I am picking up my new Traeger this Saturday!

ORrinker · 07-23-2003, 07:10 AM

I decided after visiting the factory last week to take the plunge and buy a Traeger Texas Style bbq.
Does anyone here have one? If so, any great tips or recipes I can use? BTW, I am buying directly from the factory so I am saving quite a bit and they are throwing in several extras. Yeehaw, here I go a'Qin!!!

[ 07-23-2003, 08:11 AM: Message edited by: ORrinker ]

Pyramid · 07-23-2003, 07:19 AM

Grats! I BBQ three nights a week all year long. I wear out these cheapo gas flamers in 2 to 3 years. I should buy a good one. Envious :grin:

BrionLutz · 07-23-2003, 07:23 AM

ORinker,

The neighbor has two of them. One for each house...that's a bit exotic.

He's crazy about them...he's bagged his fancy gas grill and only uses the Traegers now.

Of course, I'm to blame since I keep feeding them fresh salmon.

I get half back, smoked to perfection in nice vacum packed bags.

Brion

ORrinker · 07-23-2003, 07:42 AM

Chinookster--- Thanks!! I too have been doing the inexpensive gas grill thing for years and decided it was about time as I think I have filled at least one landfill by now with my old grills;-)

Brion--- I think the salmon is one of the reasons I ended up buying as last weekend after visiting the factory my wife and I visited Mt. Angel Brewing Co. restaurant which is owned and ran by traeger and my wife had the salmon which was done over a Traeger and she loved it and I even really enjoyed it. I am not a big fish eater (although I love to catch'em) but It was very good. I had the prime rib which was exceptional.

Killertraylor · 07-23-2003, 09:21 AM

Is a Traeger a charcoal/wood water smoker type bbq? (I found their website and answered my own question - these things look awesome? The wood chips were $10 for a 10 lb bag - are you getting them any cheaper or is that the going rate? Do you mind telling us which model you got and how much you paid?)

I've had my $179 Char-broil for 7 years now and it's in great shape. Every 2 years I take all the ceramic bricks out, replace them with new ones and use a paint scraper to get all the grime off of the inside. The Char-broil has a stainless burner which won't rust, but I did replace the grill top a few years ago for about $20. I keep wanting to buy a Holland stainless or maybe a top of the line Weber stainless but I just can't get my old Char-broil to die on me. I did get a water smoker last year and use it on the weekends to do ribs or chicken when I have 4 plus hours to cook. Great - it's only 10:15 a.m. and I'm hungry now...

[ 07-23-2003, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Killertraylor ]

ORrinker · 07-23-2003, 10:50 AM

It is just a straight wood pellet smoker(no water needed). If you drive to Mt. Angel you can buy a 10lb bag for $5.50 or a 40lb bag for $16.00. I figure a drive down there a couple of times a year is all I will need. I purchased (well I will actually pay for it when I pick it up) the Texas Style and I am paying $875.00 (includes the upgraded temperature control) but because I bought there they threw in a bunch of extras. If you need any more convincing why you should get a Traeger go eat at there restaurant:-)

Randy

[ 07-23-2003, 11:52 AM: Message edited by: ORrinker ]

pearl · 07-23-2003, 11:49 PM

I stepped up to a Treager about a year ago. All I can say is WOW !

The best peice of advice that I can give you is to experiment and write down what you did if it turns out good. Good notes are a must to repeat a good recipe. It took me a couple of months to dail it in but I use it for quite a few things now. No problem smoking salmon ( get a smoking rack),fish, ribs, chicken, prime rib, turkey, briskett, pork shoulders, brats, pork chops. It does it all.

Another good investment is a digital internal themometer with temp alarm. Keeps you from over cooking. Cabelas and Kitchen Kaboodle have them.

We smoked 6 racks of ribs last weekend. Low smoke for 10 hours with hickory and they turned out awsome.

We have done a few amature rib cook-offs with ours and done well. Been telling the wife we need the custom Treager that pulls behind the truck.

McClaskey Wine Distributors in NW Portland also sells the pellets at a reasonable price. Saves the drive south.

You can also stop at any Zupans Market and talk to their meat managers. They cook on them daily at the stores and they provide some good tips and info.

If you have any questions on recipes feel free to shoot me a e-mail and I'll help if I can

Unskunked · 07-24-2003, 08:11 AM

I'm intrigued by these and need to look into them closer. Are they just for slow cooking or can you grill hamburgers and steaks where you want to sear the meat? Thanks in advance.

ORrinker · 07-24-2003, 10:20 AM

Pearl, thanks for all the great advice!!! I am really looking forward to firing it up on Saturday. Did you get the upgraded thermostat? If so do you think it was worth it?

Unskunked, that is the beauty of a traeger is that they are able to smoke or grill by just adjusting a dial. If you get the thermostat upgrade you can adjust in 25 degree increments from 200 to 450 with no flame ups.

pearl · 07-24-2003, 12:44 PM

I did not get the thermostat up grade but I wish I had. I didn't notice it was available when I was buying but I'm sure considering it now. Let me know how it works.

We may have to have a little ifish cook off sometime in the future.

Good luck this weekend.

Cook it low and cook it slow makes for good BBQ.

BrionLutz · 07-24-2003, 07:35 PM

Navigator,

The neighbor cooks everything on the Traeger...burgers, steaks, ribs and fish and then uses it as a smoker.

They are fairly gourmet folks and say the Traeger works best.

They have all the attachments including the internal temp sensor.

Brion

big fishy · 07-27-2003, 08:27 AM

Have had a Traeger for 12yrs would not use anything else around home. Thinking about moving up to the Pink Pig.

ORrinker · 07-28-2003, 04:59 AM

Well I couldn't wait till saturday so I went down on fri. morning to get it. Got it home and set it up. I have cooked on it three times over the weekend and I love it. Sat. I cooked for 14 people on it and had more than enough cooking room and all the food turned out cooked just right with no burning. It is nice to cook on a grill where you are not having to continuously swap food out of hotspots to prevent burning. I also highly recommend buying factory direct as their prices were definitely best and they gave me great service.

Randy

Wang · 07-29-2003, 10:45 AM

My ex-girlfriend has one and we cooked on it very regulary. You get a mailer every once in awhile that has chip specials in it. Dont buy ther cover as you can get one at Walmart that fits awsome for about 10 bucks or something like that.

Try getting a U-bake pizza and slapping it on a Trager. AWSOME!!!!!

Im not sure if I miss the Traeger more or my ex :grin: