flavor of the meat.
Some brands also use higher percentages of named accent woods, which appeal to barbecue purists who want to smoke traditional cuts of meat with specific types of wood.
You should never use wood pellets meant for a pellet furnace in a Traeger grill.
They use chemical binders, that aren’t food-safe, and can burn hot enough to damage the grill’s mechanical components.
Can You Buy Other Brand Pellets for Traegers at Costco?
Costco currently sells Traeger and Bear Mountain brand wood pellets in their lineup.
Both are made from 100% premium, all-natural hardwoods, without any additives, flavorings, or chemical fillers.
Though each is made using different drying and compression techniques.
This translates into Traeger’s wood pellets creating less dust, while also preheating slightly faster and being able to reach slightly higher maximum temperatures.
Is It OK to Use Pit Boss Pellets in a Traeger?
Pit Boss wood pellets can be used safely used in a Traeger grill.
Though it’s a good idea to sift the pellets through a coarse sieve to release any dust or wood fibers before dumping the Pit Boss pellets in the Traeger’s hopper.
Pit Boss offers 14 blended varieties with accent woods, as opposed to Traeger’s six.
This makes them a preferred option for barbecue purists who want more of a customized smoke.
Can You Use Other Pellets in a Traeger?
You can use other brands of wood pellets in a Traeger grill, so long as they are made from 100% hardwood with all-natural binders like organic lignin.
This includes brands like Pit Boss, Bear Mountain, Lumberjack Grills, and Kingsford.
It’s also important to note that Traeger warns customers not to use other brands of pellets in their grills, as they might count as a “Non-Compatible Fuel Source.”
If your Traeger grill is damaged by an auger jam or a burn back fire caused by another brand of wood pellets, Traeger might not honor the warranty repair.
Final Thoughts
As an affiliated retailer, Costco sells Traeger wood pellets, as well as other brands like Bear Mountain.
However, Traeger strongly recommends that you only use their wood pellets, as damage caused by an inferior brand of pellets might not be covered by their warranty plan.
Traeger creates their wood pellets using a special three-stage drying process, then extrudes the material under high pressure to optimize their performance and structural integrity.
Other wood pellet manufacturers such as Pit Boss and Bear Mountain don’t use exactly these same standards.
If you use another brand of wood pellets, excess wood fibers in the hopper and auger shaft can lead to severe auger jams or a dangerous burn back incident.
If this happens, Traeger might not cover the repair as non-compatible fuels are used.
Even though you can safely other wood pellet brands in a Traeger grill, it’s a good idea to sift them first through a coarse sieve to keep the wood fibers in the bag from getting into the Traeger’s hopper.
After you’re done grilling, you should purge the pellets and store them in a sealed container to prevent degradation.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.