The Complete Beginner's Guide to How to Use a Traeger Grill

You just brought home a brand-new Traeger. It's sitting on your patio, it looks incredible, and you have absolutely no idea where to start.

We get it. A pellet grill is different from anything you've cooked on before — and that's exactly what makes it so good. But if you've never used one, the learning curve can feel steep. The good news? It's not. Once you understand how to use a Traeger grill, you'll wonder how you ever cooked without it.

At Wickstrom Ace Hardware in Carson City, we're an authorized Traeger dealer, and we've helped dozens of new Traeger owners get their first cook right. This guide covers everything you need: how the grill works, how to season it, which pellets to choose, how to control temperature, and how to keep it clean. Let's get into it.

Shopping for a Traeger? We carry the full lineup in-store. Browse Traeger Grills at Ace Hardware →

How to Use a Traeger Grill: Understanding the Basics First

Before you fire it up, it helps to understand what's actually happening inside the grill. A Traeger isn't a gas grill. It isn't a charcoal grill either. It's a wood pellet grill — and that changes everything about how you cook.

How It Works: The Simple Version

Here's the basic flow: you fill the hopper (the large side box) with hardwood pellets. When you turn the grill on and set your temperature, an auger — a slow-spinning screw — feeds those pellets into the firepot at the bottom of the grill. A hot rod ignites them. A fan circulates the heat and smoke throughout the cooking chamber, and a drip tray keeps grease away from the flame.

The result is an experience that feels like cooking in an outdoor convection oven — with wood smoke. You set a temperature, you close the lid, and the grill maintains it. That's the Traeger magic. No babysitting. No flare-ups.

Your First Cook: Setting Up and Seasoning Your Traeger

Before you throw anything on the grates, you need to season your Traeger. This is a one-time step that burns off any manufacturing residue, coats the inside with a protective layer, and primes the grill for cooking. Skip it and your first meal will taste like a brand-new car smells

How to Season Your New Traeger (Step-by-Step)

Step One	Fill the hopper with your chosen pellets — hickory or a blend works well for the first burn.
Step Two	Plug in the grill and power it on. You'll hear the ignition sequence begin.
Step Three	Set the temperature to 350°F with the lid open for the first 5 minutes, then close the lid.
Step Four	Let it run at 350°F for 20 minutes, then crank it up to the highest temperature (around 450–500°F).
Step Five	Run at high heat for another 30–45 minutes. You may see smoke — that's normal.
Step Six	Shut the grill down using the normal shutdown cycle. Your Traeger is now seasoned and ready

Best First Cooks for New Traeger Owners

Once you're seasoned and ready to cook, start with something forgiving. These three are the ideal first cooks for any beginner:

FIRST COOK	TEMPERATURE / TIME	WHY IT WORKS
Whole Chicken	180–225°F for 2–3 hrs, then finish at 375°F	Juicy, smoky, nearly impossible to mess up
Pork Butt (Pulled Pork)	225°F for 8–12 hrs (low and slow)	Foolproof — large cuts are more forgiving
Tri-Tip	225°F until 125°F internal, then sear at 450°F	Quick, flavorful, great introduction to reverse searing

Choosing the Right Wood Pellets for Your Traeger

The pellets you choose determine the flavor of your food. This is where the real fun of pellet grilling begins. Traeger makes 100% all-natural hardwood pellets in a wide range of wood types — each one pairs differently with different proteins and dishes.

PELLET TYPE	FLAVOR PROFILE	BEST FOR
Hickory	Strong, bold, classic BBQ	Beef, pork, wild game
Apple	Mild, sweet, fruity	Chicken, turkey, pork, vegetables
Cherry	Sweet, slightly tart, rich color	Pork, lamb, beef, baked goods
Mesquite	Intense, earthy, Texas-style	Beef, chicken, seafood
Pecan	Nutty, balanced, mild sweetness	Everything — a great all-rounder
Maple	Sweet, subtle, clean smoke	Poultry, pork, baked goods

Pro tip: Always store your pellets in a sealed, airtight container away from moisture. Wet pellets crumble, clog the auger, and throw off your temperature. A good storage bin is one of the best investments you can make for your Traeger.

