No smoke flavor

[missfire]

So I have an ironwood 885 6 months since new done several butts, briskets and ribs. No matter what I do it has no smoke flavor as compared to my stick and my charcoal burner, even with super smoke on and a smoke tube very little flavor. tried several brands and flavors of pellets and used chips in smoke tube still no flavor. is this indicative of a pellet smoker or what am I doing wrong. or is it apples and oranges when comparing a pellet smoker to a stick or charcoal burner. Thanx

 

[RustyJake]

i have an Ironwood 650. From what I have read and experienced so far, this is common and normal for a pellet grill/smoker. Disappointing because the capacity is there to create the flavors, just need them to fine tune the burn process in the fire pot.
I am the same with my trials so far. I am finding nowhere near the flavor profiles in different woods in pellets compared to the use of wood chunks in my Kamado. Even my Weber charcoal grill imparts more flavor in the cooked foods. I have only gotten one smoke on my Traeger where the smoke flavor was prominent, and that was doing smoked cheese and paprika. Grill was totally off and used a smoke tube only for 4 hours. Makes me wonder if the airflow plays into it. There was no real convection because the fan wasn't on.
I have used the smoke tube in conjunction with meat cooking and it helps a bit in the Traeger. But nowhere near the actual stick wood smokers. I am trying different pellet brands, but I don't think the flavor profiles will ever be achieved to the levels of my Kamado

 

[missfire]

Well that's disheartening to say the least, I never thought there would be that big of a difference. I bought it so I could lazy man it sort of set and forget. And on that level its great holds temp almost dead level, BUT I need the smoke flavor exspecially for that kind of high end price for the smoker . Guess i'll be selling it and going back to a UDS type. Thanx

 

[Skipatroller]

i have an Ironwood 650. From what I have read and experienced so far, this is common and normal for a pellet grill/smoker. Disappointing because the capacity is there to create the flavors, just need them to fine tune the burn process in the fire pot.
I am the same with my trials so far. I am finding nowhere near the flavor profiles in different woods in pellets compared to the use of wood chunks in my Kamado. Even my Weber charcoal grill imparts more flavor in the cooked foods. I have only gotten one smoke on my Traeger where the smoke flavor was prominent, and that was doing smoked cheese and paprika. Grill was totally off and used a smoke tube only for 4 hours. Makes me wonder if the airflow plays into it. There was no real convection because the fan wasn't on.
I have used the smoke tube in conjunction with meat cooking and it helps a bit in the Traeger. But nowhere near the actual stick wood smokers. I am trying different pellet brands, but I don't think the flavor profiles will ever be achieved to the levels of my Kamado

 

[Skipatroller]

I have an Ironwood 650 as well and have the exact same issue. Great BBQ grill, but does not impart smoke flavor. I cannot tell the difference between pellets and cannot get a nice bark on the Traeger like I can on my bullet smoker.

 

[Johngoetz73]

I've got an ironwood 885 and same thoughts on not much smoke. My wife is happy but I wanted smoke

 

[Pits_N_Pellets]

So I have an ironwood 885 6 months since new done several butts, briskets and ribs. No matter what I do it has no smoke flavor as compared to my stick and my charcoal burner, even with super smoke on and a smoke tube very little flavor. tried several brands and flavors of pellets and used chips in smoke tube still no flavor. is this indicative of a pellet smoker or what am I doing wrong. or is it apples and oranges when comparing a pellet smoker to a stick or charcoal burner. Thanx

Preaching to the choir bro, super irritating to me too. I bought one in February because I was getting lazy and tired of charcoal messes....didn’t know the flavor was going to suck! Well it doesn’t suck, it’s good because it tastes like my seasoning, just no DAMN SMOKE!

So here’s what I do because I love the convenience. I use bear mountain pellets helps more (I can taste it for sure, but weak compared to my drum). Pellet tube going in the garbage because It does nothing...purchased a Smoke Daddy Cold Smoke generator and tapping that into this overly priced hunk of metal so called a BBQ. Hahaha...arrives Thursday so I’ll let you know how it goes this weekend, looks like a lot of white smoke, but we’ll see what happens.

I do love my traeger because of the consistency and ease. But you’re right takes a lot of “add ones” to get the flavor profiles of real smoke that true BBQrs need.

 

[Pits_N_Pellets]

Well that's disheartening to say the least, I never thought there would be that big of a difference. I bought it so I could lazy man it sort of set and forget. And on that level its great holds temp almost dead level, BUT I need the smoke flavor exspecially for that kind of high end price for the smoker . Guess i'll be selling it and going back to a UDS type. Thanx

Follow up here: I got my smoke generator and tested it out today and it was amazing! Got the flavors of my drum smoker with the convenience of a traeger.

This is the perfect Combo now because I can do light smokes for desserts and pizzas with good quality pellets, or heavy smoke for my meats.

 

[Johngoetz73]

Maybe I miss

Follow up here: I got my smoke generator and tested it out today and it was amazing! Got the flavors of my drum smoker with the convenience of a traeger.

This is the perfect Combo now because I can do light smokes for desserts and pizzas with good quality pellets, or heavy smoke for my meats.

i missed something. What is this smoke generator? Sounds like what I need

 

[Pits_N_Pellets]

Maybe I miss

i missed something. What is this smoke generator? Sounds like what I need

Look up in the thread I have a post there, but google Smoke Daddy cold smoke generator, works on heat too

 

[RustyJake]

The smoke generator seems like a great add on. Definitely something to consider.
Has anyone that uses the smoke tubes tried using wood chunks or chips in it along with some pellets? I am think of trying it. I have some chunks for the kamado that I could split and add to the tube along with the pellets.
Be interested to hear if anyone has tried that and what the results were.

 

[Pits_N_Pellets]

The smoke generator seems like a great add on. Definitely something to consider.
Has anyone that uses the smoke tubes tried using wood chunks or chips in it along with some pellets? I am think of trying it. I have some chunks for the kamado that I could split and add to the tube along with the pellets.
Be interested to hear if anyone has tried that and what the results were.

I’ve thrown chips into my pellet tube before. I’ve done pure chips, a mix of chips and pellets, and pure pellets. That is also the order of smokiness. Honestly even the highest quality pellet will never impress a stick burner. They are great for consistency, even temps, and subtle flavors. But if you want bold smoke flavor pellets isn’t the answer.

That all being said I’ve had some nice clean flavors and some starting to creep to boldness with quality pellets in a tube. It just isn’t as strong as wood.

 

[RustyJake]

I’ve thrown chips into my pellet tube before. I’ve done pure chips, a mix of chips and pellets, and pure pellets. That is also the order of smokiness. Honestly even the highest quality pellet will never impress a stick burner. They are great for consistency, even temps, and subtle flavors. But if you want bold smoke flavor pellets isn’t the answer.

That all being said I’ve had some nice clean flavors and some starting to creep to boldness with quality pellets in a tube. It just isn’t as strong as wood.

Thanks for the feedback