With a pellet grill installed in your patio or backyard, there will be plenty of good times ahead with your friends and family. While conventional grills can make tasty barbecue, there is no doubt that the smoky taste of pellet grills is simply unbeatable. No wonder then that pellet grills are becoming more and more popular with each passing day.
When you think about pellet grills, then Traeger and Yoder are the two biggest names that come to mind. Who will win the Yoder vs. Traeger pellet grill matchup? Both these brands command deep respect from the grilling community and are renowned for their amazing pellet grill smoker models.
What You Need to Know About Yoder and Traeger
Availability
You should know that Yoder grills are only available at certain retail shops. Besides select websites and stores, you can purchase Yoder grills directly from the company’s official website. You can expect Yoder reviews to be more elusive than Traeger reviews.
Traeger is a more widely recognized brand since its grill models are available at almost all leading online stores and outlets. This will make it easier for you to find customer reviews for Traeger grills to understand how well they perform. Due to the grill’s widespread availability, you can shop around for special deals and discounts to get a sweet bargain on your purchase.
Cost
Traeger grills are, on average, more economical than Yoder smokers. Even the cheapest Yoder model starts at $900, which is the approximate cost of high-end Traeger pellet grills. If you are more interested in saving money, then you should consider buying a Traeger grill.
Competition Quality
Yoder grills are expensive for a good reason. These are competition- level grills favored by professionals and experienced grill chefs. Undoubtedly, Yoder smokers boast excellent quality. These grills are specifically built for heavy-duty use. These massive smokers have been clearly designed for hardcore grilling aficionados, competitors and chefs. Some of them even have their own trailers.
Even if you are just a part-time hobbyist but still fancy hosting large barbecue parties, then Yoder grills can provide you with great value.
Although Traeger products are not competition quality grills, they are still suitable for family gatherings and parties. They are great for backyard grilling, tailgating events and camping.
Let’s take a look at some of the bestselling Yoder and Traeger grills to understand how they fare with respect to one another.
Traeger Grills TFB65LZBC Texas Elite 34 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
If you often find your guests complaining about the time it takes you to prepare the barbecue meal, then it is time to regain control with the Traeger. At 646-square inches, this grill has all the space you need to prepare food for several people in one go. After cooking the food, you can also keep it warm on the second rack with indirect heat.
The Texas Elite 34 starts quickly with the reliable auto ignition and rapidly reaches the target temperature that you had set for the grill. The pellets start spewing smoke within minutes to infuse a smoky, rich taste in your food.
This grill even has a wheeled base so that you can haul it without much fuss. The grilling grates have porcelain coating for easy cleaning and corrosion resistance.
The Digital Elite Controller has an intuitive and self-explanatory interface. Precise temperature control maintains heat levels within a close range of your set temperature, even under adverse weather conditions.
The unit is a versatile pellet smoking platform that can cook food according to 6 different styles. You can braise, bake, smoke, roast, grill and barbecue the most tantalizing epicurean delights with this high-calibre model.
Due to easy cleaning and maintenance, you will find yourself spending less time rubbing and scrubbing and more quality time with your friends and family.
There is hardly anything that you cannot do with this flagship Traeger smoker. Whether it is baking, braising, roasting, searing, slow heating, you can do it all with this grilling unit.
Speaking of baking, this unit gives you the full functionality of your conventional oven with the added benefit of an unmatched hardwood smoke flavor. Pretty soon, you will use the Traeger Texas Elite 34 in lieu of the oven for baking potatoes, piers, cornbread, pizza and more. There is no turning back once you taste the flavor emanating from this smoker.
Traeger Junior Elite
Traeger is more than just a pioneer. This brand created an entire genre of grilling with wood pellet smokers. With the Junior Elite wood pellet grill, Traeger has taken both sophistication and innovation one step further. This diminutive unit is one of the most portable and affordable units that the brand has ever manufactured.
The Traeger Junior Elite is just what you need to celebrate your favorite team’s victories. There is nothing quite like the joy of a tailgate party after a fantastic victory. This unit is the perfect package for tailgaters. Best of all, it is reasonably priced. It is equipped with all the features that you will ever need to throw a fun-filled tailgate party.
