Searing Meat -Traeger Tips and Tricks

Searing Meat -Traeger Tips and Tricks

Sear Steaks Grill Marks

I have gotten really nice grill Marks on my steak from my Traeger directly from my grill grates.  If you want a good sear on your steaks to lock in those juices then you should be doing the reverse sear method.  When I first got my grill I saw a recipe that talked about searing in a cast Iron pan.  I went out and purchased a reversible cast Iron Griddle/Grill.  I wish I had not been so fast to pull the trigger on that purchase because I soon found out about GrillGrates.  They are way better for the Grill then Cast Iron,  They have holes in them so you can get that grill flavor.  

GrillGrates

Will my grill run hotter with GrillGrates?
Yes. GrillGrates cook via all methods of cooking: conduction, convection and infrared. GrillGrates with their extra mass and surface area literally radiate heat and provide more direct food contact than conventional grills. In addition they convect heat between the rails. Aluminum is a superb conductor of heat smoothing out hot spots and cold spots and focusing the heat of the grill to the raised rails. Adjust grill temps downward and enjoy gas savings or use less fuel. Keep in mind that most grills typically run 100-150F degrees hotter at the cooking surface than the air in the hood anyway and GrillGrates will be hotter still. Kamado grills run 200-300F hotter at the surface, gas grills 100-200F hotter and pellet grills you can expect to see about 100F hotter. --- Directly from GrillGrate Webpage, Notice the very end expect to see Pellet grills run 100 degrees hotter.  Click here for Grill Grate website.

There are five elements to the the Science of GrillGrate

1. Amplifies the Heat of any Grill

GrillGrates act like a lens on top of any heat source. They magnify and focus the grill's heat converting it to infrared heat.

2. Flare-Up Protection from the Bottom Plate

The underside and hole pattern of GrillGrates blocks flare-ups from engulfing food preventing charring and drying out.   --- No Flare ups on Traeger anyway.  Ive heard of people removing drip pan and  using grillgrates on top of firebox either with or without the Grills Grate on

3. Conducts Heat More Efficiently

GrillGrates are made from hard anodized aluminum, which conducts heat more efficiently than cast iron or stainless steel.

4. The Valleys Vaporize Drippings

Juices and drippings fall into the hot valleys where they sizzle and vaporize into flavor and retained moisture. The valleys of GrillGrates are a flavor enhancing system.

5. Perfect Sear Marks

GrillGrates conduct and focus heat up the raised rails for steakhouse quality searing. Sear marks can be controlled from golden brown to dark, crispy and flavorful.

Above taken from GrillGrate website Science of Grill Grates 

Here is a review about different kind of Grates including GrillGrates Click Here

In the above review of different type of Grill Grates from amazing ribs they do rate GrillGrates very highly and state you can add Pellets or chips in the Valleys of the Grates for extra flavor.  I will be trying this out ths weekend.

Click Here for Tri-Tip using GrillGrates

Reverse Sear Video below
Here is the Link just in case https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ4xl7XJM08

Tools for a Successful cook

My BBQ Tool Kit

Here are a few tools I need for a stress free cooking experience on my Traeger.  I know people cook amazing food with just tongs but I need a bit more.

Leave In Thermometer

I Griil 2 by Weber

A leave in Thermometer because as they say if you are looking you are not cooking.  I currently useI Grill II  by Weber.  It works well for me and tells me the temperature of my grill as well as what I am cooking.  I do have all 4 probes.  I have used 3 probes for food and one for the Traeger. The Igrill sends the results directly to my android smartphone via Bluetooth.  They also have an App that works with the Iphone.  I was extremely impressed with Weber's customer service, they sent me a replacement probe at no cost when mine broke.


Another great feature of the Igrill is that it creates Graphs so you can see your Temperature swings

I also have a Maverick ET-732 remote BBQ Thermometer which I was not impresed with.

Some people seem to like the Tapeccue Wifi Thermometer.  There are a few other wi fi thermometers including 1 by thermoworks.

Instant read Thermometer 

Thermapen and Thermopop by thermoworks

When it comes to an Instant read Thermometers  nothing beats thermaworks.  I have a Thernapen and Thermopop they both work well the Thermapen is more accurate and faster, The thermopop is slower and a lttle less accurate.  Buy the best one you can afford between these 2.  Last time I looked there were multiple versions of the Thermapen the classic and the MK4. are the same when it comes to accuracy and speed the MK4 has more features.  Buy the best one you can afford between these 3.  

It looks like the newer Thermopops are even faster.  If you already have a Thermometer and just want an upgrade if you sign up for the Thermoworks newsletter they have sales often.  Sometimes they sell open box stuff at a discount but you get the same warranty ason a brand new one.

