At long last it’s the season to have family and friends around for a BBQ, and let’s face it, who doesn’t love a BBQ in the garden?
We heard that the US brand Traeger were showcasing a number of their grills (aka BBQ’s) recently at Langlands Garden Centre in North Yorkshire. We obviously popped along to meet the demo chef, Jon Scaife to try some food, talk al things Traeger, and see what makes the Traeger grills so good.
Q&A with Jon Scaife
Jon was kind enough to answer a few questions for us about his role with Traeger, and what Traeger grills are all about.
How long have you worked for Traeger and what is your role?
I am a freelance chef, and this will be my third year doing chef demonstrations for Traeger.
Which is the best Traeger grill for cooking for large parties (20 or more people)?
The new Timberline XL is tough to beat! The Timberline 1300 is great too – it has a massive 8515 sq cm cooking area.
Which is the best small Traeger grill (for a family of 4)?
The Ironwood 650 is great and the bbq I own. If I could swing it, I’d get the new Ironwood bbq. They look amazing!
Which is your personal favourite grill?
The Traeger Ranger! I love this grill. It’s perfect for small gardens and balconies and is portable too. So flexible for a small BBQ and very efficient.
Jon Scaife with Traeger Pro 575
Q&A continued with Jon Scaife
Do you have any advice on how to store the grills (can they stay outside or do they need taking inside after each use)?
Storing outside is no problem. I use mine quite a bit so I don’t even use a cover. Maybe use a cover if not using it all winter.
Are the grills easily transportable? On wheels, small enough to take to the beach etc?
They are on wheels, so they can be moved around the garden easily, but generally are best kept where they are. The little Traeger Ranger is portable, but they are all electric so need power. Very good for caravanning!
Is there a correct way to BBQ on a Traeger (do you need any special oils or equipment)?
No, that is one of the best things about them! They are really the best ‘set it and forget it’ BBQ. They have a built in thermometer for the meat and they have WiFire connectivity so you can track the meat temp and BBQ temp on your phone.
Why would you recommend buying a product from Traeger?
Build quality, technical leadership, ease of use, wonderful wood pellet flavour – they invented the pellet grill, so they have the expertise.
Traeger Grills
We’ve highlighted a few of the Traeger models below:
Ranger Portable Pellet Grill, £549 from Langlands Garden Centre
Perfect for camping, caravanning, riverside fishing, or for your balcony at home, the Ranger is Traeger’s only portable grill. The grill weighs 27.22KG, and features 5-degree temperature setting increments. Equally, it comes with a meat probe, keep warm mode, lid latches, and has an ARC controller.
Pro 575 Pellet Grill, £899 from Langlands Garden Centre
Traeger’s Pro series is the best-selling pellet grill in the world. The Pro 575 features WiFIRE® technology that lets you change the grill temperature, monitor meat temperature, and access hundreds of wood-fired recipes from your smartphone. Moreover, the Pro 575 has an ultra-fast start up that helps grill quicker. Ideal whether you’re cooking a brisket low and slow, cranking up the heat for a final sear on your rib-eye, or baking an apple pie.
Ironwood XL, £2,299.99 from Black Box BBQ
Again, the Ironwood XL offers WiFIRE® technology that lets you change the grill temperature, and monitor meat temperature. Your cooking will become next level with the true wood-fired flavour that Traeger is synonymous with. Furthermore, the Ironwood XL offers New Smart Combustion™ technology to help keep precise temperatures throughout the cooking process. This is the beast of all BBQ grills!
To find out more about Traeger visit Instagram @Traegergrills.uk
Traeger Grills Are Simply The Best – Words by Rachel McAlley
