The quest to find the best wood pellet grill could become difficult, considering the fact that so many brands are vying for a place in your home. Today, we will discuss two such brands that have made their names in the market for wood pellet grills, and both brands have some incredible products to compete with one another or dozens of brands available on the market. Today, it’s going to be Pit Boss Vs Traeger, two brands that are proved their mettle in the field of smokers.
Both brands have distinct features, which you can find in the end result that you receive on the plate. Where Pit Boss grills keep the natural flavors of the food intact, Traeger is going to inject incredible barbecued flavors to excite the taste buds.
Since it has become a cutthroat competition, every company is looking to add a host of unique features to its product line-up in order to grab the major chunk of the market. Pit Boss and Traeger seem to be no different, as you will find many amazing features added to the grills of both brands. But, we are not here for a general review because that will do no good to you. We have picked two of the best products from each brand, and they will go up against each other in order to give us a better perspective as to which grill to put your money on.
For Pit Boss, it’s going to be ‘Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill’ that will be competing against Traeger’s ‘TFB42LZBC Grills Lil Elite 22 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker’. Both grills are being sold as hotcakes on the internet, so it will be a good fight to see as to who outclass who.
Pit Boss Vs Traeger: Who Is Going To Reign Supreme?
To detect a winner, it is important to test both grills on certain parameters because only then, it will be possible to find out as to which grill has a definitive edge over the other.
Grill Design And Construction
In the first look, grills of both products look strong and long-lasting, but the real test begins when one starts to cook meals on those grills. When it comes to grill construction, not many companies can beat Traeger because Traeger is known for making sturdy grills. Pit Boss 700FB has tried its best to make a grill that could match the grill of Traeger Lil Tex Elite, but it hasn’t been able to match it convincingly. Both grills are made of cast iron and given a coating of porcelain that doesn’t allow food to stick on the grill. But, Traeger has used a non-toxic material in the grill that prevents the addition of any harmful substance in the food that is grilled on the grates. Pit Boss has certainly made a good effort, but the grill looks frail. However, a lot depends upon how a user uses and maintains the grill.
Temperature Range
This is a very crucial aspect that you need to check while buying a grill. Let us compare the minimum and maximum temperature range in our shortlisted products. Pit Boss grill can cook food up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit, which makes this grill a top contender when you primarily focus on ‘searing’. I really like the fact that this grill offers uniform heat throughout the unit regardless of whether the temperature is 170 degrees Fahrenheit or 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Such a wide range of temperature range encourages multiple types of cooking and that too with great precision. On the other hand, Traeger grill can reach up to a temperature of 450 degrees Fahrenheit, which is good, but not good enough. But, you’ll get uniform cooking up to this temperature, that’s for sure. To make up for its low ‘high temperature’ mark, the company has added a ‘Digital Elite Controller’ that maintains precise temperatures within +/- 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
Cooking Space
Now, this is perhaps the most important factor that you need to pay attention to. How much cooking space you are getting in the grill is going to decide as to how much time you will be spending cooking meals on the grill. In Pit Boss, you are getting 700 square inch of cooking space on two different levels, which means, together they make up 700 sq. Inch. You can cook a good amount of food in one go, so if you are party person or having 8-10 people in your family, then this grill is going to serve the purpose of making BBQ food in a convincing manner.
When it comes to Traeger, the cooking surface extends to just 418 square inch, which is way to less compared to its competitor. But, take it in this way; if someone wants a grill for a family of four or five, then why would he/she go for a grill with bigger cooking space, as that would take up more space as well. You can easily cook 4 whole chicken, 5 racks of smoked ribs, 16 burgers or 24 hot dogs at a time.
Hopper Size
As we are discussing two wood pellet smokers, so how can we move ahead without discussing the size of the wood pellet hopper. A hopper is like a large container on the grill that is going to hold the wood pellets. As you turn on the heat on the grill, the wood pellets will burn to create smoke, and the cooking process will commence. The size of the hopper is of paramount importance because you will not like refilling the pellet container again and again during the cooking process.
In the Pit Boss model that we are discussing, you will get a hopper that could store up to 20 lbs of wood pellets, which in my opinion is on the higher side. When it comes to the Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite, the capacity of the hopper is slightly less at 18 lbs, which will not create much difference, but for comparison, Pit Boss has a bigger wood pellet hopper.
