I was gifted a Traeger Pro Series 34. Is this a good smoker for a beginner? How is the final taste and is the sear decent? Will want to use for burgers, steaks, brisket, chicken, dips, etc. Thank you!
by whitt97
11 Comments
AutoModerator
We Need Your Help!
We’ve noticed that recent changes in Reddit’s algorithms have made it harder for original content (OC) communities like ours to get the visibility we used to enjoy. This shift means that posts and comments aren’t getting the attention they deserve.
By voting on and commenting on posts, you’re not only helping others but also boosting the visibility of your own posts. Your engagement is crucial, not just for r/PelletGrills, but for all the wonderful niche communities like food, crafts, art, and culture that thrive on original content. Even a simple comment like “This would fit X sub” can make a big difference.
Together, we can support and uplift our entire community. Let’s keep the positive vibes and delicious smoked meat content flowing!
—
It’s working: https://i.imgur.com/EU1Y5GO.png – Concurrently more users are viewing r/Pelletgrills, keep up the votes and comments and thank you to everyone who’s helping us stand out.
—
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pelletgrills) if you have any questions or concerns.*
wossquee
Solid smoker to start with, but you’re not going to get a great sear with it. Think of a pellet smoker like an outdoor oven — it’ll hold temps well and put smoke on your food but that’s it. You probably wouldn’t make a burger in an oven.
But you can definitely use it for stuff like a reverse sear — getting it up to temp in the smoker, then searing on a hot grill, which I what I do usually.
thrillhouse416
For burgers, steaks, chicken, etc…(basically things you don’t do a low and slow smoke) I usually put them on at 350 it still turns out great.
You won’t get the high heat grill marks but the food will taste good
holyhibachi
Does this one have the seat grate you can slide open?
m3xicution85
I got this exact one in November. It is an excellent beginner smoker. Check out Meat Church on YouTube. He will provide step by step instructions on a Traegar. Can’t go wrong.
BradfordTheGreat
This grill is pretty great for a smoker and a variety of other things! You can easily smoke 4 serious butts with little effort. I would get a $20 gasket adhesive for the lid so you have a more consistent temp variation!
Be warned, I haven’t been able to get a good sear, but for everything else this smokey oven does a great job.
UnkleRinkus
It’s a perfectly good smoker, but will be a mediocre grill. For ribs, pork butts, brisket, chicken, it will cook as well as you can for some time. It isn’t what BBQ competitors are gonna use, but you aren’t one of those folks yet.
iwearmywatch
It doesn’t sear. I would research more into what smoking is. I still own a Weber gas grill as well as a smoker because they do different things
Perrin-Golden-Eyes
It might be bigger than you need depending on the size of the group you’re feeding. The larger the grill the more pellets it consumes. Some folks compensate for their shortcomings and get the bigger ones even though they’re just cooking 1 trip or 1 pork butt. If that makes them happy that’s great. I just can’t see wasting the fuel.
Otherwise yes, it’s an ok starter grill.
Dan_H1281
I have a pellet smoker now and an offset, I like my pellet for ribs and chicken. But my offset blows my pellet out the water on large pieces of meat. I believe pellet grills are good at everything but great at nothing, I like the way ribs turn out on the pellet grill almost look like bacon on my offset they turn out quite dark which I don’t like. But u can make some great meat on this grill. U may grab ya a smoke tube and add some smoke for those long cooks.
shouldipropose
pellet poopers are smokey ovens that do not have a broil button. there are some exceptions, but for any traeger that i know of, you are not gonna sear anything.
11 Comments
We Need Your Help!
We’ve noticed that recent changes in Reddit’s algorithms have made it harder for original content (OC) communities like ours to get the visibility we used to enjoy. This shift means that posts and comments aren’t getting the attention they deserve.
By voting on and commenting on posts, you’re not only helping others but also boosting the visibility of your own posts. Your engagement is crucial, not just for r/PelletGrills, but for all the wonderful niche communities like food, crafts, art, and culture that thrive on original content. Even a simple comment like “This would fit X sub” can make a big difference.
Together, we can support and uplift our entire community. Let’s keep the positive vibes and delicious smoked meat content flowing!
—
It’s working: https://i.imgur.com/EU1Y5GO.png – Concurrently more users are viewing r/Pelletgrills, keep up the votes and comments and thank you to everyone who’s helping us stand out.
—
*I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pelletgrills) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Solid smoker to start with, but you’re not going to get a great sear with it. Think of a pellet smoker like an outdoor oven — it’ll hold temps well and put smoke on your food but that’s it. You probably wouldn’t make a burger in an oven.
But you can definitely use it for stuff like a reverse sear — getting it up to temp in the smoker, then searing on a hot grill, which I what I do usually.
For burgers, steaks, chicken, etc…(basically things you don’t do a low and slow smoke) I usually put them on at 350 it still turns out great.
You won’t get the high heat grill marks but the food will taste good
Does this one have the seat grate you can slide open?
I got this exact one in November. It is an excellent beginner smoker. Check out Meat Church on YouTube. He will provide step by step instructions on a Traegar. Can’t go wrong.
This grill is pretty great for a smoker and a variety of other things! You can easily smoke 4 serious butts with little effort. I would get a $20 gasket adhesive for the lid so you have a more consistent temp variation!
Be warned, I haven’t been able to get a good sear, but for everything else this smokey oven does a great job.
It’s a perfectly good smoker, but will be a mediocre grill. For ribs, pork butts, brisket, chicken, it will cook as well as you can for some time. It isn’t what BBQ competitors are gonna use, but you aren’t one of those folks yet.
It doesn’t sear. I would research more into what smoking is. I still own a Weber gas grill as well as a smoker because they do different things
It might be bigger than you need depending on the size of the group you’re feeding. The larger the grill the more pellets it consumes. Some folks compensate for their shortcomings and get the bigger ones even though they’re just cooking 1 trip or 1 pork butt. If that makes them happy that’s great. I just can’t see wasting the fuel.
Otherwise yes, it’s an ok starter grill.
I have a pellet smoker now and an offset, I like my pellet for ribs and chicken. But my offset blows my pellet out the water on large pieces of meat. I believe pellet grills are good at everything but great at nothing, I like the way ribs turn out on the pellet grill almost look like bacon on my offset they turn out quite dark which I don’t like. But u can make some great meat on this grill. U may grab ya a smoke tube and add some smoke for those long cooks.
pellet poopers are smokey ovens that do not have a broil button. there are some exceptions, but for any traeger that i know of, you are not gonna sear anything.