To use or not to use Traeger pellets

[Vicep3]

I would like to know if I can or can not use other manufactures pellets in a Traeger grill / smoker? Is anyone else using other brands in their Traeger? If so are you having any issues?
I know it will void the warranty but it is a used unit so there is no warranty at this point.
Traeger is trying to tell me that a brand other than theirs will not produce the correct temperatures in their smoker. While I understand that different pellets can produce different temperature / BTU's if the controller is reading the pit temperature why would it not adjust itself accordingly?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

[Doug S.]

I would like to know if I can or can not use other manufactures pellets in a Traeger grill / smoker? Is anyone else using other brands in their Traeger? If so are you having any issues?
I know it will void the warranty but it is a used unit so there is no warranty at this point.
Traeger is trying to tell me that a brand other than theirs will not produce the correct temperatures in their smoker. While I understand that different pellets can produce different temperature / BTU's if the controller is reading the pit temperature why would it not adjust itself accordingly?

Any help here would be greatly appreciated.

That's a bunch of bull**** I don't own a Traeger but have heard the sales pitch..hang on I'm sure there are Traeger owners on here that will be along shortly....

[dsgarner06]

I don't own a Traeger either, but not sure how using different brand pellets would void a warranty. Personally there are several brands that I use in my Yoder YS640 and none of them are Traeger brand (I've heard that the Traeger pellets use oils in their pellet production, though it could just be an unsubstantiated rumor). My favorites are Lumberjack, Pacific Pellets, Bear Mountain and BBQ Delight. I tend to use more of the Pacific Pellets since they are produced locally, have no additives, are 100% hardwood and I can get them for 9.99 for a 20lb bag from my local BBQ dealer.

But do remember that each wood type will have a different BTU produced... harder woods such as oak/hickory will have a higher BTU output than softer fruit woods such as apple.

[bwerth42]

I've owned a Traeger for many years. You can use any cooking pellets you want as long as they are not a whole lot bigger than the Traeger ones.

[barkonbutts]

I have a buddy who uses BBQ delight in his all the time!! No you do not have to use those bad pellets!!

[MossyMO]

If you have a Traeger problem while under warranty using other pellets how would Traeger know if you were to clean the hopper and auger out?

Traeger pellets pretty much all put out the same flavor no matter which flavor you purchase as they use a 30% flavor wood and 70% filler wood blended. Pending what part of the U.S. the Traeger pellets you have are manufactured the filler wood differs, they use a few manufacturers around the U.S.; for the area I live oak is the manufactures filler wood choice. So if I purchase a bag of hickory pellets in my area what I am getting is 30% hickory and 70% oak. While oak is a great flavor to smoke with, I thought I was getting hickory; and this explains why every flavor wood in Traeger pellets tastes and smells typically the same.

[Ozric]

I worked for Traeger for a short while, and got to visit their pellet plant in Oregon (I was aware at the time that they had a couple of other pellet mills around the US). The filler wood used at the Oregon plant was alder (that explains the general lack of flavor from Traeger pellets). I observed NO oils being used, but I would certainly expect their use in the Garlic and Onion flavored pellets (who'd want those anyway?).

While I would use 100% flavor wood pellets for smoking (say, in an AMNTS), I think you'll get more consistent performance from your grill when there's a consistent base wood (something light enough not to overpower the flavor wood).

I have 2 bags of Traeger hickory pellets left. I'm going to use them for burning off my new Yoder YS640 and for the first load of bacon. Then I'm switching to BBQr's Delight. [I'll try any of the other recommended pellets if I can find them.]

[Holysmoke]

Personally, I prefer 100% wood flavored pellets (like BBQRs Delight) for my low and slow smokes - the flavor of the wood comes through in the meat.

I'll use Bear Mountain or Pacific Pellet, which are 30:70 blends (the 70 being alder), when I'm planning to exceed the 275F threshold. The reason behind this is the Mak is a bit sensitive as 100% woods burn hotter which for some reason causes a burnout.

I found Traeger pellets create more ash and seem to emit tar/pitch (that nice sticky stuff). I also didn't think the wood flavors were discernible.

[Holysmoke]

As an FYI - a Traeger dealer in Portland, now defunct due to shady business dealings, ditched carrying Traeger pellets and exclusively sold Bear Mountain (30:70 blend).

I stopped by the Traeger dealer, about a mile from the house, today to see what was new - he only had Bear Mountain pellets. I overheard the owner conversing with another customer who was concerned about the warranty - the response was that if it was a blended pellet like Bear Mountain, no issue, yet a 100% pellet could void the warranty as they burn hotter, which could damage the igniter, fire pot and warp the auger. The shop owner also mentioned the steel in the lower housing could warp and buckle due to the additional BTU generated by 100% wood pellets. Net-net - stay with a blended pellet where the base is a lower BTU generator (like Alder) and NOT use a pellet where the base is Oak or 100% wood pellets.

[Ozric]

As an FYI - a Traeger dealer in Portland, now defunct due to shady business dealings, ditched carrying Traeger pellets and exclusively sold Bear Mountain (30:70 blend).

I stopped by the Traeger dealer, about a mile from the house, today to see what was new - he only had Bear Mountain pellets. I overheard the owner conversing with another customer who was concerned about the warranty - the response was that if it was a blended pellet like Bear Mountain, no issue, yet a 100% pellet could void the warranty as they burn hotter, which could damage the igniter, fire pot and warp the auger. The shop owner also mentioned the steel in the lower housing could warp and buckle due to the additional BTU generated by 100% wood pellets. Net-net - stay with a blended pellet where the base is a lower BTU generator (like Alder) and NOT use a pellet where the base is Oak or 100% wood pellets.

Yet another reason NOT to repair my Traeger 125. I've already replaced the igniter more than 6 times and one burned-through fire pot heat shield. Sure happy to have that new YS640 to replace it.

I will say that I got many, many good meals out of that Traeger. At the time I bought it (2006), charcoal and gas grills were prohibited where I lived, and the only thing I'd do on an electric grill is

on it.

Traeger was the best choice at the time. I don't regret buying it. Learned a lot. Good tool to learn on (both the pros and the cons).

[gwapogorilla]

Bought my dad a traeger. We use Lumberjack pellets in it all the time.