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Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker – 6 In-Depth Review for The Best Pellet Smoker

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The lowdown on Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker….

This is a compact tabletop grill that will easily…

…fit into any kitchen or garage.

It’s intended to act as an all-in-one cooking system for grilling meats…

…vegetables, fish, desserts, breads, and other foods…

…as well as a smoker for smoking meat or vegetables.

The unit features two burners, each of which may be adjusted…

…from low to high heat. In case you’re looking for the best pellet smoker?

We have some recommendation for you…

Before we continue, let’s hear what our friend’s think…

,,,about Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker.

This is what Tiffanny think…

I adore smoked meat, so having a smoker is a must for me…

I have a variety of smokers ranging from charcoal to electric to pellet…

One day, I came across this intriguing portable pellet smoker…

called the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker.

As someone who has seen many different designs of pellet combustion…

systems over the years, I was intrigued by the idea of a very small/micro-sized…

pellet grill and wondered where all the components would fit.

However, the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker turned out…

to be perfectly functional, and I am really pleased with it!

While out and about in your RV etc is a great use for either the Scout or Ranger pellet grills they could also be used to improve an outdoor experience. For instance, say you enjoy fishing or hunting. Being able to cook freshly caught fish or wild game with the convenience of a full-sized Traeger could really add to the enjoyment of your hobby. Therefore, I’ve included two videos below of the Traeger Ranger being used while out fishing or hunting game.

Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker review from Pelheat.com
Traeger ranger portable pellet smoker
Credit : pinterest.com

Now let’s review the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker deeper…


Features of the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker

Construction:

  • Quality powder-coated exterior
  • Easy to clean porcelain-coated grates
  • Sizeable 8 pound pellet hopper
  • Built-in, sturdy tabletop legs

Ease of use:

  • Digital Arc Controller reliably regulates the temperature for you
  • Latches secure lid for safe transportation
  • Keep warm mode
  • Wide temperature range lets you smoke, bake, roast and grill
  • Included extras:
  • Single meat probe

Keep going…


In-Depth Review of the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker

Of course, being the world’s first pellet smoker maker, Traeger had to enter the market for a smaller option. The Traeger Ranger is their top-of-the-line model of a simple-to-assemble tabletop smoker.

In the same sized box, there’s a bigger hopper and a newer controller. If you’re looking for a high-quality, high-performing tiny pellet smoker, read one to learn everything you need to know about how it works.


Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker Construction

One of the most serious flaws with portable smokes…

…is that they aren’t built to last. However, this is not the case…

…with the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker.

Its powder-coated exterior provides the strength…

…and durability required for a portable smoker’s tougher life.

t’s sturdy and long-lasting, and because everything is contained…

…within the briefcase shape, it’s easy to transport…

…and doesn’t take up a lot of storage space.

A safe environment during transit The Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker …

…will not spill out when you take up the hopper because of its clean construction….

Simply ensure that the latch is closed and you’re ready to go…

The rust-resistant porcelain-enameled grates are also quite easy to clean….

The supplied cast iron griddle is also porcelain-enameled…

…which means that while it’s ideal to clean it right away…

…it won’t rust if you decide to take it home before doing so.

The Traeger Ranger weights 60 pounds and is quite portable….

So, despite its relatively small dimensions…

…of 21 inches wide x 13 inches high x 20 inches deep…

…it’s hardly something you’ll be taking on walks.

However, it’s excellent for RVing, vehicle camping…

…tailgating, or setting up beside the car to grill up some fresh fish.

Let’s move to the next one…


Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker Capacity

The Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker, as one of the…

…most small tabletop pellet smokers available, doesn’t hold a lot of food.

Inside the package, you’ll find an 8-pound pellet hopper…

…and a single 184-square-inch cooking grate.

What can you truly fit into a space of 184 square inches?

You’ll need approximately 6 burgers, 4-6 steaks…

…1 rack of ribs (cut in half to fit), or approximately 10 sausages.

You can fit 1-2 smaller birds or even a smaller pig butt on there for larger chunks….

So, depending on what you’re preparing and how hungry everyone is…

…you’ll be able to feed a maximum of 4-6 people.

Remember that if you run out of food, you can always grill up some burgers…

…fish, or other quick-cooking items. The 8-pound pellet hopper…

…should provide you with about 8 hours of low-and-slow smoking.

The pellets will burn through faster if you cook them over high heat….

However, the Ranger’s hopper should be sufficient to eliminate…

…the need for refills (because, yes, you do need to open the lid to add more pellets).

