One of the best ways to cook your favorite BBQ meats is to smoke them using a Traeger range smoker. These smokers work by using a fuel source, such as charcoal or wood, to create heat and smoke. They produce evenly cooked meat with a unique smokey flavor that everyone will love. If you’re in the market for a new smoker, check out this Traeger smoker range buyer's guide.
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Why Choose Traeger?
Traeger Smokers Compared
Image | Product | Cooking Area | Material | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
TFB42LZBC Grill Lil Tex Elite 22 | 418 Sq. in | Painted steel | ||
TFB88PZBO | 884 Sq. in | Steel with powder coat finish | ||
TFB38TOD Renegade Pro | 380 Sq. in | Steel with a powder-coated finish | ||
TFB57CLB Century 22 | 572 Sq. in | Steel with powder coating | ||
Traeger Pellet Grill BBQ155.01 | 292 Sq. in | Steel with powder coating | ||
TFS60LZC | 589 Sq. in | Stainless steel and steel with powder coat finish |
Traeger Smoker Types
Pellet Smoker
This is what Traeger does best! They make the best pellet grills on the market. These models produce smoke by using wooden or sawdust pellets to feed the fire. You fill up the hopper with pellets, and the auger draws the pellets into the smoker. It empties pellets onto the fire to create heat and smoke at any temperature.
image source: amazon.com
Electric Smoker
These models produce heat and smoke by using the electrical outlet in your home. You plug them in, and they use the electrical power to heat up the elements. Some Traeger smokers use electrical currents to heat up the fire pit where the pellets are placed.
Smoker/Grill Combo
These models are perfect for anyone that wants to have the best of both worlds. Traeger combo models allow you to turn up the heat to cook food quickly. They also allow you to turn down the heat to 250 degrees to smoke low and slow.
6 Best Traeger Smokers Reviewed
1. Traeger TFB42LZBC Grill Lil Tex Elite 22
Our Top Pick!
Dimensions | 42 x 22 x 49 inches |
Weight | 98 lbs |
Temperature Range | 200 - 450 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 418 Sq. in |
Material | Painted steel |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
Sometimes great things come in small packages. This model packs a real punch with its versatility and medium size design. The Traeger Grill Lil Tex Elite 22 is the best Traeger smoker on the market. It features the ability to smoke, grill, roast, and bake all in one beautiful package.
This model comes with an integrated digital elite thermometer that will maintain temperature once you set it. It features a digital readout so that it’s easy to read at a quick glance. It is as simple as turning the knob and walking away for a cold one while it heats up. The Lil Tex Elite model has 418 square inches of cooking space, which is perfect for cooking for a small party or family. This model is ideal for someone who wants a small to medium size grill that can keep up with your needs.
I enjoyed cooking with this smoker so much that I used it for almost every meal for a whole week. My first meal was a rack of ribs, and they came out perfectly. Everyone was impressed, and they fell right off the bone. I liked the size of this model. I could move it around with ease, but could still cook up to 16 burgers.Chef Tony Matassa claimed,
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2. Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO
Best Rated Traeger Smoker
Dimensions | 22 x 59 x 49 inches |
Weight | 163 lbs |
Temperature Range | 200 - 500 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 884 Sq. in |
Material | Steel with powder coat finish |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
One thing that everyone checks for when they are shopping for a new product is the ratings. If a product has a high rating, then you can be confident that it has been put through the wringer by other users. The Traeger Pro Series 34 is the best rated Traeger smoker available in their range. This model is part of Traeger’s latest pro series, which is their best range yet.
The Traeger Pro Series 34 features a massive cooking rack with 884 square inches of space. That is enough to accommodate up to 8 chickens or 40 burgers. As you can see, it is about double the size of the Lil Tex Elite model. It features digital temperature control with Advanced Grilling Logic to ensure that you get the perfect temperature every time. This model comes with dual meat thermometer probes, which is a bonus for smokers in this category.
One thing this grill does best is makes you feel like a champion pitmaster. I loved using it to cook for large parties. I cooked up to 7 racks of ribs for a Sunday cookout. The digital temperature readout was easy to use with a simple turn of the knob.Ryan, from Traeger's website, stated,
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3. Traeger Grills TFB38TOD Renegade Pro
Best Traeger Wood Pellet Smoker
Dimensions | 39 x 27 x 50 inches |
Weight | 109 lbs |
Temperature Range | 200 - 500 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 380 Sq. in |
Material | Steel with a powder-coated finish |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
Many people would argue that smoking meat with wood simply tastes better. I happen to agree that nothing beats the smokey flavor of wood chips. The Renegade Pro is the best Traeger wood pellet smoker on the market. It holds up to 18 lbs of pellets in its oversized hopper. The less time you spend filling up your fuel source, the more time you have to grill.
The Renegade Pro features less cooking space than the other two models that we reviewed. It is ideal for smaller backyard barbecues. It comes with a cooking capacity of 380 square inches, which is enough to cook 3 chickens. It comes with an easy hopper cleanout system that makes it effortless to empty the ashes. It has an electric start-up igniter that is as simple as pushing a button.
I liked that this grill was the perfect size for a simple backyard BBQ. I was even able to carry it in the back of the truck when we went to the park. Everyone was so impressed that we had our own smoker to cook burgers.One purchaser from Traeger noted,
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4. Traeger Grills TFB57CLB Century 22
Best Value for Money
Dimensions | 40 x 22 x 32 inches |
Weight | 178.6 lbs |
Temperature Range | 100 - 500 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 572 Sq. in |
Material | Steel with powder coating |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
Everyone loves a great deal. Even if you have a big budget for your new smoker, you still want to be able to have the best value for your hard-earned money. We voted the Traeger Century 22 model as the best value for money smoker in their range. It comes with everything that you need to get started in a medium-size and affordable package.
