Best Traeger Grills: Which Ones Are Most Reliable

In our opinion, pellet grills are efficient, easy to operate, and maintain a constant temperature for extended periods of time. Despite the fact that lots of major grill manufacturers offer pellet-burning options, Traeger grills are synonymous with pellet grills. Grills from this Oregon company have been made since 1985, and wood pellets have always been a part of their story. Wood pellets made from compressed sawdust were introduced in the early 1980s as a way of keeping homes cozy for less money as a by-product of the region’s logging industry.

There are a variety of pellet grills and smokers available today from Traeger, ranging in price from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. As part of our evaluation process, we put our testers to work testing models that are worth splurging on. You need to know what to expect from each Traeger grill before you make a commitment. Best Traeger grills let you serve dinner in a totally new way, host barbecues at any time of year, or simply eat a perfectly seared steak at any given moment.

In order to avoid putting the shiniest new grill on your credit card, let’s consider what you’re actually looking for. Here, we will talk about one type of grill: the pellet grill and Traeger grill are some of the best pellet grill manufacturers. We have selected a few Traeger grills review models in 2023 for your consideration.

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1. Traeger Grills Ranger Portable Wood Pellet Grill

There aren’t many portable grills made by Traeger, but we think it’s because they got this one right from the start. There are all the features I want in something like this, and it is excellently made.

The device is lightweight, portable, and compact. This toolbox features a latching lid so you can keep all your tools inside and travel wherever you go. Portable grills give you a good amount of grilling space, which is about 184 square inches; enough to cater to a good-sized gathering for a couple of people.

Traeger grills are known for their high-tech features, such as the precise grilling logic and other accuracy-enhancing tools like the internal meat probe and the keep-warm function, despite their portable nature. Therefore, you don’t have to compromise functionality and quality while on the go.

It is significantly more expensive (actually, it is a LOT more expensive) than other portable grilling and smoking options, but the quality goes without saying. There’s nothing lacking in this Traeger grill, it’s just smaller. Weight and size are the only real concerns that I have. Grilling with this is definitely more of a tailgate or campground experience; it’s way too bulky and heavy for a hike or weekend camping trip.

2. Traeger Grills Pro Series Wood Pellet Grill

It is equipped with WiFIRE, allowing users to monitor and control the grill remotely from their smartphones. By opening the trap door, the hopper cleanout system removes pellets quickly. The 575-square-inch Traeger Pro Series 575 grill features WiFIRE technology that allows users to monitor and change settings remotely. Featuring a large cooking surface, this device can cook 24 hamburgers or four chickens simultaneously.

Despite having a meat probe, the grill can be opened without removing the meat. Cooking temperatures are precisely controlled by a TurboTemp system. Although this grill doesn’t have wheels at the back, it does have front wheels.

This model’s porcelain-coated grill grates provide fast, even cooking by retaining heat for a long time. In addition to being easy to clean, these grates resist corrosion so they will last for a long time. Featuring all-terrain wheels, the grill can easily be moved from place to place, and its casters are lockable. With this wood-fired system, you can easily monitor and adjust settings and enjoy excellent flavors. In this device, the hopper is cleaned out quickly using a hopper cleanout feature.

3. Traeger Grills Renegade Elite Wood Pellet Grill

Traeger’s Renegade Elite Wood Pellet Grill provides excellent performance at an affordable price with a lot of features. Although the Renegade is significantly smaller than the Lil Tex Elite, it is not quite as portable as the Tailgater. Grilling space measures 380 square inches on the Renegade, which is 50 inches tall and 40 inches wide.

This grill is the perfect space-saving option for small and medium-sized families. Having wheels makes it easy to transport for picnics at the park or to change your backyard scenery. This grill has a black matte finish and a handle that’s made of stainless steel with a red grip. On the front of the grill is a red ventilated basket for utensils, which is equipped with S-hooks for drying tongs.

This is the hopper to the left, which holds the Digital Elite Controller for ignition and climate control. An outer grate is also present on the front of the grill so that the food can cool while waiting for the next turn. A handle is located to the left of the grill for making moving easier, and a bucket of ash hangs to the right.

The bottle of ash is the biggest disappointment. It would be nice if the bucket was hidden. Cleanup is simple with the Renegade. The Digital Elite Controller makes it easy to ignite the flame, switch on the grill, and adjust the temperature. Just keep an eye on the grill so you can use it.

You can also wipe down the outside of the non-stick grates before covering it for the winter to keep it looking new. This Traeger Renegade grill is a great small family grill that is suitable for beginners and experts. This affordable and versatile grill lets you grill, roast, braise, and even bake.