Equipped with 292 square inches of cooking space and digital control, the Traeger Junior Elite is a fine choice for budget-conscious grilling enthusiasts.
Since this is a purpose-built tailgating unit, you shouldn’t be surprised that it is lightning quick to set up. You can get the grill up and running in just half an hour with no help.
Since this is an entry-level product, there are 9 different levels that you can choose for cooking temperature. This means that the temperature increments are less than 40 degrees. Although you won’t be able to key in precise temperatures, you can still cook great barbecue. A small sacrifice in temperature setting allows big savings in investments.
You may not even need such a high level of temperature control for tailgating events. If you are fine with this, then the Traeger is a compact, portable and affordable pellet grill for your tailgating parties.
Traeger Pro 780 Wi-Fi Controlled Wood Pellet Grill
With the myriad high-tech features of the Traeger Pro 780, pellet smoke grilling is now accessible even to complete beginners. What was once regarded as the exclusive domain of the most seasoned grilled chefs is now open to the masses.
It is hard to imagine how anyone can go wrong with such sophisticated functions. Thanks to an intuitive app, reliable Wi-Fi, extensive recipe database, tight temperature control, timely temperature alerts and a host of other features, the Traeger Pro 780 has got you covered from all sides. You will soon start making restaurant-grade smoked recipes that will make you the envy of your neighborhood.
Using the app, you can select from hundreds of tried and tested gourmet recipes. They are easy to follow due to the clear and simple instructions. You can even download these recipes on your smartphone and make a list of items that you would like to try out and perfect for your next barbecue party.
The control panel is easy to use. You can set the temperature in increments of five using the temperature dial. The electronic ignition is dependable and makes the grill ready for cooking in just over 10 minutes.
You can set both the temperature probe and thermometer with your app to receive timely notifications on your smartphone once the target temperature is achieved.
Although it may not be a completely hands-off unit, the Traeger Pro 780 is the next best thing for care-free pellet smoking.
Yoder Smokers Kingman
With the Kingman, you might very well be looking at the kingpin of competition-grade smokers. The Kingman pellet smoker can help you to prepare gastronomic smoke-flavored delights fit for a king. This is a serious grilling machine for the most zealous pitmasters. This smoker model holds great attraction not just for experienced professionals, but also avid backyard chefs looking to take their barbecue skills to the next level.
The capacious 2,200-square inches of cooking real estate is enough to easily prepare sufficient food for scores of people in one go. Whether you choose to smoke or grill, you can expect nothing short of the very best results from the Kingman, thanks to its exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous attention to detail.
Exactly how much can this cavernous smoker manage in one session? Hold your breath. This mean machine can handle 22 whole chickens, 32 spare ribs, 100 kg beef shoulder or 100 burgers in one cooking session. You can easily cook enough food for a hundred people in one go. This relentless grill is certainly not for the faint of heart.
The main chamber has two cooking grates and is located at the center while slide-out shelves are also available to give you more space when necessary. The huge offset firebox generates massive quantities of heated air that pervades the main cooking chamber. The firebox, main chamber and interior are designed so that it is easy for you to maintain temperature control over this massive machine.
The Leviathan machine measures over six feet long and weighs in at an unbelievable 900 pounds. This heavy-duty platform is suitable for those who like to cook delectable smoky-flavored meals for large crowds. It is, therefore, the ideal choice for catering businesses and restaurants. It is also well-suited for skilled grillmasters who like to elicit admiration from friends and family.
With some practice, you will be able to soon cook succulent smoked meats that taste as good if not better than any Texas barbecue. You can even dabble in different combinations of hardwood types to create your own unique smoke and distinguish yourself as an accomplished pitmaster.
The construction quality and material is so robust that it can last a lifetime and may very well outlast you.
Yoder Smokers Stockton
With the Stockton, you can move far beyond just simple grilling and embrace the art of slow smoking and roasting for exquisite and authentic taste. The Stockton is engineered to indirectly draw smoke and heat into the cooking chamber. This indirect approach is the secret behind luscious, succulent and irresistible meat infused with a rich smoky taste.