Traeger ranger portable pellet smoker
Credit : thebarbecuestore.us

Go on!


Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker Smoking Performance

On the Traeger Ranger, the results are simply fantastic….

Nothing beats the flavor of wood-fired meat, and the pellet smoker’s design…

…keeps all of the moisture in place for exquisitely juicy, fall-apart results.

The Digital Arc Controller does an excellent job of temperature control….

It’s not a PID-based system, to be sure. As a result…

…the temperature won’t be kept as close to your target as you’d like.

However, we’ve discovered that when we smoke low and slow…

…it stays within 15-20°F of where we set it, and the effects aren’t bad!

The temperature distribution is fairly equal due to the small size of the grill….

You won’t have to worry as much about hot spots or meat placement….

Regardless, covering the outside with any vegetables or side dishes is a no-brainer….

We use the keep warm setting a lot because we never seem to be hungry…

…when the food is ready. So, if you’re like us, it’s a useful feature…

…that you’ll appreciate more once you have the grill…

…than when you’re looking for one.

Traeger ranger portable pellet smoker
Credit : wideopenspaces.com

Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker Grilling Performance

You can grill on the Traeger Ranger at a maximum temperature of 450°F….

And, while the results are stunning, we compare it to grilling…

…in an extremely hot oven. When you place a steak on the grates once…

…they have heated up adequately, you will hear a good sizzling.

You can even get a great sear mark and a hint of woody-smoky flavor from it…

It’s not the same as cooking over an open flame, though….

However, the integrated griddle plate performs admirably…

…when it comes to cooking. Not only does it hold a little more heat….

…to transfer into your food than standard grates…

…but it’s also easier to grill seafood, veggies, fry up some eggs…

…or prepare other delicate items.


Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker : Included Extras

One meat probe is provided with the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker ….

This fits directly into the control panel, allowing you…

…to check how well your meat is cooked without having…

…to open the lid or purchase a separate temperature probe.

It works well and reads fairly properly, so there are no concerns there…

You probably won’t need any additional probes because it’s a smaller…

…sort of smoker. Even if you’re cooking several chickens…

…testing the interior temperature of just one should be sufficient.

The Ranger also comes with a porcelain-coated cast iron griddle plate…

…as previously indicated. They’re a reasonably priced add-on…

…so it’s wonderful that you don’t have to purchase one individually. Ours is distinct.

More thing you need to know…


Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker Warranty

Traeger is well-known for providing excellent customer service….

They go above and above to ensure that you are satisfied with your purchase….

Moreover, while some pellet smokers have limited warranties…

…for portable units, the Ranger is covered by the company’s normal…

…three-year warranty. We think this smoker will last a long time…

…even if it doesn’t come with a warranty. However, you can rest assured…

…that any issues you encounter during that period will…

…be covered by Traeger’s exceptional support.


Cleaning the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker

Because of its small size, cleaning your Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker…

…is arguably even more vital than cleaning your full-sized, at-home grill.

But, thankfully, it’s a simple process….

Last but not least, dump the ash from the firepot to prevent…

…it from becoming clogged. The best method to do this is with a vacuum…

…and a cordless portable vacuum is the way to go while you’re on the go.

You can, however, manually clear it out. You may also use the vacuum…

…to clean your automobile or RV. Simply wait till…

…the ash has cooled before cleaning it!


What We Don’t Like About the Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker

For a portable smoker, it’s quite heavy….

Cooking capacity is limited, but it has to be in order to keep it compact…

We’re not bothered by the lack of WiFi because we’re usually close by….

However, it is worth mentioning because many individuals…

…prefer to have a wireless connection.

And, that’s it!


Sum Up

The Traeger Ranger is a great choice if you’re searching…

…for a small pellet smoker with the quality…

…and durability you need for consistent performance.

This smoker is simple to operate, performs admirably, provides a great deal…

…of flexibility in terms of what and how you cook…

…and is certainly strong enough to weather life on the road.

It’s great for family vacations, day treks to the outdoors…

…or as a permanent cooking solution in an RV or van…

…with a respectable cooking capacity for a tabletop, compact style…

…with one of the largest hoppers for its size.

There’s also no reason why a single person or couple…

…couldn’t utilize the Ranger as a fuel-efficient cooking alternative at home.


Conclusion

Will you try Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker?

If you have more question about Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker …

…or you want to share your experience after using…

…Traeger Ranger Portable Pellet Smoker, feel free to leave a comment!



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