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4. Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill

Traeger’s Pro 34 grill is actually part of its Gen 1 Pro Series, which means it doesn’t feature the same modern features as Traeger’s newer, more expensive grills, though it does have a digital temperature controller. Those looking for a quick barbecue who don’t need intense smoke flavor or a hard sear should consider the Pro 34.

Since it maxed out at 450°F, our testers found the Pro 34 difficult to use at higher temperatures, and its heat retention wasn’t great. During the searing and baking tests, the Pro 30 barely imparted any smoke flavor, but it did produce moderately smoked chicken wings. There is no doubt that the Traeger Pro 34 is somewhat average when compared to other grills on the market. While it’ll get the job done, it won’t blow your socks off.

5. Traeger Grills Lil Tex Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill

Traeger’s Lil Tex Elite wood pellet grill is ideal for spaces with limited space or for singletons. It is simple to use and comes with everything you need to smoke or grill meats to perfection.

The Lil Tex Elite measures 49 inches high by 42 inches wide. The entire setup weighs 98 pounds, but the wheels make it easy to move. Additionally, the Lil Tex can accommodate Trager add-on accessories such as a folding shelf, grill cover, and insulation blanket.

A copper-finished barrel, stainless-steel handles, and a matte black hopper highlight the exterior appearance of the grill. The Digital Elite Controller can be located on the left side of the grill and features easily readable controls. You can grill for a crowd of people with this cute grill’s 418 square inches of grilling area.

You will have everything you need to grill or smoke delicious dinners with the Lil Tex Elite. It is easy to follow the instructions, but you will need to supply your own tools. You can easily observe when the ash bucket needs cleaning by sitting it on the right side of the Lil Tex.

This grill is an excellent choice for beginners or those with limited space. Its compact size doesn’t deceive though. It packs a huge punch and delivers a lot of delicious naturally flavored food.

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6. Traeger Grills Pro Wood Pellet Grill

As best in class, the 780 was selected not based solely on its top marks, but rather its ability to achieve those marks at an attainable price. Compared to other models, it has a large capacity and demonstrated excellent searing and short-smoking results, providing chicken wings with a balanced, smoky flavor.

There is no doubt that grillers will find the 780 to be a versatile grill that has everything they need. One tester remarks that he was particularly impressed with the WiFIRE capability, the digital control panel, and the consistency of cooking. There is no complicated setup, and the components can be easily disassembled for cleaning, although the heat shield can be a pain to remove. Even though there is a noticeable temperature dip after opening the grill, it heats quickly with no hot spots. However, unless you’re working at extreme temperatures, the recovery time is very short.

7. Traeger Grills Pro Electric Wood Pellet Grill

We did not state that this is the cheapest Traeger in our review. Nonetheless, it comes with some essential traits that are impressive. The pellet smoker manufacturing industry has spent over a decade in China, and that is still the case until you reach ultra-premium high-end models. Traeger and many others seem to have discovered that their manufacturing partners are producing better products than they were previously, though consumers disagree.

Combining that with a sagging reputation for customer service explains why so many competitors were allowed. With a weight of 136 pounds, these are certainly heavy in metal. Rack space is impressive at 884 square inches spread over two levels. There are other interesting components as well. Their ability to hold temperature is notoriously fickle, according to us and others.

Despite using a dial with 25-degree increments, this particular unit is capable of holding positions within +/-15 degrees. Even at the upper end of the temperature range, 450 degrees can take a significant amount of time to reach. Two temperature probe inputs were provided, so you could monitor the chamber’s ambient temperature, but we’d recommend a Bluetooth system to perform those tasks and more.

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8. Traeger Grills Tailgater Wood Pellet Grill

While the Tailgater had a few size-related downsides, it performed similarly to, or better than, a number of larger models we tested. During the testing of smoking and searing, it exceeded expectations. In the baking part of the show, it struggled a bit, but that was large because the pizza was too big for the space.

In all aspects except one, it heats up and recovers quickly, retains a good amount of heat, and provides a good smoke flavor. While long smoking did not yield a strong smoke flavor in the finished product, it produced a very good bark. With a similar control panel interface to larger models, this portable grill is very good, but it lacks WiFi connectivity due to its portability. In addition, it might sear better at higher temperatures than 450 degrees Fahrenheit since it leaks a bit of smoke.

9. Traeger Grills Select Elite Pellet Grill

Taking a look at the Traeger Grill TFS60LZC Select Elite Pellet Grill and Smoker, we begin our list with the model. There have been grills and smokers from the Select Elite line ever since Trager entered the market.

