Purchasing a pellet grill is one of the best investments a BBQ lover can make.
With many brands on the pellet grill market, finding something worth it can be difficult.
That's why I've invested extensive time and effort into researching the latest offerings from Rec Tec and Traeger.
In my research, I consulted with experts, reviewed various customer reviews, and did real-world testing to help you make an informed choice.
In this article, we’re going to put Rec Tec and Traeger in a head-to-head battle, with an overview of each brand as well as comparing the specifications of each.
QUICK SUMMARY
- Rec Tec and Traeger are top brands in the pellet grill market, offering quality grills.
- They have temperature control and range similarities, but Rec Tec excels in temperature accuracy.
- According to a 2023 Statista report, Traeger Grills experienced a significant increase in revenue from 2019 to 2020, selling over 545 million U.S. dollars' worth of pellet grills and barbecue products in 2020, marking a notable rise from the previous year's revenue [1].
- Rec Tec offers larger cooking capacities and longer warranties, while Traeger is budget-friendly and portable.
Traeger - an Overview
If you’ve ever wondered where pellet grills originated, you have Traeger to thank.
Pellet grills were invented by Joe Traeger in 1985. In 1986, he went on to patent the idea, giving him the right to produce and sell Traeger pellet grills for 20 years [2].
Traeger Grills became the go-to company during those years, ensuring reliability and great results.
Since then, Traeger has developed their company in quite a few ways. To this day, they have remained the largest pellet grill manufacturer around.
Traeger houses the largest range of grills on the market - from small to tall, from portable to professional-grade. Their Pro Series models are the best sellers due to reasonable prices and great functionality.
A bold move Traeger Grills made was transferring their entire production chain to China.
It caused a lot of concerns due to a lack of quality. However, as of late, they have turned their game around and produced an excellent set of grills at affordable prices.
Learn More:
Rec Tec - an Overview
Rec Tec entered the grilling world a few years after the Traeger grill patent expired. They managed to earn quite a lot following with their excellent quality and premium features.
Rec Tec is known for using heavy-duty metal parts, allowing their grills to withstand the test of time. They’re also great at incorporating new and innovative features into their grills.
Rec Tec Grills also source parts from China; however, the assembly and quality checks are performed in the USA.
This means they rarely have trouble with quality issues.
Rec Tec recently rebranded and is now officially named ‘Recteq.’
They also expanded their range of outdoor products to focus on items other than grills. We will, however, continue to refer to them as Rec Tec, as that is what they are known as worldwide.
Read More: Where Are Rec Tec Grills Made Nowadays?
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: 7 Differences
Now that we know a little bit more about the individual companies at hand, let's take a look at what they both have to offer.
1. Temperature Control
A 2019 study in the National Library of Medicine evaluated the impact of grilling temperatures (177°C, 205°C, or 232°C) on the quality of aged steaks, finding that different temperatures did not affect consumer perceptions of tenderness, juiciness, or flavor, but did influence the formation of pyrazine compounds, which contribute to the steak's aroma [3].
You’ll be pleased to know that both Rec Tec and Traeger are pros when it comes to temperature control. Both brands have the concept down, with excellent features that make your cooking as easy as possible.
Traeger grills incorporate a digital screen on each of their units where you can easily control and monitor the temperature.
The interface is easy to use and can be viewed even when outside lighting isn’t too great.
A handful of their units, such as the Traeger Pro 575 and the Traeger Firewood 885, come with their trademarked WiFIRE technology.
This allows you temperature control and monitoring from your phone.
All you have to do is download the handy Traeger app, and you can monitor the temperature while watching the game inside.
This app can also monitor the internal food temperature, so you won’t have to constantly open and close the door to check on your meat.
Rec Tec houses the same smart grill technology with a built-in display and WiFi capabilities.
Rec Tec’s temperature controller can be downloaded onto your phone, where you can monitor the pellet grill and adjust the temperature.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Tie
When it comes to temperature control, there isn’t a winner here. Both brands are great at providing a consistent temperature, and the smart grill technology is almost the same on both Traeger and Rec.
