Fitness / May 8, 2024

Traeger Ironwood Is the Best Grill I’ve Ever Reviewed

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The best pellet grills render the best cuts of steak a deep, smoky flavor because they live at the intersection between a grill and smoker. And while they may feel like a recent trend, their roots date back to the ’70s. Wood pellet stoves were developed to heat homes on alternative fuel sources during the oil crisis. Joe Traeger, with a background in home heating, founded Traeger Pellet Grills in the mid-1980s and launched the category. It’s fitting that our top spot in the pellet grill category for this year’s Grilling Awards went to Traeger Ironwood.

Traeger has arguably led the market since inception, offering sturdy, thoughtful products that constantly evolve to integrate the latest technology.

I took possession of the Ironwood expecting a top-notch grill that I could command and control while cooking up smoke-infused meals to please family and friends. I’d tested Traegers before and, after recently testing a more affordable pellet grill, was looking forward to the upgrade. And yet, I was still surprised by the ease of use, smart design, and rave reviews from folks I fed. After a few months of grilling, I was enamored. I’d never tested anything quite like it. And I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who wants to smoke, roast, and rule their next BBQ.

Read more of the greatest hits from our 2024 Grilling Awards, including the best charcoal grills, portable grills, pellet grills, gas grills, smokers, grill tools, plus pro tips on how to clean a grill, how to grill a steak, and where to find the best mail-order steaks.

I stored the Ironwood flush with the wall of my house, then moved it out to cook. The wheels had no trouble navigating our uneven patio pavers.

Matt Allyn

Traeger Ironwood Overall Impressions

The beauty of a Traeger is they’re designed for pellet grill newbs and veterans alike. The app, programming, and smart design can hold a first-timer’s hand, automatically seasoning the grill, offering more than a thousand recipes, and keeping an eye on the fuel level. And for those who consider BBQ a lifestyle (we salute you), Traeger Ironwood offers all the precision and control one desires, thanks to the grill’s impressively steady heating and multiple outlets for temperature probes.

Grill assembly is the one hurdle of note. But call a buddy, give yourselves 90 minutes, crack open a beer, and the Ironwood is upright and gleaming in short order. The slightly awkward screws that attach the accessory rail are the worst of it.

Like many of the best grills, Traeger offers a slew of custom accessories, such as storage bins, cup holders, a griddle grate, and paper towel rack. I used two add-ons: Traeger Ironwood Full-Size Grill Cover ($150) is significantly thicker and more durable than those cheap, one-size-fits-all covers I’ve purchased from Amazon that disintegrate after a season; I also used the ModiFIRE Sear Grate ($140) with nearly every cooking session. If I’m cooking meat, I’m going to sear it—and while searing is considered a weakness of pellet grills due to the lower max temperature compared to propane and charcoal grills, I had no trouble achieving a browned exterior on even thinner skirt steaks and burgers.

Final Verdict

The greatest advantage of Traeger Ironwood is its smoke factor. There’s no avoiding an injection of smoky flavor on this grill. I’m in full agreement with Traeger’s oft-repeated line that everything tastes better cooked over wood. I’m even a big fan of the world’s most underrated beer style—smoked beer. So the fact that even roasting smaller vegetables like asparagus at higher temperatures, around 400 degrees, still imparted a distinct smokiness impressed me. There’s no question this is the best pellet grill of 2024.

Pros

Wi-Fi connection and Traeger app allow you to watch and control the grill remotely.
Guaranteed smoky flavor at any level of heat.
Exceptional at holding steady temperatures.
Connects to wired and wireless heat probes
Relatively easy to clean and maintain.

Cons

Lower maximum heat (500 degrees) than gas and charcoal grills.
Searing requires patience. Opening the lid too often at max heat may trigger a high heat error, which begins a 30-minute shutdown cycle.
If you’re cooking for someone that dislikes smoky food, they’re S.O.L.
You will also smell like smoke. I needed a shower after every session.

Key Features and Tech

I kept marveling, they thought of everything, during my months of testing the Ironwood. The sturdy, double-walled steel construction plus a thick lid gasket hold heat and smoke in. While the Downdraft Exhaust design circulates the smoke much more thoroughly and effectively than pellet grills with a simple smoke stack.

On a sunny afternoon I cooked burgers and asparagus for lunch while prepping a dinner of chicken thighs, carrots, and sweet potatoes that I reheated for 10 minutes before serving.

Matt Allyn

Though food is the focus, the Ironwood’s grease management also stood out among our pellet grills. The porcelain grates are easy to scrape and wipe down, but the star here is the drip tray. Its gently sloping design takes a cue from griddles, helping to guide grease to the Grease & Ash Keg collector (which is also quick to access and dump). This made grill cleaning and maintenance easier while ensuring I never experienced a flare up or scorched food—this might be the first grill where I never unintentionally blackened a single chicken thigh.

And while Wi-Fi connections and app control centers are standard features, Traeger’s WiFIRE system is especially rich, providing your grill status and actions alongside recipes and how-to videos.

How I Tested the Traeger Ironwood

Though I grew up on propane grills, I’ve largely tested (and preferred) pellet grills over the last decade. I love the subtle taste of smoke imbued in my meals and appreciate the precision and convenience of the digital controls. Over my months of testing, I typically cooked multi-course meals or several meals to prep for the week. This meant I was varying the temperature, using both racks, and rotating the food. Also, I love—demand—a sear when cooking meat and used the Modifire Sear Grate (seen above) to mirror what I achieve with a cast iron skillet over a propane flame.