Insulating my Traeger.

[Mundyman]

Well it’s winter in my part of the country and quite cold. What does everyone use to insulate their traeger grill?
do you buy the traeger insulating cover, or use some other type of insulating blanket like a welding blanket?

 

[RayClem]

Traeger does make insulating jackets for some models. I do not know if they are available for the Costco exclusive models.

I have an Ironwood 885, but it does not come with a smokestack. The smoke vents out of slots on the back of the grill chamber. That makes insulating the grill more difficult. Traeger does not offer jackets.

Like you, I live in Northern Illiinois. I am going to attempt to cook the Thanksgiving turkey on Wednesday with temperatures in the 30s. I am going to try it without a blanket. If necessary, I can pick up a fire resistant welding blanket at Harbor Freight, but I have to be careful not to block the vents. You won't have that issue with yours.

While welder's blankets are ideal for this application, unless you are planning to run the temperature of the grill at maximum, an old cotton towel or wool blanket could be use as well. In your case, just drape the insulation over the main chamber of the grill.

 

[traeger860]

The Traeger blankets do work pretty well. I had one for my Lil Tex 22 when I lived in Connecticut. Traeger doesn't make one for the Century 885.

You'll be fine with an Ironwood and temperatures in the 30's.

 

[RayClem]

Originally, I was planning to cook a ham for Christmas using the IW885. I can be brutally cold in Chicagoland at the end of December. Last year, it got down to minus 5F between Christmas and New Years Day. I would need some insulation at that temperature.

However, my wife and I decided to head to Branson, MO the week before Christmas. We will be back home on Christmas Eve, so no time to cook a ham. It turns out that we still have some ham in the freezer from last Easter, so we will eat some of that on Christmas Day and then wait until Easter to cook another ham.

 

[Like Smoke]

A few thoughts on Treger insulation blanket. I purchased my Texas from a friend who went with a newer model. When I got it it had a the blanket already installed. My fist task was to do a good cleaning, inside and out. I am not sure how long the blanket had been attached but when I removed it, the inside surface was stained and greasy. the inside of the blanket has a square waffle pattern and the open areas had channeled the smoke and grease across the copper colored lid and of coarse the pattern was burnt on the lid / cover. The inside of the blanket was so nasty, I moved it directly into the trash. I am still trying to find a cleaner that will remove the burnt on pattern off the lid without removing the paint. Where the cover was wrapped around the bottom of the tank, the paint was showing a light rust color.
I light sanded the bottom tank and repainted with high temp paint. I installed a seal along the gap on top between the lid and tank which prevents the top from leaking heat and smoke.
If you are using a Treger blanket, I would remove it after every smoke and do a good cleaning to the inside of the blanket and lid and top of your smoker. My preference as stated in an earlier post is a welding blanket. They are inexpensive {I bought a 4 X 6 foot on Amazon for a very reasonable price}

 

[traeger860]

Last year, it got down to minus 5F between Christmas and New Years Day. I would need some insulation at that temperature.

Definitely. The coldest temp I ever had a chance to use my Ironwood in was maybe 15 degrees? From what I remember, it still held temp pretty good, but it burned through a lot more pellets than usual.

 

[midwest]

What do you call cold, it is different to different people. I live in Indiana and use a welding blanket from Harbor Freight. It is about a 1/10th of the cost of the Traeger insulation.... I don't even bother with mine unless it's below 30 degrees for normal cooks. A few years ago I did a prime rib on Xmas and it was under 10 degrees, so I had to use it for that. If I am just cooking some burgers or something quick I don't see a need. It can save pellets on long cooks though.

 

[traeger860]

What do you call cold, it is different to different people.

Agreed. "Cold" was anything below 15-20 when I lived in New England. Now it's anything under 70.

 

[MidwestSmoker]

There was a time when pellets were relatively expensive and insulation made sense. I am not sure that is the case anymore. I have cooked under freezing conditions and I don't think getting insulation is worth all the hassle. Of course YMMV.

 

[RayClem]

The problem with insulation is that you need it on very cold days, but on warmer days, it is more trouble than it is worth. Here in Chicagoland, the temperature climbed to 54 F today after being down to 10 F last week. I am cooking the turkey and do not need any insulation. A month from now, it could easily be below 0 F and insulation would be most helpful.

The nice thing about welding blankets is that they can be washed if you follow the right procedure. You just need to be careful that you do not use harsh detergents or bleach that could damage the blanket. Of course, if you do damage it, they are not so expensive that it could not be replaced.

 

[Clint62]

Going to do a turkey today, and it's gonna be around 40 degrees out. Judging by these posts, I prob dont need the insulating cover....? Another unrelated question I have is at what cook temp would damage the blanket? Say it's 10 below out and you want to use it to cook something..say..at 350. Is that too hot for the blanket? Thanks in advance.

 

[Clint62]

Going to do a turkey today, and it's gonna be around 40 degrees out. Judging by these posts, I prob dont need the insulating cover....? Another unrelated question I have is at what cook temp would damage the blanket? Say it's 10 below out and you want to use it to cook something..say..at 350. Is that too hot for the blanket? Thanks in advance.

Disregard, I found the info about that

 

[RayClem]

Going to do a turkey today, and it's gonna be around 40 degrees out. Judging by these posts, I prob dont need the insulating cover....? Another unrelated question I have is at what cook temp would damage the blanket? Say it's 10 below out and you want to use it to cook something..say..at 350. Is that too hot for the blanket? Thanks in advance.

The grill won't get hot enough even at maximum to damage fiberglass, nomex, cotton, or wool. Some types of synthetic fibers like acrylics are more likely to be an issue. People use cotton towels and hot mats to grab stuff from the oven or smoker, so that is not an issue.

 

[midwest]

For me when I do insulate it is no trouble at all. A couple years ago I went to Harbor Freight and bought one their welding blankets. I fold it onto itself one time and drape it over my 780 Pro. At the time it cost around $20.00. Not sure how long it will take to pay for it in saved pellets but it also helps it heat up quicker helps with the temps swings. So for me even if I am not saving much pellets still worth 20 bucks. Again I only use it when it is below freezing out and on longer cooks. I think this is the one I have, looks like the price is up a little...

6 ft. x 8 ft. Fiberglass Welding Blanket

Amazing deals on this 6Ft X 8Ft Fiberglass Welding Blanket at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

 

[JohnMcD348]

Buy a couple of old military surplus wool blankets. That will help hold the heat in. I used to do that with my old charcoal and wood offsets for years and even did it on a couple of really cold nights with my Weber Smoky Mountains. The wool won't burn.