I have wanted to get into smoking meat for a long time but was always intimidated by the process. I did not want to babysit a fire all night or constantly fiddle with vents. I finally decided to buy the Traeger Ironwood 650 as my very first smoker, and honestly, it makes me look like a professional pitmaster right out of the gate.
If you are a beginner like me and want to know if this investment is worth it, here is my breakdown of the experience.
Construction and Build Quality
Since this was my first unit, I was not sure what to expect regarding assembly and sturdiness. The Ironwood 650 is built like a tank. The legs are thick and stable, and the lid feels heavy and substantial when you open and close it.
The standout feature here is the double side wall insulation. I read that cheaper models leak heat, but this one holds temperature incredibly well. The gasket seals tight, so smoke actually stays inside the chamber where it belongs rather than leaking out the sides. It feels like a high end appliance rather than just a backyard grill.
Temperature Control
This was my biggest worry as a newbie. I had no idea how to manage airflow or fuel. The Ironwood 650 takes all that stress away with the D2 Direct Drive drivetrain. You literally just turn the dial to your desired temperature and hit ignite.
I watched the temperature on the digital display, and it is rock solid. If I set it to 225 degrees, it climbs there quickly and stays there. It recovers heat almost instantly after I open the lid to spritz the meat. It gives me total confidence that I am not going to ruin an expensive cut of meat by letting the heat spike or drop.
Cooking and Flavor
The flavor profile is amazing. I was worried that a pellet grill might not give enough smoke flavor compared to traditional offsets, but the Super Smoke mode solves that. You can toggle this feature on when cooking between 165 and 225 degrees. It forces more smoke over the meat without raising the heat.
My first cook was a brisket, and the results were shocking. It had a beautiful pink smoke ring and a distinct wood fired taste. The meat remained moist and tender. The convection fan circulates the heat and smoke evenly, so I did not even have to rotate the meat during the cook.
Capacity
Do not let the 650 number fool you. This size is perfect for a standard family. I have plenty of room for a full packer brisket and a pork butt at the same time. The grill comes with two porcelain coated racks. The bottom rack is adjustable, which is a great feature. I can lower it to fit a tall turkey or beer can chicken, or keep it higher for steaks and burgers. It strikes the perfect balance of being large enough for a party but not so massive that it takes up my whole patio.
There are two features that saved me during my first few cooks.
1) WiFIRE Technology: Being able to connect the grill to my phone via the Traeger app is incredible. I can sit on my couch and monitor the internal temperature of the meat and the grill temp. I can even change the temperature or turn on Super Smoke from my phone. It makes the long cooks very manageable.
2) Pellet Sensor: As a beginner, I have no idea how fast pellets burn. The built in sensor alerts my phone when the hopper is getting low. This saved me from running out of fuel during an overnight cook.
Conclusion
I am so glad I chose the Ironwood 650 as my first smoker. It removes the learning curve and lets you focus on prepping the food and enjoying the results. The construction is solid, the temperature is precise, and the food tastes incredible. I am officially hooked on smoking.
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