Traeger Smoke Settings Explained - How To Set Up And Use

Traeger pellet grills are an easy way to cook food and add that highly sought-after smoky flavor.As any Traeger owner knows, one of the best features of this type of smoker is controlling the level of smoke produced. This is done by regulating the wood pellets burned in the firepot.

Read on to learn more about what Traeger Smoke Mode is,  how To Use Traeger Smoke Setting, and more.

What is Exactly The “Smoke Setting” On Traeger?

Generally, the smoke setting on Traeger pellet grills is intended to start the grill by igniting the pellets. At the smoke setting, the temperature of the Traeger grill is not properly regulated like the other temperature options. The temperature at the smoke setting hovers around 160 to 180 Fahrenheit. This is because the on/off cycle of the auger oscillates between 15 and 65 seconds, which is determined by the factory pre-set.
When cooking or smoking food on the “smoke” setting, make sure to adjust the p-setting so that the Traeger is maintaining the appropriate temperature. The p-setting will control how long the pellet grill pauses before turning the auger back on.

How To Use Traeger Smoke Setting

Using the Traeger Smoke Setting is a piece of cake. Everyone can use this setting as it’s the first method to turn on your pellet grill. Follow the below steps to learn the way of using the Smoke Setting:

• Ensure the door is open. Then, turn the power switch on to run your Traeger grill. Next, set the Temperature/Dial to Smoke.
• Wait approximately 2 minutes. After that period, you can see whitish-gray smoke is coming out of your Traeger as the wood pellets ignite. 
• Once you check the pellets have ignited, shut the door and set the temperature dial to your desired cooking temperature. 

How To Adjust Traeger Smoke Setting/P-Setting

Traeger pellet grills have a p-setting or pause setting that controls how long the pellet grill will pause or wait before turning the auger back on.
The higher the P number will be, the cooler your Traeger will run. And the lower the P number will be, the hotter your pellet grill will run. 
Here are the times associated with each p-setting:

Generally, the p-setting should be set to a higher number (P-2 to P-4) during summer and a lower number (P-0 to P-2) during winter.
If the pellet grill is on Smoke but the temperatures are above 200°F then increase the p-setting so that the auger pauses longer before feeding in more pellets.
Note: The Traeger Service Department suggests you use a setting no higher than P-4. You should monitor the temperature on the Readout if you make a smoke adjustment. 

So, when should you use the smoke setting on your Traeger?

Generally speaking, you will want to use the smoke setting whenever you are cooking at a lower temperature. This is because smoking meat at lower temperatures can result in a more intense flavor. Such as jerky or smoked cheese, or other cold smoked foods on the Smoke setting itself.
In addition, the smoke setting can also be used to help keep food warm after it has been cooked. This is especially handy if you serve food to a large group and need to keep it warm for an extended period.

Differences Between the Smoke Setting and the 180 Degree Setting on a Traeger

• The Smoke setting is used to start up the grill and will produce thicker white smoke that is not ideal for flavoring food.
• The 180 Degree setting is recommended for very low and slow cooking or for HOLDING your finished meat at a food safe temperature. Many BBQ enthusiasts target the prized 200-225° F range for large fatty cuts of meat like brisket, pork butt, and ribs that need to be broken down and brought up to temperature very slowly.
• The Smoke setting lets you technically run the grill at a lower temperature of 150°F for cold smoking foods like cheese, fish, or jerky.

Conclusion

Virtually all Traegers produce smoke at all temperature settings, whether you select the smoke setting or set the temperature to 180°F or 225°F, the Traeger will produce heat and smoke.
There is no doubt that smoking food can add some of the best flavours to your meals. Which one is better on your Traeger is up to you. We hope this information will help you decide when to grill and when to smoke.