Updated on Nov. 01, 2024
Consider this your (smoke) signal to buy a pellet grill! In our testing, the Traeger Ironwood XL delivered meatloaf, pork shoulder and chicken tenders with mouthwatering results.
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Traeger launched its first pellet grill in 1987. And while every model has delivered convenience and wood-fired flavor, the brand continues to innovate. With each passing year, Traeger grills get better. Take the Traeger Ironwood XL, for example. This is a serious pellet grill for pros and outdoor cooking enthusiasts. It packs a punch with plenty of space to make a multi-course meal or try your hand at cooking big-batch briskets and pork shoulders.
Our Product Testing Team, led by grilling expert Catherine Ward, put it to the test along with three other Traegers and seven models from brands like Recteq, Yoder, Weber and Pit Boss. As an outdoor cooking enthusiast myself, I have also tested the Traeger Ironwood XL firsthand. Here’s everything we learned about this powerhouse of a pellet grill throughout our testing.
As the name implies, the Traeger Ironwood XL is one of the largest grills in the Traeger lineup. With 924 square inches of cooking space, you can cook a serious meal on this pellet grill. The exterior is made from durable, powder-coated steel with four locking wheels. It features a side prep shelf along with a storage shelf underneath. Inside, there are two levels of porcelain grill grates so you can easily move food around. Everything is fueled by wood pellets, which provide indirect heat cooking.
The grill is controlled by a touchscreen and control knob, with a temperature range of 165 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Its WiFi capabilities and Traeger app connectivity allow you to control the grill from anywhere, whether you want to monitor the temperature or check how many pellets you have left. You can even shut down the grill from the app. For cleanup, the Ironwood is designed with a removable grease and ash keg for easy dumping.
VIA MERCHANT
The Traeger Ironwood XL includes tools and accessories typical of many quality grills, such as a grilling light, adjustable porcelain grates, storage shelves, a work surface and full insulation. But its offerings don’t stop there; in fact, they only get more high tech.
Many of us are rightfully a little skeptical of touchscreens, especially on outdoor appliances. Who hasn’t wrestled with a particularly insensitive one? Thankfully, the sizable, full-color digital display included on the Traeger Ironwood XL works beautifully and is super intuitive to use. We love that it continuously displays the interior temperature of the grill. However, because of the touchscreen, the grill requires an outlet, so make sure you have outdoor power before splurging.
Yes, the Ironwood XL connects to the internet—a feature the Traeger team cleverly calls “WiFire Connectivity.” Users can link their phone and grill through an app, where they’re able to adjust the smoker’s internal temperature and gauge food’s doneness.
The hardwood pellets go into a hopper on the right side of the grill, where they burn and produce the necessary smoke. The pellet sensor notifies the user when the grill is low on pellets and needs to be refilled, so you’ll never run out of fuel mid-smoke.
The Super Smoke mode works under 225 degrees, allowing the meat to cook lower and slower—and smokier. This function introduces a heavier concentration of smoke, imparting the desired smoky flavor to the highest degree and ultimately providing a better bark (i.e., the crust of black char on the outside of the meat).
We’re big into meat thermometers at Taste of Home HQ. The Traeger Ironwood XL comes with two probes, which come in handy if you’re making two types of meat at once. We put our full faith in these Traeger probes, and their readings were quick and seemingly accurate.
The built-in grease and ash bucket successfully collects the dregs from each smoking session, making for easy cleanup. You shouldn’t have to do this often, either. After smoking seven types of meat, grease only filled about a quarter of the bucket.
We’ve been testing the Traeger Ironwood XL in our Milwaukee office since July 2023. We formally re-tested it in July 2024, along with 10 other pellet grill models.
The first step in testing the Traeger Ironwood XL was assembling the pellet grill. Weighing 199 pounds, it arrived on a wood pallet. The instruction manual was easy to follow with plenty of helpful tips. The assembly pack included an Allen wrench and screwdriver, but we suggest using your own if you have them—the Traeger tools are a bit flimsy. Many small parts and several steps make the assembly process quite time intensive, but the results are worth the effort.
Once assembled, it’s simple to fill the hopper on the right side with a full 20-pound bag of wood pellets, flip the power switch, ignite and get cooking.
We performed four cooking tests on the Traeger Ironwood XL. First up was one of the most popular meats to cook on a smoker: pork shoulder. This cut gets incredibly tender after hours of low-and-slow cooking time. We processed a pork shoulder at 275 degrees Fahrenheit for nine hours, which resulted in a beautiful red smoke ring. Since it was wrapped in foil partway through the cooking process to keep it from drying out, the smoky flavor was minimal.
We also brined and smoked salmon at 190 degrees Fahrenheit for about two hours. The grill put out a lot of smoke during this test at the low temperature, resulting in salmon that was very moist and had a nice smoky flavor and beautiful finish. We then grilled shucked corn on the cob with herb butter, which ended up with a subtle smoky taste after 45 minutes of cooking. Three chicken breasts were smoked at 225 degrees Fahrenheit for one and a half hours, resulting in moist chicken with a bit of bark on the bottom and a very smoky flavor. Finally, we tried out the grill at the highest temperature, searing pork chops at 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Throughout this test, the temperature fluctuated a bit, losing some heat. After two and a half minutes, the pork chops had some nice color, and the final cooked meat was pretty moist.