2. Temperature Range
The temperature range is another feature in which both Traeger and Rec Tec flourish.
The highest temperature on a Traeger grill is just above 400°F. Keep in mind searing happens at a temperature of 300°F, so you have plenty of heat to get some great grill marks.
Most of the grills in the Traeger range use a Pro D2 Controller. This controller ensures the temperature sticks within a -/+15°F.
Rec Tec has a PID-style controller, which can be considered more advanced than Traeger’s Pro D2. The PID controller is the same technology you’ll find in commercial bakeries, used to maintain a consistent and steady temperature.
The temperature range of a Rec Tec is usually between 180 - 500°F, meaning it has a slightly larger range compared to Traeger.
Rec Tec pellet grills have the ability to keep -/+5°F within your target temperature, meaning they are more accurate compared to Traeger.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Rec Tec
We have to hand it to Rec Tec for this one. Even though you’ll be perfectly fine searing, grilling, and cooking on a Traeger pellet grill, the larger temperature range on the Rec gives you the freedom to cook meats such as the Tomahawk steak.
Both are fantastic regarding temperature range and control; however, Rec Tec has a slight upper hand.
3. Grilling Space
How much cooking area you require largely depends on what you plan to cook and for how many people.
For example, if you're cooking for a large family or plan to do a lot of BBQ parties, you will need a large cooking surface. If you only plan to grill occasionally and a few pieces of meat at a time, you’ll be fine with a smaller cooking area.
Traeger pellet grills use a handy numbering system, making it easy for you to know the size of the cooking area.
The size of the grill is always next to the name. For example, the Timberline grills 1300 has 1300 square inches of grilling space, and the Pro 780 has 780 square inches.
“If summer had one defining scent, it’d definitely be the smell of barbeque.”
- Katy Lee, Chef
Between the six units that Traeger has to offer, your options include 575, 650, 780, 850, 885, and 1300. They also have a portable grill, which is 176 square inches.
Rec Tec has a similar system, including the cooking capacity next to the grill's name.
They offer nine different units, including 340, 380, 450, 490, 700, 1250, 2400, and 2500. It’s good to remember that the sizes listed also include the second upper cooking rack and sometimes a third.
Unlike Traeger, Rec Tec uses the same features throughout the entire range, so you only pay extra for the larger cooking area.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Tie
While Rec Tec has the upper hand here since they offer larger cooking capacities, they do make a huge jump between each size.
The most popular grill sizes are usually around 550 - 850. Rec Tec only offers one grill within this range, whereas Traeger offers four.
4. Pellet Hopper Capacity
Pellet hopper capacity doesn't seem like a big deal until you have a 24-hour smoke on your hand and refilling your pellet grill every couple of hours.
Traeger offers 18, 20, or 24 pound pellet hoppers. According to their website, you’ll use around 1 - 3 pounds of pellets per hour. If you’re cooking at low temperatures, your pellet smoker can go around 18 - 24 hours without being refiled.
Rec Tec offers pellet hopper space of 20, 30, 40, and an impressive 66. According to Rec Tec, the smallest pellet hopper size of 20 will give you more than 20 hours of uninterrupted cooking time.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Rec Tec
Rec Tec wins this one even without the pellet purge system due to the larger capacities on offer. That being said, for most, Traeger’s capacity is still plenty.
5. Mobility
For many, their pellet smoker usually finds a spot in the garden and doesn’t move from there. However, some people go camping or like to chase the sun, so they opt for the best portable smokers.
Traeger is good when it comes to portability and convenience.
They have a line of grills specifically designed to be used on the go. Their Ranger pellet grill is small enough to be placed on a worktop yet big enough to cook 10 hot dogs at once. It weighs as little as 60lbs.
Rec Tec’s smallest grill weighs 80lbs and is much larger than the Ranger.
