What to put in the smoker this weekend?

[DeusExMachina]

Just picked up my first Traeger at the Costco event this weekend. For those of you using pellet stoves; what are you using for pellets and is there a good local source? Those 20lb bags go pretty quickly.

Traeger will void the warranty if they find you're using non Traeger pellets. That being said, I've been stocking up on Hickory at Costco for $14 which isn't bad. Local ACE has a bigger selection at $20/bag. I think Ruff's is somewhere in the middle price wise. I generally find I'm using half a bag per ~8 hour smoke, which is less money than propane would be and more expensive than coal in an offset smoker.

The guys gave me 5 bags of Apple with my Texas purchase at Costco. Maybe see if they'll sell you some at a deal.

[Jer]

$7-$10 worth of wood per 8hr smoke? That's crazy.

[DenverGP]

Made up a batch of ABTs for the game tonight:




Notice the one little sad one in the middle, ran out of bacon.

[colorider]

Traeger will NOT void the warranty for using other pellets. I know this 1st hand as I have had my traeger for 4 years and have had a few warranty items replaced. For pellets I use cookingpellets.com 100% hickory. Very good pellet. I bet them off amazon in 40# bags. Ruffs carries a brand called Cameron's pellets and they are not to bad. It is my experience that he traeger brand pellets have the weakest flavor.
I highly suggest heading over to pelletheads.com and reading the traeger section. Loads of very useful information.
Tonight I smoked some baby backs. 4 hours on smoke setting using the p setting on 1. Held a temp of 180. Foiled up the ribs and bumped traeger up to 225 for 45 more min. Epic ribs. No rub, just salt and pepper.

[DeusExMachina]

Traeger will NOT void the warranty for using other pellets. I know this 1st hand as I have had my traeger for 4 years and have had a few warranty items replaced. For pellets I use cookingpellets.com 100% hickory. Very good pellet. I bet them off amazon in 40# bags. Ruffs carries a brand called Cameron's pellets and they are not to bad. It is my experience that he traeger brand pellets have the weakest flavor.
I highly suggest heading over to pelletheads.com and reading the traeger section. Loads of very useful information.
Tonight I smoked some baby backs. 4 hours on smoke setting using the p setting on 1. Held a temp of 180. Foiled up the ribs and bumped traeger up to 225 for 45 more min. Epic ribs. No rub, just salt and pepper.

It says it in every Traeger document I have.

[Great-Kazoo]

Traeger will NOT void the warranty for using other pellets. I know this 1st hand as I have had my traeger for 4 years and have had a few warranty items replaced. For pellets I use cookingpellets.com 100% hickory. Very good pellet. I bet them off amazon in 40# bags. Ruffs carries a brand called Cameron's pellets and they are not to bad. It is my experience that he traeger brand pellets have the weakest flavor.
I highly suggest heading over to pelletheads.com and reading the traeger section. Loads of very useful information.
Tonight I smoked some baby backs. 4 hours on smoke setting using the p setting on 1. Held a temp of 180. Foiled up the ribs and bumped traeger up to 225 for 45 more min. Epic ribs. No rub, just salt and pepper.

Did the last pork shoulder that way. I used oilive oil and just enough lemon juice to get that hint of flavor. Rubbed liquid on first then S&P and a breif sprinkle of Garlic salt. 5 hrs on 225, let sit 20-30 min. Cut with a butter knife, nice smoke ring, blah, blah, rah, rah. 2 weeks ago decided to throw some bricks wrapped in foil inside the base for cooler weather.

Helpful Hints OR Warning.

1- holds temp much better when you open to baste or remove an item.

2- Noticed since the bricks added at same temps we have cooked before. Meats are cooking faster / shorter time period before hitting desired temp. Going to drop 25 * across the board and monitor temp / time .


Spouse has hung a few tarps across the awning we have for winter cooking. Hoping something to buffer any wind and colder temps helps. With the spouse full tilt cooking using the smoker, be a shame to stop for a little snow

[Dave]

Did the last pork shoulder that way. I used oilive oil and just enough lemon juice to get that hint of flavor. Rubbed liquid on first then S&P and a breif sprinkle of Garlic salt. 5 hrs on 225, let sit 20-30 min. Cut with a butter knife, nice smoke ring, blah, blah, rah, rah. 2 weeks ago decided to throw some bricks wrapped in foil inside the base for cooler weather.

Helpful Hints OR Warning.

1- holds temp much better when you open to baste or remove an item.

2- Noticed since the bricks added at same temps we have cooked before. Meats are cooking faster / shorter time period before hitting desired temp. Going to drop 25 * across the board and monitor temp / time .


Spouse has hung a few tarps across the awning we have for winter cooking. Hoping something to buffer any wind and colder temps helps. With the spouse full tilt cooking using the smoker, be a shame to stop for a little snow

I have a Masterbuilt propane smoker that I keep a blanket on top of. I grabbed an old surplus Army blanket for $8 and folded it to the size of my smoker's roof. I definitely notice a difference when smoking in colder weather, and even on warmer days it helps use less propane to maintain temps. I have been thinking about tarps on my patio's awning as well, the wind on some days can mess with the burner.

[Gman]

If I have a recipe that goes to foil wrapping the meat, I take it to the oven. You aren't getting any value from the wood smoke at that point and it saves on pellets.

Traeger often runs deals on their pellets. All of my previous purchases have also included free shipping.

Sent from my electronic leash.

[Great-Kazoo]

If I have a recipe that goes to foil wrapping the meat, I take it to the oven. You aren't getting any value from the wood smoke at that point and it saves on pellets.

Traeger often runs deals on their pellets. All of my previous purchases have also included free shipping.

Sent from my electronic leash.

Been buying the less expensive ones from SW. Make sure you dump them in a colander or other item to remove the saw dust. While a good deal and decent / comparable flavor to traeger and other pellets, LOTS of saw dust.

[DeusExMachina]

I'm gonna snag a welding blanket for my Traeger and a few bricks. Can they be any bricks?