Z Grills and Traeger Pellet Grills both offer the same type of product, a non-gas powered wood pellet grill. These grills are excellent for people who enjoy using outdoor kitchens in their backyards because they can provide fresh food while not needing to add any additional gas, propane tank or electricity to operate.
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Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills: Pellet grills comparison
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? If you’re looking for the best BBQ grill on the market, then you need to consider these two options: Z Grills and Traeger Pellet Grills. Both of these grills are high quality products that will give you some amazing grilled food, but they each have their own advantages as well as disadvantages. In this blog post we will explore those differences so that you can make an informed decision as to which one is right for your needs!
Table of Contents
Z Grills
Z Grills, the leader in high-quality, outdoor cooking products is now shipping their newest product to retailers everywhere – the Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. The grill maker famous for offering industry leading lines of gas grills, charcoal grills and more will also introduce another first to their already impressive list of grill innovations: the Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker. This all new pellet smoker offers a top mounted digital control panel with a built-in meat probe that ensures you don’t run out of power or have to babysit your food because it will be cooked precisely as you programmed using a combination of wood pellets and electric heating elements.
The unique design allows for powerful airflow created by two high-quality Griffin Stainless Steel Wood Pellet Porcelain Flavor Bisquettes to circulate throughout the grill chamber so every piece of food gets the proper amount of smoke and flavor. The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker is not just a smoker in disguise but is truly an outdoor kitchen with full time preheating and even baking capability, thanks to its large internal grill chamber that can fit up to 20 burgers at one time. The smoker combines precise digital temperature controls with a wood pellet feed system for complete hands-off cooking.
“We are excited about our new pellet grill,” says Mark Pitstick, president of Z Grills. “There are other pellet grills out there but ours stands out above the rest because it allows you to achieve a grilling temperature of up to 600 degrees Fahrenheit that is essential for mastering the art of indirect cooking. When using our pellet smoker, professional chefs can now cook everything from grilled pizza and macaroni & cheese to salmon and even s’mores all on the same grill. This new product is yet another reason why Z Grills stands as the leader in outdoor cooking innovation.”
The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker features a sleek stainless steel exterior with black accents so it will complement any backyard décor. It also includes an innovative digital display that provides accurate real time information such as meat probe readings, grill chamber temperatures and more. The included Z Grills Enlighten™ app (available on iOS and Android) makes it even easier to monitor and control the smoker from your smartphone.
Types of Z Grills
Z Grills offers several types of grills:
Ceramic cookers
These cookers look like your traditional barbecue pit or smoker, however they use ceramic material that can reach very high temperatures without using any external fuel source. They are easy to clean and maintain because their ceramic shells resist burning from dripping grease and food particles. They are aesthetically pleasing and can maintain their temperature for hours.
Gas grills
Z Grills offers several propane gas grill models, most of which boast four main burners (some also feature an additional side burner) and stainless steel construction with porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grids. Stainless steel heat shields provide added protection to increase the grill’s longevity. The company touts that these grills use less fuel than many competitors’ models, helping to minimize the environmental impact of cooking outdoors. One major selling point of their gas grills is that they can be controlled using more precision than other brands; this allows cooks to better control the temperature inside the grill and better manage flare ups by dripping grease or marinade.
Electric grills
The company offers single and double electric grills that are designed to be compact, fast cooking, easy to clean, and efficient. These grills cook food quickly by pushing heat through metal plates above the heating element. They have a solid stainless steel construction with porcelain enameled cast iron grids for optimal heat conductivity. One major selling point of their electric models is ease of use; according to the company’s website, these grills are simple to assemble so beginners can start using them right away without much trouble or research, while experienced cooks will appreciate how precise they can be in terms of temperature control.
Charcoal kamados
Z Grills offers two charcoal kamado grill models that are aesthetically pleasing and designed to be versatile. They feature a thick insulation layer for better heat retention, while also allowing additional accessories and add-ons such as wood chips or mesquite smoke boxes. These grills come with porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grids that are easier to clean than traditional cast iron grates.
Kamados/Big Green Egg
These ceramic cookers can maintain their temperature for hours at a time, saving the cook time and effort (and fuel) when cooking large amounts of food like roasts or whole chickens. The company’s website boasts of the Big Green Egg cooker’s ability to keep meat moist during the smoking process by trapping juices inside of it; this allows cooks to make less expensive meats taste and look like premium cuts of meat. The company also claims that this cooker is very versatile, allowing cooks to make a variety of dishes from grilled cheese sandwiches to pizza.
