Traeger Pro 780 TFB78GLE Pellet Grill Review
Traeger is one of the most commanding names in the wood pellet grill industry. Some of its most loyal customers will note that when most people hear the word “Wood Pellet Grill” that the first thing they think of is Traeger. Though since rising to prominence, there have been more than a handful of contenders who have been doing their very best to take the throne of the Wood Pellet Grill King away from them.
Not to be outdone, Traeger has doubled down on making impressive, high-quality upgrades throughout their line of wood pellet grills. This is especially true with the large Traeger Pro 780 with its barrel-chested primary cooking chamber and a rich array of mechanical upgrades, that once again puts them at the top of this suddenly crowded grill niche.
The top two innovations that really help set the Traeger Pro 780 apart from the competitors is the powerful D2 auger that smoothly delivers the wood pellets from the hopper to the firepot, and the WiFire integrated monitoring technology.
The WiFire app itself truly stands out from the crowd. It has an intuitive interface, cooking tips, and the ability to monitor as well as control the internal temperature of the primary cooking chamber. It’s especially nice for those times when you don’t want to be chained to a fickle smoker. You can mingle in the crowd to entertain guests, work in the kitchen to make side dishes, or even run to the store to pick up something you forgot.
The 780 square inches of cooking space in the primary chamber is not to be overlooked! This is an immense amount of room to cook for not only a family or four, but it can make you the place to be for hosting the next family reunion.
The cart base that hosts this monster is made from heavy-duty, thick gauge steel and has a pair of locking casters on two feet and two smooth wheels on the other two feet.
Construction & Ease of Assembly
As you’d expect with Traeger, there is a lot to love in the heavy-duty build quality and engineering of the Traeger Pro 780. Though the D2 drive train is a truly impressive feat of grill engineering. It smoothly delivers the wood pellets from the hopper to the fire pot with superior consistency and less risk of accidental, stubborn jams.
Though, if there is a complaint to be made about the construction and engineering, it’s the wheels of the cart base. The casters are a little too small for a grill this big, and the two wheels have an almost perfectly smooth texture that makes it nearly impossible to roll this 146-pound wood pellet grill across uneven terrain. Though this is a non-factor if you intend to put the Traeger Pro 780 together in one spot and let it live there for years on end.
When it comes to assembly, this wood pellet grill tips the scales at 146-pounds. So, you absolutely will need one if not two friends to help you put it together. Like a lot of wood pellet grills, the Traeger Pro 780 is also a little complicated to put together. Though Traeger did their level best to make the instructions easy to read, and assembly is truly intuitive.
Grilling Performance
Once you master the functionality of the Traeger WiFire app, you will wonder how you ever lived without it. It is engineered to be more intuitive than competitor monitoring apps, though it might take a little while to get a feel for setting up the alerts. Once you do, you can really take the Traeger Pro 780 though it’s versatile ability to smoke and grill just about anything. It’s also a nice touch that the WiFire app is also Alexa enabled and will work seamlessly with other “Smart Home” innovations.
The temperature range of the Traeger Pro 780 can go as low as 180-degrees, which is low enough to let you play with so-called “Cold Smoking” techniques. You can truly smoke shellfish, salmon fillets, and fresh sausages. Though it might not be the perfect option for cold smoking bacon or hard cheeses.
On the other end of the spectrum, the Traeger Pro 780 can get as hot as 450-degrees. This is just enough to bake a wood-fired, fresh dough pizza or mark a steak. Though it would be nice if it could push all the way up to 500+ degrees like some of the direct competitors.
Grilling Areas
The Traeger Pro 780 offers an impressive 780 square inches of cooking space inside the cavernous primary cooking chamber.
Special Features
The WiFire app is compatible with both Android and IOS smartphones. It lets you monitor both the temperature of the meat being cooked, as well as its relationship to the temperature of the smoke.
The D2 drive train auger delivers a smooth flow of wood pellets from the hopper to the firepot. This is great for temperature control, as well as preventing frustrating jams.
Ease to Clean
Like the bulk of Traeger’s line, the Traeger Pro 780 was engineered to be easy to clean. The grates scrape down in an instant, and the interior contours of the lower smoking chamber do a good job of diverting drippings into the grease management system.
Warranty
The Traeger Pro 780 comes with a three-year warranty. This is a little sparse compared to some of the direct competitors who offer 5-year warranty coverage for similar models.
Conclusion
The Traeger Pro 780 is a well-engineered, wood pellet grill with impressive build quality and innovations. You will surely appreciate the D2 drive train of the auger and the WiFire app. Though it’s not a great option if you need to wheel the grill across a small deck with uneven deck boards, and perhaps not the best option for high heat cooking methods over 450-degrees.
