What is what to do when traeger runs out of pellets?

Okay, here's what to do if your Traeger grill runs out of pellets:

What to Do When Your Traeger Runs Out of Pellets

Running out of pellets mid-cook on your Traeger can be frustrating, but it's usually recoverable. Here's a step-by-step guide:

  1. Don't Panic! Quickly assess how long the grill has been without fuel and how far along your cook is. Short interruptions are often manageable.

  2. Turn Off the Grill: Immediately turn off the grill using the proper shutdown procedure. This usually involves setting the temperature to "Shutdown Cycle" or a similar setting. This is important to ensure residual pellets burn off and to prevent a potential fire hazard during the restart.

  3. Refill the Hopper: Open the pellet hopper and fill it with your desired wood pellets. Make sure you use the correct type of pellets for your grill.

  4. Prime the Auger (If Necessary): Traeger grills have an auger which feeds pellets from the hopper to the fire pot. When the grill runs out of pellets, the auger needs to be primed. On some models, you might need to press a "Prime" button. Otherwise, you may need to select the "Initial Fire Up" sequence in the menu. This pushes pellets from the hopper through the auger to the fire pot.

    • Important: Follow your Traeger's specific instructions for priming, as methods may vary by model. Refer to your owner's manual.
  5. Restart the Grill: After priming the auger, restart the grill by following the startup procedure outlined in your Traeger's manual. This usually involves setting the desired temperature.

  6. Monitor the Temperature: Keep a close eye on the grill temperature as it comes back up to ensure it's stable. It may take a little longer to stabilize than usual.

  7. Adjust Cooking Time (If Needed): Depending on how long the grill was without pellets, you may need to adjust your cooking time to compensate. Use a reliable meat thermometer to ensure your food reaches a safe internal temperature.

Prevention is Key:

  • Regularly Check Pellet Levels: Make it a habit to check your pellet level frequently, especially during long cooks.
  • Keep Extra Pellets on Hand: Always have a spare bag of pellets available.
  • Consider a Pellet Sensor: Some aftermarket devices can monitor your pellet level and alert you when it's getting low.