Whether you are feeding relatives or hosting a big barbecue party, you can count on the Stockton to rise to the occasion. This gargantuan smoker makes it possible to prepare delicious smoky-flavored meals in large quantities.
There is absolutely no room for complaints concerning the heavy gauge steel construction. The powder coating imparts a high aesthetic appeal and powerful corrosion-resistance. All parts feel solid and rigid. The smoker looks and feels like a competition-level grilling platform.
The dependable electronic ignition can heat up wood pellets quickly so that they start smoldering in just a few seconds. The grill is engineered to facilitate even distribution of heat and smoke for consistently good flavor and texture.
You can cook in 3 different ways using this offset smoker. You can grill directly using good old fashioned charcoal briquettes. Unlike other pellet grills, you can light up a charcoal fire underneath the grilling grates to cook food directly over coals. You can also add a charcoal grate to easily switch the pellet smoker to a direct grill.
You can also grill indirectly at midrange temperatures and smoke food at relatively low temperatures. With the Stockton pellet grill smoker, you have a wealth of options for barbecuing that includes both direct and indirect cooking methods.
The heat control plate is engineered to reduce the temperature variance between the two opposite sides of the cooking chamber by distributing heat uniformly. The results are so good that the most seasoned grill chefs consider this smoker to be the best they ever had. Thanks to the unmatched lifetime guarantee, the Stockton is a smoking hot favorite with barbecue competition teams, caterers, restaurants and backyard chefs.
These smokers have been handcrafted to perfection with great attention to detail for superior construction quality. These grills come out straight from the heart of the barbecue state, Kansas.
Yoder Smokers Wichita
With its chimney stack, caster wheels and heavy-duty cylindrical body, the Wichita looks more like a formidable locomotive than a pellet smoker.
While it won’t be transporting goods, it certainly will churn out the tastiest barbecue imbued with authentic pellet smoke flavor. With its massive steel wheels and huge firebox, the Wichita is an imposing sight to behold.
The product’s strong construction details not only ensure long service life, it also ensures great cooking quality. Thanks to the efficient sealing and heavy gauge steel sheets, the smoker won’t leak smoke and heat to the surroundings. which makes the temperature difficult to control. The body has been designed for even distribution of heat and smoke to the entire cooking surface.
For cooking, you will have an immense playing field of 1600-square inches to roast just about any quantity of food that you like.
This heavy-barrel smoker has some of the best Yoder options. A well-positioned counterweight assists in lifting the heavy lid. There is a slide-out shelf at the side for extra space. The pot warmer is installed on the firebox for heating beans and other items. There is also a heat control plate to change up your cooking style.
Horizontal offset smokers are favored by award-winning grill chefs and professionals on account of their desirable thermal characteristics and superb grilling quality. Once you master this offset horizontal smoker, you will soon start making a competition-grade barbecue and earn the admiration of friends and family alike.
Yoder may not have invented the pellet grill, but it sure did perfect it.
Who Wins?
This is definitely a tough question to answer. The truth is that both brands have such a star-studded lineup that deciding the absolute winner is a daunting undertaking.
However, we will go with Traeger. The reason why we have granted our seal of approval to Traeger is that these grills are the most suitable for the vast majority of grilling aficionados.
This is not to say that Yoder lacks in terms of performance. In fact, it is quite the contrary. Truth be told, the Yoder is so awesome that it is unquestionably the premier option for serious competitors, veteran grill chefs and barbecue pros. The hefty price tag of Yoder products also matches the superior quality of these premium grilling modes. Most people will probably never use the Yoder at a level and to the extent that justifies its purchase.
The bottom line is that you should go for Yoder only if you are a diehard grilling connoisseur who is dead serious about making the best barbecue in vast quantities. It is an elite brand for the most ardent grilling enthusiasts. If you belong to this category, then go ahead and get yourself a Yoder. But if you find yourself to be like most people who will be barbecuing on just weekends and parties, then Traeger is your best bet.