There is a Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill, which is Traeger’s biggest wood-fired barbecue. It can cook up to 8 chickens, 5 racks of ribs, or 6 pork butts at once thanks to its generous 885 square inch cooking surface. It was time to put the Traeger brand to the test after putting a number of pellet grills through their paces over the previous several years.
Traeger Ironwood 885 Pellet Grill Product’s Key Specification:
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Feature |
Measurement |
|---|---|
|
Cooking Space |
885 square inches on two levels. |
|
Temperature Range |
165° – 500° |
|
Assembled Dimensions |
W54″ x H47″ x L27″ |
|
Pellet Hopper Capacity |
20 pounds, with pellet sensor |
|
Weight |
175 lbs. |
Packaged goods from Traeger
In the case of a grill, there isn’t much to say about its packing other than the fact that producers utilize cardboard reinforced corners to ensure that items stay put during delivery. The Traeger is no different, except that after you’re done with it, it’s a whole lot more fun.
Your grill will come with an interior designed to look like a playhouse for children after you’ve completed removing it from the box. You can transform the box into a playhouse for the kids by simply turning it inside out. It’s a clever marketing ploy to make you feel good about your kids having fun in their new rustic Traeger Grills cottage while also repurposing the box.
Assembly
Two individuals took 45 minutes to assemble the Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill. Two hands are required for this task, which involves laying the grill on its back and then placing it upside down on the lid while holding it in place with one hand. There isn’t a lot of work involved in placing the legs on and putting the components into the cooking chamber. Of the over 30 grills we made last year, this was the easiest to assemble by far.
Seasoning
Before using a pellet grill for the first time, be sure it’s been well seasoned. After priming the auger, Traeger Grills suggests setting the grill at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes to ensure that there are enough pellets to start the grill. After 20 minutes, we’re instructed to raise the temperature of the grill to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 30 minutes. The grill is now ready for use and all of the manufacturing oils have been burnt off, making it safe to eat.
Safety Feature
There’s no remote start, which is a clear-brainer for grills with internet capability and therefore a major safety feature. Since an app cannot start a fire, it only seems reasonable that I cannot do so. What’s the point? Sure. There are children about and I can’t recall whether or when the cover was removed. It’s unlikely.
Smoking
The Ironwood 885 pellet grill is first and foremost a smoker. The downdraft exhaust mechanism of Traeger grills seems to be unique to their brand. As a result, you get just the greatest wood taste from your meal thanks to this innovation.
We performed a lot of testing on this vehicle’s ability to smoke. Jalapeno poppers and candied bacon chicken bits were our first offerings for February’s big NFL game. Both were smoked on the Traeger before to the game and turned out crispy and delectable.
So, in order to check how the super smoke mode worked, we bought a cryovac pack of beef plate ribs to attempt a lengthy, low and slow smoke. We adjusted the temperature to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and activated the controller’s “hyper smoke” option. When I compared the grill operating at 225 with the extreme smoke setting, I saw a significant increase in smoke. Using an extra tube of pellets in addition to the fire cup would be likened to running an additional tube of pellets. I really like this smoker’s design, and the plate ribs fared great in it.
When it came time for pot roast another night, we decided to cook it on the Traeger instead in the crockpot or in the oven or on the stove. The pot roast turned out the same as it always does, except that the pellets added a mild taste to everything in the pot. A stick-burning offset smoker cooking with the pot lid removed didn’t produce a lot of smoke. It was easy to tell a change in flavor, even with the pot cover on, even after a short cook.
We cooked applesauce while recording our review of this grill and smoked our own meatloaf as part of the process. When the wind was just perfect, the aroma of apples wafted in our way as we worked.
Grilling
Traeger grills are renowned for smoking, but they may also be used to cook a wide variety of foods. Many foods may be cooked on Traeger barbecues, which reach a maximum temperature of 500 degrees. Direct exposure to a flame, which most of us are accustomed to with our large box store gas barbecues, may be lacking from this model.
We used to have an old Charbroil grill on our patio when I was a youngster that brings back fond memories of barbecuing with my dad. There were several raging fires and scorching hot places, and no matter how hard we tried, things always seemed to slip away from us.
