Rec Tec Pellet Grill Vs Traeger – Choosing The Best Pellet Grill

When making a decision to buy a pellet grill, you could come across some troubles, as there are so many brands available on the market today. If too many brands weren’t enough to confuse you, then you will meet dozens of models to make the decision of buying a pellet grill more confusing. But, that’s where experts like us come to the picture. Riding on the vast experience and knowledge about this product, we can help you buy the right pellet grill. Let us first zero down to the two top pellet grill brands because this will make things a lot easier. Today, it’s going to be Rec Tec Vs Traeger because these two brands leading the pack of pellet grills. Representing Rec Tec is ‘Rec Tec Wood Pellet Grill’ that features Smart Grill Technology, whereas, Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker will represent Traeger. To adjudge a winner, it is important to put both products through different tests, which we have. We have tested both pellet grills on a few parameters, and we are going to share details of the same:

Rec Tec has a very sturdy build, as everything from fire pot to grill logo is made up of heavy-duty steel. There isn’t any paint to flake, fade or fail. This grill is going to remain firm and intact for years because of the quality materials that have been used in this product. Traeger, on the other hand, makes use of steel with a powder coat finish. This grill is also sturdy, yet it can’t be compared with Rec Tec Grill, as the latter one is on a different level altogether. There is a room for improvement when it comes to build and sturdiness.

Rec Tec grills are meant for serious performance, as there are different temperature controls incorporated into the machine, which advocates easy operations including ‘Full setting’ mode that allows you to achieve up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. This grill is fully effective in different types of cooking such as smoke, bake, grill, broil, sear, roast and even dehydrated.

Cooking on this grill is a worry-free operation because it takes care of everything all by itself. Traeger is also one gem of a grill, especially when someone is flavoring the meat. If you want to give the food you are cooking on the grill a unique and lovely taste, then this pellet grill is all you need. But, you will have to stand and watch the entire process, or else your food could be burned.

Rec Tec Grill has 702 sq. inches of the cooking area where you can easily fit six ribs at once. Moreover, you can easily roast a large turkey, which might not be possible in other grills at the same price range. The grilling space in Traeger is 646 sq. inches, which is good, but comparatively less than Rec Tec grill. But, you can easily grill 5 ribs at once and around 30 burgers.

We really like the ability of Rec Tec to adjust the temperatures in 5-degree increments at a time, which is a lot better than Traeger, which will provide you with a poor +/- 20 degrees adjustment. Moreover, heat control and monitoring of food are better, which we believe is a significant feature because the ability to control heat ensures a better grilling experience. Rec Tec grill incorporates an electric thermostat, which is accurate and works like charm.

Heat control in Traeger grill is OK, but not as great as Rec Tec grill. The absence of thermal sensing monitor is going to hurt you if you are using Traeger grill. You will have to sit next to the grill and keep a watch over the food all the time or else your food may get burned.

Rec Tec grill in our opinion is energy efficient as it makes use of fewer wood pellets than other grills. Moreover, there is an insulation lid given by the company that ensures less utilization of fuel and maximum production of heat. Traeger grill is also energy efficient and gives maximum energy in less amount of pellets. So, it’s a draw in ‘energy efficient’ parameter.

Check out our detailed guide highlighting the features and performance of Traeger and Rec Tec along with our verdict as to which device you should opt for:

How well a grill has been built will determine how long it will last. You don’t want to buy a grill that tumbles after an impact. When we talk about Rec Tec, then you will find 304 stainless steel on the entire body, so it is going to be a heavy and sturdy machine. On the other hand, Traeger uses a lower grade steel and adds a powder coat finish. Rec Tec is a better option when you are looking for a durable and long-lasting product.

When it comes to cooking options, we believe Rec Tec is a better product because it allows you to grill, bake, sear, and smoke. Setting up temperatures in this grill is also quite easy, plus you don’t have to worry about your food getting burned. Traeger is also good, or you can say, better than most pellet grills that are available on the market, but Rec Tec is a tad better than Traeger. Sometimes, Traeger grills produce too much heat, thus end messing up your food.

Cooking on a grill is all about playing with temperature. If the grill is not able to control the heat, then the food that is being cooked on the grill can be ruined. But, not in the case of Rec Tec because the company has designed this product in such a way that it can maintain temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, plus you can make increments up to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Whereas, heat control is not that great in Traeger grill, as there is only +/-20 degrees increments and can go up to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you like to cook or smoke something for a long duration, then the capacity of the hopper will definitely come into play. Rec Tec has a good hopper capacity as it can easily hold up to 40 lbs of pellets, whereas Traeger can carry only 18 lbs of pellets, which is around 50% of what Rec Tec can carry.

If you like to carry to carry a smoker during traveling, then you need something that is lightweight and easy to maneuver. Rec Tec is constructed using heavy duty steel, so it won’t be easy to carry it around. But, you can easily move Traeger grill from one place to another, as it is not that bulky.

Cleaning a grill is a daunting task, but not in the case of Rec Tec and Traeger, as both grills can be easily cleaned. You can clean the grill for 5-10 minutes without using any special cleaning equipment.

Now, after going through all the parameters, we know as to what defines a good pellet grill. So, who do you think has won the battle of pellet grills? In Rec Tec Vs Traeger, we believe Rec Tec grill is superior to Traeger because of the quality material that has been used in the product and a far better performance in terms of cooking. If you are looking for a lightweight and versatile grill, then Traeger is a good option. It is up to you to decide as to which brand you want to go with. We have done our job by explaining the details of the best products of the two brands. Go through the information diligently and then, make the right decision.