It does have foldable legs, which give it points for convenience. However, it isn’t the best option if you’re going camping.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Traeger
Due to the sheer ease of convenience, we’re going to give this one to Traeger.
6. Construction
When it comes to construction, both Traeger and Rec Tec produce great grills. They both retain heat, create solid smoke, and are made from high-quality materials.
Traeger grills are constructed from powder-coated steel and feature porcelain-coated cooking grates. The Traeger Ironwood series also includes double-sided wall insulation, which aids heat retention.
Their two grills in the Timberline range are constructed using steel grates. The inside of these timberline grills is fully insulated with a stainless steel interior.
Rec Tec models all use stainless steel components, so they are usually considered among the best stainless steel grills on the market.
This includes their cooking chamber, crates, firepots, drip pan, and heat detectors.
Unlike Traeger, Rec Tec’s grills are not insulated. However, you can buy a grill cover for the RT-700.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Traeger
While both companies produce high-quality grills, Traeger takes the upper hand with their built-in insulation. Their use of porcelain and coated steel instead of stainless steel construction makes the midrange units more affordable.
7. Warranty
When you’re looking to drop a large amount of money on any product, you must look at the warranty. The warranty indicates that the company stands behind what they’re selling.
The brands that offer the longest warranties are the ones that have the least amount of problems with their products.
Traeger offers 3 years on their warranty for all units under their name [4].
On the other hand, Rec Tec offers their warranties depending on the product. You will be covered for 2 - 4 years for the mid-range items.
However, you will be covered by a whopping 6 years on their more expensive units.
Rec Tec Vs. Traeger: Rec Tec
While 3 years is a good amount of time, Rec Tec really takes the cherry on this cake with their impressive 6-year warranty.
Overall Winner
After careful consideration, we can now present to you our chosen winner: Traeger.
It was a close call, especially when both brands offer the perfect pellet grills.
The reason I chose Traegeris because we believe you get better value for your money. For example, the Traeger Ironwood series is very similar to most Rec Tec grills, just for a better price.
While not all grills are made with steel grates, the materials used still hold great heat retention while being budget-friendly.
If you were counting on stainless steel, you can still make your dreams come true with a Pro Series pellet grill.
Individual Product Reviews
While we gave a pretty good sum-up of both bands above, giving a few individual product reviews would give you a better idea of the grills at hand.
Below, you’ll find six different models split into budget-friendly, mid-range, and top-of-the-range categories.
1. Budget-Friendly
Here are two budget-friendly units:
Rec Tec RT-340
This model is a perfect pellet grill choice if you want something smaller than your typical one.
The Rec Tec RT-340 features 341 inches of cooking space, giving you plenty of room to grill up multiple burgers.
The RT-340 features Rec Tec’s smart technology WiFi, which means you can monitor and manage the pellet grill from your living room.
For extra portability, the legs of the RT-340 are also foldable to make it easier to travel. It has a 20-pound pellet capacity, which means you can smoke undisturbed for almost 20 hours.
The RT-340 also comes with an 80-pound pellet bundle and a 2-year warranty.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 341 square inches
- Secondary cooking area: 171 square inches
- Temp range: 200°F - 500°F
- Hopper: 20 lbs
- Warranty: 2 years
- Price: $819
- Dual meat probes
- Smart grill technology
- Hopper holds an entire bag of wood pellets
- Stainless steel construction
- Short warranty
- Only has two wheels
Traeger Tailgater
The great thing about the Traeger Tailgater is how much portability it has to offer. If you’re one for camping or cooking in outdoor settings, 300 square inches of cooking space is great for you.
The main cooking rack is made from powder-coated steel and is enough to feed multiple people at once, holding 12 burgers or two whole chickens.
It also comes with an 8lb hopper, digital control panel, and an automatic auger.
