New to Traeger and pellet cooking

[Chip]

Hi everyone just got my Ironwood 650. I’m new to grilling and had a question a on the grease drip tray.

Are you supposed to keep the food confined to above the drip tray? I assume the answer is yes but that seems like it would significantly cut down on usable cooking surface.

Thanks!

 

[Timmy]

Yes, the food goes on the grates. But you can put a water pan on the drip tray to help with moisture.

 

[Chip]

Yes, the food goes on the grates. But you can put a water pan on the drip tray to help with moisture.

Sorry yep understand that the food goes on the grates. But should I make sure I only use the parts of the grates that have the drip tray under it?

around the edges there are good amounts of the grate that the drip tray does not extend under. Is it going to cause a fire if it drips outside of the tray?

 

[Timmy]

If you are cooking low and slow, no flare ups don't happen often. If you crank the temp up it is more possible to have a flare up.

Here is an example when I cook low n slow...

 

[RoadRunner18]

Chip,
I certainly would ensure that my proteins are placed on the grill grates within the confines of the drip tray. The quickest way to a flare up is to have the grease bypass the drip trays and congregate near the fire pot. That could be a recipe for failure. If whatever you cook is wide enough to exceed the area covered by the drip tray, I would place an aluminum pan under the meat to catch drippings and grease from rendered fat.