Versatility
This parameter will help you decide when all other parameters fail to do the same. You would like to see as to what extra you are getting in the grill beside normal features and functionalities. In Pit Boss grill, you get the ability to cook meals in six different types, i.e., BBQ, Sear, Roast, Char-grill, grill, and smoke. It means that you can bake biscuits, pizzas, sear or charbroil a steak, smoke ribs, fish and jerky, grill burgers, hot dogs, and vegetables with ease.
When it comes to versatility, Traeger Lil’ Tex Elite is not far behind. In fact, it is ahead of its Pit Boss model. The company is selling its model on ‘6-in-1 Versatility’, which are; BBQ, braise, bake, smoke, grill, and roast. So, you can get a variety of food items cooked in one of the aforementioned types without much of an effort.
Features
Admit it; you don’t want to buy a bulky piece of iron that isn’t capable of getting you a perfectly grilled food unless you babysit. Both, Pit Boss and Traeger grill has been equipped with some incredible features.
In Pit Boss, you get a digital temperature control to monitor the temperature inside the grill. You can easily specify the type of cooking and the burn length. This is a ‘set and forget’ kind of grill where you will have to add the wood pellet into the hopper, select the temperature and relax. The smoker will take care of the rest.
Traeger seemed to have outperformed Pit Boss in this parameter because it is equipped with a ‘Digital Elite Controller’, which will help maintain precise temperatures within +/- 20 degrees, and gives you the ability to cook low and slow to hot and fast. The inclusion of ‘Electric Auto-Start Ignition’ in the unit renders fire starters and charcoal chimneys useless. You can turn on the heat with a simple flip of the switch.
Cleaning
Once the cooking is done, you would like the idea of dozing off on your comfy bed and not indulging yourself in the annoying and messy cleaning process, right? So, which grill cleans up faster? Let’s find out Pit Boss grill comes with a grease bucket where all the grease will accumulate. So, you need to remove the bucket and throw that grease into the trash can. Moreover, the grates of the grill are coated with porcelain, so the food won’t be stuck on the grates, thus making it easier for you to clean them as well.
When it comes to Traeger grill, the grates are also coated with porcelain, thus making the cleaning quick and easy. The company has provided a tray on the bottom of the unit where all the grease will accumulate. So, your job is to remove the tray and dispose of the grease. In both grills, the cleaning process won’t take much of your precious time.
Warranty
A product having a multiple-year warranty will add confidence in users that if anything happens to the product, they will not be charged heavily for the part(s) repair and/or replacement. Unfortunately, in Pit Boss, you will get only 1-year warranty, so if anything happens to the grill after 365 days, you will be paying for that. When it comes to Traeger, you will get a 3-year warranty, thus giving you an opportunity to explore your grilling skills to full potential without worrying much about the smoker.
Pit Boss Vs Traeger: Which Product To Buy
The motive of this review is not to decide a winner, but give you a clear perspective as to which product you need for your in-house grilling adventure. If you think that you require a big smoker with big hopper capacity and temperature range, then Pit Boss 700FB is the grill that you should go for. If you are in need of a grill that is smart enough to cook the food without any human intervention, then Traeger TFB42LZBC Lil’ Tex Elite Pellet Grill will suit you more. At last, it is you who needs to take a decision.
I Recommend Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill To:
- Lovers of Natural Smoking: As this pellet grill keeps the natural smoky flavor of the food intact, so if you love that ‘Natural’ smoky flavor, then this product is ideal for you.
- Those looking for a long-lasting grill: As this smoker is made of quality materials, it is not going to wear down quickly. If you want to invest your money in a grill that you think will stay with you for years, then go for Pit Boss 700FB Pellet Grill.
- Grill enthusiasts with diverse needs: This smoker is ideal for large families, but smaller families can also consider this smoker if they want. The main point of buying this smoker is to have a unit that is capable of getting you different styles of meals with the utmost perfection.
I Recommend Traeger Elite 22 Pellet Grill To:
- Medium & Large Families: It is a perfect smoker for families having 4-8 persons. Although, it can be used for small gatherings as well, but then, the requirements will be fulfilled in multiple shifts. Ideally, medium families should opt for this product.
- Business Persons: If you are running a small food business and want your customers to enjoy smoky and scrumptious delights, then this product is ideal. Of course, you will have to get a bigger smoker once your business starts to grow.
- Novice Smokers: If you have just started to grill, then this smoker will be great for you, as most of the things are managed and controlled by the machine. You don’t have to check the temperature or control heat in between the cooking process because the smoker will take care of that.