9 months ago I purchased a Traeger Little Tex Elite after talking to a rep at Costco. It was an impulse buy but I have fallen in love with pellet smoking. I just wish I would have done more research up front because I am about to return my second Traeger to Costco. The first one a purchased started blowing fuses the second time I used it and the Traeger I’m about to return has in issue with the fire randomly going out during long smokes. It has something to do with the electrical because I can’t relight it until I mess with all the wiring below and it’s totally unpredictable. Trager tech support told me to adjust the P setting but that’s another story. Regardless, it has ruined a few parties and most recently ruined an 8 pound brisket on my birthday that I ended up having to toss in the oven. Long story short, I am doing my research and it doesn’t look like Traeger makes the best pellet smokers. From my research it sounds like a lot of people go with a MAK or a Memphis and I’m looking for a first hand advice. I know this is a common forum question but I’ll give some specifics to make it more unique.
* I’m about to do I backyard remodel and it would be nice to buy a smoker I can build in to an outdoor kitchen.
* I like to entertain. I have crammed 8 racks onto my smoker and on Thanksgiving smoked two 18 pound turkeys in my Traeger. The turkeys were a tight fit but they turned out so good I would like to make it a tradition. This being said I don’t have an unlimited amount of room for my planned out door kitchen so I don’t want anything too big.
* I am very disported in my Traeger’s ability to grill steaks. Until I started doing my research I planned on putting a built-in gas grill and a built in smoker. It sounds like the Memphis has a direct flame insert and the MAC has a searing option. If I can avoid buying a gas grill that frees up budget for a nicer smoker. From your experiences do the MAC and/or Memphis do a good job searing steaks? Another thought would to do a built in searing station but that could take away from my smoker budget.
*Speaking of budget, $2k - $3k is my range but I may be able to go a little higher if the value is there and I can grill on it.
I’m not set on just the MAK or Memphis but it sounds like those are the most popular. I know this is mostly likely a common thread so if it’s easier feel free to point me to a few existing threads. Thanks an advance for your help!
* I’m about to do I backyard remodel and it would be nice to buy a smoker I can build in to an outdoor kitchen.
* I like to entertain. I have crammed 8 racks onto my smoker and on Thanksgiving smoked two 18 pound turkeys in my Traeger. The turkeys were a tight fit but they turned out so good I would like to make it a tradition. This being said I don’t have an unlimited amount of room for my planned out door kitchen so I don’t want anything too big.
* I am very disported in my Traeger’s ability to grill steaks. Until I started doing my research I planned on putting a built-in gas grill and a built in smoker. It sounds like the Memphis has a direct flame insert and the MAC has a searing option. If I can avoid buying a gas grill that frees up budget for a nicer smoker. From your experiences do the MAC and/or Memphis do a good job searing steaks? Another thought would to do a built in searing station but that could take away from my smoker budget.
*Speaking of budget, $2k - $3k is my range but I may be able to go a little higher if the value is there and I can grill on it.
I’m not set on just the MAK or Memphis but it sounds like those are the most popular. I know this is mostly likely a common thread so if it’s easier feel free to point me to a few existing threads. Thanks an advance for your help!
