The Traeger Ranger Pellet is an electronically-powered tabletop pellet smoker that features a porcelain-coated steel grate and cast iron griddle to facilitate wood-fired flavor on the go. Unfortunately, the same features that lend themselves to its long-term durability and impressive cooking performance are also some of its shortfalls when it comes to portability, as its increased weight and price tag may cut its appeal for some. However, anyone who seeks a compact, tabletop option with refined temperature control and smoker capabilities can't go wrong with the Ranger — as long as you've got the strength to haul it and an accessible outlet to plug it in. Carry it along to your next vacation rental or when traveling in your RV, or take advantage of its superior grilling tech close to home.
Electrically controlled but fueled by wood pellets, the Traeger Ranger Pellet relies on a 120V AC cord to kickstart the grilling process and an electric controller to manage the ongoing grill temperature. Just set the desired temperature and choose ignite to light the pellets on fire. We found it took about 10 minutes to achieve a setting of 350°F.
We recommend stuffing the pellet hopper to the rim of its safety grate before you get started, to ensure the Ranger has what it needs to maintain consistent power and cooking temperatures until you are through. A large hopper with an 8-pound pellet capacity is located inside the grill, enabling a broad range of temperatures ranging from “Food Warming” mode all the way up to a high-heat sear exceeding 450°F.
Those unfamiliar with smokers may find the resulting smoke, especially at lower temperatures, a bit intimidating at first; it will rise inside the grill alongside the temperature as it increases. However, this is standard procedure and something you'll adjust to. And as our testers can attest, anyone who likes a bit of smokiness in their grillables will love the precision results you can achieve with this grill.
The high-end design of the Traeger Ranger Pellet includes a proprietary Digital Arc controller meant to provide accurate and consistent temperature control, so long as you've loaded enough Traeger-specific pellets into the large capacity hopper.
Traeger also recommends operating the Ranger with its lid closed to maintain consistency in cooking and limit overall time spent in front of the grill. To aid in tracking the cooking status of the items inside, it also includes a built-in thermometer to provide accurate temperature readings as things cook and to alert you when your food is ready to eat. Whether you want to keep grillables warm until the rest of your meal is ready to eat or you want to crank up the grill temperature for high-heat searing, you'll have complete control to ensure excellent flavor and delicious results.
Unfortunately, portability is not the strongest suit of the Traeger Ranger Pellet due to its 54-pound tabletop design and sizable footprint. Measuring 20 inches long by 20 inches wide and 13 inches high, this is an awkward, heavy box to transport from one location to the next. Our lead tester, who lives in a campground most of the year, lamented even just moving the grill from her cabin to her car, as the grill doesn't provide features like handles to aid in the process, and its larger dimensions make it uncomfortable to carry. While not a great pick for those who move around a lot, this could be the perfect grill for those who travel by RV and have a convenient storage location for it. Of course, they will also need access to electricity whenever they are ready to put it to use. Otherwise, it may be a nice choice for seasonal backyard cooking, easily stored away once the weather turns.
Although the Traeger Ranger Pellet is larger than most tabletop grills in our lineup, its cooking area is significantly limited due to the wood pellet hopper that occupies nearly half the interior real estate. The actual cooking area only measures 11 by 15 inches. This was enough space for testers to cook six chicken breasts and thighs with a flank steak squeezed right into the middle. But it may not be suitable for high-volume BBQ dreams.
Everything we pulled off the grill was cooked to perfection, however. The porcelain-coated steel grilling grate delivered a superb sear to meat while the wood-fired pellets generated excellent flavor on items cooked more slowly. While we wish there were more total surface area to accommodate the grilling needs of a larger group, this compact grill delivers on its promise: impressive smoky flavor and a highly refined grill experience.
The flame at the heart of the Traeger Ranger Pellet grill is protected as a smart feature of its fully enclosed design. Other than the vents you'll find strategically placed at the back and sides of the metal grill box, there is no entry point through which wind gusts might enter when the grill is closed. This means less fluctuation in temperature during cooking, so long as you have enough wood pellets loaded into the hopper.
If you are interested in experimenting with a smoker or already know you love that deep flavor in your grillables, and you've got the braun to haul it between locations for use, the Traeger Ranger Pellet is likely for you. But with such a high cost of entry and a heavyweight design, it won't be everyone's best bet.
The Traeger Ranger Pellet is a beautifully crafted wood pellet grill incorporating durable components and user-friendly features. But where it falls short is portability. A far lighter and easier to carry electric-powered grill that includes optional pellet functionality is the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill & Smoker with Thermometer. This highly functional grill may still require an outlet, but it won't break your back if you want to bring it along on vacation. It's also sold at a slightly lower price. Propane grill aficionados will like the Cuisinart CGG-306 Chef's Style Portable and Weber Traveler, which may not be set up for smoking but still deliver terrific grilled flavor. If you want to go 100% wood to fuel your grill, the Snow Peak Takibi Fire & Grill is a creative modern take on a basic firepit design, adding ambience and cooking space to mobile adventures.
