Traeger Ironwood 885 Review 2026: Steady but Outdated

Key Specs

Insulated, app-connected and heavy, with a 500°F ceiling.

Will It Hold 225°F Through an Overnight Brisket?

Yes: within about 8–12°F for 12 hours, the tightest band of any Traeger we have tested.

This is the Ironwood's best trait and the reason to buy one. On the 12-hour unattended brisket, the grate stayed within about 8–12°F of 225°F. In the same-day test, the Pro 34 swung about 15°F. That gap sounds small, but over a night it is the difference between waking to a finished brisket and waking to a stalled one.

The double walls are why. Less heat escapes through the sides, so the controller makes smaller corrections and the fire burns more evenly. The downdraft exhaust and fan-driven convection then spread that heat across the grate.

Cold and wind

The 36°F morning start didn't throw it off. The insulation also meant the long brisket used noticeably fewer pellets than the same cook on the Pro 34. If you smoke through fall and winter, that is where the extra money goes.

Our how to smoke a brisket guide covers trimming, wrapping and resting, and how long to preheat a grill explains why cold starts take longer.

Cold-weather habits worth keeping

• Keep pellets dry: store bags in a sealed bin; damp pellets swell and jam the auger.
• Shield it from wind: insulation helps, but the lid is still the main heat-loss path.
• Clear snow off the lid: before startup, so the hinge and seam aren't sitting in meltwater.
• Check for mold after storage: Traeger advises inspecting the inside before the first fire after damp weather or a long layoff.

Does Super Smoke Really Add More Flavor?

Yes: ribs started on Super Smoke had a deeper smoke ring and stronger bark than standard mode.

Super Smoke made a visible difference on our ribs. Like any pellet grill, the Ironwood makes its cleanest, most flavorful smoke at low temperatures, when pellets smolder rather than burn hot. The first few hours of a cook do most of the flavor work.

Super Smoke works only at the low end of the range, so run it early, then raise the heat to finish. Our how to smoke ribs guide covers timing.

Ribs after a Super Smoke start: a deeper smoke ring and stronger bark than standard mode.

Pellets and flavor

Use 100% hardwood pellets, which Traeger recommends for all its grills. Hickory or a competition blend suits brisket and pork; apple or cherry suits chicken and fish. Our wood pairing chart applies to pellets too.

The hopper's pellet evacuation door lets you swap flavors without burning off old pellets. Use it before long gaps or humid spells, since pellets that absorb moisture are the usual cause of auger jams.

Can You Run It From Your Phone, Feed a Crowd and Sear?

Yes: the WiFIRE app matched our probes closely, and both grates held two briskets plus two racks of ribs.

The app was dependable. WiFIRE readings, pellet level and alerts matched our independent probes closely, and the connection held through interior walls overnight. The one snag: the first Wi-Fi connection required a firmware update, about 10 extra minutes.

Like most grill controllers, it pairs over a 2.4 GHz network, so check that band reaches the patio if your router splits them. Check the pellet sensor in the app before an overnight cook rather than lifting the hopper lid in the dark.

The overnight brisket, checked from the kitchen: the live graph shows the band the grill held.

Capacity for hosting

With 570 sq in on the main grate and 315 sq in on the upper rack, the Ironwood took two packer briskets plus two racks of ribs at once. That is a full party's worth of smoked meat in one cook.

What to cook first

1. A packer brisket overnight: the cook this grill was built for.
2. A pork butt: for pulled pork; our how to smoke pork shoulder guide has the method.
3. Spatchcocked chicken at 350–375°F: for crisper skin.

Whatever you cook, resist lifting the lid. Every opening dumps heat the controller has to win back.

Can the Ironwood 885 sear a steak?

Slowly: with no direct-flame zone and a 500°F ceiling, it is the weakest part of the grill.

Searing scored 6.5 out of 10, the lowest of any category. The Ironwood has no direct-flame zone, so the steak sear we ran built color slowly rather than a hard crust.

The workaround is a reverse sear: smoke the steak at a low temperature, then finish it in a ripping-hot cast-iron pan on the stove or a side burner. It works, but it won't show off what you paid for.

The same ceiling limits pizza. It can bake a good pizza on a stone at 500°F, but expect a softer crust and longer bake than in a pizza oven or kamado running 700°F or more.

Is It Built to Last, and What Does It Cost to Own?

Sturdier than Traeger's mid-range grills, but the warranty is only 3 years.

The build feels heavier and more solid than Traeger's mid-range models, with porcelain-coated steel grates and a stainless side shelf with tool hooks. At 163 lb, moving it is a two-person job, so pick a permanent spot before you build it.

Assembly and burn-in

Assembly took 95 minutes solo with a drill, plus the firmware update on first pairing. Traeger's WiFIRE burn-in then takes about 1.5 hours:

1. Fill the hopper, turn on the grill and choose Select Auger, then Prime Auger. Press Done when pellets drop into the fire pot.
2. Set 350°F, press Ignite and close the lid. Run 20 minutes once it reaches temperature.
3. Raise it to 450–500°F and run another 30 minutes.
4. Hold the power button for 3 seconds to start the shutdown cycle.

The Ironwood uses a closed-lid startup, so leave the lid down while it lights.

Pellet use

Pellets are the main running cost. Pellet grills of this size typically burn about 1 lb per hour near 225°F and about 3 lb per hour at 450°F. Expect the Ironwood to land at or below those figures on cold days, since its double walls lose less heat. A full 20 lb hopper covers most overnight smokes; high-heat cooks drain it fast.

Care schedule

Traeger says wooden grate scrapers aren't compatible with Ironwood grills and warns against wire brushes on any Traeger. Vacuum ash only when the grill is cold, line the drip tray and grease bucket, and keep the grill covered once cool. Our grill cleaning and maintenance guide has the full routine.

Warranty and parts

The 3-year coverage applies to defects in materials and workmanship. Traeger's support guide still lists parts for the TFB89BLF, including the auger, fans, fire pot, hot rod, grates, pellet sensor and controller, so repairs remain realistic.

Who Should Buy the Traeger Ironwood 885 (and Who Shouldn't)

For cold-climate overnight smokers who find a real discount.

Traeger Ironwood 885 vs. Alternatives

Newer Traegers and a Pit Boss now cover most of what the 885 does.

Is the Traeger Ironwood 885 Worth the Money?

Only at a real discount, and only if you smoke through cold weather.

Final Score