Barbecue (alt.food.barbecue) Discuss barbecue and grilling--southern style "low and slow" smoking of ribs, shoulders and briskets, as well as direct heat grilling of everything from burgers to salmon to vegetables.

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Richard Witt
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets

Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker such
as the Traeger units?

I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently use
a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire

Any thoughts?

Thanks


  #2 (permalink)   Report Post  
Q
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets


"Richard Witt" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker such
> as the Traeger units?
>
> I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently

use
> a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
> 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks
>
>

this link is to a pellethead forum
http://www.cookshack.com/cgi-bin/ult...ubb=forum&f=23


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JD
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets

"Richard Witt" > wrote in message

> Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker
> such as the Traeger units?
>
> I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I
> currently use a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood
> pellets provide as much 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
>
> Any thoughts?


It's a great idea in theory but they don't seem to impart as much smoke as
my tastes prefer. Have you tried adapting the Minion method to your offset?

JD


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Stan (the Man)
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets



Richard Witt wrote:
> Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker such
> as the Traeger units?
>
> I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently use
> a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
> 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks


I've had the Texas model (050, I think) for about 3-yrs now and love it.
The pellets provide plenty of smoke. They can be expensive, though, if
you live far from Oregon, as I do (NY). If you do, you should try to
find a local distributor, as I did. I pay $20 per 40-lb bag, as opposed
to the Traeger price of $34 per bag (I'm sure they don't charge as much
locally).

I also reccommend you purchase the residential thermostat with the unit,
as it will help maintain much more accurate temps.

It's a terrific smoker that requires no tending. You can put a piece of
meat on before you go to bed and not worry about it all night.

Of course, there's nothing that says you have to let your wife know you
needn't tend it. Then, you can still sit near it, drinking beer til your
meat is done.


--
Stan

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Richard Witt
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets

JD,

Thanks for the response.

I've tried the Minion method, using lump charcol, but after the initial burn
I'm back to adding two coffee cans of lump every half hour to keep the temp
between 200 and 230. For a 12 hour smoke I either have to get up way early
or eat way late.

I like the idea of the Traeger unit for a couple of reasons:
- With the addition of the thermostat they sell, it can be used as a grill
also. My 13 year old Weber Genesis finaly gave up the ghost, so I have to
replace it anyway.
- Supposedly, the Traeger runs unatended. Start it up the night before and
let it smoke for 15 or more hours. Be able to do some nice large pieces that
way.

I think I'll pick up a small bag of pellets and use them in my next smoke
(tomorow) and see how they do.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again,
Dick


"JD" > wrote in message
...
> "Richard Witt" > wrote in message
>
> > Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker
> > such as the Traeger units?
> >
> > I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I
> > currently use a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood
> > pellets provide as much 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
> >
> > Any thoughts?

>
> It's a great idea in theory but they don't seem to impart as much smoke as
> my tastes prefer. Have you tried adapting the Minion method to your

offset?
>
> JD
>
>





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Richard Witt
 
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Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets

Thanks for the response, I'll check it out.


"Q" > wrote in message
k.net...
>
> "Richard Witt" > wrote in message
> ...
> > Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker

such
> > as the Traeger units?
> >
> > I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently

> use
> > a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
> > 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
> >
> > Any thoughts?
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> >

> this link is to a pellethead forum
> http://www.cookshack.com/cgi-bin/ult...ubb=forum&f=23
>
>



  #7 (permalink)   Report Post  
Richard Witt
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets

Stan,

Thanks for the reply.

Loud and clear on the 'don't let the wife know' part.
I keep Beck's on tap, nothing like a 12 hour smoke and a keg of Becks.

Yes, I would get the thermostat. My 13 year old Weber Genesis needs to be
replaced, and I understand that the Traeger can be used as a grill with the
thermostat. How is it for burgers? At 450 do drippings smoke when they hit
the drip pan?

I'm going to pick up a small bag of pellets and use them in my traditional
offset smoker tomorow to check them out.

