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Why should you not buy a Traeger grill?
Barbecue is one of the most beloved comfort foods, and people across the country and world are looking to produce good barbecue in their backyards.
One way people do that is with Traeger grills. You want to find out if they are worth it.
What are some of the issues with them? How long will it last? Are they worth the expense? What are some alternatives? What’s the difference between a Traeger grill and a Big Green Egg? What about between a Traeger and traditional offset smokers?
What are some drawbacks to using Traeger grills?
Traeger grills are expensive, require a constant source of electricity, and you have to take good care of your wood pellets so they do not cause issues.
If you are just getting into backyard barbecuing and grilling, getting a brand-new Traeger grill is a serious investment.
The newest Timberline grills cost over $3000, and even the cheapest full-size grill on traeger.com, the Pro 575, costs $899.99 as of April 2022. If you want to purchase a brand-new Traeger, you will be investing a serious chunk of change in your new hobby.
Another drawback is that Traeger grills need a constant source of electricity. That means a cord and power source will determine where you can go with a Traeger grill.
If you experience a power outage and do not have a backup power generator, there is no barbecue or grilling for you. A gas or charcoal grill will work even when your house is without power.
With a Traeger, you need wood pellets, and there are some not-so-great pellets on the market.
Bad pellets can cause issues for a Traeger grill, whether you go through pellets quicker because they do not burn as long, or whether the pellets have higher moisture content and can bind up in the auger.
How many years do Traeger grills last?
With proper care and cleaning, a Traeger grill can last between 5 and 10 years.
Regular maintenance and cleaning are a big part of keeping a Traeger grill running.
You need to keep it stored properly so moisture does not cause rusting issues. You also want to make sure that you are cleaning the ash and grease out regularly, otherwise, you run the risk of fire or part breaking down.
Are Traeger grills worth it?
Only you can answer whether purchasing a Traeger grill is worth it because the answer is based on what you want to get out of it and how much money you feel comfortable spending.
If you have been intimidated by maintaining a fire through a 14-hour brisket smoking session, a Traeger grill takes all of that out of your hands so you can focus on creating the flavors you want. They also allow you to cook multiple ways on it.
You can even bake cakes and pies on a Traeger grill.
You need to weigh the cost against the features and what you want to accomplish.
Traeger grills perform at a high level, so if you are willing to spend the money, they can be worth the expense.
Traeger grill alternative
If the price tag on a Traeger grill is intimidating but you like the idea of a pellet grill, there are other options on the market.
Pit Boss produces pellet grills that may not have all the bells and whistles of a Traeger but are a more affordable entry into the pellet grill world.
You can purchase a Pit Boss Austin XL with 1000 square inches of cooking space on Walmart.com for $447.00 as of April 2022.
While it does not have Wi-Fi capabilities like most of the newer Traeger grills, it does have the ability to reach 500 degrees Fahrenheit and can sear over a direct flame exposed by a movable plate.
Traeger vs Big Green Egg
If you are looking at other styles of grills, the Big Green Egg is another high-end popular grill. Big Green Eggs are a ceramic kamado-style grill known for their heat retention.
They have the ability to get up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows for a wider range of temperatures than a Traeger grill.
However, their ceramic construction, the very thing that makes them retain heat so well, makes them incredibly heavy and hard to move around.
They are also expensive, so you are not likely to save much money, if not spend more money on getting a Big Green Egg.
Traeger vs offset smokers
If you are a barbecue purist, the thought of a computerized controller maintaining your fire for you bothers you. An offset smoker is a traditional way to smoke barbecue.
You get even more wood-smoked flavor because you are burning wood logs. However, offset smokers are typically used for barbecue and barbecue only. Traeger grills have a higher degree of versatility.
Final thoughts
If you are looking to get into the backyard barbecue and grilling scene, you have considered a Traeger pellet grill.
You need to weigh the cost and the need for a constant electrical source.
Pit Boss pellet grills are a more inexpensive option, while a Big Green Egg offers a bigger temperature range. Offset smokers are a more traditional option for barbecue purists. The quality is there with Traeger, you just need to determine if the cost is worth it.
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.