Traeger grills were first introduced in the late 1980s, as the first-ever wood-pellet-fueled outdoor cooking appliance. This was a revolutionary approach to grilling, but Traeger didn’t stop there! The manufacturer continued to innovate and improve their grills to offer even more exciting features for outdoor cooking enthusiasts.
One such innovation is their “Super Smoke” feature.
Super Smoke is a feature that is available on certain Traeger grill models. It’s designed to enhance the wood-fired smoky flavor of your food by producing more smoke than usual during the cooking process. When Super Smoke mode is enabled, the grill will automatically adjust the temperature and fan speed to create a more intense smoke flavor.
In this blog post, I will explain Super Smoke on Traeger grills. I’ll explain what Super Smoke is, how it works, how to activate it on your Traeger grill, and tips for using Super Smoke to get the best results. Whether you’re a seasoned Traeger owner or a complete beginner, you’ll gain valuable insights into this useful feature and help you get the most out of your grill.
Table of Contents
- What Is Super Smoke on a Traeger?
- Which Traeger Grill Models Have Super Smoke?
- How Do I Activate Super Smoke on My Traeger?
- Tips for Using Super Smoke on Traeger
- What is Traeger’s Smoke Science?
- Is Super Smoke Worth It?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- My Final Thoughts
What Is Super Smoke on a Traeger?
Definition
Super Smoke is a feature that is unique to Traeger grills. It is designed to produce a more intense smoke flavor during the cooking process, enhancing the taste of your food. When you activate Super Smoke mode, your Traeger grill will automatically adjust the temperature and fan speed to create more smoke than it would during normal cooking.
How Does Super Smoke Work?
When you activate Super Smoke mode on your Traeger grill, it will produce more smoke by using a specific heating and cooling cycle.
This is achieved by adjusting the temperature of the grill within a range of 165°F and 225°F, which is the optimal range for smoke production. The grill also adjusts the fan speed to move more smoke around your food.
Benefits of using Super Smoke
There are many benefits to using Super Smoke!
By producing more smoke, your food has an even richer flavor. This makes it taste like it was cooked over a real wood fire. This feature is perfect for low and slow cooking methods such as smoking brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder.
Super Smoke is also really easy to use, as it is activated through the simple push of a button.
Finally, by using Super Smoke mode, you’ll get a consistent, even cook each and every time. This ensures that your food is perfectly smoked and delicious.
Which Traeger Grill Models Have Super Smoke?
While you might think that all Traeger grills have a Super Smoke mode, you will want to think again.
Here are the models that do:
- Ironwood Series
- Timberline Series
- Silverton 810 (exclusively sold at Costco)
If I’ve left any out, please feel free to let me know!
How Do I Activate Super Smoke on My Traeger?
Step-by-step guide
Activating Super Smoke on your Traeger grill is simple and easy.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Turn on your Traeger grill and set the desired temperature.
2. Press the Super Smoke button on your grill controller or in the WiFire app (if your grill has this feature).
3. The grill will automatically adjust the temperature and fan speed to create more smoke.
4. Place your food on the grill and let it cook until it reaches the desired internal temperature (measured with a food thermometer or Traeger’s built-in meat probe if your model is equipped with this feature)..
5. Turn off the grill once your food is cooked and enjoy your delicious, smoky meal!
Precautions when using Super Smoke
While Super Smoke is easy to use and can enhance the flavor of your food, it’s important to take precautions when using this feature.
Be sure to use a Traeger brand wood pellet that is recommended for your grill model to ensure the best results.
Also, make sure that your grill is properly maintained and cleaned to avoid any potential hazards.
Best cooking methods to use with Super Smoke
Super Smoke is best used for low and slow cooking methods, such as smoking brisket, ribs, or pork shoulder.
These cuts of meat require a longer cooking time, allowing the Super Smoke feature to infuse the meat with a rich, smoky flavor.
