Traeger Pro Series 22 Review
Hey smokers and welcome to my Traeger Pro Series 22 Review. And as it so happens, the first part of this review will also double as my first cook as well meaning I am really testing it out as a newbie. I have also however now used it for a good month (boy, I have really smoked the bajoinga’s out of it) so let’s have a look:
Overall Score: 8.5/10
Ease of Setup | 7.5 | Grill Plates | 8 |
Ease of lighting | 9 | Make and Durability | 8 |
Set and Forget | 9 | Portability | 7 |
Probe accuracy | 10 | Output | 9 |
Best For | Considerations |
---|---|
Anyone looking for a really good budget pellet smoker | Pre-set temperature levels restrict precision temperature control |
A little bit noisy |
My Verdict |
As a base model, there are some limitations compared to the higher priced options, but at the end of the day, everything I have cooked has come out really really well. I am more than happy. |
So with that in mind, I am going to do a cook and see how it all works. From here I will run you through:
- Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 specs and features
- How I will test it/results
- Pros and Cons
- Cost
- My thoughts
What is the Traeger Pro Series 22
The Traeger Pro Series 22 is a wood pellet grills and the start of the range of options from Traeger. This grill leverages the unique flavor of wood-fired cooking via the use of pellets, which area available in a number of options such as Hickory, Cherry, Apple and more.
With a grilling area of 572 square inches, it also features Traeger’s digital Pro Controller with Advanced Grilling Logic, ensuring precise temperature control within +/- 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Additionally, an auto-start ignition and easy pellet hopper cleanout makes it a favorite among both novice and experienced grillers alike.
And for the grill nerds among us, here are the specs:
- Model: Pro Series 22 (TFB57PZBO)
- Fuel Type: Pellets
- Exterior Material: Powder Coated Steel
- Primary Color: Black/Bronze
- Cooking Grate Material: Porcelain Coated Steel
- Cooking Grid Dimensions: 22 X 19 inches
- Main Grilling Area: 418 Sq. Inches
- Secondary Grilling Area: 154 Sq. Inches
- Total Grilling Area: 572 Sq. Inches
- Burger Count: 16
- WiFi/Bluetooth Enabled: None
- Grill Lights: None
- Thermometer: Digital
- Side Shelves: Available
- Side Burner: None
- Made In USA: No
- Hopper Capacity: 18 Pounds
- Max Temperature: 450 F
- Dimensions: Width 41″, Depth 27″, Height 49″
- Weight: 103 lbs
- Class: Entry-Level
- Configuration: Freestanding
- Cart Assembly: Some Assembly Required
Source: Traeger.com
Key Features
Ok, so just as an expansion of the above, the key features here include:
- Runs on Electricity: Just to keep in mind that you will need electrical power to run this Grill.
- Precision Temperature Control: The Traeger Pro 22, come with preset temperature controls allowing for a set and forget arrangement. Pellets are fed through at controlled speeds to keep the temperature at around the same temperature throughout the cook.
- Temperature Probes: The pro 22 comes with one inbuilt temperature probe to monitor overall grill temp and two detachable probes to monitor meat temperature as well. These temps are displayed on the front of the pellet hopper within the temperature control unit.
- Pellet hopper: This is where the pellets go to be fed into the combustion chamber. This model comes with a 18lb/8kg capacity hopper.
- Porcelain-Coated Grill Grates: For ease of use and cleaning.
- Design: Robust steel construction, complemented by a powder coat finish with porcelain grill plates designed for strength and ease of cleaning. They also outline that it will not rust or deteriorate over time.
Check Out My: 5 Traeger Pellet Smoker Tips For Beginners
How Will I Test It?
To test this, I have decided to run it against the specs and sale points from the Traeger webpage. This way I am testing against a clear set of parameters including:
- Ease of Setup
- Ease of lighting
- Set and Forget
- Probe accuracy
- Grill Plates
- Make and Durability
- Portability
- Output
Let’s run through those in more detail now:
1. Ease of Setup
Setup is definitely a two person job and there are some awkward moments where you need to turn the whole unit upside down and balance it whilst you attach the legs. However, all of the screws and tools are provided and everything fits nice and neatly where it is supposed to.
My score: 7.5
The awkwardness of it all dropped the score a little here.
2. Ease of Lighting
Of course you have to prime the auger first but after that, simply turn it on, set it to ‘smoke’ and the whole thing takes care of itself. I did however learn a little tip here to drop a couple of pellets into the fire pot first to start the burn a little faster.
My score: 9
I took a point off for priming need which may be a little harsh but it does mean I need to remove all the plates to start it.
3. Temperature Consistency
This is a big one for me and probably the main reason that I purchased it in the first place. I am more than happy here with my only issue here being that the 18lb/8kg hopper will run empty on longer cooks.
The auger runs with no jams, no clogging and no fuss and I would say that this is backed up by the fact that the temperature stayed consistent the entire time on every cook that I have done (except when I ran out of pellets, but that is another story).