Pick up Traeger hardwood pellets in-store or browse online. Shop Traeger Pellets at Ace Hardware →

Mastering Temperature Control: The Traeger Advantage

Here's what makes a Traeger genuinely different from every other grill you've used: it holds temperature with precision. Set it to 225°F and it stays at 225°F. This makes the cooking techniques that used to require a pit master's skill accessible to everyone

There are essentially three temperature zones you'll cook in:

180–250° F	Low and Slow For smoking brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, and anything that benefits from hours of low heat and deep smoke penetration. This is classic BBQ territory.
275–375° F	All-Purpose Roasting Chicken, turkey, salmon, vegetables, pizza. Hot enough to cook through efficiently while still picking up real wood-smoke flavor.
275–375° F	Hot and Fast Grilling Burgers, steaks, sausages — anything you'd normally cook on a regular grill. At these temps the Traeger browns and sears beautifully.

Traeger Temperature Guide: Common Proteins

PROTEIN	TEMP	INTERNAL TARGET	NOTES
Brisket	225°F	200–205°F	Low and slow, 10–16 hrs
Pork Butt	225–250°F	195–205°F	Pull apart tender at 203°F
Baby Back Ribs	225°F	190–203°F	3-2-1 method works great
Whole Chicken	375°F	165°F	~2 hrs, crispy skin
Salmon Filet	225°F	140–145°F	30–45 min, apple pellets
NY Strip Steak	225°F then 450°F	130°F (medium-rare)	Reverse sear — best method
Burgers	375–400°F	160°F	20–25 min total
Pizza	450°F	Until cheese is bubbly	Use a pizza stone

Traeger Grill Maintenance: Keep It Running Like New

A Traeger is a quality investment. Keep it clean and it'll last for decades. Neglect it and grease fires, temperature swings, and auger jams will follow. Here's the simple maintenance schedule every Traeger owner should follow:

After Every Cook	• Brush the grill grates with a grill brush while still warm. • Wipe down any large grease drips from the inside walls. • Empty any drippings from the grease bucket.
Every 5 Cooks	• Vacuum out the ash from the firepot with a shop vac. • Wipe down the drip tray with a paper towel or scraper. • Check the pellet level in the hopper.
Monthly	• Deep clean the drip tray — remove it and scrape off baked-on grease. • Wipe down the inside of the lid and cooking chamber. • Check the grease drain tube for blockages.
Seasonally	• Full deep clean of the entire grill — grates, drip tray, grease drain, firepot. • Inspect the door gasket and hot rod for wear. • Empty the hopper completely if storing for the off-season. • Cover the grill any time it's not in use to protect from dust and moisture.

Ready to Start Grilling? Come See Us.

Once you've got the basics down — how the pellet system works, how to season your grill, which pellets to grab, and how to maintain it — cooking on a Traeger becomes second nature. The only question is: what are you smoking first?

Here are the three things to remember as a new Traeger owner:

1. Season first, cook second. Don't skip the initial burn-in. It takes an hour and makes a real difference.

2. Match your pellet to your protein. The right wood flavor transforms a good cook into a great one

3. Set it and forget it — but check your pellets. Traeger is hands-off, but an empty hopper mid-cook is the classic rookie mistake.

Ready to pick up your Traeger or grab some pellets?

Stop by Wickstrom Ace Hardware at 971 Topsy Lane, Carson City, NV. Our team will help you choose the right grill and get you set up for your first cook.

Browse Traeger Grills & Pellets at Ace Hardware →

Wickstrom Ace Hardware | 971 Topsy Lane #334, Carson City, NV 89705 | (775) 434-1030 | Mon–Sat 8am–7pm | Sun 9am–6pm