There’s nothing worse than being in the middle of a grilling or smoking session on your Traeger and realizing that you’ve run out of pellets. While it might feel like a frustrating setback, don’t worry! There are a few steps you can take to salvage your cooking and ensure you’re prepared for future grilling adventures. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through what to do when your Traeger runs out of pellets.

1. Stay Calm and Assess the Situation:

First things first, don’t panic. Take a moment to assess how much cooking time you have left and the state of your food. If you’re cooking something that requires a longer smoking time, you might have some wiggle room to address the pellet situation.

2. Prepare Additional Pellets:

If you have extra pellets on hand, gather them and get ready to replenish your pellet hopper. Make sure the new pellets are of the same type and flavor as the ones you were initially using.

3. Safely Add More Pellets:

Follow these steps to add more pellets to your Traeger:

• Turn Off the Grill: Turn off the grill and unplug it to prevent any accidents while adding pellets.
• Open the Hopper Lid: Carefully open the hopper lid and take note of how much space you have left.
• Add Pellets: Slowly and carefully pour the additional pellets into the hopper. Avoid overfilling, as it can lead to uneven feeding and potential pellet jams.
• Restart the Grill: Once you’ve added the pellets, close the hopper lid, plug in the grill, and restart it. Set the temperature to your desired cooking level.

4. Monitor Temperature and Cooking Time:

Keep a close eye on the temperature and cooking time. Depending on how much time has passed since your Traeger ran out of pellets, you might need to adjust the cooking time to ensure your food is fully cooked.

5. Plan Ahead for Future Cooks:

To avoid running out of pellets in the future, consider these tips:

• Check Pellet Levels: Before every cook, check the pellet levels in your hopper to ensure you have enough for the entire cook time.
• Stock Up: Always have extra pellets on hand. It’s a good practice to keep a bag of pellets as a backup.
• Plan Cook Times: Know the estimated cook times for your recipes and plan your cooking sessions accordingly.

In Conclusion:

Running out of pellets on your Traeger can be a minor hiccup in your cooking journey, but with a bit of preparation and quick thinking, you can still salvage your meal and ensure a successful grilling or smoking experience. Remember, safety is key, so always take precautions when adding more pellets. By staying calm and following the steps outlined above, you’ll be back to creating mouthwatering dishes on your Traeger in no time. Happy grilling!