Traeger vs Kamado – Wood vs Charcoal Grills

Gas, electricity, wood, charcoal; the battle for the best fuel for grill cooking has been going on for decades. If you’re a fan of traditional options that provide original smoky taste and flavor to your food, there are hardly better brands than American Traeger and Kamado.

While the first presents an embodiment of classic American grills working on wood, the second name successfully combines Asian notes and non-trivial charcoal cooking technologies. What is the best option for you? Find an answer in our Traeger vs Kamado comparison.

Below, we examined four best-selling grill models:

Grills vary in construction, fuel type, cooking opportunities, and price, so every customer will be able to pick up an optimal model for his/her needs.

Main Differences Between the Models

Before we come to the model description, let us list these very differences. Here they are:

Comparison Table

1. Traeger Grills TFB88PZBO Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill and Smoker

Traeger has always been a supporter of classic forms. That’s why its Pro Series 34 grill features traditional versatile construction and wood pellet heating. Users get the ultimate cooking space, better heat spread, and unique taste. The unit is suitable for grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and barbequing – 6 cooking options under one lid.

The model can contain up to 40 burgers or 8 whole chickens, no one of your guests will stay hungry. The cooking surface is formed by one solid porcelain-coated grate and a warming rack.

However, large space is not the only advantage. The Series Pro 34 grill is a very smart baby that will support exactly that temperature you set, thanks to the Digital Pro Controller. Moreover, monitor both the grill and food temperature with two included meat probes that display the internal meat heating.

The product requires a minimum of maintenance. Ignition is automatic; an integrated grease system with a bucket and a large hopper for wood ensures you won’t have to spend your time cleaning or pellet adding.

The grill comes with a wheeled cart. Though wheels are not locking, their all-terrain design ensures stability on any ground. Unfortunately, the cart itself offers no storage areas, which is a huge drawback.

Other minuses to mind are a quite complicated ash clean-out system. You’ll have to remove grates to get to the ash. Despite the intelligent temperature control, we can say this grill is not the best option for high heat as it reaches about 400°F maximum.

Finally, materials feel cheaper than you expect for the price.

2. Traeger TFB57GZEO Pro Series 575 Grill and Smoker

The Pro Series 575 is similar to the Pro 34 in many ways. We see the familiar versatile body, original wood-pellet fueling, ignition, and grease collection. However, the main reason to buy this model is its even smarter characteristics.

The grill supports the WiFIRE technology. Thus, you can connect your grill to home WiFi and control cooking from the app. WiFi support also means compatibility with voice assistants like Alexa.

App control includes convenient temperature adjustments like in the oven. Besides, there is also the well-known Digital Controller and one meat probe.

The final improvement is faster heating. The unit boasts of the D2 Direct Drive drivetrain that catalyzes pellet burning and causes increased heat.

All in all, this Traeger grill is smaller than the Pro Series 34 but still quite spacious. Here, you can cook 24 burgers, 5 rib racks, or 4 chickens. A warming rack is traditionally included. Thanks to the grates, temperature adjustment, and wise heat distribution, we can use just one grill as a multipurpose unit for grilling, smoking, baking, roasting, braising, and barbequing.

Users also state this modification becomes more stable as it features only 2 wheels combined with 2 legs. Perhaps, moving is not that easy, but you don’t have to worry about falling and the like.

Please also mind that the legs and body are not super sturdy. The Pro Series 575 doesn’t feel like a premium product. Many complain about WiFi connection issues, which is complicated and fails frequently.

3. Kamado Joe KJ15040921 Classic III 18 inch Charcoal Grill

Traeger vs Kamado Joe comparison reveals dozens of essential differences, starting from its charcoal fuel type. But the first feature meets us right in appearance.

While Traeger grills prefer versatile construction, the Kamado Joe has a unique shape – SloRoller Hyperbolic Smoke Chamber. Thus, the grill creates unique airflow to distribute smoke and heat in recirculating. Food inside is heated evenly without cold spots.

The bowl is ceramic, which also contributes to the final taste.

Kamado Classic III comes with a grate divided into halves. Users get two half-moon grates and the 3-Tier Divide and Conquer Cooking System. Such a technology allows for placing food on several levels and cook several dishes at different temperatures simultaneously.

You can grill, sear, roast, smoke, or bake – all in one body.
Grates measure 18 inches in diameter, forming space for 10-12 burgers. But you’ll see no warming rack here.

As well as there is no smart temperature adjustment. You can use the Kontrol Tower Top Vent to increase/decrease the airflow and heating. An integrated thermometer displays the current heat.

Luckily, Kamado Joe offers small but handy storage space that consists of two compact side tables with 8 hooks and a storage shelf on a steel rolling cart. The cart is wheeled, and two of the wheels have locks.

Ash removing is a piece of cake with a slide-out ash drawer and an ash tool included. However, the grill cannot collect grease.
Apart from the drawbacks discussed, there are some more cons to mind.

4. Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic II 18 inch Charcoal Grill

As you can see from the name, this Kamado model is an earlier modification of the Kamado Joe 18 inch we discussed above. Thus, we see very similar features but in simpler implementation.

Functionally, users get the same 18 inches of cooking grates. The only change is a simpler 2-Tier Divide & Conquer with two cooking levels and two half-moon grate parts. The body itself is smaller, though they still use ceramic material.

Once again, Traeger and Kamado differ in the temperature scales offered. The Classic II provides very high cooking temperatures up to 750°F. That’s possible thanks to the familiar Kontrol Tower Top Vent.

You’ll also see that an integrated transport cart lost its bottom shelf.

Let us briefly say that other characteristics such as a removable ash catcher, dual side tables, storage hooks, and easy-to-open Patented Air Lift Hinge lid stayed the same. However, please mind that drawbacks also didn’t change. We miss grease collection and worry about the flimsy vent and fragile ceramic body.

Face to Face Comparison

Here are our grills’ brief descriptions. To find the optimal unit, you’ll need to look deeper at their characteristics and consider them in comparison.

Design and Dimensions

All models belong to the category of stationary grills. Below, we listed the dimensions and weight for each product.

Their weight and dimensions don’t allow us to use them on-the-go. But all grills come with wheeled carts, which makes moving easier.

Design reveals more differences. One more time, the Traeger brand prefers versatile construction and dark colors with bronze elements. The body material is stainless steel.

Kamado grills look like bright red eggs made of ceramic. The shape contributes to greater compactness and a unique method of heat distribution.

Fuel Type

Though Traeger and Kamado Joe uses traditional open fire heating, users note the difference in cooking results.

verdict

In our opinion, Kamado wins in terms of that smoky taste and flavor, which you can get only with charcoal. But Traeger grills offer a much more convenient and capacious hopper for easy refilling. So, the choice is yours.

Cooking Area

verdict

While Traeger grills can contain more products, Kamados offer more interesting multi-level grate adjustments to cook various dishes at various temperatures. The features are hardly comparable, but you can choose the one you need more  – capacity or diversity.

Warming Rack System

You might have noticed that in the previous paragraph, we mentioned “a total cooking area” and “the main cooking area”. But we did it only towards the Traeger grills.

Traeger vs Kamado comparison shows us that the first brand equips its products with warming racks. These are additional grates that allow you to keep food warm while a new batch is on the grill.

The Pro Series 34 has a 238 sq. in. warming rack that can contain about 16 burgers.

Its little brother comes with a bit smaller rack of 157 square inches. But that will be enough for 10 burgers.

Temperature Control

important

Please mind that digital controls and probes require an electricity supply. That’s why apart from wood pellets, you’ll need to get an outlet for something like that near your Traeger grill.

verdict

Verdict: Once again, customers face a dilemma. Traegers provide extremely convenient and smart temperature control. But you’ll sacrifice high temps, which is a minus for many recipes. Simple Kamados don’t have such a problem, and they’re the best for intensive grilling.

Grease Collection

Though food juices falling on charcoal and wood add this lovely smoky flavor, their excess may also cause flare ups.

Traeger brand deals with the problem and equips its grills with a convenient grease collection system. It includes a grease drip tray that directs excessive liquid and a bucket where grease finally comes.

Kamado Joe grills have nothing to offer for grease collection.

Ash Removing

However, when we consider the ash collection, the situation changes dramatically.

Both Kamado models are equipped with a removable ash drawer installed right under the charcoal chamber. Burned particles drop into the drawer, and all you need is to remove and throw it later. In addition to this, you get an ash tool to collect hard-to-reach or clogged pieces.

But Traegers lack any ash trays and tools. So, cleaning will take much more time and effort. To remove burned pellets, you’ll have to remove all grates and pans first.

Storage Space

Tables boast integrated hooks for cooking tools. Altogether, they form 8 hooks to have spatulas, tongs, and the like at hand.
The only difference between Kamados is a cart shelf. While the Classic III is equipped with one, its Classic II brother lacks any shelves. The storage surface is useful to keep fuel, extra grates, and something bulky.

Buyer’s Guide – How to Choose the Best Wood and Charcoal Grill?

Charcoal and wood grills significantly differ from gas or electric devices. That’s why it’s important to focus on certain characteristics that will be important for your comfort and cooking results. While choosing a charcoal grill, please mind the following things.

Conclusion

Once again, Traeger models don’t feel like premium models but offer excellent cooking performance and lots of space. We love them for smart temperature control (which is a rarity), meat probes included, very nice price, and convenient refilling.

Kamado is made simply marvelous both in appearance and material quality. This is the best brand for those who look for eatable masterpieces and not for the quantity of food. Anyway, be ready to put up with a high price and basic temp control.