SI vs Traeger vs Keg - Round One Results are IN!!

[RG]

If I had one I'm sure i'd like it.  Esp if I can find the 280 sq FOOT model. 

My comments are meant to support the SI vs what you said was found on other sites when you mentioned the challenge. 

The egg or keg look is unique, but whenever I see one in person with a price tag attached not quite sure I can justify. 

Now $150 at a yard sale is a different tune..................

Shoot, I'd have 10 more at that price. Kamado grills are expensive these days, that's only because they have seen a surge in popularity the past few years. I bought my first Keg for $679.00 before tax. Now the same thing, different name, is at $899.00! Too much in my opinion and I have voiced as much on THEIR forum, lol. In all things being equal, an equally equipped Big Green Egg would sell for $200.00+ more and you don't get the portability of it. The Keg hooks up to your receiver and off you go. No cracks to worry about. That's one of my favorite features about it.

Like I said above. It's not just a smoker. It does everything that a grill can do and an oven and a smoker, so it's versatile.

I feel like I am going in circles here On the Keg forum I am defending the Smokin-It and here I am defending the Keg. I am preaching the virtues of them both. I am an equal opportunity grill lover/hoarder so forgive me

If I can figure out a way to buy a Santa Maria Grill w/o my Wife filing for divorce, I'd have one of those too! I'd love to have a wood fired grill and the ability to raise and lower the food over it for temp control. Those grills are excellent but not cheap by any means. A good one will last several generations though.

 

[DivotMaker]

We respect everyone's choice in grills and smokers. There sre so many great ones out there that perform incredibly well and we don't knock anyones  equipment. Of course being an SI site we favor it. But my webers, et al., are fantastic also. So, Enjoy it all!

Spoken like an adult with common sense! My Keg brothers need to grow up it seems, lol.

+1!

And your comments about human intervention, Jason - you have obviously taken steps that the majority of charcoal/stick burner owners don't, you have to admit.  If I owned the smokers you do, I'd do the same!  There are workarounds for everything, and I'm amazed at many of the temperature controllers out there now for "traditional" smokers!  The difference is in the mods.  Not all traditional smoker owners do it, and have to spend a lot of time tending, whereas every SI owner has "lazy Q" right out of the box!

Looking forward to the challenge! 8)

 

[RG]

Good point DM. The Traeger is add pellets and go. The keg really doesn't need an ATC if you know how to set your vents properly. I do know how and have used it sans Auber but the Auber is just assurance that everything is chill and I can sleep worry free.

I have better things to do than to mind my pits, sleep is underrated, lol. I am a PRO at Lazy Q, the SI just seemed like a natural fit for me, lol ;D

I'll post the whole shebang in due time, it'll be fun! If the SI matches or surpasses the Keg, I'll not be surprised at all but I will be happy that it held it's own. I believe in my #3!! I already know it's better than the Traeger. I've only done one butt on the Traeger and although it looked nice, the texture was off. The Keg kicked it's booty in the one butt challenge I did a year or so ago. Looking forward to the rematch. As soon as I ordered the SI, I had this challenge in my mind.

 

[DivotMaker]

Lovin'it, Jason!  I almost bought a Traeger a few years back, when a buddy of mine got the S&W model.  I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen!  Then, he had big temp problems with the stock controller, and had to put in the digital.  Worked well, for awhile, then started having feed and hot spot issues.  He has since gotten rid of it.  I was glad I took a "wait and see" approach before buying one.  I know there are lots of folks that love theirs, but I saw a lot of issues firsthand with my friend's model.

 

[RG]

They all can have problems, every cooker does. The Traeger is a fine machine, I use it sparingly though I do like it. The SI is going to be in heavy rotation and I look forward to contributing here and sharing my food porn with you guys, lol ;D

 

[Limey]

Jason, this is just a big tease. Time to get testing my man!

 

[RG]

Jason, this is just a big tease. Time to get testing my man!

Patience grasshoppa!! 8)

 

[RG]

Alright my fellow Smokin-It brothers (and sisters?). I am trying to arrange a panel to test all of the food on. I am in the process of getting my pool opened (going to take a while) and plan on having family/friends over for a little party and THAT'S when I'll be able to do this little test. Sorry to make you wait but know that it IS in the works. I can't wait!!!

 

[Barrel99]

What wait??? When and where is the pool party?

 

[RG]

What wait??? When and where is the pool party?

It might not be when the pool is ready to swim in exactly. I just have a "To Do" list before my wife wants to have people over. The pool needs to go from swampy to clean before she'll allow guests, lol.

I'll be cooking 3 butts, baked beans, slaw, brunswick stew, maybe some hand cut fries. I'll serve chocolate chunk cookies for dessert probably. They'll eat well, no doubt about that! After that little shindig I'll be having a buddy of mine that I've not seen in years bring his family over for a little 'cue. Probably do baby backs for him. There's a summer full of cooking coming up!

