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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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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 |
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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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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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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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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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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 > > |
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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 > |
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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 |
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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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