{"id":7540,"date":"2022-11-08T15:41:51","date_gmt":"2022-11-08T15:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/?p=7540"},"modified":"2023-08-25T07:12:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T07:12:16","slug":"traeger-vs-louisiana-grills","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmastercentral.com\/traeger-vs-louisiana-grills\/","title":{"rendered":"Traeger vs Louisiana Grills: Which Should I Choose?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Louisiana and Traeger pellet grills are up your list of preferences but you don’t know the difference between them? If you want a top-quality and durable grill<\/a><\/strong> that lasts years, go for a Traeger pellet grill<\/strong> since they’ve been in the business for a long time. Also, if you’re tight on budget and want a more affordable grill, a Traeger will be your best choice as there are a wide variety of options. However, Louisiana grills are more versatile<\/strong> and have more precise temperature control<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I own a Traeger grill and I recently used it to smoke chicken breasts in a recipe I shared here<\/a>. So I know its limitations and strengths. However, I recently took delivery of a Louisiana grill to have a first-hand feel of the grill. So, in this article, I’ll compare and contrast the two machines.<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Traeger<\/figure>\n\n\n

Traeger vs Louisiana Grills: What Are the Differences?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the key differences between Louisiana and Traeger grills are their cooking racks. The Traeger Grills Pro Series range<\/strong> has wire racks<\/strong> built with porcelain-coated steel<\/strong>. Meanwhile, Louisiana Grills,<\/strong> especially the Louisiana Grills Black Label line, have porcelain-coated cooking grates made of cast iron<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a Louisiana Grills vs Traeger side-by-side comparison:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n
\n\n \n
\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Preview <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n Louisiana 61100 LG 1100 Pellet Grill<\/span>
\"Louisiana<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill<\/span>
\"Traeger<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Model <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Louisiana 61100 LG 1100 Pellet Grill<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking surface <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Large<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Sufficient<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Price <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
$999 (best selling)<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
$999 (best selling)<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking temperature <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Up to 600 degrees<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Up to 450 degrees<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Pellets <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Burn hotter and cleaner<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Burn faster<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Ignition system <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Meat probes <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Single probes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Two probes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Storage shelf <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
No<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n The racks <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Porcelain coated steel rack<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Porcelain coated cast iron grate<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n
\n
Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n \n \n
\n
Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n\n \n
\n\n Louisiana 61100 LG 1100 Pellet Grill<\/span>\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Preview <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
\"Louisiana<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Model <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Louisiana 61100 LG 1100 Pellet Grill<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking surface <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Large<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Price <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
$999 (best selling)<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking temperature <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Up to 600 degrees<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Pellets <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Burn hotter and cleaner<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Ignition system <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Meat probes <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Single probes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Storage shelf <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n The racks <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Porcelain coated steel rack<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n\n Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill<\/span>\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Preview <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
\"Traeger<\/span><\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Model <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Traeger Pro Series 780 Wood Pellet Grill<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking surface <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Sufficient<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Price <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
$999 (best selling)<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Cooking temperature <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Up to 450 degrees<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Pellets <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Burn faster<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Ignition system <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Yes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Meat probes <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Two probes<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n Storage shelf <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
No<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n The racks <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Porcelain coated cast iron grate<\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n \n
\n\n
\n <\/div>\n\n \n
\n
Buy on Amazon<\/a><\/div> <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Louisiana Grills vs Traeger Grills: Comparing the Best-selling Models<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I’ll continue this Louisiana Grills vs Traeger Grills comparison by comparing the best-selling product of each brand. That is, the Traeger ProSeries<\/strong> (there are four of them) and then the Louisiana LG 1100 smoker<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Traeger side of the comparison, I’ll pick the Traeger Grills Pro Series 780 model<\/a> as the best value pick in terms of popularity with users and cost. Later, we’ll do individual reviews of the best flagship products from these two fantastic brands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Price <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I’m going to start with the price. They’re both under $1000 grills<\/strong> so they’re in the same price range. That’s not really going to be an issue between the two should you be wary of your budget. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grill Size  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Talking about the actual size, the barrel size on the Traeger grill is 36 inches<\/strong>. On the Louisiana 1100 at the same price point, you’re going to have 38 inches<\/strong>. So you get two extra inches on the Louisiana Grills vs Traeger option. On the other hand, Traeger Grills are portable pellet grill models.