Thinking of cooking a tri-tip steak on a Traeger grill? It can be quite daunting to cook such a delicious and revered cut of meat. The last thing you would want is to overcook it and ruin such a noble and expensive steak.
So, how long do you cook Tri Tip for?
How long a tri-tip steak takes to cook will depend on how you are planning to cook it and how cooked you like your steak. The cooking time will vary depending on whether you decide to smoke, grill, or roast your tri-tip steak, as your Traeger grill makes all three of these cooking methods an option.
In this article, I’ll talk about how long you can expect to cook a tri-tip steak on a Traeger. On top of that, I’ll look at how to cook one of these delectable steaks on a Traeger. So, without further ado, let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
- What Is a Tri-Tip Steak?
- How Long to Cook a Tri-Tip Steak on A Traeger Grill?
- How to Cook a Tri-Tip Steak on A Traeger Grill?
- My Final Thoughts
What Is a Tri-Tip Steak?
A tri-tip steak is a cut of meat that is taken from the sirloin subprimal. This cut of meat is generally known for its rich flavor and low fat.
Why is this important when you are trying to learn how long it takes for a tri-tip steak to cook? Well by knowing the cut of meat you can also get an idea of how big it is which is a big contributing factor in how long a tri-tip steak will take to cook.
Most tri-tip steaks generally weigh between 1.5 and 3.5 pounds (1.5 to 3.5 lbs) and tend to be between three-quarters of an inch to an inch thick (3/4” to 1”).
Now that you know a bit more about the tri-tip steak, let’s take a look at how long it will generally take to cook it.
How Long to Cook a Tri-Tip Steak on A Traeger Grill?
How long a tri-tip steak takes to cook will depend on how you are planning to cook it and how cooked you like your steak.
So, in this section, I’m going to talk about the different ways that this cut of steak can be cooked on a Traeger, as well as the cooking times for each one of these cooking methods.
So, let’s get started!
How Long to Smoke Tri-Tip on A Traeger Grill?
If you are smoking your steak it will generally take between two and two-and-a-half hours to be cooked.
But on top of smoking, you will also need to grill your steak for between three and five minutes per side or until it is cooked the way you like it.
How Long to Grill Tri-Tip on A Traeger Grill?
If you want to grill your steak it will likely take about thirty-five minutes for the steak to be cooked and reach a safe internal temperature.
This time may vary depending on how you like your steak cooked. A rare steak will take shorter and a well-done steak will take longer. It is all about finding that happy medium.
How Long to Roast Tri-Tip on A Traeger Grill?
If you would like to roast your tri-tip steak you will need to start by searing each side for a minute or two before you place it in your Traeger and allow it to bake for twelve minutes per pound of steak.
For example, if your steak weighs 1.5 pounds you will need to bake it for eighteen minutes.
How to Cook a Tri-Tip Steak on A Traeger Grill?
Now that we have a general idea of how long a tri-tip steak will take to cook for each cooking method, the next logical step is to take a closer look at how exactly you would go about cooking your steak.
So, in this section, we are going to take a look at a recipe by ‘Hilda’s Kitchen Blog’ where she shows us how to cook a Traeger Smoked Tri-Tip Steak.
Ingredients
As with any dish, you will need a series of ingredients. But what will you need for this recipe? Below is a list of everything that is required to cook a tri-tip steak on a Traeger:
- Tri-Tip Steak – You will, of course, need a tri-tip steak. We recommend a three to five-pound steak. When we tried this recipe we used a three-pound steak which needed about two hours to smoke until it was cooked.
- Your Pick of Seasoning – You can pick any seasoning you want for this recipe. But the recipe itself mentions a Santa Maria Dry Rub which they used as their seasoning of choice.
- Olive Oil – Thai ingredients are not mandatory but by brushing the steak with olive oil before applying the seasoning you will find that it will stick much better.
Step-By-Step Guide
If you want more detailed information on this specific recipe and how Hilda’s Kitchen Blog recommends you cook a Traeger Smoked Tri-Tip Steak then make sure to read their recipe as it will go over everything you need in far more detail.
Step 1
The first thing that this recipe recommends you do is season your steak. They use a ‘Santa Maria Rub’ to season their steak but you can use whatever you prefer.
Simply season your steak, place it in a bag and leave it in the refrigerator for several hours before you move on to the next step.
Step 2
After you have allowed your steak to refrigerate with the seasoning for a few hours you will need to take it out and allow it to reach room temperature.
While this happens you can preheat your Traeger to about 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
After the steak has reached room temperature you will need to put it on your preheated grill and insert a temperature probe into the steak.
Make sure to set the probe to about 135 degrees Fahrenheit. This should take between two and two-and-a-half hours.
Once your steak has reached this internal temperature on the grill you will need to take it off the grill and wrap it in tin foil before you move on to the next step.
Step 3
Next, you’ll need to put your Traeger’s temperature up to about 450 degrees Fahrenheit (230 degrees Celsius).
Once it has reached the right temperature you will need to palace your steak on the grill for about three to five minutes per side so that it gets deliciously seared.
You can do this for longer or shorter depending on how cooked you want your tri-tip steak.
Step 4
Once that is done all that is left is to allow the meat to rest tented for between ten and fifteen minutes. This is so that the juices get distributed throughout the steak. Once that is done all that is left is to serve your steak and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
My Final Thoughts
We hope that you enjoyed this article on how long to cook a tri-tip steak. It really is super simple and there are a ton of recipes on the internet that you can follow. Have a fantastic day and good luck with your tri-tip steak.