Throughout the testing and cooking process, the team loved the courtesy lights on the unit, making it easier to see food. The large cooking area was also quite handy. The touchscreen menu on the grill walks you through your cooking process, and you can connect the grill to the app, which will show you how much cooking time is left based on your wood pellet levels and allow you to shut down the grill remotely. It also has a timer and temperature control. Overall, it proved to be consistent with even heat throughout the cooking process.
The grill cools down quickly, so you can get right to cleaning. No special cleaning liquids or implements come with the smoker, but Traeger sells its own branded cleaner separately. However, we found any ol’ soap will do the trick.
We lifted the racks out of the smoker and soaked them in the sink with hot, soapy water. After a few minutes, a stiff grill brush was able to remove the stuck-on bits with ease. Cleaning the liner (the base of the interior of the smoker) was a bit trickier. There are no disposable drip trays compatible with the Ironwood XL, which would’ve made cleanup a cinch. As such, it took a bit of elbow grease to remove all the splatters and food particles. Afterward, the liner had a bronze tint to it, which doesn’t bother me, but it certainly didn’t look brand new, even after just a few uses.
As stated above, the grease and ash bucket does a great job collecting waste. The foil bucket liner needn’t be changed after each use, but keep an eye on it, and toss it in the trash when it’s full.
First up, make sure the Traeger Ironwood XL is connected to power. Flip the power switch, and then turn the control knob. Once the display reads the desired temperature, press and hold the control knob to ignite and allow the grill to preheat to your desired cooking temperature.
It’s important to clean your Traeger grill to keep it in tip-top shape. Grease collects in the ash and grease keg underneath the grill, which you can easily dump out when full. The grill grates and interior of the grill chamber should be kept clean and free of grease, as well. Traeger’s grill cleaner is the ultimate Traeger accessory, making cleanup that much easier. You can also choose to use dish soap.
A 20-pound bag of wood pellets can last for up to 20 hours of cook time, depending on the temperature of the grill and how often you use it. In short, you should be able to get in a handful of lengthy smoking seshes before the hopper needs refilling. (This is why the pellet sensor is so handy!)
If the weather is dry, you can leave pellets in your Traeger overnight and even for a few days. For wet weather or more extended periods of time, remove the pellets from the hopper and store them in an airtight container.
The grandeur of the Traeger Ironwood XL is not all smoke (and mirrors), and other satisfied customers say so too.
Reviewer Nick F. was new to the hobby before purchasing his smoker. In fact, he’d never even used one. No big deal! “In the few weeks since I received and began using my Traeger Ironwood XL, I have successfully smoked chickens, ribs and, of course, brisket,” he says. “This grill has so many features that with a little practice, you can produce expert results. I love it.”
AJ L., on the other hand, is an experienced smoker but still equally impressed: “It has the most smoky flavor that I’ve had to date off a pellet grill, even without the use of Super Smoke. I’ve had the Ironwood XL for a couple of months now, and I use it two to three times a week.”
Beyond its actual smoking capabilities, other users were most excited about the technology of it all. “I just got this last Tuesday,” Andy U. says. “Let’s just say it’s a work of art. The technology is awesome! I had one question and went to Traeger Chat, and within five minutes, my problem was resolved.”
The Taste of Home Product Testing Team tested the Traeger Ironwood XL, along with other Traeger grill models, with grilling expert Catherine Ward taking the lead. This test looked at Pit Boss vs. Traeger and RecTeq vs. Traeger and evaluated the differences between pellet vs. gas grills and pellet vs. charcoal grills. The pellet grills were thoroughly evaluated for ease of assembly, cooking performance, design, special features and ease of cleaning.
I am a writer specializing in food and lifestyle, with a specific passion for outdoor cooking and grilling. While I love to keep my eye on the latest food trends and kitchen gadgets, I focus on established products so I can recommend items that are worth the investment and will last, including pizza ovens, fire pits, grills and smokers. The Traeger Ironwood XL is also a grill I have tested personally in my own backyard.
If you’re serious about smoking, don’t be put off by the imposing footprint. The Ironwood XL creates shockingly little mess, so it can go on a patio, deck or even grass. If you want this stunner, you’ll find the space for it! As for those just starting out with this smoky pastime, the Traeger Ironwood XL is great for you, too, albeit a splurge. It’s intuitive and multi-functional, and it doesn’t require what I like to call “babysitting.”
The generously sized cooking surfaces accommodate all personal and entertaining needs. That trademark smoky flavor is one of our all-time favorite things, and the Traeger Ironwood XL is a surefire way to savor it.
VIA MERCHANT
Time to start smoking, cooking and baking on a pellet grill? The Traeger Ironwood XL can be found on Ace Hardware for $2,000. The pellet grill is also available at The Home Depot, BBQ Guys and Amazon.
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