When you purchase your new pellet grill, it will also come with 20 pounds of wood pellets as a bonus.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 300 square inches
- Temp range: 180°F - 450°F
- Hopper: 8 lbs
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $469.99
- Great for camping and portability
- Reliably affordable
- Legs fold for extra convenience
- Small pellet hopper
- Temp range isn’t high enough for searing
2. Mid-Range
Here are two mid-range units:
Rec Tec RT-590
Rec Tec RT-590 is a mid-range pellet grill that holds the same features as the budget range but instead has a cooking size of 592 square inches, which is great for a medium-sized family. The secondary cooking rack is 180 square inches.
The hopper gives you a generous 30lbs, so it will give you well over 30 hours of smoking time.
The RT-590 also comes with 2 meat probes, PID and smart grill technology, and 4 wheels.
As with all Rec grills, the RT-590 is completely made from stainless steel.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 592 square inches
- Temp range: 200°F - 500°F
- Hopper: 30 lbs
- Warranty: 4 years
- Price: $899.99
- 4 years warranty
- Can hold 30lbs of pellets
- Versatile mid-sized pellet grill
- Temperature Probes
- A little expensive compared to other mid-range pellet smokers
- Filling the hopper leaves you with half a bag of opened pellets
Traeger Pro 575
The Traeger Pro 575 is the top-selling pellet grill in the Traeger range. The cooking grate is big enough to house 4 chickens at once. Traeger Pro grills feature WiFIRE, which connects your pellet grill right to your phone.
There you can control the pellet grill remotely. The RTD probe also measures the temperature every second to ensure it stays within 15 degrees of your desired temperature.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 575 square inches
- Temp range: 180°F - 450°F
- Hopper Capacity: 18 lbs
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price: $799.99
- Stainless steel grates
- Dual LED temperature controller
- Great build and quality
- Durable powder coat finish
- Searing becomes hard due to low temperature
- Hard to wheel across uneven surfaces
3. Top Of The Range
Here are two top of the range units:
Rec Tec RT-700
Out of all the home-sized grills on the RT range, the Rec Tec RT-700 is the largest, with 702 square inches of cooking space.
The unit is made from complete stainless steel construction, with a huge 40lbs of hopper space. That means you will never have to refill the hopper halfway through the cooking process.
With a temperature of 200°F - 500°F, you’ll be able to do slow cooking, as well as smoke at a higher temperature.
Just like Rec grills, the RT-700 features a temperature controller, PID controller, and two meat probes.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 702 square inches
- Temp range: 200°F - 500°F
- Hopper Capacity: 40 lbs
- Warranty: 6 years
- Price: $1199.99
- Huge hopper space
- 6 years of warranty
- Can cook for large groups of people
- Stainless steel construction
- Downdraft exhaust
- App has limited functionality
- The hopper is placed on the back, which makes it hard to reach
Traeger Ironwood 885
The Traeger Ironwood 885 is on the Traeger line's expensive side, paired with many innovative and handy features.
The D2 auger drive system controls the flow of pellets to ensure none get sick inside of their wood pellet grills.
The hopper is big enough to hold 20lbs of pellets, which gives you 20 hours of smoking time.
It also features double-wall insulation to ensure none of the important heat inside escapes.
Specifications:
- Cooking area: 885 square inches
- Temp range: 160°F - 500°F
- Hopper Capacity: 20 lbs
- Warranty: 4 years
- Price: $1499.99
- WiFIRE monitoring and control app
- Easy to clean
- Large temp range
- Downdraft exhaust system
- On the expensive side
- Doesn’t have much portability
Wrapping Up The Pellet Grill Battle
Both of these companies offer great grills with lots of added features. While we picked Traeger as our winner, it completely depends on what you prefer and what features you need.
Rec Tec grills are for you if you need a large pellet grill with a large grilling area. If you prefer portability and need more choice in size, Traeger is a good bet.
You can’t go wrong with either company. However, Traeger is definitely a budget-friendly option.
References:
1.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1264097/traeger-revenue/
2. https://www.traeger.com/learn/how-it-works
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30473394/
4.https://www.traeger.com/service-warranty