You may like this: Best Gas Grill Smoker Combo of 2022
Pros and cons of Z Grills
Pros of Z Grills
If you are looking for a grill that is durable, easy to use, portable and has great features, consider investing in the Z-Grill electric grill. This brand of grill offers several advantages over gas grills as well as some other types of grills. Here are just a few:
– Affordable: The Z Grills grill is affordable and can be purchased at any home improvement or department store that sells grills and outdoor cooking products.
– Durable: Made from stainless steel mesh and aluminum alloy frame, it has a very sturdy build and will last years under normal conditions.
– Lightweight: Weighing only 25 pounds means even single people can move this unit without difficulty.
– No gas: Since this is an electric grill you won’t have to deal with the negatives of a propane-powered unit such as having to not only use it outside but also lugging around large propane tanks.
– Stands upright: Standing up rather than having legs means you can easily store it within the house or building without being forced to lean it against something after use. You have your choice of length for grilling since short pieces of sausage, hotdogs and wieners are just fine while cooking larger items like steaks requires their own designated lengths.
– Portability: Having a removable cord makes moving this grill around very easy. All you need to do is coil up the cord which can be done in a matter of seconds and then just pick it up by the handle. Then you take this wherever you would like to place it or go on a picnic.
– Removeable cord: The plug-in cord is removable, so if an extension cord is needed, there’s no problem with using one. Also, when you’re finished cooking, simply unplug the unit from the wall and your ‘grill’ isn’t taking up much room at all since it can easily be placed into storage (not having to worry about finding another cabinet or shelf to lean it against which makes for safer storage).
– Tempature control: This grill comes with an adjustable temperature setting that allows you to find your preferred heat range and then stay within that zone for the entire cooking time.
– Tempature gauge: There is a built-in temperature gauge so you know exactly when it’s reached your desired setting and when it’s preheated to the correct level so you can begin cooking.
– Removable drip tray: The removable drip pan makes clean up easy. All of the grease, oil or liquid that drips onto this tray is easily removed with nothing left behind in order to attract bugs or give off an odor.
– Temperature control dial: A simple turn of this dial allows you to choose between low, medium low, high or even defrost settings . Many times when grilling in colder weather; thicker items like steaks take longer than hotdogs or vegetables, so having this option is nice for cooking without constantly turning items over.
– Dishwasher safe drip tray: This unit not only comes with the removable drip tray but it can be placed into a dishwasher to easily clean everything up after use.
Traeger Pellet Grills
Traeger Pellet Grills is a company that makes gas and electric grills. Now they have come out with an interesting concept of smoking wood pellets in them to infuse your food with more flavor.
What Is A Traeger Pellet Grill?
This innovative type of pellet grill uses small, compressed wood pellets made from trees and grasses and feeds the fire box automatically to maintain the desired temperature for cooking. They offer both gas and electric powered units. The ash is cleaned out by an automatic dumpster located at the bottom of the unit, so there’s no need to worry about disposing of hot ashes yourself. There’s also nothing to rust or wear out on this machine, because it can be used year after year on camping trips, tailgating parties or just enjoying the outdoors. Traeger offers single-walled construction for “light weight” portability to your backyard.
Traeger pellet grills are an innovative way to have low-fat cooking options for two types of users – people who are interested in adding smoke flavor to their meats but don’t want the hassle of building a fire and maintaining it, and people who aren’t necessarily interested in smoking foods at all but enjoy the idea of grilling steaks, burgers, chicken breasts etc. over an open fire without worrying about flareups or burning up half of your dinner before it’s cooked through.
Benefits of Using a Traeger Pellet Grill
– Wood pellet grills let you cook low and slow in a similar fashion to smoking meats over charcoal or gas. That’s one reason why pellet smokers are becoming so popular these days. Just like with other types of smokers, you set up your smoker box for indirect heat cooking by putting the meat on the grill grate over an open flame, which is just another name for air flow / oxygen supply when talking about grilling. this produces that authentic wood smoked flavor that can’t be replicated with propane or natural gas.
– Even though pellet smokers are more expensive than your average gas or charcoal grill, the difference in flavor is usually worth the extra money you would have spent for a charcoal or propane smoker. I say this because pellet grills are easy to use and maintain, which makes them perfect for beginners. You can always upgrade later once you get the hang of using pellet grills if you want to take it up a notch.
