Ten years ago, you walked into an appliance store, and you bought a Weber grill or less expensive competitive brand.
If you wanted to spend some money, you would buy a more expensive professional Lynx grill.
Now you have incredible amounts of choices and brands. You can buy gas, pellet, charcoal, ceramic, or hybrid grills.
Unless you want to spend $15,000 for a Kalamazoo hybrid, there is no best grill for searing, speed, smoking, and slow cooking.
Weber and Traeger are the most popular companies selling different types of grills. In this article, you will learn the difference between the two brands and grilling technologies.
You will then better understand what grill might be better for you.
Forged from a small kettle shape in 1952 by George Stephen, Weber grills have been a worldwide leader for reliable outdoor family grilling.
They started with charcoal at first and have since moved to gas.
More dogs and burgers have probably been made in the US on Weber grills than any other outdoor grill.
Their Genesis II grills may be their most popular grill series sold.
What's The Difference Between Weber Series Grills? [Video Review]
Traeger is a wood pellet grill that runs on electricity and uses wood pellets its heat source.
They were founded in 1985 by Joe Traeger. He was the first to put in an electric ignition system and a hopper to feed the wood pellets.
As backyard smoking gains popularity in the states, the Traeger grill has become an easy to use and affordable choice.
A motor turns a screw-like device, an auger, to feed the burn pot. The pellets are then ignited and exhausted by the chimney.
Indirect heat means no flare-ups, but pellet grills cannot reach the high temperatures of gas.
It's not a grill in the conventional sense. Traeger is more like an outside convection range with the ability to add flavor.
These are two different types of outdoor cooking products.
Should You Buy A Traeger Wood Pellet Grill? [VIDEO Review]
Features:
Review:
One of Weber's most popular models, the Weber Genesis II, has enough output to sear a steak and quickly cooks dogs and burgers.
The stainless grates hold heat well and are easy to clean.
The sear burner adds extra heat and adds to a quicker preheat time if you only have limited time to grill.
Features:
Review:
The Summit is Weber's best grill available in 4 and 6 burner models.
You have higher output up to 60,000 BTU along with the Sear Station of 10,600.
There is a rotisserie with a 10,600 BTU infrared burner and a smoker box to infuse your food with smokey flavor.
Features:
Review:
This is Traeger's entry-level smoker. The dial allows you to control temperatures just like an oven.
With the WiFire technology, you can use your phone to monitor your cooking, so you don't have to watch your grill.
Features:
Review:
This is the top of the line for Traeger grills. The grates are stainless, and the interior is stainless as well to absorb heat
An added pellet sensor helps take the guesswork out of knowing when to add more pellets. The grease management system is hidden for a sleeker look.
The difference is enormous. One is gas, and the other is electric.
Gas grills are for fast cooking. The high temperatures allow you to char and sear food better.
The pellet industry will always counter with the statement, "what does gas taste like." Even the smoker basket on the Summit doesn't smoke thoroughly.
Pellet only reaches 500-600 degrees versus 900-1100 for gas grills. However, you can hold a more precise temperature with pellet types.
The real benefit of pellets is the ability to infuse flavor. You can buy pellets with limitless flavor combinations to infuse your food with a different taste and texture than a gas grill.
The indirect convection pellet method of convection also has fewer flare-ups and more even temperatures than a gas grill.
Pellet grills also have Wi-Fi - I mean WiFIRE technology, so you can set it and leave it for hours. The grill will let you know when it's done.
Weber has that Wi-Fi accessory as an optional BlueTooth thermometer, but you cannot leave food on the grill for long periods.
These are two different types of cooking appliances.
It depends on how you like to cook. If you want to cook and BBQ traditionally and quickly, then a Weber grill is your best consideration.
The Genesis and Summits have good output, side burners, and are designed to withstand the elements.
Pellet grills are not grills because they cannot reach a temperature above 500. That's a problem when you are looking to grill a burger quickly.
However, if you like to smoke and even follow recipes, a pellet grill is a better choice for you.
You don't have a high temperature of a gas, but you have more even temperatures and can infuse your food with countless flavors.
It ultimately comes down to whether you want speed and high temperature versus precision smoking and flavor.
What do you think?
Additional Resources
Want to learn more about grill? Download our free BBQ Buying Guide for detailed information on all the best brands, features, and more. Over 820,000 people have read a Yale Guide.
Related Articles