Question for Traeger Users

Wrench_H · 01-25-2011, 12:26 PM

I'm cooking some butts for my daughter's birthday this weekend, and its the first time I've done any long cooks on the traeger. My plan is to put them on around 7 pm Friday, and then go to bed around midnight. I usually get up around 5:30 on the weekends, so I'll start back then. I don't have the digital thermostat yet, and from the little bit of expereminting that I've had time to do, "smoke" seems to run at about 180-195, and "medium" seems to run between 230-260. I'm planning to run it on medium while I'm asleep. My question is about the pellets. I've been cooking a lot of fish on there the last few weeks on high, and have noticed that it burns through some pellets kind of quickly. Will a full pellet box last at least 5-6 hours that I am asleep on medium, or do I need to plan to wake up and refill at some point? I'm thinking I'm fine, but just want to make sure I don't ruin lunch the next day. Thanks for any help.

Hotrodhog · 01-25-2011, 02:31 PM

Ok, there are different size pellet boxes on the various Traegers, mine is on the smaller side, and there is no way mine will go near that long, they do have extension boxes for certain side box models, some come with em, personally, I use to fill the box and get up once during the night and fill it.
Now I just use my UDS for long cooks.

headrush · 01-25-2011, 02:57 PM

i think you could make your own hopper extension with cardboard, at the cost of keeping the lid open.

fttom · 01-25-2011, 03:47 PM

Thats what I did when I had my Traeger. Used cardboard and a little duct tape, and made it so it slid into the original box, at the bottom. Filled it up and put the original lid on top of the cardboard extension. It would cook maybe 15 hours or more that way.

Hot Sauce Hoss · 01-25-2011, 04:14 PM

Wrench H,
I have the 07e elite model and if i fill it to the rim and stay around 225 it will run
forever it seems like. iI also use the traeger pellets which i know some don't care for
but i can get a allnight out of a full bin with no problem. Mine is a newer made in china model also, don't know if this helped ya or not.

Hoss

dmprantz · 01-25-2011, 05:33 PM

Just FYI, I just spoke to Traeger Customer Support today. They told me that Smoke == 1 lb/hour, medium == 2-2.5 lb/hr, and high == 3-3.5 lb/hr. They also told me that all 19" models are designed to hold 20 lb in the hopper and the Junior is designed to hold 10 lb. You do the math. I just posted another question where I asked about building a hopper extension, looks like that question is answered here. Thanks!

dmp

Arlin_MacRae · 01-25-2011, 05:36 PM

I've heard that pound-per-hour figure too, but with the different variables involved and my own lack of experience, I can't say one way or another. Adding some cardboard sounds like great insurance to me.

Roll Tide · 01-25-2011, 07:52 PM

Just fill her up before you go to bed at midnight and you should be okay,even if it happens to runs 2lb an hour due to cold weather.

WineMaster · 01-25-2011, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roll Tide

Just fill her up before you go to bed at midnight and you should be okay,even if it happens to runs 2lb an hour due to cold weather.

He has the 3 position switch so the outside ambient temp wont effect the amount of pellets use in a given hr.

Wrench_H · 01-25-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WineMaster

He has the 3 position switch so the outside ambient temp wont effect the amount of pellets use in a given hr.

That's correct, its going to burn at a specified rate from what I can tell, thus the range in temp. I'm thinking I'll probably get the thermostat before the summer, just haven't yet.

Thanks to everyone for the answers. I might try to modify some sort of extension assuming we don't get any rain this weekend.

Brewer · 01-25-2011, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roll tide

just fill her up before you go to bed at midnight and you should be okay,even if it happens to runs 2lb an hour due to cold weather.

+11111111

jdoughboy · 01-26-2011, 08:04 AM

i really like the digital thermostat kit. it really does almost make it set it and forget it.