 

[Barrel99]

Sounds great RG. I had 30 people over this weekend for a pool party. Served all kinds of stuff including pulled pork and smoked Mac and Cheese. The compliments were wonderful. Nothing much left of anything.

 

[RG]

Cool!! I used to host a family reunion once a year in the Fall. It got to be tiresome and I LOVE to cook but it was just too much. I would ask people, family mind you, to bring a side dish or dessert and it wouldn't happen so I just did everything. I realized that I was spending some major bank and in the end it seemed like nobody gave a damn as to whether I put it together or not. I didn't do one this last fall, first time in years and nobody said a peep! A crying shame really.

I do miss seeing everyone and getting compliments on the food but I don't miss the expense and the seemingly ungrateful relatives, lol!!

 

[Barrel99]

Sorry to hear that Jason. Family get togethers are so important. My wife and I have done everything since I can remember. But now we started assigning specific dishes to people and it has been working well. As a matter of fact, they now bring other dishes in addition to their assigned one. Sometimes it takes a little push.

We also learned, franks and burgers are just as effective as pulled pork, ribs and brisket. They come to be together, not for the food. So if I do it, it's because I want to.

 

[RG]

I understand what you're saying. It just seemed that some of them (my niece and her husband, my nephew and my brother-in-law) would say they were coming and then not show up. Then my brother's kids would say they were coming and not. I had a head count and cooked accordingly, always too much, food got sent home with every last one of them! So when they didn't show up, some of them being responsible for bringing things, it just threw things out of whack.

The last time I did it in 2013, my niece and her son and husband were told 3 months in advance as everyone was. I always do it in the Fall, in the first week or two of October. They were told in July at a cookout on the 4th. They said they'd be there. Made a Facebook page as I always do, sent invites, they confirmed. The day before the event, they say they can't make it. There's a concert that they forgot they had tickets to. Rrrrrriiiiiiiggghhhhttt!

A host of others bailed then so I basically said that was the end of it. If they want to do it again, let them organize the event, do the cooking, etc. Even if it is just dogs and burgers. No one has said a peep, asked about it, offered to host. Not a word! So........that's that!

Speaking of burgers....check this one out Whoppa

 

[Barrel99]

I understand very well. We only request appetizers and desserts. That way we always have the main meal under control. We also keep chips, pretzels, nuts cheese and cookies in the house in case they don't bring apps and desserts. I have decided a 20% dropout rate is probable and plan accordingly. We love to give to go boxes and always overcook anyway. Just our way to plan and enjoy.

 

[RG]

I am going to be doing a SI vs Keg vs Traeger test today. It's not what I originally had in mind but it will be a start. I was planning (and still am planning) to do a Boston Butt comparison. Today I am doing Beef Back Ribs. Since I did not brine the Ribs, I assume that the SI ones will not have a smoke ring so visually it will be identifiable but we shall see how the taste and tenderness stack up against the other two smokers. Stay tuned!

 

[DivotMaker]

Looking forward to the results, Jason!!

 

[1stlink]

Jason I'm really loving your outdoor kitchen and looking forward to the results of your shoot-out/battle Royale. 

 

[RG]

Thanks Ralph!

Now, on to the results.

Here are finished pics on each smoker

Traeger Jr.

Smokin-It #3

Big Steel Keg (Broil King Keg)

I must mention that the SI#3 got the biggest rack of the bunch as you can tell by the pics it does not have as many "shiners" due to being so dang meaty!

Here is a shot of the sampling board. I apologize for the carnage! Those bones were nibbled on by my Wife and Son before I was smart enough to take a picture, lol! From left to right - Keg, Traeger, SI#3

The meat was smoked with Peach on all 3 smokers. The SI and Keg used chunks while the Traeger used pellets. All went for close to 6 hours at a range of 225-250 (each has temp swings as all grills/smokers do). All were seasoned with Dizzy Pig Red Eye Express Coffee Infused Rub.


The Voting went like this (keep in mind, I KNEW which was which but my Wife and Son did not.

Ranking by number
Wife - 1=Traeger  2=SI  3=Keg
Son - 1=SI  2=Traeger  3=Keg
Me - 1=Traeger  2=SI  3=Keg

The one we were all in agreement on was the Keg! It was last (still very good mind you). That will be a SHOCKER to my Keg brethren, lol.

Tenderness was very close between the Traeger and the SI with the Keg being slightly less tender.
Appearance goes to the SI but I think that was due to it just being a bigger rack.

Overall, nobody was complaining about any of them but alas, this round does go to the Traeger. If I had to grade these, using the Traeger as a 100, the SI Ribs were a 90 and the Keg gets an 80.

The Mighty Keg is my best all around cooker but that doesn't mean squat when it came to this cook! The SI held it's own. My Son even picked it as #1!!

 

[RG]

I just realized that I belong to the SI and Keg forums but not the Traeger one. Both of the ones I contribute to I had to tell bad news about the results. That's just wrong, lol!

I don't even know if Traeger has an online community, I honestly have never looked into it.