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hopper Design<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They both have hoppers on the side. They both use a very similar digital display<\/strong> so both of their computer programs run pretty similarly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still on the hoppers, what I do like about the Traeger grill is you’re going to get a hopper that allows you to take your pellets out from the back. So, that way, if you want to change flavors or if you’re done cooking meat for the day, you can go ahead and clean your hopper. That is not an option on the Louisiana grill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cooking Temperature <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On the Louisiana grill, you can get higher<\/strong> temperatures<\/strong> up to 600 degrees<\/strong>, hence better grilling performance. So it’s the ideal pellet grill if you want to cook something at a much higher temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Traeger grill, on the other hand, can only get to 500 degrees<\/strong>. It is designed strictly as a smoker. You have your smoker tray or your smoker shield above and then your smokes are going to bevel around. It has no option to cook at a higher temperature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So if you’re a purist that wants to strictly smoke, the Traeger might be a good option. But if you want the option to cook at a higher temperature with direct heat, the Louisiana grill definitely gives you that option. <\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Louisiana<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The Burn Pot<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I also like about the Traeger grill is that your burn pot<\/strong> is in the center<\/strong> of the grill. So, your auger motor is going to feed your pellets down to the middle of the grill. And that’s going to allow for more even heat distribution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the things I wasn’t crazy about on the Louisiana grill is the design of the burn pot. It is right on the edge. So, especially with the bigger barrel, you’re going to have a hotter left side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, the temperature distribution throughout the barrel is not going to be quite as even on the Louisiana versus the Traeger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nice thing is that, because the burn pot is closer to the auger, the pellets drop with gravity<\/strong>. So you have less chance of the pellets clogging as gravity drops the pellets right down into the burn pot. Whereas, in the Traeger, they have to feed over horizontally. So, over time, you could have more clogging issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meat Probes <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Both have a meat probe<\/strong> as well, which means you can put your meat probe in your meat and set your desired temperature and the smoker will automatically shut itself down when the meat reaches your desired temperature. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is unique about the Traeger<\/strong> though, is that you’re going to get two different meat probes.<\/strong> So, you can set it to two different settings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the nice features of the Louisiana grill is that you will get a bottom storage shelf. You will have no storage shelf on the Traeger but you can add a bottom shelf if you want on the Traeger. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Review of Louisiana Pellet Grills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When barbecue manufacturers market their products, they only use superlatives in the best PR language. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, is it just hot air or is there some truth to the full-bodied promises? I subjected the new premium line from Lousiana Grills to an intensive practical test. How is the processing and what can the wood pellet grills really do in everyday grilling? These are exciting questions to which I will try to provide answers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Brand, Louisiana Grills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone spends their free time differently. Some people are involved in a sports club. Others like to go fishing and still others restore vintage cars with painstaking detail work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When Dan Thiessen wanted a hobby to work on with his sons, he didn’t take them on a leisure trip. He started a company, which he aptly named Dansons<\/a>. That was in 1999 and a lot has happened since then. The core business is now based on two internationally renowned grill brands: Louisiana Grills and Pit Boss<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For both brands, the company has launched more than 75 different grills<\/strong>, with Dansons reporting annual growth of 100 to 300 percent. Business seems to be booming, but why is that?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Louisiana Grills’ corporate website<\/a> states that they are a leading manufacturer of value-oriented<\/strong>, technologically innovative<\/strong> grills. They cover the entire spectrum from pellet grills and gas grills to classic charcoal grills and combi grills (which combine gas with charcoal). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pretty big words, but they’re backed by the fact that Louisiana Grills are available nationwide and in other parts of the world from leading retailers and direct sellers. So the demand is there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2020, Louisiana Grills launched a new premium line of pellet grills. Reason enough to examine the truthfulness of Louisiana Grills’ PR language and to subject the pellet grills of the new premium line to a major review!<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"Father<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Reviewing the Louisiana Flagship Pellet Grill <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I choose the Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy grill<\/a>, the flagship of the new premium line, as a test object. First, you have to note that, like Traeger Grills, Louisiana doesn’t do much of its marketing on Amazon. So, if you’re judging by the number of sales on Amazon, you may be wrong. As you can see<\/a>, Louisiana Grills focus more on selling through its dealers located across the US. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Construction and Ease of Assembly <\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, when I took the Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy pellet grill out of its packaging and then assembled it, it was quick and easy. This was due to the easy-to-understand, multilingual assembly instructions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The first impression of the components was also convincing because they were stable and attention was paid to the decent thickness of the steel sheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction of the Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy grill was quite manageable because only the substructure (i.e. the base with the four castors) had to be screwed to the actual pellet grill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to quality, it quickly becomes clear that the Louisiana Grill does meet<\/strong> the US quality standards<\/strong> from top competitors like Weber, Traeger Grills, and even other top Louisiana grills, for example. After assembly, the Louisiana Grills 1200 was very stable and cut an impressive figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The downside is the large advertising stickers that have been placed on the Louisiana grill. When cold, these are difficult to remove. However, as soon as they have been heated with a hair dryer, they can be removed without leaving any residue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Operation and Temperature Control<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Each grill must be burned in before it’s used for the first time. This is easy with the Louisiana Grills 1200, as it is fired via a lateral pellet burner with a digital control panel<\/strong>. The temperature control panel is clearly laid out and accepts all commands without any problems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The auto start function<\/strong> makes baking (and later also grilling) very easy. You really only have to worry about the temperature settings. The Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy can also be operated via WiFi and Bluetooth<\/strong> via an<\/strong> app<\/strong> controlled by a smartphone or tablet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The connection (via iOS) worked without any problem. However, other users reported that setting up the app control on Android was a bit tricky. In most cases, however, it helped to be persistent and simply start it several times until it finally worked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Louisiana Grills Legacy can be programmed with up to nine recipe levels<\/strong> via the digital control panel and also via the app, whereby the grilling temperature and duration can be set for each level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is particularly suitable for the Low & Slow grilling method, in which the food is stewed for some time. After all the recipe steps have been completed, the Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy automatically switches to keep-warm mode<\/strong> at around 180 degrees<\/strong>. It ensures that the food on the grill does not become dry but remains wonderfully juicy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Louisiana Grills 1200 Legacy has an automatic grill function<\/strong> and can be connected to a total of four meat thermometers<\/strong>, two of which were already included in the product package. This also works wonderfully in practice, so your meat can be grilled to the desired cooking point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n