My Score: 9
A point lost if you are doing longer cooks
4. Probe Accuracy
I have used the probes a few times for pulled pork and to test the accuracy, I also used my own external probe in the grill to check two things:
- Did the setting chosen match the temperature of the grill?
- Did my external probe match the recordings of the Traeger probe?
The answer to both was yes, the temperature inside the grill when in use matched the temperature set and the difference between the probes was negligible – and to be expected as they were not able to be placed in exactly the same spot.
My Score: 10
Unless both probes are inaccurate to the same degree, I see no fault here.
5. Porcelain-Coated Grill Grates
The grill plates are strong and covered in porcelain for ease of cleaning and temperature control. They have handled everything I have done so far but they are not as easy to clean as I would have liked.
My Score: 8
Nice and durable however they do need a soak to clean.
6. Make and Durability
The unit is of steel construction & durable powder coated finish and I did not at any point feel like the grill was flimsy or un-sturdy as I moved it around and cooked on it. There are some minor gaps however everything moves well and I don’t really have any complaints based on the fact that it is a budget model.
Obviously it is too early to tell if it is rust proof although as I live about half a mile from the beach, I am sure this sea air will test it thoroughly so I will get back to you on that one. Plastics also deteriorate in this environment so I will keep an eye on the wheels etc. as well. I do however also have a cover for it too.
My Score: 8
Not perfect but certainly a good standard for a budget model.
7. Portability
Now I know that this is not really sold as a portable grill however they do highlight the fact that it comes with “Rugged all-terrain wheels easily conquer any backyard terrain.”. This is probably the only real downfall that I have identified. It is really cumbersome to move.
My score: 7
The wheels feel sturdy, but it doesn’t move as well as I would like.
8. Output
For this one, I turn to my lovely wife! She tells me that the food I have cooked on this one so far is the “best that I have done” and I personally find it hard to disagree. Everything has cooked perfectly and as above, the temperature settings are accurate for what I have cooked.
For a budget smoker, I really have to think hard to find a reason to remove a point here.
My Score: 9
I took a point off as when it comes to BBQ, is there ever a cook that you wonder if you could have done something better? Harsh I know, but it gets a 10 in spirit!
Pros
- Wood-Fired Flavor: As the end of the cook, the smoke ring and flavor were definitely evident
- Temperature consistency: I did not have to do anything throughout nay of the cooks I have done to try and raise or drop the temperature and the grill recovers quickly after the lid is opened
- Ease of Use: The Digital Pro Controller is straightforward, and even for those new to smoking, the operation is intuitive.
- Build Quality: I found the construction to be solid, with steel durability and a powder coat finish that looks good too.
Cons
- Not Silent: The pellet hopper, auger and combustion pot are actually quite loud – like a fan type sound.
- Temp settings restricted: The system comes with pre-set temperature levels which can affect those who like to change temps based on meat size etc.
- Assembly: Whilst everything you need it included, you will need two people to put it together.
- No Smart Temp control: The temperature system does connect to an external app. This is not a problem with the grill perse but should be noted if you are after that sort of thing.
- No Side tray: As above, note its absence if this is something you want. After market options are available however.
How Much is It?
The Traeger Pro Series 22 retails around the $499 mark making it a great starter point for beginners.
Traeger Pro Series 22 Review: My thought?
Ok, so for my own personal review, I went back to the reasons that I purchased it in the first place which is the “set and forget” aspects of it all. My experience with smoking/cooking BBQ here comes from the fact I own a small bullet charcoal smoker, which I enjoy using but found it was an all day process to cook as I had to constantly watch the temperature and rectify.
Now, I am not here to debate the merits of a pellet smoker vs a charcoal smoker. However for someone of my mid level knowledge and skill level who loves smoked food but doesn’t have the time to sit and manage a full day cook, I wanted to take the, let’s be honest, lazy way out.
So, to that end, as a beginner, let’s look at the checklist:
- Could I set it up and get the cooker started? – Yes!
- Did I set a temperature and not have to play with it to readjust? – Yes!
- Did the meat come out as expected in terms of taste? – Absolutely
- Was the meat cooked as you would expect them to be cooked? Yes!
Absolutely, as a base model, there are some limitations compared to the higher priced options, but at the end of the day, for my first cook, I am more than happy.
Of course I will now have to smoke every thing I can find so I will of course update this review as I go. But for now, I have to go find a pork butt!
Conclusion
So there you have it, honest review and appraisal as a first time user of the Traeger Grills Pro Series 22 Electric Smoker. I hope it has been of assistance but as usual, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out by commenting below. I would also love to hear of your own experience with these.
Are there any other products you have been looking at but want to know more about? If so, please comment below and I will do my best to get some details for you.
Until next time
Have fun and get smoking!
Paul
I loved reading your review of the Traeger Pro Series 22! It’s great to hear about your first cook experience. The tips you shared were super helpful, especially about temperature control. I can’t wait to try it out for myself!
Awesome!! – let me know how you go with it!!