“Which one is better?” It’s a question we all ask when we’re trying to find the best products.
Especially when it comes to pellet grills, we want the best value for our hard-earned money.
Memphis and Traeger are two strong competitors, so which one will win?
Let’s take a closer look at this grilling titan comparison.
Memphis Grills
Memphis Wood Fire Gills was established in 2010 by Daisin Industries.
In the decade they’ve been operating, they have introduced some of the most premium grills on the market.
Memphis has established itself as a premium pellet grill brand, delivering the ultimate outdoor cooking experience to their customers.
By combining techniques in searing, grilling, smoking, and baking, Memphis has produced some of the most versatile pellet grills.
What makes Memphis stand out are the intelligent temperature controls and a staggering 180°F – 700°F recorded temperature range. That’s remarkable!
Not only that, but they’ve also incorporated modern technology in the recent years. In 2017, Memphis started selling grills with LCD screens and WiFi temperature controls.
You can monitor and adjust the grill temperature through the Memphis mobile app. It doesn’t matter if you just went inside the house for a while or even if you’re at work, you can easily monitor your cooking with Memphis grills.
Traeger
Traeger is another major name in the grilling industry, and they have more traditional roots. Traeger developed their first grill in 1985, but the production started three years later in 1988.
Traeger prides itself with the classic look of the charcoal-and-wood smokers people used for generations. And for a while, Traeger was the only name when it comes to quality pellet grills.
But in 2007, their patent expired and their founder, Joe Traeger, sold the company. After that, their competitors started showing up.
Even when Traeger stuck to the traditional image, they also continued to innovate and incorporate advanced functions. Some of their products even have hopper clean-outs and WiFi control.
Still, when compared to Memphis, Traeger falls a little short. Traeger has a lower maximum temperature. Traeger’s Ironwood and Timberline Series only reach 500°F max, while Memphis Elite reaches 700°F.
Even the budget Memphis grills have a higher max temperature at 550°F. Also, Traeger only has indirect flame grilling, while Memphis offers direct searing or open-flame grilling through their direct flame insert.
That said, Memphis produces some of the best products. Here are some grills in their line:
Memphis Grills Vs. Traeger Grills
1. Memphis Beale Street Vs. Traeger Timberland 1300
Let’s start off with a budget grill from Memphis. The Memphis Beale Street Pellet Grill is a super durable grill that’s made from 304 stainless steel.
It’s double-walled and sealed, so it keeps all the heat inside to trap in all that flavor in your meats. This construction also prevents discoloration on the grill’s exterior, which looks and feels premium despite the affordable price.
The cooking surface on the Beale Street is 558 square inches, which is enough for serving the family. But if you’re cooking for a large crowd, there’s an optional grate you can use to extend the cooking surface to 817 square inches.
As for the temperature range, it’s from 180°F to 550°F. Although it is a little lower than the more premium Memphis models, it’s still enough for smoking, grilling, searing, roasting, and baking.
Plus, the Beale Street 51” grill has a Wi-Fi included. As such, you can monitor and adjust the temperatures even as you’re entertaining your guests.
Compared to the Traeger Timberline 1300
While the Traeger Timberline 1300 is a notable competitor, the Memphis BGSS26 Beale Street 51” grill stands out in several ways.
In terms of durability for outdoor use, Beale Street's 304 stainless steel, double-walled construction excels for weather resistance and longevity compared to the Timberline 1300 which is better off storing indoors or covered from the weather.
Price-wise, the Beale Street Grill offers a great balance of premium features and affordability at $1,799, presenting better value than the higher-priced Timberline 1300 at a similar price.
The Beale Street Grill also shines in cooking area flexibility, with a standard 558 square inches, expandable to 817 square inches.
Finally, in terms of technology, both grills offer Wi-Fi connectivity putting them both a conveniency stale mate in that department.
In short, the Beale Street Grill edges out the Timberline 1300 with superior durability, better value, more cooking space flexibility, and intuitive technology.
2. Memphis ITC3 Elite 69" Pellet Grill w/ Wifi
If you don’t mind splurging for the ultimate grill, the Memphis ITC3 Elite is hands-down the best choice. Made from 304 stainless steel inside and out, this high-end grill will be by your side in every cookout for the years to come.
At a record-breaking 180°F to 700°F temperature range, this is one of the hottest grills we’ve ever tested.
And with a sealed and double-walled construction, it keeps all the heat trapped inside for the best grilling performance.
Expecting a large, hungry crowd at your BBQ party? No problem. The VG0002S Elite gives you a staggering 1252 square inches of cooking surface. You can put in all the pork butts, burgers, and steaks on this grill and you’ll have food ready to feed your guests.
This high-end grill is equipped with all the features you need. Wi-Fi intelligent temperature control, a direct flame insert for open-flame grilling [1], a meat probe, storage shelves, and a large 24 lb. pellet hopper capacity.
If you’re craving for that luxurious outdoor cooking experience, it doesn’t get any better than the Memphis VG0002S Elite.
3. Memphis ITC3 Pro 28" Built-In Pellet Grill w/ Wifi
Not all of us need a huge grill for the backyard. Memphis knows that, so they have smaller options too, like the Memphis ITC3 Pro Built In model.
Despite the compact size, this grill packs in a lot of features similar to the premium Memphis grills. Construction is no different, it’s still double-walled, sealed, and made from 304 stainless steel. Undoubtedly, this grill will last you years.
It has 834 square inches of cooking space too, which is more than enough for a regular backyard cookout. It’s impressive that this Memphis Pro grill has a pretty spacious cooking surface despite the compact size.
Temperatures range from 180°F to 650°F max. Wi-Fi is present in this budget grill as well, so it’s super convenient to monitor and set temperatures even when you’re physically away from the grill.
And with dual convection fans, you’ll be sure that your grill will be just fine on its own.
Conclusion
Indeed, Memphis produces some of the best grills in the market today. With 304 stainless steel construction, great temperature ranges, intelligent temp control, open-flame grilling, and Wi-Fi, their line of grills are very impressive.
Undoubtedly, you can enjoy the best cookout experience of your life with Memphis.