The 5 best outdoor cooking gifts for dad in 2022

Features: Meat probe included | Wireless connectivity | 780 sq. in cooking surface | Max temp of 500-degrees Fahrenheit | Pellet hopper capacity of 18 lbs

Out of all the outdoor cooking appliances on this list, the Traeger is the one I have the least amount of experience with. Since I have never cooked on a pellet grill, Traeger sent me a review sample for this article. The pellets do more than just provide smoke and flavor. They are also used as the lone heat source for the grill. I've cooked several different types of meat and even some asparagus over the last couple of weeks, and everything has turned out great. 

I've smoked chicken on the Traeger, using the built-in meat thermometer to monitor the cook from afar, thanks to the WiFire feature that lets you use your phone to manage the smoker. I've also grilled bratwursts and some hamburgers with the Traeger set to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. 

There's a learning curve to cooking with pellets — one I haven't fully mastered myself but will surely get the hang of the more I use it. Which my family isn't mad about helping me with. Traegers are known for being easy to use and reliable, and thus far, that's been my exact experience with the Pro 780.

Also: Traeger Ironwood 650 Review

Pros:

• Easy setup
• Set it and forget it cooking
• Versatile  

Cons:

• Pellets can get expensive
• Learning curve if grilling