Grilling (like smoking) is an indirect way of outdoor cooking using the Ironwood 885 pellet grill. As long as you’re content with not having direct access to the flame, you may use this grill. There are two locations for the lower grate. You want your meat to get as much heat exposure as possible during grilling or searing, so put the grill grates so they are right over the drip tray. When smoking, the grates may be raised higher so that they get more radiant or convection heat. This increases the efficiency of the heating process.
On two separate occasions, we grilled chicken breasts, one at 500 degrees Fahrenheit and the other at 350. The 500-degree cook used a dry rub, whereas the 350-degree cook used a wet marinade. It was possible to get grill marks on the dry-rubbed chicken, but the wet marinade that didn’t have any sugar in it cooked just how we’d expect it to on a lower temperature grill.
Among the features of this grill is the fact that the bottom rack can be positioned in two different ways, one for smoking and the other for grilling. It is easier to get near to the grill’s heat deflector since the two are positioned lower. Allows for comprehensive convection cooking, where smoke and heat are able to circulate all over the dish, making it easier to prepare. It’s not anything you’d notice if you didn’t spend a lot of time reading the owners handbook.
Storage
The Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill has an optional cover made of strong canvas that perfectly fits the smoker. Putting it on takes two people, and thus far it hasn’t blown off due to the great fit.
This device has spent the most of its time outdoors in cold temperatures with more than 8 inches of snow on the ground from the day we received it from the manufacturer. Everything is ready to cook or smoke whenever you feel like it thanks to the grill’s protective cover.
Warranty
In the United States, Traeger offers a limited warranty of three years, which you may learn more about by visiting the Traeger website.
The Traeger Ironwood 885 has a lot of features that we liked.
Front Shelving is an optional extra.
Despite the fact that the Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill does not come with a front shelf, an aftermarket shelf may be purchased. This was a simple addition to our grill, and we were grateful for the extra space for resting trays and cutting boards while cooking. That extra enhancement is something we strongly suggest.
Sensor with Pellet
Wouldn’t it be amazing if your grill alerted you when your wood pellets are low? As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of the coolest pellet grill features I’ve seen. Even though you won’t run out of pellets in a hurry, you’ll always know how much is left in your hopper thanks to a pellet sensor that communicates with the Traeger app.
Wireless Internet Protocol (WiFi)
With the Traeger Ironwood 885, you can use your smartphone to connect to the Traeger app. Despite the fact that pellet grills are still a relatively new invention in the world of grilling, we’ve tried several of them. In contrast, none of them were as simple to connect as this Traeger. After scanning a QR code on the pellet hopper lid with my phone and following a few easy on-screen instructions, I was connected to the internet through wi-fi in about five minutes.
Traeger’s Application
The Traeger App lets you operate your barbecue from almost anywhere. The pellet hopper capacity measurement has been noted earlier in the app. The WiFire app has a lot more to offer than just that. WiFire’s app includes a Traeger meat probe, which you can use to check the interior temperature of your meal, as well as the ability to alter the grill’s temperature settings. There’s a whole area of the app dedicated to providing beginners with step-by-by-step instructions and expert advice on using a wood pellet barbecue. The Traeger app will also notify you through push notifications if any of your grill’s components need cleaning or repair.
Strong as a rock
It’s difficult to find fault with the Traeger Ironwood 885. You won’t notice any swaying or wobbling here; it’s solid, and that gives you the impression that you’ve made a wise purchase in this wood pellet grill. Porcelain grill grates, on the other hand, do not budge when you clean them. Normally, when I clean grill grates, they wiggle about, but the Traeger grates stay firmly in place every time. There is nothing weak or flimsy about this barbecue.
Inquiry Inlet
Any grill with a probe port has my vote. Because you’ll almost always be utilizing a meat probe while grilling or smoking meat, including a port for the probe is a no-brainer.
Controller D2 for Direct Drive
In addition to previous Traeger barbecue models, the Ironwood 885 pellet grill has a D2 powertrain for improved temperature constancy. The Direct Drive fan and variable speed auger will ensure that your chefs get the best smoke possible. It’s never been easier to regulate the temperature of a wood pellet barbecue.