– Pellets do not leave any chemical compounds behind that might taint the taste of foods prepared on them, unlike with gas or charcoal grills where some indoor pollutants are released when burning petroleum based fuel sources.
– Cooking cost – over time wood pellets are much more economical than propane or natural gas because you are not paying for a pilot light, temperature control unit or electric heating elements.
See more: 10 Best Electric Smokers Consumer Reports for 2022
Different types of Traeger Pellet Grills
– Junior Elite
The Junior Elite model by Traeger is one great performing pellet grill that runs on 12 volt electricity using an electric igniter built-in to start the pellets. It is designed for outdoor cooks that wants a “set it and forget it” grill that runs on electricity.
– Digital Pro Controller / “Spartan Grills”
The Traegar digital pro controller is one of our favorite grills, by far. There are different manufacturers out there using this same exact design but with different labels attached to them (such as Spartan, A-MAZE-N, etc.). They all use the same cooking technology of having 3 sensors instead of 2, where the two lower sensors measure the temperature of your food while the upper sensor measures air temperature inside your grill! This helps you cook more accurately indoors knowing what’s going on inside and out.
The Traeger Pro controller is the most popular pellet grill, but there are other manufacturers taking advantage of Traegar’s engineering while selling it for a higher price. Consider this grill if you’re interested in smoking along with grilling, such as doing competition BBQ using your Traeger to smoke meats while putting your Traeger meat probe into the pork butt or brisket while you’re cooking ribs or other foods on the grill grate. The best part? It makes perfect sense that other companies would use Traeger technology to copy their designs so now we have more choices than ever!
– Lil Texas Elite / “Little Grills”
Similar to the Junior Elite & digital pro controller models, the Lil Texas Elite are less expensive grills that have the same pellet cooking technology. The Lil Texas is an entry-level smoker/grill for Traeger, but it performs just as well as the others while being half of the price!
– Woodwind Pellet Grill Series
The Woodwind series by Traeger offers a budget-friendly grill with decent construction and good features. Depending on your budget, this might be one to consider if you’re looking for something in between – not too inexpensive, not too pricey either.
– Tailgater / “Portable Grills”
Traegar’s tailgater models offer a full outdoor kitchen: stovetop/burners, sink and storage cabinets. Some models even offer a towing hitch so you can tow your grill! We don’t recommend cooking at high temperatures on these grills, but they sure come handy for tailgate parties and outdoor living.
– Grillpro Series
The Pellet Pro and other pellet grill manufacturers that offer their own version of Traegar’s design to compete against them. These guys are not as reputable as the first five we mentioned above; although they’re still decent pellet grills with backup warranty (2 years). Look out for similar designs like the Elite series or try to look for specific features such as 3 sensors or digital controls as seen in #2 above, otherwise it might be a copy cat who offers no warranty at all.
– Other Grills
There are other pellet grill makers (Char-Broil, Camp Chef) who offer different designs of their own while avoiding being associated with any one particular pellet grill maker out there. If you’re looking for a good entry-level pellet grill that doesn’t have all the bells & whistles but provides decent features, then stick to the first five above. This is our list based on our research and experience so far.
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills: What Should You Choose? See more…
Z Grills vs Traeger Comparison
Cooking Surface Area
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? The Z Grills smoker has a large cooking surface. It comes with 726 square inches of stainless steel grilling area, which is enough space for 12 burgers at once. The Traeger offers 720 sq/in. Therefore, the cooking surfaces are approximately the same size.
Temperature Range
The temperature range on both options go up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. However, the precise temperature control features noteworthy differences between each brand’s products. The Traeger delivers precise temperatures thanks to its digital controller system. Instead of having to manually adjust the heat by rotating or turning knobs, you can program your desired temperature and have it controlled automatically using an electric auger system that feeds pellets into the grill via a fan set at low speed. When it all works together, the system allows you to control cooking temperatures with one degree of accuracy.
Temperature Control
Even though both options produce high heat, they differ in how they distribute it over the grilling area. The Traeger has a stainless steel rod cooking grate which ensures even heating by distributing heat directly below and above where food is placed on the grill. It also has an indirect, convection airflow feature that circulates warm air around items slowly without burning them. On the other hand, Z Grills use burners made out of ceramic which can get weak or break over time just like any other utensil used for cooking. That being said, ceramic burners are less likely to break due to their sturdiness but are also harder to replace.
