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

Tongs a Review - Grilling Tools

Tongs a Review - Grilling Tools

OXO 16 inch Spring Loaded Tongs

Tongs are the tool I use the most when I BBQ.  I rarely use a Spatula or Fork.  It  is important to get good quality tongs that you are comfortable with.  I really enjoy My Oxo Good Grips 18 inch tongs.

They have a silicon grip so they do not get too hot,  They are Spring loaded so they are easy to use even with my mild arthritis in my hands.  I did recently acquire the below Bobby Flay Tongs on sale for about $6 originally 14.99.  They seem well made with wood grips and are about 16 inches long.  Sometimes you need 2 pair to avoid cross contamination of foods.  I like my 2 pair to look very different and while My U shapped tongs work the spring loaded ones seem to be much better for me.

Bobby Flay BBQ Locking Tongs

U shape Tongs Guy Fieri ones in the Middle

Above are some u shaped Tongs the ones in the Middle are Guy Fieri, I purchased these in a pinch at Walgreens.  They don't lock but they do have a clasp that holds them closed, of the 3 U shaped Tongs I own I like the Guy Fieri best.  They are much closer together then the other 2 pairs and don't require as much strength to hold closed.  They also seem to align better.  I don't personally see a reason to buy non spring loaded tongs ever again.  The other 2 pair were parts of sets and as the below review of grill tools states it is almost always better to buy each tool separately  then to purchase a set.

Comprehensive Review of BBQ Tongs

How To Clean Your Traeger or Most any Other Grill

How To Clean Your Traeger or Most any Other Grill

How To Clean Your Traeger or Most any Other Grill

When It comes to cleaning my Traeger I am not the best at cleaning the grill and making it all shiny and bright.  I do vacuum out the fire-pot and change the foil on the drip pan often.  Usually every 3 to 4 cooks unless I do a long smoke like Pulled Pork, 3-2-1 ribs etc then I usually do drip pan and firebox Maintenance and clean my grill before and after those cooks.  I also clean my grill Grates before and after every cook.  Below is a compilation of Videos I found on Youtube.  They include 3 different ways to clean your grill grates naturally without harsh chemicals or wire brush.

The Following 3 Videos are different Methods to clean your Grill Grates.  Followed by a short video on your Drip pan and Fire-Pot Maintenance,

Cleaning your grill  grates with Aluminum Foil

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4WG_vwxhOQ

How to clean your Grill Grates with an Onion and a Fork

https://youtu.be/NNyqECZSQeY?t=14

How to clean your grill with a potato

https://youtu.be/l8TlSyJQRIQ

A real short Video of drip pan and Fire Pot Maintenance 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihKS3wF23LY

Deep Cleaning Your Traeger

Not something I do often but at least you know how,

How to clean your Traeger akk you need is water a wire brush and a Puddy Knife
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NG1YWbZSew

A while back I stumbled across some videos when I was surfing the Web.  It is put out by Weber but talks about cleaning the outside of your grill and Grease Buildup Inside your grill.
For the Weber Spring Cleaning your grill Video on how to do a deep grill cleaning Click Here

Chicken Quarters From Traeger - Recipe

Chicken Quarters from Traeger

Chicken Quarters on The Traeger

At our local supermarket they have a smoker in there parking lot.  They sell things like smoked ribs, chicken legs, chicken quarters and salmon. They call it Bob's BBQ.  Before I bought my Traeger I would from buy my BBQ there and it tasted pretty good

  

Recently they started selling uncooked Bob's BBQ  Seasoned food in there meat Dept. We scored 2 2 packages of Bobs Seasoned  chicken Quarters at 79 cents a Pound.  I will use the procedure from the Traeger website to cook them. Except I won't prep them since they are already prepped. Traeger on.

 

Chicken Quarters with Bobs BBQ Seasoning

Chicken Quarters Recipe:

Start Traeger on smoke for 10 minutes with lid open'

Preheat lid closed to temperature of 350

Cook for about 40  minutes until internal temperature at 165

or chicken golden brown and juices run clear

rest for 10 minutes

For recipe from Traeger Click Here

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

BBQ Pit Boys Guru of the Grill

BBQ Pit Boys Guru of the Grill

When it comes to Grilling no one does it better then the BBQ Pit Boys.  They tend to cook everything on a Weber charcoal  grill.  If you can cook it on a Weber you can cook it on a Traeger.  I really enjoy watching the weekly Videos that the BBQ Pit Boys create,  Here are just a few of my favorite ones.
Ckick here for the website of the BBQ PIT Boys

Beer Can Burgers Recipe

Beer Can  Burgers URL https://youtu.be/Hq2kmbI_1EA

No Boloney Bologna Burgers by the BBQ Pit Boys Recipe

No Boloney Bologna Burgers  https://youtu.be/jI9cRANq21o

No Boloney Bologna Burgers  https://youtu.be/jI9cRANq21o

Steak Stuffed Potatoes

Steak Stuffed Potatoes https://youtu.be/S0WRGhjAGmc

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes. Enjoy my Traeger Recipe Page

Bacon Wrapped Deer Back Strap Traeger Recipe

Deer Back Strap Traeger Recipe

Deer Back Strap Traeger Recipe

Its great to have a hunting buddy.  One day last winter he came over to my house with some bacon wrapped deer back-strap.  He stated it needed to be cooked today.  So I fired up the Traeger and off I went to yum heaven.

Deer Back Strap Traeger Recipe

Start Traeger on smoke for 10 minutes with lid open'

Preheat lid closed to temperature of  350

Cook Deer Back Strap about 15 minutes on each side until bacon is crisp.

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.

Grilled Vegetables - Traeger Recipe

Grilled Vegetables - Traeger Recipe

Grilled Vegetables on the upper and Lower Racks

I am not a huge Vegetable eater,  I am a steak and Potatoes kind of a guy.  From time to time I do Grill Vegetables for other people and I'll eat some too.  I grill Peppers, Zucchinis, Onions and whatever else they had to me in the Marinade bag.

Grilled Vegetables in Marinade Bag

Grilled Vegetable Traeger Recipe

I Just throw the Vegetables on the grill and cook them on both sides turning occasionally.   

When I am cooking only vegetables I cook them at 375 and get a nice char on both sides.  I just wing it and check them every 10 minutes or so and turn as needed.  When cooking with something else like burgers or chops I just cook them at temperature of main entree and still check and turn from time to time,  I pull them off when they have a nice Char

Please Note:

Any recipe I make is just a guideline.  I am not a big fan of gooey sauces so almost everything is I cook would be a dry rub.  You of course should experiment and see what works best for you.  I don't often recommend a rub because it is a matter of personnel taste.  These recipe would also work well on most other pellet grills or charcoal and gas grill using indirect heat for the low temperature recipes.