How to Season & Burn-In Your Grill
One-Time Initial Firing Process
Before cooking the first batch of food in your new Traeger, you will need to season your grill. This simple, one-time initial firing process will burn off any residual, non-toxic oils from the manufacturing process and help create non-stick surfaces so that you get the most out of your Traeger Wood Pellet Grill.
How long does it take to do the initial firing burn-in?
A WiFIRE grill will take about one and a half hours, while a non-connected grill will take roughly an hour.
Let's start by looking at how to season a WiFIRE grill. Scroll past these first steps to learn how to season a non-connected grill.
Steps for Seasoning Your WiFIRE Grill
- Prime your auger tube with pellets
- Plug in the grill and turn it on using the power switch, usually found on the back of the grill
- Add fresh hardwood pellets to the hopper
- Press the power button on your controller to wake your controller screen
- Turn the dial to navigate to Select Auger > Prime Auger; press the controller knob to select
- Once pellets begin to fall into firepot, select, Done
- Turn selection dial clockwise to 350°F and press the dial to confirm the temperature
- Press the Ignite button and close the lid. When the temperature reaches 350°F, run for 20 minutes
- Adjust the temperature to 450-500°F and press the knob to confirm
- When the temperature reaches 450-500°F, run for an additional 30 minutes
- Shut down the grill 1. For a Pro Series grill, press the knob for 3 seconds 2. For Ironwood, Timberline or Silverton models, press the controller's power button for 3 seconds
*These steps can be done also from the app!
Now that you’ve finished seasoning your grill, get ready to create mouthwatering brisket, fall-off-the-bone baby-back ribs, and juicy pulled pork.
Steps for Seasoning Your Non-Connected Grill
- Plug in your grill and turn it on using the switch on the front of the controller
- Add hardwood pellets to the hopper
- Prime the auger with pellets
- Open the lid and remove the grill grate, drip tray, and heat baffle
- Set the grill to High (or the highest temp possible) for 2 to 5 minutes until you see pellets fall into the firepot
- Set the grill to Shutdown Cycle and turn off the grill using the power switch
- Return the internal components to their correct places inside the grill
- Turn the grill back on, close the lid, and set the controller to Smoke
- Wait approximately 15 minutes for the fire to establish in the grill. Once the fire is established, the thick, white smoke should change thin and slightly blue.
- Set the grill to High (or highest temp possible) for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, you are good either to start cooking or to continue to Step 9 to shut down the grill.
- Set the grill to Shutdown Cycle. The shutdown cycle will run approximately 25 minutes.
- Once the shutdown cycle is complete, turn off the grill using the power switch.
Your grill seasoning is now complete and you are ready to start grilling.