Everyone in our house loves steak. We also love tacos. As regular readers know, we make both. A lot. But besides sweet potatoes, asparagus, and potatoes — we’ve never really tried smoking many vegetables.
Last night, we expanded the playbook, and think we finally nailed it. So we put together this quick little how to video for you…in under 60 seconds …
If you’re entrusted with cooking the bird on Thanksgiving, you’re probably looking for a risk-free, no-fuss tried and true recipe. Have a reoccurring nightmare about dry turkey, or sweet dreams about crispy, herb-crusted turkey legs?
If you’re on a wood pellet grill, this Traeger Turkey Pellets Blend might be for you:
We did a 20-pound test bird this weekend, and were cooking for 16 people. It was your typical friends-giving feast (with no less than 4 other Traeger-owners coming, NO PRESSURE!).
Again, we were looking for an easy, but proven, method and recipe. After skimming a dozen articles on spatchcocking, brining, injecting, rubbing, etc — we said: “Meh, nothing exotic.”
That’s when we turned to the wisdom of the Traeger Grills family. We had two bags delivered from a Traeger Instagram contest (“BBQ Hero of the Week”) over the summer.
The results were nothing short of amazing. “Best turkey I’ve ever had,” raved one friend. “OMG, moist, zesty, and great smoke flavor,” commented another. “Got to try that for our family Thanksgiving now, ” said one of our Traeger brethren.
Now, most everything that comes off the Traeger at our house is good. But that’s “most” not all. Not ashamed to admit we have a few hiccups every now and again. So these were pretty strong endorsements. What’s the secret? We followed Traeger’s included Smoked Bourbon & Orange Brined Turkey recipe to a T. Here are the basics (minus the booze):
Brine overnight (bag comes inside the pellets bag, fish it out!)
Pat dry, apply rub (again, included in the bag)
Put turkey directly on the grate (we put in a disposable roasting pan)
Set Traeger to smoke for 2 hours (for us, 180F)
Turn up to 350F for 2-3 hours (or until internal temp reaches 165F)
WHERE TO BUY?
You can pick up the Traeger Turkey Pellets Blend at your local dealer, or order from Amazon. If you HURRY, you select one-day or two-day shipping for Prime members, to still get in time for Thanksgiving.
Watch our mid-cook Facebook LIVE video from TraegerFanatics.com for some laughs:
Editor’s Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Companies often times build products with the mass consumer in mind. They then offer their own, sold-separately accessories at a premium. That’s why “mods” or modifications are increasingly popular, especially among BBQ enthusiasts.
While Traeger Grills really does a fine job, some folks will always want to keep toying with perfection. We were looking for some inspiration, and found Trikester’s video:
Here’s a list of some comparable parts you’ll need, if you want to trick out your Traeger like Trikester (whew, say that three times fast!):
1. 10in Air Tires or 7in Universal Wheel (see also Traeger Wheel Modification video for step-by-step and more parts/tools needed)
2. Traeger Front-Shelf (step-by-step video here; see also Under Shelf)
4. Large Zip Ties (for securing caddy to leg, or drip bucket to hook)
5. Savannah Stoker (upgraded thermostat)
Do you have a favorite Traeger or pellet grill hack? Leave a comment or hit the Contact Us form. If you liked this post, please share it and bookmark us!
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Editor’s Note: Post contains affiliate links. Learn more.
If you’re a Traeger or pellet grill owner, you’ve already got your self a slice of the good life. No matter whether you’re a newbie, or a fanatic, there’s always more to learn to become a master griller, smoker, and all around pro.
We set about to collect the top hacks, tips, and tricks to make your grilling, smoking, and barbecuing experience even that much better. Here are the top 7 …
From Meathead at AmazingRibs.com:
Meathead does a great job over-viewing the various types of thermometers. Now here are some of the best-sellers and most highly-rated among BBQ enthusiasts:
ThermoPro TP03A – Instant Read Thermometer. A high precision sensor gives you accurate readings within 4-7 seconds. Stainless steel probe is easy to clean, and folds for convenient storage. Five-year warranty. Price range: $.
Lavatools Javelin – Instant Read Thermometer. For about twice the cost as the TP03A, you can get this ultra-fast sensor probe (3-4 seconds). Display is nice and big for easy reading. An integrated magnet allows for easy storage on your fridge or grill. Lifetime warranty. Price range: $$.
ThermoPro TP08 – Dual Probe Wireless Thermometer. We own this unit, and have found it well-suited to monitoring our wood pellet and gas grills alike. One probe monitors the meat, the other monitors the grill temp. Alarm and receiver both alert you to when temp has been reached. Up to 300 feet range. Lifetime Sensor Probe Warranty. Price range: $$.
ThermoPro TP20 – Dual Probe Wireless Thermometer. Simple and easy to use. Main difference from the TP08, are a Meat and Taste button that give you pre-programmed internal temps. Takes the guess work out of cooking any meat. Lifetime Sensor Probe Warranty. Price range: $$.
Tappecue – Meat Thermometer with Wifi. Comes with a phone app to monitor temps that’s available on all Apple, as well as Android products. You can get alerts when the meat or chamber goes above or below a min/max temp. Four meat probes mean you can keep track of multiple cooks at once! One year limited warranty. Price range: $$$.
Have a favorite we should review? Leave a comment, or send us a message.
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Editor’s Note: This post contains affiliate links.
Have a special grill enthusiast in your life, and looking for a perfect gift? Or maybe YOU’RE the enthusiast, and looking for some fresh inspiration? Either way, you’re in the right place. From beginner to pro, we sourced this list of essentials with a variety of owners in mind. We scoured the web for the best-selling, and most-wished for items. Then we hand-picked the ones we think are essential for every grill owner’s tool kit. Without further ado…
Followed the Traeger Pulled Pork recipe to the T, and got amazing results! The only trick? We were camping at the river. That’s where a wireless meat thermometer comes in handy. Especially on a long cook.
For best results, follow the sage wisdom of the BBQ Pit Boys:
RendezvousBBQ.com 