Traeger Tips: Hardwood Pellet Guide
Learn How to Choose The Best Traeger Pellets
Welcome to the modern era of cooking. Thanks to wood pellets, grilling to perfection while infusing distinct flavor is easier and more effective than ever before.
The art of smoking foods is all about consistent and level temperatures which starts with your fuel of the fire. Whether in the form of chunks, chips, or wood pellets, it’s best to use some type of hardwood for smoking.
Traditionally, wood chips or chunks have been used in grills and outdoor ovens large enough to use them. Grillers with smaller setups can also use wood chips or wood pellets in gas or charcoal grills by using a smokebox, and recently, wood pellet grills have been making BBQ magic at homes as much as at restaurants. Many grillers enjoy using hardwood pellets because of their convenience and effectiveness compared to other fuels.
Like wood chips, wood pellets are made from the byproducts of sawmills that would otherwise go to waste. The byproduct gets ground, dried, and then sent to a forming die. The forming die rotates while pressurizing the wood, and a knife inside the machine cuts them into uniform-sized pellets. Then it’s time for the pellets to cool down so they don’t stick to one another.
The process for making industrial wood pellets and flavored wood pellets for smoking food is the same. But the best pellet makers are more selective in the types of wood they use. For example, flavored wood pellets will often source trees from local apple orchards and blend it with oak or hickory.
Many revere wood pellets for being all-natural. There’s no need for using chemicals or glues because once pressurized, the lignin (an organic polymer) found in wood helps the pellets bind together naturally. The only added ingredient in wood pellets might be a hint of food-grade soybean oil which is sprayed on the dry wood fibers to feed them into the forming die.
Wood pellets typically come in a 20-pound bag, but the pellets themselves aren’t large or heavy at all. It’s easy to scoop your wood pellets into your pellet grill hopper, close the lid, and turn the switch to ON. Depending on cooking time, you may have to add more pellets to the hopper, but you never have to worry about soaking, stirring, poking, or prodding.
Working with wood chips can get tricky because you have to soak them so that they’ll burn slow and long. Wood pellets, on the other hand, burn hot and long by design. You don’t want to get them wet, or they’ll quickly ruin. Experimenting with flavors is as easy as mixing and matching the flavors of wood pellets. You can buy popular blends, or invent your own!
Wood Pellet Flavors
The following are general guidelines for which types of foods pair well with which types of wood pellets.
Traeger Signature Wood Pellets
The flavors of hickory, maple, and cherry hardwoods combine for a blend that can take on just about anything you cook. From classic BBQ meats, to fish and veggies, this versatile blend gives you full-bodied flavor you’ll go back to time and time again. Try this Beer Can Chicken next time you are looking to add that perfect wood-fired taste with your Signature pellets. Shop Signature.
Apple Wood Pellets
Most often used with poultry and pork, apple wood pellets offer a light fruity smoke that helps enhance mild flavored meats. Apple pellets take this Smoke Roasted Apple Pie to a whole new level of awesome. Think about it -- apple wood smoked apple pie? Unbelievable. Shop Apple.
Cherry Wood Pellets
One of the more flavorful pellets, cherry wood lends itself to applications where you want to add a hearty smoke flavor. Check out these Beef Ribs. Between the marinade and the cherry smoke, these flavorful ribs don't require any sauce to be exceptionally flavorful. Shop Cherry.
Hickory Wood Pellets
Probably the most widely used pellets in barbecue, hickory pellets release a strong flavor that complements most meats. Some people find hickory can be a little strong and like to mix it with a milder pellet like oak or apple. Using hickory pellets with this Anytime Pork Roast will definitely impress. Shop Hickory.
Mesquite Wood Pellets
A favorite of Texas BBQ, mesquite pellets infuse your meat with hearty smoke flavor. That super smoky flavor is great for recipes like these Southwestern Stuffed Peppers that are begging for a little something extra. Shop Mesquite.
Pecan Wood Pellets
Deliciously nutty and even a little spicy, pecan pellets are great with beef, pork, or poultry. They add a great depth to baked goods as well. Be sure to try this recipe for Mom's Best Pumpkin Bread and enjoy the added nutty flavor from the Pecan smoke. Shop Pecan.
Wood Pellet Pairing Guide
Best for Smoking Brisket:
Pecan pellets offer a subtle nuttiness that goes well with the rich flavor of smoked brisket.
Best for Chicken:
Mesquite pellets deliver a bold punch of flavor that shines in grilled chicken and other poultry.
