Christmas Traeger

muddhunter

muddhunter

12 pointer
Oct 18, 2005
5,130
louisville
I don’t pull the trigger on biggish purchases without putting a lot of research in beforehand. For the last couple years I’ve been studying pellet grills and wanted one bad. Was leaning toward the Pitboss brands for the features and their price tag being a little lighter. Wife went ahead and pulled the trigger for me and I got a Traeger Ironwood 885 for me for Christmas. I hadn’t even considered it due to price but am thrilled to have it. I am now asking my fellow forum members for any advice that they can give to get me going. Types of food. Types of pellets. Cook times and temps. Pitfalls and things that may shorten my learning curve. Let ‘em rip. I’ve already seasoned it and cooked some ABT’s and some chicken breasts. Both turned out great using Traeger hickory pellets. (Would like to hear recommendations on pellets. Them things is pricey).
 
bondhu

bondhu

12 pointer
Jul 3, 2015
5,426
Battle Run
i have been running Costco blended pellets. Treager pellets are about the highest priced out there. Main thing for me on pellets is needs to be 100% wood. Treager pellets use to be only 70%. You can cook anything you want just time allowed is longer. When you open the lid it kills your heat big time. Besides all the bbq ive done spatchcock chicken has been a game changer for me cooking whole birds.
check out howtobbqright.com
 
xbokilla

xbokilla

12 pointer
Jun 28, 2012
15,423
muddhunter said:
I don’t pull the trigger on biggish purchases without putting a lot of research in beforehand. For the last couple years I’ve been studying pellet grills and wanted one bad. Was leaning toward the Pitboss brands for the features and their price tag being a little lighter. Wife went ahead and pulled the trigger for me and I got a Traeger Ironwood 885 for me for Christmas. I hadn’t even considered it due to price but am thrilled to have it. I am now asking my fellow forum members for any advice that they can give to get me going. Types of food. Types of pellets. Cook times and temps. Pitfalls and things that may shorten my learning curve. Let ‘em rip. I’ve already seasoned it and cooked some ABT’s and some chicken breasts. Both turned out great using Traeger hickory pellets. (Would like to hear recommendations on pellets. Them things is pricey).
Click to expand...
Congrats! I’ve wanted one for at least two years now but haven’t pulled the trigger. I’m not sure why? I just have trouble dropping money on things like this at times. Guess I don’t want to make a mistake? That Ironwood is one of the nicer ones. I’ve done enough research that I know that. I may try to catch a good sale this winter and join in. I could use a new grill. My dilemma has always been should I get a pellet smoker/grill and be done with it? Or a nice grill plus a vertical smoker? I really don’t have a lot of patio room so option 1 may be the best?
 
muddhunter

muddhunter

12 pointer
Oct 18, 2005
5,130
louisville
xbokilla said:
Congrats! I’ve wanted one for at least two years now but haven’t pulled the trigger. I’m not sure why? I just have trouble dropping money on things like this at times. Guess I don’t want to make a mistake? That Ironwood is one of the nicer ones. I’ve done enough research that I know that. I may try to catch a good sale this winter and join in. I could use a new grill. My dilemma has always been should I get a pellet smoker/grill and be done with it? Or a nice grill plus a vertical smoker? I really don’t have a lot of patio room so option 1 may be the best?
Click to expand...
I hear ya on that. I have a Weber kettle grill that I pulled out of someone’s trash, a Weber Genesis gasser that is going to need some attention (I’ve had it over 10 years), and an electric vertical smoker that a friend was throwing out to replace my Masterbuilt that crapped the bed at a bad time. I think I will keep the gasser and liquidate the rest. The Traeger should do everything I need as long as I don’t need it real fast.
 
1wildcatfan

1wildcatfan

12 pointer
Jan 2, 2009
15,369
raised n Bullitt Co.
xbokilla said:
Congrats! I’ve wanted one for at least two years now but haven’t pulled the trigger. I’m not sure why? I just have trouble dropping money on things like this at times. Guess I don’t want to make a mistake? That Ironwood is one of the nicer ones. I’ve done enough research that I know that. I may try to catch a good sale this winter and join in. I could use a new grill. My dilemma has always been should I get a pellet smoker/grill and be done with it? Or a nice grill plus a vertical smoker? I really don’t have a lot of patio room so option 1 may be the best?
Click to expand...
I have a Weber, new in box, i can hook you up with. Looking for a good home. Listed in classifieds.
 
Z

Zeb

8 pointer
May 20, 2008
625
Prospect, KY
Like Cap said, you'll love it. I've been using Pit Boss pellets from Walmart but will try the Costco ones, didn't know they had them.

Brisket and pork belly are two things that I get requests to cook again. Both are pretty easy and make it look like I know what I'm doing, when I actually don't.

I inject the brisket with some beef broth, cover it with whatever rub I have, slap it on the smoker at 225, set the meat temp alarm to 165 and go to bed. Get up and wrap it in foil when the alarm wakes me up (if it's not already morning), back on the smoker and reset the temp alarm to 203. Pull it when it gets there, wrap in old towels and put it in an old cooler to rest until I'm ready to carve it.

Pork belly - cut into 1 1/2" or so cubes and cover with rub. Smoke at 225 for about 3 hours then cover with sauce and put into foil pan covered with foil. Leave on until it gets to 203 or so. Pull out of the pan and put the cubes on jerky mesh, back on the smoker until the sauce sets.

I'm still figuring it out, but pellet grills sure make it much easier than messing with a wood or charcoal burner. Feels a bit like cheating but makes a great meal.
 
3PointSlayer

3PointSlayer

6 pointer
Aug 3, 2021
440
Between The Bridges
Zeb said:
Like Cap said, you'll love it. I've been using Pit Boss pellets from Walmart but will try the Costco ones, didn't know they had them.

Brisket and pork belly are two things that I get requests to cook again. Both are pretty easy and make it look like I know what I'm doing, when I actually don't.

I inject the brisket with some beef broth, cover it with whatever rub I have, slap it on the smoker at 225, set the meat temp alarm to 165 and go to bed. Get up and wrap it in foil when the alarm wakes me up (if it's not already morning), back on the smoker and reset the temp alarm to 203. Pull it when it gets there, wrap in old towels and put it in an old cooler to rest until I'm ready to carve it.

Pork belly - cut into 1 1/2" or so cubes and cover with rub. Smoke at 225 for about 3 hours then cover with sauce and put into foil pan covered with foil. Leave on until it gets to 203 or so. Pull out of the pan and put the cubes on jerky mesh, back on the smoker until the sauce sets.

I'm still figuring it out, but pellet grills sure make it much easier than messing with a wood or charcoal burner. Feels a bit like cheating but makes a great meal.
Click to expand...
Where do you find pork belly?
 
ukyager

ukyager

10 pointer
Jan 21, 2005
1,036
KENTUCKY
Try this website…

Smoking-Meat.com Home - Learn to Smoke Meat with Jeff Phillips

I created this website more than 18 years ago as a way to share what I had learned and it has turned into the largest and best smoking meat resource online.
www.smoking-meat.com www.smoking-meat.com

Tons of info on different types of smokers and recipes.
I use his recipes for about 90% of what I smoke. One of my favorite is his 5 hour pork butt recipe and reheating method.
I was skeptical at first but now it’s a go to for me.
Oh… and the butter and herb spatchcock turkey, my lord it’s good.
 
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