When it comes to the value you get for the price, it doesn’t get much better than the Traeger Pro Series 22. We had the pleasure of testing this smoker for several months, and through the process we discovered what buying a Traeger is all about. For starters, the Pro Series 22 is the perfect size for couples and small families. The 572 sq. in can hold anywhere from 20+ burgers on the grill to 15+ chicken breasts. The dimensions of the smokers (24 x 41 x 49) and weight (125 pounds) are also good for those who are tight on space or don’t want their pellet grill take up too much space.
When it comes to using the grill, the process is pretty straight forward. Before starting, all you have to do is load the pellets into the hopper and make sure the inner temperature probe is wiped clean. Once that step is done you then just flick on the power switch and turn the temperature dial to your preferred setting. After the grill was warmed up (it took us between 4-6 minutes for the Pro Series 22 to fire up), we could then just throw our meats on the grill and shut the latch to let the smoke do its thing.
The start-up process we just described is pretty similar to the other grills below, but what makes the Traeger stand out is how easy the controller is to use and how fast and reliable the grill is to heat up every time. As you graduate to higher levels of Traeger models, you will start seeing advanced features like double-wall insulation (for trapping heat better) and downdraft exhausts for kicking out the smoke (helps maximize the wood flavor of the pellets you choose). There’s also Traeger’s WiFIRE technology, which allows you to control your grill entirely from your phone.
The WiFIRE feature is incredibly cool to use, which leads us to highlight the biggest downside of the Pro Series 22 is it does not have the WiFIRE. The Pro Series 22 can only be controlled through its digital controller on the grill itself. The tradeoff of not getting the WiFIRE feature though on the Pro Series 22 is, of course, a much lower price. We found the grill is still tons of fun to use and incredibly reliable without the tech, and the fact you can save hundreds of dollars going without is an appeal we certainly can get behind.
Our opinion is you should start with the Traeger model you see here, then decide if you want the more advanced features and bigger surface area. For most of us who are just getting into the pellet grill game, the Pro Series 22 will do everything you need for quite a long time.
Read more: Best Traeger Grills
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