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How Much Are Traeger Pellets at Costco?
Costco sells a 33-pound bag of Traeger Gourmet wood pellets for $26.99. This is the most cost-effective bag of Traeger pellets, as it translates to a cost of around $.81 per pound.
Traeger Gourmet wood pellets are identical to the Traeger Signature wood pellets. However, Signature pellets typically sell for $19.99 for a 20-pound bag, which translates into $1 per pound.
While the Costco Traeger Gourmet pellets are the most cost-effective compared to Traeger signature wood pellets, they are still more expensive than many of Traeger’s competitors.
When it comes to the different types of Traeger wood pellets, their base lineup of Mesquite, Pecan, Cherry, Apple, and Hickory all have a higher percentage of the named accent wood. Limited Artisanal wood pellet blends like Bold, Brisket Blend, and Meat Church use a variety of different woods and accent seasonings to stand apart from other pellets.
These different types of pellets give off smoke with different aroma and flavor characteristics. They appeal to barbecue purists who believe in pairing specific cuts of meat with traditional types of smoking wood.
While you can use other brands of food-grade wood pellets in a Traeger grill, Traeger warns against it. If your grill is damaged by another brand of wood pellets Traeger might not honor the repair under their warranty coverage.
Are Traeger Pellets Expensive?
Traeger wood pellets are expensive compared to many of their direct competitors. Their Signature wood pellets cost around ” per pound and the identical Traeger Gourmet wood pellet sold at Costco for $.81 per pound.
Yet you can get Pit Boss wood pellets for around $.50 per pound in a 40-pound bag or Bear Mountain wood pellets for $.62 per pound in a 40-pound bag.
Is There a Difference in Price Between the Different Traeger Pellets?
Traeger wood pellets can vary in price depending on the retailer and the size of the bag you buy. The 33-pound bag of Traeger Gourmet wood pellets sold at Costco costs $26.99 which translates into $.81 per pound.
Traeger’s standard lineup of pellets including the Signature Blend, Pecan, Cherry, Mesquite, Hickory, and Apple all cost around $19.99. This translates into $1 per pound.
Sometimes you can find them on sale at a licensed retailer or online for $15.99 to $17.99, but these sales are inconsistent.
Traeger has a new artisanal lineup of wood pellets that includes Bold, Brisket Blend, and Meat Church. You can buy these pellets in an 18-pound resealable bag for $24.99, which is $1.38 per pound.
Which Traeger Pellets Are the Most Cost-Effective?
The 33-pound bag of Traeger Gourmet wood pellets sold at Costco for $26.99 is the most cost-effective bag of Traeger brand pellets. At $.81 per pound, it can’t be beaten by other Traeger wood pellets at their normal retail price.
Does It Matter What Pellets You Use in a Traeger?
Different accent blends of wood pellets in Traeger’s line produce smoke with different characteristics. This means some pellets like Mesquite pair better with traditional cuts of meat for barbecue like beef.
Traeger’s Signature and Gourmet blend wood pellets are designed to be versatile. They can be used to smoke or grill just about any cut of meat, fish, seafood, vegetables, or even baked goods.
Though you should note that Traeger strongly recommends only using their brand of wood pellets in their grills. If you use an alternative brand and it causes damage to the auger or stray wood fibers lead to a burn back incident, Traeger might not cover the repair under their warranty language.
You should never use furnace-grade wood pellets in a Traeger grill. They burn hotter and have chemical binders that can damage your grill, not to mention give your meat a foul flavor.
Final Thoughts
The most cost-effective Traeger wood pellets is the 33-pound bag of Gourmet pellets sold at Costco. At a price of $26.99 or $.81 per pound, this is the best deal for Traeger brand pellets.
Traeger Signature wood pellets are identical to the Costco Gourmet blend. Though Signature pellets sell for $19.99 for a 20-pound bag.
In the wood pellet niche, Traeger’s brand of pellets is the most expensive averaging around $1 per pound. Other pellets in their Pecan, Mesquite, Cherry, Apple, and Hickory are also $20 for a 20-pound bag but have a higher percentage of the named accent wood.
The different accent woods in Traeger’s pellets give off smoke with different aroma and flavor characteristics. This appeals to purists who want to stick to traditions of smoking specific cuts of meat with specific types of wood.
You can use other brands of food-grade wood pellets in a Traeger grill, though it might not be advisable Damage caused to a Traeger grill by another brand of pellets might not be covered under Traeger’s warranty.
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.