Exhaust System with a Downdraft Outlet
As part of Traeger’s Tru Convection® cooking method, a vortex of heat and smoke swirls around food in the chamber. The downdraft exhaust system at the rear of the wood pellet grill allows the smoke to exit after it has finished its trip through the vortex. You can’t get the same wood-fired taste from other pellet grills because of how everything works together.
Enhanced Smoke Mode.
When it comes to barbeque, pellet grills have an unfair reputation for not injecting enough smoke. It’s common for people to think that a wood pellet grill won’t produce the same amount of smoke ring as a traditional wood-burning smoker. Things take a turn for the worst when Traeger grills debut the “hyper smoke mode.” An extra layer of thin blue smoke may be added to the cook by activating this function, which can be found in the 165-225° range.
Hold on to the Heat
At 165 degrees, the Traeger Ironwood series can also keep your meal warm. Cooks who astonished us by being ready earlier than anticipated are nothing new. Let us know if there is anything more we can do for you. Your dinner will be ready whenever you are, even if it’s on “keep warm.”
Cleaning of the Pellet Hopper
Your next cook may not be the best match for the pellets you have in your hopper. Pellet grills from Traeger make it easy to switch out the supply. a door has been included into the design of the hopper’s rear. It’s as simple as getting a bucket and unscrewing the door.
Tool Hooks and a Side Shelf
The shelf on the left side of the Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill provides hooks for storing your grilling supplies. Our family loves this shelf and the magnetic bamboo cutting board that goes wonderfully with it!
Insulation of the Highest Quality
Our midwestern winters have been brutal, and that means we’ve been putting the Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill to the test. And we’ve found it to be more consistent in temperature than other pellet grills we’ve tried.. Traeger has the know-how to develop a barbecue that can cook in all kinds of conditions. Traeger’s cooking chamber door is already sealed with a high-temperature gasket, which is something we sometimes have to install aftermarket. The improved temperature constancy, regardless of the weather, is a benefit of the double side-wall insulation.
Chances to Improve
The Bottom Shelf
There is no bottom shelf on the Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill. However, this isn’t a one-of-a-kind problem for Ironwood. The bottom shelf is absent from almost all Traeger barbecues we’ve tested. In my opinion, it would be excellent to have a shelf built into Traeger grills so that the unused space may be utilized for anything other than just storing food.
Direct Line of Sight to the Fire
When I’m attempting to achieve a great sear on a piece of meat, I do miss being able to access a direct flame on the Ironwood series pellet grills.
Shutdown Unknown
The first time I cooked on my Traeger Ironwood 885 pellet grill, I had to consult the handbook to learn how to shut it off. In theory, I could have worked it out on my own; but, I’ve used several pellet grills over the years, and this one switches off like none of others. Holding the standby button for three seconds will enter shutdown mode, so I’ll spare you the bother and tell you that right now. In my opinion, there should have been a way to highlight this on the control panel.
Casters that are too small
Traeger grills could do a lot more to enhance this already excellent product, but I’m going to the bottom of the barrel here. Increasing the size of the casters is the only other thing I can think of that I would change. In order to make this grill easier to move over bumps or uneven ground, a bigger caster is needed. The casters, on the other hand, may be locked in position, keeping your grill in place.
The Ironwood 885 vs. the Ironwood 650: What’s the Difference?
The amount of food that can be cooked on each grill is the sole difference between them. To put it another way, the Ironwood 885 has a massive cooking area of 885 square inches, while the Ironwood 650 has a total cooking area of…. 650 square millimeters in surface area. Other than that, the Traeger Ironwood models in this series are identical.
Do you think the Traeger Ironwood is worth your money?
Using the Traeger Ironwood 885 Pellet Grill and Smoker is a breeze, thanks to its user-friendly design. To be honest, I wish this was standard on every grill. Smoking food for friends, family, and even neighbors has never been easier thanks to this fantastic smoker. Because of the app and pre-programmed recipes, this grill treats you and tempts you to experiment with new dishes. With the Ironwood 885, I feel you’ll cook outside more frequently if you place one of these out in the backyard.
