Questions- first time with my Traeger

[MikeLosGatos]

Just got a Silverton 620 at Costco. Put it together Sunday and seasoned it-and now Tuesday evening my first smoke. I’ve made it easy- a 3 lb pork tenderloin roast. using the Traeger Smoked Tenderloin recipe with the app.

I’m using the Wifire app on my iPhone. I am a bit confused on a couple of things:

1. After preheat to 180 I started the first cycle- 3 to 4 hours at 180. I’ve set the probe target to 145.
Immediately after the preheat I put in the pork roast. Closed the lid and pushed “start cook” on the app. It immediately changed the smoker internal temp to 250 instead of the 180 I had set. I reset to 180 via the app and it adjusted the internal temp back down to 180 over about 15 minutes.
Anyone know why it reset my initial temp? Could it be a butt dial?

2. Recipe says 3-4 hours at 180. Then switch to 350 for 30 minutes. I thought the app would determine when to switch to 350. If I’m responsible for resetting it to stage 2 how do I know when to up the temp? When it reaches 145 internally? And when it is set up to 350 isn’t there a risk of overcooking the roast if it stays too long? No mention is made of internal temp to stop cooking and remove the roast. On my Weber of many years I cook pork to an internal temp of 150.

Bottom line- I thought with the app and all it knows about the temps it would switch temps and notify me when to remove the roast. Am I expecting more than the app can do with the Silverton 620?

thanks..Mike

 

[Murphy's Law]

Quick answer: Don’t use the app to control temp!

 

[Timmy]

Quick answer: Don’t use the app to control temp!

Exactly.

 

[Slimpicker]

Quick answer: Don’t use the app to control temp!

Ummm what he meant to say is: don't use the APP to control cooks, I use my APP to change the TEMP all the time

 

[MikeLosGatos]

I’m here to get advice. Is the app flakey when setting temps?

Are there other issues to avoid on the app? I was so looking forward to staying indoors this first run by using the app- it’s gusting at 25 mph on my deck right now!

 

[MikeLosGatos]

And to be clear- when underway cooking can the app take the Traeger from stage 1 to stage 2 on its own? Or does it just show me temps so I know when to do it myself? That’s a major point of confusion for me.

 

[Murphy's Law]

I have always used the app to monitor and then I would adjust my temperature via the app based more on internal temperature of the meat, as opposed to time.

I am not sure the app will automatically change temp of your grill say from 180 to 225 based on the steps of the recipe your cooking, for example.

 

[MikeLosGatos]

I’m guessing this answer to my question is no. But I don’t have an answer yet.
My question is not motivated by laziness but rather wondering how to best avoid human error. Like missing the time to change the temperature of the grill.

 

[Jim G]

Although I have never used it, my IronWood has the ability to setup 4 custom cooks. Each cook has the option of changing temp either based on time or probe temp. Not sure if the Silverton has that ability. Check your online manual.

 

[Slimpicker]

The only advice I got is to not look for the Traeger to do the cooking by itself.
Maybe since I've been smoking meat for years the ole fashioned way of checking on the grill and meat every 30 minutes or your cook is already ruined... I'll probably never be able to leave my Traeger unattended or trust "pre-determined" times and temps...
Too many things for me to double check out of habit I guess.
I go by the MEAT, not by the grill

 

[MikeLosGatos]

Although I have never used it, my IronWood has the ability to setup 4 custom cooks. Each cook has the option of changing temp either based on time or probe temp. Not sure if the Silverton has that ability. Check your online manual.

Thank you. That’s the info I’m hoping for. I think the wifire and the app are the same across models. The Silverton instructions so far are rather sparse but I’ll look again for that kind of control.

 

[MikeLosGatos]

The only advice I got is to not look for the Traeger to do the cooking by itself.
Maybe since I've been smoking meat for years the ole fashioned way of checking on the grill and meat every 30 minutes or your cook is already ruined... I'll probably never be able to leave my Traeger unattended or trust "pre-determined" times and temps...
Too many things for me to double check out of habit I guess.
I go by the MEAT, not by the grill

Thanks. As a very long time Weber griller I also enjoy the direct involvement. But since smoking is mostly new to me and it involves more steps I am looking to discover how much Traeger has done via wifire and the app to reduce the chance for mistakes. Mostly the “I forgot” kind..Mike

 

[John S.]

Take a look at the Matt Pittman weekday brisket instruction.
‘I ran this in a 12 lbs when trimmed up. Brisket it turned out that it took 18 hrs bur I did not go to the Treager for the first 12 hrs, though I do put the FB on the brisket so I can watch it. I also use the Traeger app to watch the pellet load....

 

[Slimpicker]

it took 18 hrs but I did not go to the Treager for the first 12 hrs, though I do put the FB on the brisket so I can watch it. I also use the Traeger app to watch the pellet load....

you are mastering your cooks and that's a good skill John

 

[MikeLosGatos]

Did my first brisket yesterday. Started with the Traeger Beginners Brisket recipe. But a friend with 10 years experience informed me of “The Stall”. So I used his tip.
WIREFIRE app was good for monitoring grill and probe temps but not much more.
About four hours in and at about 160 internal temp I wrapped the brisket tightly in butcher paper and placed it back on the grill. It took another four hours to reach 201 when I removed it, wrapped it (still in its butcher paper) in a small towel and let it rest 3 more hours. Supposed to further break down fibers and make tender.
On unwrapping it 3 hours later was still hot and very tender, and very moist. Good smoke and very flavorful.
The wrap method to avoid the stall is credited to famous and award winning Texas BBQ outfit Franklin BBQ.
8 hours on the Traeger and 3 more resting wrapped in insulating towel. Some people further place the towel wrapped brisket in an insulated small ice chest to further stabilize the temp and promote tenderness.