Traeger takes an age-old technology and brings it into the new millennium. Using a digital control system, these grills bring meats and vegetables to the perfect consistency. Yet, for many people, they’re not entirely sure what sets these grills apart, especially when it comes to how they’re made and how they work.
Trager Grills are made in China with American ingenuity built right in. When they started flying off the shelves in the early 2000s, production relocated from Oregon to Asia. These grills use a combination of pellets, electricity, and digital technology to create the perfect meal every time.
Continue reading to learn more about Traeger Grills, including where they’re made and how they work. If you want an in-depth look into your appliance, check out your user manual or visit Traeger’s website.
Where Are Traeger Grills Made?
Traeger invented the first wood-fired grill over 30 years ago. Since then, it’s sold millions of units worldwide.
Per the Statesman’s Journal, Traegers were initially manufactured in Oregon, where the company’s headquartered. However, in 2013, Traeger began outsourcing production to China.
Why? Well:
- In 2006, Traeger’s patent on its grills ran out, which made competitors offer similarly-priced pellet grills.
- After the patent ran out, Traeger wanted to keep the grills’ prices low. Outsourcing to China allowed them to continue production and sell grills at their regular price.
In 2006, Traeger’s owners sold the company’s assets to Jeremy Andrus and Trilantic Capital Partners, according to PR Newswire. However, despite the company changing hands, the quality has not changed. People still know to expect high-quality, well-manufactured Traeger Grills, no matter where they’re made or sold.
How Do Traeger Grills Work?
Traeger Grills do more than light a fire under meats and veggies. Here’s a brief outline of how they work:
- First, you insert pellets into your grill’s hopper.
- When the grill turns on, the auger (a spiral-like mechanism) churns the pellets from the hopper into the firepot.
- While the pellets move into the fire pot, a Hot Rod ignitor uses electricity to help them catch fire.
- A fan circulates heat inside the grill for even cooking.
- While your food cooks, fat and oil fall into a drip tray. This prevents the flames from mixing with the fat, which would overcook the food.
A digital thermometer regulates the temperature, making each meal an event. Aside from periodically monitoring your grill’s temperature, you don’t have to do anything. Traeger is as close to a “set-it-and-forget-it” appliance as you can get.
How to Use a Traeger Grill
Now that you know how the Trager Grill works, you can cook using one of two methods: close-lid grilling and open-lid grilling.
Keep in mind that you need pellets for your Traeger grill to work. The types of pellets you choose determine your meal’s flavor. For instance, if you’re cooking salmon or chicken, you should use alder pellets. For pork and ribs, you should use hickory pellets.
Closed-Lid Grilling
This is the easiest way to cook burgers, steak, and more. Simply ensure that your Traeger’s inner components (such as the heat baffle, drip tray, and grill grates) are in place. From there:
- Set your Traeger grill to the desired temperature.
- Close the lid.
- Wait until your grill gets hot enough (this usually takes 15 minutes).
- Open the lid.
- Put your food on the grates.
- Close the lid until your food is done.
Open-Lid Grilling
Like before, make sure that your grill’s interior components are in place. Then:
- Set your Traeger grill to “SMOKE” with the lid open.
- Wait for the fire to ignite.
- Wait an additional five to 10 minutes.
- Close the lid.
- Increase to your desired temperature.
- Wait 15 minutes until your grill gets hot enough.
- Begin cooking your food.
It’s that simple. You can check out this article from Traeger to learn more.
How to Use a Traeger Grill with the WiFire App
If you’re more of a traditional griller, you might shrug off the idea of using an app to barbeque. However, with the WiFire app, you can make easy grilling even easier.
While not all Traeger Grills come with Wi-Fi, some do (like the Ironwood and Timberline models). With these models, you can connect your grill to your phone using the WiFire app. Here, you can:
- Remotely control your grill’s temperature.
- Set timers.
- Watch videos and read recipes.
- Connect it to your smart phone or watch.
- Sync it to your smart home assistant, such as your Google Home or Alexa.
If you’re not sure whether your grill comes with Wi-Fi, simply lift the hopper lid and look at the sticker underneath. There, you should see a serial number. That will allow you to research what type of grill you purchased.
In Summary
Traeger Grills are made overseas to keep production costs low. They work using pellets, electricity, and fire to cook food. To learn more about the different types of Traeger Grills available, click here.