Best for Ribs:
Hickory pellets provide a bold, assertive flavor that enhances BBQ pork ribs.
Best for Ham:
Apple pellets have a subtle touch of fruitiness that goes well with the sweet & salty taste of ham.
Best for Steak:
Cherry pellets have a hearty flavor that stands up to the rich, beefy taste of steak.
Best for Turkey:
Turkey Blend pellets feature Maple & Hickory accented with a hint of Rosemary to elevate your turkey’s flavor whether it’s roasted or slow-smoked.
*Subject to seasonal availability.
Best for Pulled Pork:
Apple pellets have a slightly sweet taste that pairs perfectly with tender, slow-smoked pulled pork.
Wood Pellet Blending Inspiration
Traeger's Signature Blend - Full Body Flavor
Hickory, cherry, and maple come together to achieve a classic BBQ blend that pairs well with any classic BBQ food. Use this wood pellet blend to smoke the foods you already love. A signature blend gives it a full-body flavor that’s sure to impress. Get yours here.
Limited Edition Meat Church Blend
Matt Pittman, founder of Meat Church BBQ, split his childhood between pork-preaching Alabama and beef-worshipping Texas, and this blend reflects that. It combines the Hickory used for cooking hog in the Deep South with the Oak preferred by Texas pitmasters. The result is bold, assertive smoke flavor that makes every dish praise-worthy. Shop Meat Church Pellets.
Hickory and Pecan - Bold to the Bone
This one’s for the spice lovers. As stated above, many grillers like to cut the strong flavor of hickory with a milder wood but different smokes for different folks, and this blend packs a punch. Try it with minimally seasoned fatty cut of pulled pork to make worlds of meaty flavor and smoky goodness collide. The nutty touch of pecan wood also pairs especially well with Asian-style flavors like sweet and sour and teriyaki marinades. This is a must-try for anyone who loves grilled pineapple.
Traeger Turkey Blend
Cook the ultimate bird with our premium Turkey Blend pellets. This artisanal mix of all-natural hardwoods featuring Maple & Hickory accented with a hint of Rosemary will elevate your turkey’s flavor whether it’s roasted or slow-smoked. This bag also contains our Brine Kit to help you cook the juiciest, most flavorful bird you’ve ever had. Order your own here.
Cherry Mesquite - For Lovers of All Things Barbecued Sweet
There’s a popular debate about barbeque flavor that’s going beyond the sauce. And this blend is a calorie-free, chemical-free way to give that brisket or rack of ribs a little extra magic. The sweet and hearty cherry wood flavor paired with the Texas classic mesquite is sure to wake up the flavors even more. It adds a nice touch to any steak or sausage, and if you can handle the heat, try it with spicy jerk chicken.
How to Use Wood Pellets on a Gas Grill
Before using pellets on a gas grill, clean the grill thoroughly. Place the pellets in a smoke box or pan that can withstand high heat. Turn down the central burners and turn up the outer burners before placing the smokebox inside.
Temperature control in a gas grill is relatively simple -- you keep the lid closed and adjust the knobs that correspond to the burner under your smoke box. The downside is, unless you use two equally-sized smoke boxes, circulating the smoke evenly will be challenging. Most wood pellets smoke for around 30 minutes, so if you're grilling for multiple hours, you'll need to open the grill to add more pellets (this lets heat escape).
How to Use Wood Pellets on a Charcoal Grill
Divide the grill in half -- one half is the “hot zone” for coals and smokebox, the other half is the “cool zone” where you’ll put a foil dish filled with water. Place heated coals on their designated side with the smoke box and wood pellets resting on top. Then fill the tray with water and place your meat over the tray.
The challenge with this method is maintaining a low temperature with coals. Most smoking recipes recommend cooking below 250 degrees Fahrenheit whereas coals will typically burn much hotter.
How to Use Wood Pellets on a Pellet Grill
Simply pour your wood pellets into the hopper and set your desired temperature.
The main advantage pellet grills have over their alternatives besides convenience is optimal temperature control. The fuel burns well, and fans inside the pellet grill circulate the heat and smoke around the meat evenly so it cooks just right.
Can I Use Wood Pellets in an Oven?
The oven inside your home is simply not designed to handle the sort of smoke wood pellets create, and using them inside your oven could fill your kitchen and home with smoke and endanger your family by creating a serious fire hazard. Similarly, wood chips and wood chunks, whether soaked or not, should not be used in an oven or stove.
