Gen 2 Ironwood XL vs Gen 2 Ironwood

[RubbingmyMeats]

Hey Guys,
I got a ? I’m looking to pull the trigger on an Ironwood Gen 2 either the XL or Ironwoon

Between the 2 do they cook identically? I’m looking to thin out a few grills and seeing if this would be my smoker and grilling machine. I current have a recteq bullseye I use for grilling it’s a beast. I can pull 700f on that but for low and slow its alls over and won’t hold temps well it seems to be a high temp grill. Looking to either get the Gen 2 XL for size and if it can do hot and fast and low and slow. I do have grill grates can put on for grill marks. Or get the Gen 2 Ironwood since it’s smaller and keep the recteq bullseye. The bullseye in less then 10 min I’m grilling high heat.
Just seeing how many of u use it as both a grill and smoker and how you like it

 

[SmokingHighet]

Don't buy it. 5 weeks in and 4 hours on support with someone telling me going from 100 degrees to 600 is normal. No refunds on the product and stuck with a lemon that costed $1,900. This is a terrible grill made in China.

 

[RubbingmyMeats]

Don't buy it. 5 weeks in and 4 hours on support with someone telling me going from 100 degrees to 600 is normal. No refunds on the product and stuck with a lemon that costed $1,900. This is a terrible grill made in China.

I have a 780 and love it also my experiences have been good with tech support

 

[Manannan]

I had the same dilemma in terms of choice between the Gen 2 XL and smaller Ironwood. Sales guy said the only difference is that the XL uses slightly more pellets to maintain the larger volume temperature as well as obviously the size. I find the low temp Super smoke mode a worthwhile addition.

I looked at how many times I would need extra cooking space and went with the smaller model, haven't regretted it for a second from low and slow to high temp reverse searing. To date I have had no issues with temperature stability across the range and Tech support (UK) were responsive to a Wi-Fi query quickly. It has run perfectly for the 3 months I have had it.

However the Recteq Bullseye has a higher upper temperature compared to the Ironwood (both models) of 500F so there may well be a place for keeping the Recteq in your case irrespective of the Ironwood decision?

 

[RubbingmyMeats]

I had the same dilemma in terms of choice between the Gen 2 XL and smaller Ironwood. Sales guy said the only difference is that the XL uses slightly more pellets to maintain the larger volume temperature as well as obviously the size. I find the low temp Super smoke mode a worthwhile addition.

I looked at how many times I would need extra cooking space and went with the smaller model, haven't regretted it for a second from low and slow to high temp reverse searing. To date I have had no issues with temperature stability across the range and Tech support (UK) were responsive to a Wi-Fi query quickly. It has run perfectly for the 3 months I have had it.

However the Recteq Bullseye has a higher upper temperature compared to the Ironwood (both models) of 500F so there may well be a place for keeping the Recteq in your case irrespective of the Ironwood decision?

Thanks man I went with the smaller ironwood gen 2. I really don’t use the bullseye for searing mainly hotdogs and burgers and griddle use.

How’s the high temp cooks at 500f. Can u get nice grill marks

 

[Manannan]

I find the high temp cooking good both on my Gen 2 Ironwood and my Pro575 although the latter is hardly used now. However whilst you do get grill marks I have seen a lot better! There is a good Meatchurch / Matt Pittman video reverse searing rib eyes on the Traeger and at the end you can see to sort of grill marks he gets.

Traeger also do a Modifire Sear Grate which like Grillgrates are supposed to produce good grill marks but I have no experience of them.

There is also a chef (Kosmos) who advises that before firing up the Traeger removing the heat shield and heat diverter from the bottom of the cooking chamber to enable direct searing of steaks, the video on the website is interesting but a) I cant see Traeger embracing such a technique and b) I wouldn't try or recommend it from a safety point of view but it does show a novel approach!

Have fun with your new Ironwood, I know I do! Fish is on the menu for me today!