Traeger Ironwood 885 vs Traeger Ironwood
vs
Quick take: The Traeger Ironwood 885 costs $400 less; the Traeger Ironwood 885 offers more cooking space (885 vs 616 sq in).
| Spec | Traeger Ironwood 885 | Traeger Ironwood |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$1,400 | ~$1,800 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (836) | 4.5★ (748) |
| Type | Pellet Grill | Pellet Grill |
| Cooking Area | 885 sq in | 616 sq in |
| Max Temp | 500°F | 500°F |
| Fuel Type | Wood Pellets | Wood Pellets |
| Build Material | Powder-Coated Steel | Dual-wall insulated powder-coated steel |
| Hopper Capacity | 20 lb | 22 lbs |
| Burners | — | — |
| WiFi / App | Yes | Yes |
| App control | Yes | Yes |
| Meat probe | Yes | Yes |
| PID controller | Yes | Yes |
| Side burner | No | No |
| Rotisserie | No | No |
| Searing | Yes | No |
| Dimensions | 54 x 47 x 27 in | 59 x 25 x 48 in |
| Weight | 175 lbs | 199 lbs |
| Warranty | 3 years | 10 years |
Pros & cons
Traeger Ironwood 885
- ✓The D2 controller holds your set temp within roughly 5-15°F once it settles, which is plenty accurate for ribs, brisket, and pork butt without babysitting
- ✓Super Smoke mode genuinely cranks up smoke output at low temps (under 225°F) and gives noticeably more bark and smoke ring than the old Pro series
- ✓The downdraft exhaust and double-sidewall insulation help it hold heat better than older Traegers, so it recovers faster when you open the lid
- ✓WiFIRE app is the most mature in the category and lets you adjust temp, set probe alarms, and monitor cooks from your phone anywhere
- ✓885 sq in over two racks easily handles two pork butts plus a couple racks of ribs, so it's a real family/party-sized cooker not just a weeknight grill
- ✓The built-in pellet sensor warns you before the hopper runs dry, which saves you from the dreaded stalled-out overnight brisket cook
- ✓TurboTemp gets it up to cooking temp in about 10-15 minutes, faster than many competing pellet grills
- ✓Cleanup is straightforward thanks to the EZ-clean grease and ash keg, and the porcelain grates wipe down easily
- ✗WiFi connectivity is the number-one owner complaint - the grill regularly drops off the network mid-cook and you have to re-pair it through the app
- ✗Like all pellet grills it tops out around 450-500°F, so you won't get a true steakhouse sear without a separate cast-iron skillet or GrillGrates
- ✗At roughly $1,400 it's expensive for powder-coated steel, and many feel Recteq or Camp Chef give you more grill for the money
- ✗Pellet consumption is on the higher side, especially in cold weather where the single-wall areas leak heat despite the marketing about insulation
- ✗Some owners report the auger jamming or the hot rod failing after a year or two, and Traeger service can be slow to ship parts
- ✗The 3-year warranty trails Recteq (6 yr) and Camp Chef, which feels stingy at this price point
- ✗Temperature swings of 20-30°F are common during the initial heat-up and after lid openings before the PID re-stabilizes
- ✗It needs 120V power and the controller electronics are a known failure point, so a true 'set it and forget it' overnight cook is a small gamble
Traeger Ironwood
- ✓Exceptional temp stability from dual-wall insulation and Smart Combustion
- ✓EZ-Clean grease/ash keg is the easiest cleanup system in the pellet category
- ✓Full-color touchscreen and refined WiFIRE app experience
- ✓Pellet sensor and two included probes cover long cooks unattended
- ✓10-year warranty doubles most rivals
- ✓Quieter, more efficient combustion than the old Ironwood 885
- ✓P.A.L. rail and ModiFIRE grate ecosystem add real utility
- ✗$1,800 is a big premium over the Woodridge Pro for less cooking space
- ✗500F max still can't produce a hard sear
- ✗616 sq in is a downgrade from the 885 it replaced
- ✗Smoke flavor is mild unless you run low temps with Super Smoke
- ✗Occasional WiFIRE dropouts and startup overshoot reported by owners