Thermoworks has great customer service.  For most things on the Traeger I agree its a matter of personnel test, but when it comes to an instant read thermometer I say get a thermoworks you will be happy you did.

                             

Tongs

Tongs, I have multiple sets of Tongs but my go to set is my 18 inch OXO.  Sometimes you need to use 1 set for raw chicken and another for cooked food.

Oxo Tongs

My Toolbox 

My Toolbox, Yes I actually have a toolbox which holds most of my grilling tools and supplies.  It is a Stanley flat max waterproof toolbox.  I have My Tongs, Spatulas, Grilling Gloves, Thermometers, Hand sanitizer, bleach wipes and even spices in my Fat Max.  It makes it easy to have everything all in one place.

I no longer store my spices in my toolbox they cake up.

Toolbox

Toolbox

Grill Tools

Some of My Spices and Rubs

Wet Dry Shop Vac

A wet Dry Shop vac is a must have tool to clean out your Firebox of excess ash.  I usually clean the Firebox when I replace the Foil on the Drip pan every 4 to 6 cooks.  Unless I do long cooks like Pork Shoulder then sometimes before and after the cook.  The brand doesn't seem to matter as long as it has enough HP to do the Job.

wet dry shop vac



Here are more posts about Tools I use
http://traegerrecipesbymike.blogspot.com/search/label/Grilling%20Tools?m=0

A-Maze-N Products 12 inch Tube Smoker - Helpful Traeger Modifications

A-Maze-N Products 12 inch Smoke Tube

I

I have the A-Maze-N Products 12 inch Smoke Tube. I sometimes use it to add extra smoke during a cook.  It worked real well when I made, ribs, Pulled pork, corn beef, Pork Loin and Pineapple.  I have never used it for cold smoking but some people have.  The first few times I used the Tube smoker it was hit or miss if would stay lit.  I have found by placing the opening towards the front of the grill once it was smoking I could push the pellets in with a metal poker and keep it burning (smoking).

I received the A-Maze-N Products 12 inch Tube Smoker as a present.  It seems to be the most popular one used on the Traeger Facebook user group pages.  Other people have talked about a Char Broil Tube smoker at target for 1/2 the price.

I use an inexpensive heat gun that I purchased at harbor freight to light my tube smoker.  I found this YouTube video very helpful when learning to light my smoker, 

How to Light your Tube Smoker

 

Traeger Junior Rack - Helpful Traeger Modifications

Traeger Junior Rack

Double Decker Cooking

I love my extra rack.  It virtually doubles the size of my Junior.  It allows me to cook twice as much food with the same number of  pellats.  It also saves time because I can do 1 batch instead of 2 or 2 batches instead of 4 .....   It is a high quality product that I highly recommend.  You can get your extra rack by clicking the link http://www.barbieqt.com/product-p/jr55.htm.  You can also use this rack in larger grills to get extra space.

Ortech Digital Temperature Controller - Helpful Traeger Modifications

Ortech Digital Temperature Controller

When I first got my Traeger it had a very simple Temperature controller with only 3 settings, low medium and High.  I wanted a Digital Temperature Controller because I wanted the ability to set grill temperatures.  It has multiple settings Off, smoke, 180, 225, 250...375, High

I added the Ortech Digital Temperature Controller model Tr-100  because it is a good Controller at a reasonable price.  It has a  dial for P-Settings a feature not found in the Traeger Digital Temperature Controller.  The Ortech controller automatically does a shutdown cycle whenever you turn the grill off. 

Grill Grates - Helpful Traeger Modifications

Grill Grates - Helpful Traeger Modifications

While not technically a Traeger Modification the Grill grates are an amazing addition to my Traeger.  They allow me to get an amazing sear on steaks and chops and they do concentrate the heat and get hotter then the Grill does by themselves.  I use them mainly for things I want to cook at high temperatures steaks, burgers and chicken.  I have also used them just to reverse sear steaks, Burgers and pork chops. Click here for Grill Grates

See the below YouTube video on the Reverse Sear Method

Duct Work Reducer - Pellet Extension Hopper Extension

Duct Work Reducer - Pellet Extension Hopper Extension

Duct Word Reducer Pellet Hopper Extension

The Traeger Junior only has a 14 pound pellet hopper which works great on short cooks. But sometimes you just want to do an overnight cook or find the need to leave the house for a few hours and dont want to run out of pellets. I have seen many solutions like taping a 12 pack box to the Hopper or purchasing an expensive after market Hopper extender.

I think the person who posted this called it a redneck Hopper extension. It Just flat out works.  I have Duct work reducer 8 inch  to 6 inch  I use it only on long cooks. when filled to the top it supplies 5 hours of pellets. They also make Duct work reducer 12 inch to 6 inch  and 10 inch to 6 inch.  My local hardware store only had they 8 inch one. For less then $10 it has served me well.