Pellet chat

[DJDDay]

Anyone mix their own blend? I was going to mix hickory maple and apple and charcoal soon

I'm using Pit Boss "Competition Blend" currently, which is already a hickory, maple, and apple blend. I'm planning to pickup a good quality charcoal blend and try a 50/50 blend between those two. I'm not worried about an auger fire - if this truly was a widespread issue, we'd see plenty of posts and viral videos about their Traeger's being ruined by charcoal pellets. To date, we've only seen - what - 1 post out of how many members here?

@midwest - I'd suspect that most pellet smoker owners knew what they were getting into when they made the jump. Most of us prefer that "kiss of smoke" flavor compared to meat that's been cooked in a 5-alarm fire for several days. And for those who still want to have that flavor, you can always hold on to a cheap stick smoker, or resort to smoke tubes.

 

[CMTiger]

Anyone used royal oak charcoal pellets? I just ran across them in my local tractor supply

 

[overnightbbqryan]

I like the Jack Daniels charcoal pellets

 

[Lbeberdick]

Get used to it. Pellet girls do not produce a strong smoke flavor at all I'm coming from a Masterbuilt electric that had great smoke flavor my Traeger Pellet Grill just doesn't do it bought a smoke tube that helps started mixing charcoal pellets with my regular Lumberjack and it does make a difference

 

[Taffy]

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them together

I have used some different ones but I just like hickory for everything.

 

[Quietstorm]

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them togetherFo

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them together

For me, it’s not about the smoke smell the different pellets make, but by the flavor of food. For example, there is a clear flavor difference with using mesquite vs say Apple on beef. It also depends on what your cooking and for how long. If you are cranking the grill up to a high temp and throwing steaks or chicken on for 15-20 min, there won’t be a huge flavor difference. The lower and slower temps will produce more smoke to flavor the food. Just my 2 cents

 

[oldbbqguy]

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them together

The type of pellets will not leave any difference taste unless you are getting actual smoke by cooking at a Low enough temp to produce smoke. At full burn no pellet imparts any specific flavor. This is a scientific fact, not just my opinion. If you want smoke taste you need smoke tube and you may then perceive some differences in taste. It is same reason you have to add chips to a charcoal grill to get a smoke ring and flavor. Some pellets might burn better or hotter but if they are not burning slow and low enough to produce smoke you will not get any smoke flavor.

 

[Atos]

Ok here it comes, have to ask...why not just use your charcoal grill? Seriously. (Myself included)

 

[oldbbqguy]

I used a BGE for 30 years. I have a Traeger
Pellet grill and have used the BGE twice in the past two years since getting the Traeger. They are both grills you can smoke on. The pellet grill is 10 times easier from controlling heat to starting up etc. Both require either chips with BGE or smoke tube with Traeger to get smoke flavor.

 

[Sloppysalmon219]

Ok here it comes, have to ask...why not just use your charcoal grill? Seriously. (Myself included)

Honestly too excited .... i want to use the pellet grill. It's unbelievable on how easy temp control is on the traeger is. I did have temp swing but since I sealed it with lava lock it's rock solid

 

[JayHog]

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them together

I feel your pain, bro. There is really no smoke to speak of when using pellets compared to charcoal and wood chunks. Most people use smoke tubes filled with wood chips to bring some authentic wood smoke on the Traeger cooks. You can do a search on smoke tubes and there is a lot of info & opinions.

Hope you find your smoke preference! It's fun experimenting...

 

[Dan-H]

I'm using smoke tubes with pellets on my pellet when I want more smoke flavor.

 

[Markm62]

Guys,
I been a 20 year charcoal user and got my 1st Traeger a few weeks back. I got a pro575 and love it.

The ? I have is I have used oak, maple, plum, and apple and competition blend. Idk if I'm just so used to the charcoal tasted but I'm not tasting a difference between all of them. I have used traeger pellets and the competition is pit boss.

I'm just thinking of mixing all of them and just using them together

Welcome aboard the Traeger train. Lots of good pellet smokers out there Traeger being one of them. Most important in my mind is you are happy with your investment. This forum is great place for many great tips and tricks from people who have used a Traeger pellet smoker for along time. I wish you many years of cooking up some great food and sharing with even better family and friends. Cheers!

 

[DJDDay]

Anyone used royal oak charcoal pellets? I just ran across them in my local tractor supply

I haven't tried their pellets, but I did try Royal Oak lump charcoal when I had a kamado (which is what my Traeger replaced). I didn't care for their lump charcoal - it was very "meh" quality. Lots of smaller/tiny chunks and very few large chunks. I know that doesn't speak to their pellet quality, but thought I'd share anyway.

 

[Sloppysalmon219]

Anyone who has charcoal pellets do u put them though the auger or do u use a smoke tube