For trying out new recipes and switching things up, a multipurpose grill is ideal. A grill that can barbecue, smoke, roast, braise, and bake is ideal. The grill allows you to cook anything you like and it will come out delicious. It runs on wood pellets for smoking or a delicious wood-smoked flavor so you can put an end to propane and charcoal.

Even if you do not know how to boil water, you can cook a steak on the Trager Elite if you are using this grill. The Digital Elite controller allows you to set the temperature and add the dinner once it is turned on.

It comes in a bronze finish and features two cabinet doors that open into a large storage space under the grilling area for storing extra pellets and utensils. There is an ash bucket underneath for collecting any excess ash, and it can easily be pulled out for cleaning. Side shelves provide room for finished food or incoming food.

The grill area is 586 square feet. This is enough room to feed the T-ball team a couple of chickens or enough hamburgers for the team. Setup dimensions are 46 inches tall, 57 inches wide, and 170 pounds in weight.

Once summer is over, the grill can be cleaned, covered, and rolled into storage with its integrated wheels. Lock the wheels and the grill will remain in place through the winter, or unlock them and you can change the look. There are no extra parts or hardware required for Traeger Select Elite. Having the non-stick grill grate makes cleaning up a breeze.

10. Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill

It has an 885-square-inch cooking surface and can be powered by charcoal or gas. The D2 drivetrain enables this device to start and heat up quickly for fast cooking. There is a capacity to cook up to five racks of ribs or ten chickens at once. Meat probes built into the oven make monitoring the cooking easier. By using this device, temperatures can be controlled up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. As such, this model cannot be transported in a regular car due to its size. Featuring a large cooking area and warming rack, this grilling system is ideal for entertaining. A side table is provided for preparing ingredients and it has four wheels.

In addition to providing ample space for preparing ingredients, a side table also allows you to store grilling tools. Alexa and Wi-Fi are built into this model, which allows remote control and app management via voice. Grills with wheels can easily be moved across lawns or camping sites. This unit uses pellet sensor technology to monitor pellet levels and alert users via the app. A double sidewall grilling system with well-insulated sides ensures fast and efficient cooking, preventing heat loss.

11. Traeger Grills Folding Shelf

Our final pick is not a grill but an accessory that works with every Traeger wood pellet grill and smoker in the 20-Series. It offers extra shelf space for grill masters to work on. The extra shelf space is especially useful for grills without built-in storage.

Using the folding shelf is incredibly easy, and you take up a little extra space with it. The shelf is completely flat and extremely sturdy. Install the folding shelf on any 20-series wood pellet grill with the included mounting screws.

The shelf adds a prep area needed when working in tight spaces and leaves space to set down your tongs or spatulas. If you don’t want to remove the shelf or attach it after every use, it comes with a fold-down option. You can fold up the shelf straight down in front of the grill and out of the way by simply pulling it upward.

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Buying Guide: Traeger Grills

The range of models and brands on the market can make it difficult to pick the right one. In order to find the right grill for you, you need to weigh your needs carefully. A new grill should be purchased with consideration for a few different factors.

Size

There is a grill for every need and every size. Size is equally important as shape (personally, I don’t like perfectly round surfaces). Consider the number of people you normally or likely need to feed.

There’s no need to buy anything bigger than you need: it’s only a waste of money since a bigger cooking surface area isn’t going to do anything more than allow you to cook more food at a time.

Materials

You should generally choose stainless steel. It is true that there are other good materials you can use to make grills (such as cast aluminum), but stainless steel, which is the most commonly available (and most popular among professionals), is the best. My opinion is that it is the best mix of quality and durability, so the increased price is justified.

When purchasing your grill, look out for cheap materials and cut corners: sometimes the grill itself will be constructed of stainless steel, but the frame will be made from cheaper materials that can rust or degrade over time.

Heat

For our purposes, we will measure the raw heat output of a grill in degrees Fahrenheit; some grills offer BTU information, but it is ambiguous (only one gives BTU output information clearly). Furthermore, all of the grills we’re going to talk about today will use an electrical ignition system and burn wood pellets.

Never use excessive heat as a selling point: heat isn’t always better. Uniform dispersion of heat is an important part of cooking: a high temperature and uneven distribution of heat can result in your food being charred on the outside and raw on the inside, or partially cooked in some other way.

This is disgusting – and possibly dangerous as well if it involves cooking pork or chicken. To put it another way, your grill’s size, shape, and layout will always be more important than its high heat alone. Having a small grill with a low heat output allows for easy, even grilling.

Price

We have talked about every factor that influences the price. The technology in these grills is more advanced, and they cost more than other types of smokers. To begin with, I recommend setting a budget of $400. Up to $2,000 is the maximum you can spend on a Traeger.

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Frequently Asked Questions