The Best Traeger Grills From Every Series, According to Our Tests

How We Tested the Traeger Grills

To determine the best Traeger grill, we tested each of the brand’s series (eight grills total) to determine their merits and drawbacks. We put all the grills through a series of tasks that any consumer would perform and rated them on a scale of 1 to 5, starting with setup. Traeger claims a temperature accuracy of +/- 15°F in its controls, so the next step was to test that accuracy at the highest temperature. While at temperature, we tested how well the grills seared steaks. Working our way down the temperature scale, the subsequent tests evaluated how well the grills baked a frozen pizza at 425°F and chicken wings at 225°F, as we looked for consistency, grill marks, and smoke flavor.

The top performers moved on to another series of tests where we gauged how well the grills smoked a pork butt, evaluating the total cook time, any temperature fluctuations over the process, the bark development on the meat, and how much smoke flavor the meat retained. The final test — a task every consumer would face — was the ease of cleanup. We then averaged the scores across each category and used that average to rate our top picks and select which ones are worth the investment.

Because the baseline Woodridge came out after our initial tests, I tested at home following similar criteria, only smoking chicken thighs and brisket instead of wings and pork butt. I also tested it on high heat with burgers instead of steaks. We then tested the Woodridge Pro alongside other new pellet smokers to compare them head-to-head.

What to Know Before Buying a Traeger Grill

As we tested each Traeger series, we came across a few common themes that are important to look out for when deciding which Traeger grill is right for you. Whether you’re an avid griller who is switching to pellets for the first time or a long-time pellet devotee who’s looking to upgrade your grill, here are a few factors to consider when selecting the best model for your backyard.

Traeger Models

From the most basic, bare-bones models to the highest-end grills, these are the product lines in a nutshell.

• The Portables are the least expensive, with small cooking areas, small hoppers, and limited features. Choose between the barrel-style Tailgater or tabletop Ranger.
• The Westwood series is Traeger’s newest series and the best value for a pellet grill, without going portable.
• The Woodridge series is Traeger’s third most approachable line by grill size. It’s compatible with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and has Set-It & Forget-It mode.
• The Pro series is the original value series, now priced above the Woodridge. It’s been updated with a few features from newer models, like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and Set-It & Forget-It mode. 
• The Ironwood series is a step up from the Pros, offering larger sizes and some new features, like DownDraft Exhaust, Super Smoke, and TRU Convection that speed up and enhance cooking.
• The luxury Timberline series offers even larger sizes, the aforementioned tech, new cart designs, and induction cooktop side burners. 

Cooking Area and Hopper Size

When it comes to the size of a grill, the first factor to consider is how much outdoor space you have available to operate it safely. Next is the grill’s available cooking area. It’s a good idea to purchase a grill with a cooking space that’s a little larger than you’ll regularly need, just in case you want to cook something a bit bigger or entertain a larger group than normal. 

Also, consider the hopper’s relative size to the cooking area and the grill’s maximum temperature. If you like a hands-off approach to cooking, you’ll want to ensure that the hopper is large enough that you won’t have to refill it. Another consideration is how the hopper is accessed. If you must open the grill to refill the hopper, you’ll lose temperature, which could result in uneven cooking. So, you’ll want to ensure that the hopper is large enough to minimize that scenario.

Additional Features

The higher-end Traegers have fantastic features, but do you need them all? Wi-Fi or Bluetooth app connectivity makes cooking a far less hands-on activity, but is that functionality something you’ll use regularly? If the answer is no, consider a model with a similar size and heat capacities at a lower price point to attain the same goal. Also worth considering is the idea that more features mean more opportunities for a component to fail. While warranties are great, replacement parts might not be readily available, and the loss of a functional feature could ruin your grilling plans.

Maximum Temperature and Heat Retention

There’s only a 50°F difference in maximum temperatures between the newer, higher-end models and the older or portable models. If you want a good sear with your grill, you’ll want a model with a 500°F upper limit, as 450°F just isn’t hot enough to achieve a proper sear. While a high upper-end temperature is good, you’ll also want to consider how well the grill retains heat and how quickly it recovers temperature after opening it. Another worthwhile consideration is how quickly the grill attains the desired temperature. More prolonged heating and recovery times mean higher fuel consumption.

Other Traeger Grills We Tested

Traeger Westwood XL ($800 at Home Depot)

The Westwood series is Traeger’s latest value-oriented release, providing quality and precision while foregoing some of the bells and whistles of more expensive models. The control panel is somewhat spartan, even compared to the Woodridge line, and it took a few minutes to understand the operational steps fully. In our lab, it produced moist, tender smoked chicken, but failed to sear a steak.

I tested the smaller, base-model Westwood at home and found it left a nice, mellow smoke flavor after two hours of smoking a pork loin, and built a beautiful bark and smoke ring on a brisket after 20 hours of smoking. But I, too, found the searing capability limited, due to a maximum temperature of 450°F. It’s an excellent smoker, but not a great grill.

Traeger Pro Series 34 ($730 at Amazon)

We found the Series 34 to be average: not the worst performer in our pellet grill tests, but not up to par with the Timberline or even the Pro 780, either. Part of the Gen 1 series, it lacks many features found in later models, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, and its control panel is not as detailed as those of its newer siblings. It performed well at lower temperatures but struggled to reach and maintain higher temps. In our short-smoke tests, it created a lot of smoke but not much smoky flavor. The grill also showed some cool spots at higher temperatures, especially near the door. But this grill would be a great entry-level model for a beginner switching from a charcoal or propane grill to a pellet grill. Overall, if you’re looking for a safe, dependable, middle-of-the-road model, this grill will serve you well.

Traeger Ranger ($480 at Amazon)

Another Traeger grill in the portable class is the Ranger. It’s designed for tabletop use and has a slight advantage in the amount of space required for storage and transport. At a slightly lower price than the Tailgater, it offers good value for its size. It heats up quickly, reaching its maximum temperature faster than most of the other models we tested, and it held the temperature within 5°F of the setting on the control panel for most tests. It didn’t fare well in our baking tests, but good results from our short-smoke and searing tests made up for it. If you often grill on the go and value portability above all else, then this may be the best option for you.

Our Expertise

Greg Baker is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and food writer with almost 40 years of experience in the food industry, and more cooking outdoors. His written work appears in Food & Wine, Food Republic, and other publications. Greg has tested various grills for Food & Wine, including the Traeger Woodridge featured in this article.