However, Super Smoke can be used with any food that you want to give an extra boost of flavor, such as grilled vegetables or seafood. With Super Smoke, the possibilities are endless!
Tips for Using Super Smoke on Traeger
Choose the Right Pellets
To get the most out of Super Smoke, it’s important to use the best-suited wood pellets.
Traeger has a range of wood pellets specifically designed for different types of meats and flavor preferences.
For Super Smoke, hardwood pellets such as hickory, mesquite, or oak are best. These woods produce a stronger and more intense smoke flavor, which is perfect for low and slow cooking methods.
Cooking Time
The cooking time is an important factor to consider when using Super Smoke on your Traeger grill.
Generally, Super Smoke is best suited to low and slow cooking methods. These methods require longer cooking times and lower temperatures.
Be patient and let the Super Smoke feature work its magic to infuse your food with a rich, smoky flavor that will have your taste buds dancing!
Food Placement
For best results, placing the food in the center of the grill is recommended to ensure even cooking and smoke distribution.
What is Traeger’s Smoke Science?
As we stated earlier, Traeger uses what it calls Smoke Science within its grills. It refers to the design of their grills to ensure that smoking is more precise and much easier for the end user.
The system has been designed exclusively to be used within their grills for optimum performance. Here are the three parts that make it up:
Downdraft Exhaust
This feature removes older smoke and creates a new path of smoke to hit the food for a precise flow of smoke to penetrate the food.
This removes the likelihood of staler smoke reaching the food but also adds better control.
Super Smoke
A precise way to blast food with lots of smoke to add extra flavor.
True Convection
Uses a flow of smoke and heat that is distributed evenly to ensure the food cooks evenly and faster.
Is Super Smoke Worth It?
Whilst the Super Smoke function is nice to have (we all like to experiment, right?), forums state that it actually doesn’t make too much of a difference to the overall smoky flavor of food. In fact, the taste is pretty similar whether you use the Super Smoke or not.
And that’s also the conclusion I’ve come to after grilling the same types of foods, both with and without. So my advice is you don’t need to go over budget to buy a top-of-the-range Traeger with Super Smoke. It might be worth spending the extra cash if the model also offers additional features, such as WiFIRE or meat probes for example.
As a first-time Traeger buyer on a budget, I would say that Super Smoke is “nice to have” but not a “must have.” On the other hand, if you already own a Traeger and want to upgrade, it might be just what you are looking for!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does Super Smoke Last?
The duration of Super Smoke depends on several factors, such as the type of food being cooked, the temperature of the grill, and the quantity of pellets used.
Generally, Super Smoke lasts for about 4-5 hours, but it’s important to keep an eye on the pellet hopper and refill it as needed to maintain a consistent smoke output.
Is Super Smoke Available on All Traeger Models?
Super Smoke is a relatively new feature on Traeger grills and is not available on all models. It’s important to check the features of your specific Traeger grill to determine if it has the Super Smoke feature.
If it doesn’t, you can still achieve a delicious smoky flavor by using a combination of different wood pellets and low and slow cooking methods.
Can Super Smoke Be Used to Cook Any Type of Food?
While Super Smoke is best used for low and slow cooking methods, it can be used with almost any food. It’s particularly well-suited for smoking meats like brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, vegetables, and seafood.
However, it’s important to remember that the Super Smoke feature is designed to enhance the flavor of your food, so it’s best to use it with foods that have a mild flavor to begin with.
My Final Thoughts
If you love grilling outdoors and eating food that has a super smoky flavor, then the Traeger Super Smoke function might just be right up your street.
Even so, a regular Traeger will also do a good job when it comes to adding a smoky flavor to your food. To be frank, I personally can’t taste that much of a difference between the food I cook with Super Smoke and the food I cook without! Trager grills are smokers, after all, and even without the feature – they still smoke your food!
So, before you make a decision whether it is for you or not, decide whether having a super-smoke mode is worth parting ways with your hard-earned cash.