The Century 22 model comes with a beautiful LED temperature display. It is effortless to read and easy to control. You turn the knob, and the temperature is set. You can enjoy the swimming pool while your meat is smoked to perfection. This model comes with a food warmer to keep food hot while you finish smoking the rest of your meal. It is perfect for keeping hamburger or hotdog buns warm while you take the meat off the grill.
I had a great time using this smoker for a family weekend. The food warmer was a game changer. I heated up the bread on the grill for a few seconds, then popped them into the warmer to stay hot. It also came in handy for keeping baked beans warm. I thought the bottom shelf storage was nice as well.Matt from Anaheim, CA, stated,
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5. Traeger BBQ155.01
Best Traeger Smoker/Grill Combo
Dimensions | 21 x 23 x 21 inches |
Weight | 71 lbs |
Temperature Range | 200 - 500 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 292 Sq. in |
Material | Steel with powder coating |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
If you are looking for the best of both worlds, then this model is for you. It is compact with an easy to use design. We chose the Pellet Grill as the best Traeger smoker/grill combo. It is perfect for smoking a rack of ribs or grilling up the best burgers in town. While it is on the smaller side, it can still be a grilling machine.
This model comes with 292 square inches of cooking space. It is smaller than the other models that we have reviewed, but Traeger still uses the same innovative technology. It has a fully automatic auger that will push the pellets into the smoker. The digital temperature readout is easy to set and forget. It has an electronic auto-start igniter.
I thought that this smoker/grill combo from Traeger was state of the art. I was able to grill burgers for a small family get together. I was also able to start smoking more meat, which was a great experience. I liked the digital temperature gauge, so I could easily identify the temperature inside the chamber.Pros
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6. Traeger Grills TFS60LZC
Top of the Range
Dimensions | 57 x 25 x 46 inches |
Weight | 122 lbs |
Temperature Range | 200 - 450 Fahrenheit |
Cooking Surface Area | 589 Sq. in |
Material | Stainless steel and steel with powder coat finish |
Warranty | Yes, 3 years |
If you’re sure that you want a new smoker, and you have the budget for it, then you may be looking for the best of the best product. The Traeger Select Elite is the top of the range smoker from their line. It is the ultimate in smoking and grilling power. This model is perfect for the user who wants to become a champion pitmaster.
This Select Elite model comes with a simple digital temperature controller. You can set the smoker to the ideal cooking temp for smoking or grilling. Once the temperature is set, this model will take care of the rest for you. It comes with extra shelves on the sides for preparing food or chopping veggies. It features an underneath cabinet to store BBQ tools and other accessories. There is also an easy drain grease pan that is discreetly placed under the cabinet so that no one can see the icky grime.
One feature that I loved about this model was the extra storage space. It doesn’t seem like a necessary feature, but once you use it, you’ll see why it’s important. I could easily store my BBQ tools out of sight and neatly away.Pros
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Comparison to Other Brands
Now that you’ve read through the top Traeger brands, you might be wondering what makes them different from other top brands. Traeger has developed some innovative technology that sets them apart from the competition.
The DirectDrive, Turbo Temp, and DownDraft exhaust patented tech are just a few of them. Another feature that is exclusive to Traeger is the WiFire. It allows you to connect your phone to your grill through WiFi so that you can monitor the temperature.
They have combined durability with affordability to outshine other brands, such as MasterBuilt, Pit Boss, and Char-Broil. We recommend Traeger if you’re looking for a serious BBQ machine.
How to Set Up & Use a Traeger Smoker
Like many first time buyers, you will need some tips on getting your new smoker up and running. The first thing you should do is season your smoker. This will give it the perfect flavor for your first cooking adventure.
Now that your smoker is primed, let’s get started on making some amazing Traeger approved prime rib roast.
Cleaning and Maintenance
After you’ve made your first fantastic set of ribs or burgers, you’ll need to give your Traeger some cleaning attention. Most grilling racks can be easily cleaned using the process below. Turn up your Traeger to the High setting using the selection dial. Let it sit for around 30 to 45 minutes. This will cook off all of the grease and grime from the cooking racks. Then, use a Traeger grill brush to scrub off any excess grease.
People also Ask (FAQs)
How long do Traeger smokers last?
Where is the best place to buy Traeger smokers?
Who owns Traeger? What is a brief history of the company?
What are the best meats to smoke or grill on a Traeger smoker?
What is cold smoking?
What are the essential accessories for Traeger smokers?
Where can I buy Traeger smoker replacement parts?
If your smoker is still covered under Traeger’s 3 year warranty, then you should contact customer service so that they can send you the new part. If your smoker is not covered, then you can find replacement parts on Amazon or Traeger’s website.
Conclusion
In this article, we have provided reviews of the best Traeger smokers out of their range. We have also included tips and tricks for firing up your BBQ grill, seasoning, and cooking. After careful research, I can confidently say that Traeger smokers are some of the best on the market for beginners and pros alike.
To sum up this buyer’s guide, we are going to give you the bottom line when it comes to Traeger smokers. In my opinion, the Traeger TFB42LZBC Grill Lil Tex Elite 22 is the best option for anyone, old or new to smoking. This smoker provides you with a medium amount of space for backyard barbecues or large parties. It features easy to use controls that are sure to last you a long time.