My Brutal 4-Week Test: Is the Traeger Ironwood XL Pellet Grill Still King in 2026?

The massive backyard smoker that promises set-and-forget brisket—but does it actually deliver on the smoke ring?

If you want the short version: buy the Traeger Ironwood XL pellet grill if you value sleep and tech over the "purist" ritual of tending a stick burner.

On a low-and-slow smoke 225°F, I found a 20lb bag lasts about 15-18 hours. If you’re cranking it up to 450°F for wings or pizza, you’ll burn through that same bag in 4 or 5 hours easily.

You can, but it’s not its "superpower." I usually let it hit 500°F and use a cast-iron skillet inside to get a better crust, otherwise, the meat tends to bake more than sear.

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The massive backyard smoker that promises setandforget brisket—but does it actually deliver on the smoke ring? I spent the last month living in my backyard with the Traeger Ironwoo…