01-25-2011, 12:26 PM	#1
Wrench_H is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-22-09 Location: Wilmington, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Question for Traeger Users I'm cooking some butts for my daughter's birthday this weekend, and its the first time I've done any long cooks on the traeger. My plan is to put them on around 7 pm Friday, and then go to bed around midnight. I usually get up around 5:30 on the weekends, so I'll start back then. I don't have the digital thermostat yet, and from the little bit of expereminting that I've had time to do, "smoke" seems to run at about 180-195, and "medium" seems to run between 230-260. I'm planning to run it on medium while I'm asleep. My question is about the pellets. I've been cooking a lot of fish on there the last few weeks on high, and have noticed that it burns through some pellets kind of quickly. Will a full pellet box last at least 5-6 hours that I am asleep on medium, or do I need to plan to wake up and refill at some point? I'm thinking I'm fine, but just want to make sure I don't ruin lunch the next day. Thanks for any help. __________________ Anthony - Pork City Grillers KCBS team CharGriller Smokin Pro, King Kooker Cast Propane Smoker, Smokey Joe Silver, Blue Mosaic Kamado, Traeger 075(Somehow I now have 2 of these), Weber Performer, BW Fatboy Multiple Time Zero Member Try the Throwdowns - MMMMM...tastes like liquid crystal Last edited by Wrench_H; 01-25-2011 at 02:40 PM..

01-25-2011, 03:47 PM	#4
fttom Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 07-29-09 Location: Stockbridge, WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Thats what I did when I had my Traeger. Used cardboard and a little duct tape, and made it so it slid into the original box, at the bottom. Filled it up and put the original lid on top of the cardboard extension. It would cook maybe 15 hours or more that way. __________________ Sometimes I just sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits. UDS,Weber,Cookshack,Holland

01-25-2011, 05:33 PM	#6
dmprantz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-11-08 Location: Nashville Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Just FYI, I just spoke to Traeger Customer Support today. They told me that Smoke == 1 lb/hour, medium == 2-2.5 lb/hr, and high == 3-3.5 lb/hr. They also told me that all 19" models are designed to hold 20 lb in the hopper and the Junior is designed to hold 10 lb. You do the math. I just posted another question where I asked about building a hopper extension, looks like that question is answered here. Thanks! dmp __________________ The Beast - Custom Vertical Offset by Bates FEC-100 Large Big Green Egg® Weber Performer

01-25-2011, 05:36 PM	#7
Arlin_MacRae Moderator Join Date: 04-14-04 Location: Choctaw, OK Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I've heard that pound-per-hour figure too, but with the different variables involved and my own lack of experience, I can't say one way or another. Adding some cardboard sounds like great insurance to me. __________________ Arlin MacRae NB El Dorado Offset, Primo Oval Junior, Traeger Model 075 Pellet Pooper, Big Chief, Kingfisher Kooker 14" gas/wood combo, PBC Brethren Edition Home Brewer, Murderer of Squirrels, Armadillo Inspector Flaming Pig Head Mod Black (Stealth) Thermapen Driver - you saw NOTHING Certified KCBS BBQ Judge Missin' KC...

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01-25-2011, 02:31 PM	#2
Hotrodhog Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-25-09 Location: Escalon, Ca. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ok, there are different size pellet boxes on the various Traegers, mine is on the smaller side, and there is no way mine will go near that long, they do have extension boxes for certain side box models, some come with em, personally, I use to fill the box and get up once during the night and fill it. Now I just use my UDS for long cooks.

01-25-2011, 02:57 PM	#3
headrush Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 05-12-09 Location: vestal, ny Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i think you could make your own hopper extension with cardboard, at the cost of keeping the lid open.

01-25-2011, 04:14 PM	#5
Hot Sauce Hoss On the road to being a farker Join Date: 05-28-10 Location: Cumming, Ga Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Wrench H, I have the 07e elite model and if i fill it to the rim and stay around 225 it will run forever it seems like. iI also use the traeger pellets which i know some don't care for but i can get a allnight out of a full bin with no problem. Mine is a newer made in china model also, don't know if this helped ya or not. Hoss

01-25-2011, 07:52 PM	#8
Roll Tide Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 02-14-10 Location: The Mountains, Alabama Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Just fill her up before you go to bed at midnight and you should be okay,even if it happens to runs 2lb an hour due to cold weather.

01-26-2011, 08:04 AM	#12
jdoughboy On the road to being a farker Join Date: 01-10-10 Location: peoria,il Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	i really like the digital thermostat kit. it really does almost make it set it and forget it.