Do I Need a Second Grill for Charring Steaks?

[grill meister]

I'm new to the Traeger family...recently purchased the Timberline 850 and thus far very happy with it. My wife however wonders if it will provide the flame broil grilling that chars steaks and burgers, similar to what my Weber did. I've been coached that if I crank up the Traeger to 500 it should do the trick. Any thoughts/tips? I'd like to avoid keeping my old Weber if possible. Thanks.

 

[John S.]

I use a cast iron grate on the stove top, for the look...while for sear marks you can use grill. grates at 450-500 the effort in getting the Traeger up to that temp and Pelletts expended for the maybe 5 min that you are going to use it ( and there is no smoke component at 500) the stove top method seems to be more efficient...

 

[grill meister]

Sorry, I meant I have the Silverton not the Timberline. It didn't come with a cast iron grate, but I wish it did. Instead, it came with the porcelain grate. I've not yet been able to find a cast iron grate. Traeger customer service says they don't offer one that will fit this grill, which is dissapointing.

 

[Slimpicker]

Cast iron rusts, aluminum does not, conducts heat better and leaves great marks


CAST RUST vs ALUMINUM

 

[RoadRunner18]

Invest in grillgrates for your particular model smoker. GrillGrates concentrate the heat over the GrillGrates at grill level. Set up your cooker into two cooking zones, with the grillgrates on 1/2 of your available cooking space.

Set the grill temperature to 180 to 200 and place your steak on the porcelain side for an hour or more to get some smoke on your steak. Then pull the steaks from the grill and reset your grill temperature to 400. When your grill comes up to 400, brush a little olive oil on the steak and place the steak on your grillgrates side and you should get some good grill marks.

Your pellet cooker cooks by indirect heat, unlike a charcoal grill which can be set up to cook by direct heat, giving you that chargrilling you are looking for. You may get some char by flipping the grillgrates and cooking off the smooth side (much like you would with a cast iron skillet), but I can't say for sure because I've never tried that.

 

[RemE]

Sorry, I meant I have the Silverton not the Timberline. It didn't come with a cast iron grate, but I wish it did. Instead, it came with the porcelain grate. I've not yet been able to find a cast iron grate. Traeger customer service says they don't offer one that will fit this grill, which is dissapointing.

To clarify, the "GrillGrates" mentioned are 3rd party, aluminum ribbed, aftermarket panels that you place on top of you existing grates. These concentrate the heat on their fins and give good grill marks.

That said, pellet grills just don't char broil like a Weber. Personally I prefer the gentler pellet cook.

BTW, you are Grill Meister #2 here, welcome!

 

[traeger860]

Having a 2nd grill for searing just makes things easier in my opinion. You can have that 2nd grill warming up right when you're ready to take the steaks off of the Traeger. Or if you think you'll have times where you just want to run out and grill a quick hot dog. Or when you have a big BBQ and need to be cooking and moving different types of everything at once.

 

[Murphy's Law]

Having a 2nd grill for searing just makes things easier in my opinion. You can have that 2nd grill warming up right when you're ready to take the steaks off of the Traeger. Or if you think you'll have times where you just want to run out and grill a quick hot dog. Or when you have a big BBQ and need to be cooking and moving different types of everything at once.

Exactly this! My Weber and Traeger sit next to each other. I'll have the Weber at high temps so after about an hour of cooking food "low and slow" I'll throw it on an already hot Weber to finish it off with a nice sear. I'll do this for seafood, beef, etc.

I look at the Weber and Traeger as being different tools for different jobs.

 

[Deleted]

I 2nd that opinion. Smokers are for smoking, still have my Silver A and Performer for other tasks. No ready to do grates yet-are they tough to clean? I know some on the Weber forum got rid of theirs and use SF as only grill-I'm not so sure about that but...

 

[traeger860]

I 2nd that opinion. Smokers are for smoking, still have my Silver A and Performer for other tasks. No ready to do grates yet-are they tough to clean? I know some on the Weber forum got rid of theirs and use SF as only grill-I'm not so sure about that but...

I found them hard to clean and I'm probably the only person on this forum that returned them. Found it easier just to use my propane grill. But other members do love them and highly recommend them.

 

[Deleted]

Thanks-thats what I've heard. They look like they'd be a chore but thats me.

 

[XavierH]

i have a second grill for just grilling "engagements". I used the grill grates for a while but honestly was not impressed by them.

 

[Twist]

I've done steaks two different ways. I buy prime cut 1.5-2" thick ribeyes and NY strips at Costco. First sear for 3 - 4 minutes per side in a hot cast iron skillet then put the skillet in a 400 degree oven - 10 minutes for medium rare, 12 minutes for medium well. That makes a holy mess inside the oven but it makes a great steak done perfectly to taste.

I've also run my BGE up to about 700 degrees and seared the steaks for a couple of minutes per side before tamping down the Egg to about 400 degrees for similar times. No mess, no fuss other than getting the Egg up to temp. This yields the best result of all - as good as any NYC high end steak house.

I've got 4 beautiful prime NY strips that I'm going to sear on the stove in my big cast iron skillets and then put the skillets with the steaks in them on a 400 degree Traeger.

 

[Olds442]

I look at the Weber and Traeger as being different tools for different jobs.

same here. i wouldn't want either over the other, it's a matter of they both do what they do, very well.
i keep a cheap electric smoker around too, it does it's job like a boss, i just have to hide it so my neighbors don't shame me and never mention it online.

 

[YYCRed]

I found them hard to clean and I'm probably the only person on this forum that returned them. Found it easier just to use my propane grill. But other members do love them and highly recommend them.

I've only used mine once, but the steaks I cooked didn't have the same texture as the gas grill gives us so we didn't like it that much. I will try some again, but I think I have made the decision to NOT give up the gas grill. And, yes, they are awkward to clean.