Thanks again for the response,
Dick

"Stan (the Man)" > wrote in message
t...
>
>
> Richard Witt wrote:
> > Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker

such
> > as the Traeger units?
> >
> > I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently

use
> > a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
> > 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
> >
> > Any thoughts?
> >
> > Thanks

>
> I've had the Texas model (050, I think) for about 3-yrs now and love it.
> The pellets provide plenty of smoke. They can be expensive, though, if
> you live far from Oregon, as I do (NY). If you do, you should try to
> find a local distributor, as I did. I pay $20 per 40-lb bag, as opposed
> to the Traeger price of $34 per bag (I'm sure they don't charge as much
> locally).
>
> I also reccommend you purchase the residential thermostat with the unit,
> as it will help maintain much more accurate temps.
>
> It's a terrific smoker that requires no tending. You can put a piece of
> meat on before you go to bed and not worry about it all night.
>
> Of course, there's nothing that says you have to let your wife know you
> needn't tend it. Then, you can still sit near it, drinking beer til your
> meat is done.
>
>
> --
> Stan
>



  #8 (permalink)   Report Post  
Stan (the Man)
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets



Richard Witt wrote:
> Stan,
>
> Thanks for the reply.
>
> Loud and clear on the 'don't let the wife know' part.
> I keep Beck's on tap, nothing like a 12 hour smoke and a keg of Becks.


And, thirsty friends. Don't forget the thirsty friends. You can use them
as gofers.

> Yes, I would get the thermostat. My 13 year old Weber Genesis needs to be
> replaced, and I understand that the Traeger can be used as a grill with the
> thermostat. How is it for burgers? At 450 do drippings smoke when they hit
> the drip pan?


No, but even at high temps, you'll still get enough smoke to flavor the
meat quite well. In my experience, burgers come out delicious. Although,
I admit, I also have three conventional Weber grills for when I want a
good sear on my meat. That's one thing you can't get with an offset-only
smoker.

> I'm going to pick up a small bag of pellets and use them in my traditional
> offset smoker tomorow to check them out.


Good idea. I think you'll like them. One thing to remember, though.
Don't attempt to use home heating pellets for smoking. They're infused
with chemicals that could be toxic. You can only use food-grade pellets
for cooking.

> Thanks again for the response,
> Dick


My pleasure. Good luck.

--
Stan

> "Stan (the Man)" > wrote in message
> t...
>
>>
>>Richard Witt wrote:
>>
>>>Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker

>
> such
>
>>>as the Traeger units?
>>>
>>>I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently

>
> use
>
>>>a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
>>>'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
>>>
>>>Any thoughts?
>>>
>>>Thanks

>>
>>I've had the Texas model (050, I think) for about 3-yrs now and love it.
>>The pellets provide plenty of smoke. They can be expensive, though, if
>>you live far from Oregon, as I do (NY). If you do, you should try to
>>find a local distributor, as I did. I pay $20 per 40-lb bag, as opposed
>>to the Traeger price of $34 per bag (I'm sure they don't charge as much
>>locally).
>>
>>I also reccommend you purchase the residential thermostat with the unit,
>>as it will help maintain much more accurate temps.
>>
>>It's a terrific smoker that requires no tending. You can put a piece of
>>meat on before you go to bed and not worry about it all night.
>>
>>Of course, there's nothing that says you have to let your wife know you
>>needn't tend it. Then, you can still sit near it, drinking beer til your
>>meat is done.
>>
>>
>>--
>>Stan


  #9 (permalink)   Report Post  
SCUBApix
 
Posts: n/a
Default Experience w/Traeger/wood pellets


"Richard Witt" > wrote in message
...
> Does anyone out there have experience with a wood pellet fired smoker such
> as the Traeger units?
>
> I'm thinking about getting one to cut down on fire tending. I currently

use
> a side firebox smoker and don't know if the wood pellets provide as much
> 'smoking' as wood chips on a lump fire
>
> Any thoughts?
>
> Thanks


I know you asked about Traeger (or similar), but for the price of their
smallest, you can get a ceramic cooker like the Grill Dome (Large, ET). Just
thought I'd mention it. Nothing better for long cooks with little to no
tending. 14-16 hour cooks are a snap with lump left over. I haven't gone
beyond those times yet so can't be difinitive about max time on a single
load. I have heard stories of 20+ hours but I haven't done it.


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