Hopper Capacity
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? Due to having a larger cooking surface, the Traeger is capable of hopper capacities of 18 pounds. This means you can easily feed it with large chunks of foods such as roasts and turkeys without worrying about running out of pellets. On the other hand, Z Grills smoker can only hold up to 16 pounds which makes it harder to use on long smokes because it runs out of fuel quickly.
Warranty
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? The Traeger has a more extensive warranty than Z Grills’ option: 5 years compared to 1 year. It also comes with an included smoke probe that measures temperature inside the grill both at grate level and ambient air temperature for improved control over smoking times. The smoke probe allows you monitor cook progress without opening the grill which helps retain heat and moisture.
See more: Top 7 Best Smokers for Beginners 2022
Top Models of Z Grills vs Traeger Pellet Grills
Z Grills 7002 F2 Wood Pellet Grill
Brand: Z GRILLS
Power Source: Wood_pellet
Color: Bronze
Item Weight: 140 Kilograms
Fuel Type: Wood
The Z Grills 7002 F2 Pellet Grill is a portable pellet grill with a single auger feed system and electronic control board. The main components are produced from 304 grade stainless steel which gives it longer lasting durability, as well as corrosion resistance. It has an internal fan that pulls the heat from the fire pot into the cooking chamber, mix grill convection functions, higher wattage output (up to 8kW compared to Traeger JPG15-1’s 4kW), porcelain enameled cast iron cooking grates, ash cleanout doors on both sides of the unit for easy removal of pellets or ash build up and a built in meat probe.
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? This helps with accurate readings and consistent temperatures. The unit has the option to be used as a grill, smoker, bbq or an oven. There is also an optional rotary ignition that can be purchased separately. This pellet grill weighs only 106 pounds and comes with a 1 year limited warranty on both parts and labor.
Traeger Grills Ironwood 885 Wood Pellet Grill
Brand: Traeger
Power Source: AC
Color: Black
Item Weight: 175 Pounds
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 53 x 27 x 47 inches
Fuel Type: Wood, Charcoal
The Ironwood 885 is Traeger Grills’ new top-of-the-line gas grill. It’s built like a tank, but its design style screams modern simplicity. This grill features the best materials and construction, has some of the most useful metal side shelves that I’ve ever seen on a grill (let alone any piece of outdoor equipment) and the innovative new ATC (advanced temperature controller) system makes this grill uniquely suited for both low and high heat cooking.
It’s not your traditional BBQ; it doesn’t have wheels or carry handles on the main outdoor cabinet, there are barely any external controls or looks like you’d expect to see on a “typical” gas grill. In fact, from an exterior perspective, the only reason I know it’s a Traeger is because of its “T” logo on top!
The Ironwood 885 features square-shaped stainless steel tubing instead of round, an overall more industrial look and tougher overall construction. It also makes for much easier cleaning than older models with rounded tubes. I’ve had my old original Green Mountain Grill Classic (which still works like new, by the way) for over seven years now and I’m very meticulous about keeping it clean inside and out.
Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? The durable metal side shelves are built tough, to last outdoors year after year withstanding weather, harsh conditions and squirrels trying to climb up them all without so much as even bending or flexing. They’re perfect for holding a few drinks, seasonings or sauces. They’re even specially formed at the front to hold large, wide spatulas and other long tools so you don’t have to keep them on the ground where they can roll off onto your grass or get lost in the weeds.
The Ironwood 885 is built from heavy-duty materials to last for decades without denting or cracking. Although I didn’t have time to weigh it at the time of this review, my old Green Mountain Grill Classic is over 70 pounds…and that’s just one of its three separate sections! As you can imagine, it takes two people just to move that grill into place for use. The Ironwood weighs nearly half as much by itself at just 40 pounds total.
The Ironwood 885 is one of the quietest grills I’ve ever used. It has an industry-exclusive, insulated cabinet for low noise and even heat distribution. Although it’s also available with a sear box (additional ) for higher-temperature cooking like searing steaks, I personally love the “fat” look of the traditional upright cabinet design; it gives my yard or balcony that upscale look found in luxury condos with expensive views. The attached swing-out side shelves are perfect for conveniently placing food on top to avoid the risk of dropping anything onto the hot stainless steel tubes below which could cause damage or injury.
>>> See more: Ultimate Guide to Smoking Meat on a Pellet Grill (Z Grills vs Traeger pellet grills? )
Conclusion
The Z Grills and the Traeger pellet grills are both excellent choices for your next purchase. It is important to understand that each grill has its strengths, weaknesses, and price point. We hope you were able to find this blog post helpful in making a wise decision about which grill best suits your needs!
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