I got a Traeger Flatrock - HONEST first impressions and seasoning

This is a very nice flat top grill but there are a few immediate drawbacks! Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

[@ZanzibarBQ]

The spots where you're seeing dips in temp are where the dividers are. It's intended to help with maintaining multiple heat zones and, in my experience, it works quite well. Even so, forty degrees is not bad. My Flatrock holds a steady 600° in all three zones. I had a Blackstone for a few years before I bought the Flatrock and I tested them both with my IR gun. My Blackstone was a 36" with four burners and had a significant dropoff from the left side (where the fuel source is) to the right. After being fully preheated with all burners set to High, burner one read 554°, burner two was 496°, burner three was 446°, and burner four topped out at 396°. Overall, I'd say the Flatrock outperforms my old Blackstone in every aspect. It was far easier to assemble, has much larger side shelves, carbon steel griddle rather than cast iron, gets much hotter and holds much more consistent temps across all burners, and the little bells and whistles like the fuel gauge are pretty cool additions.

[@brentmsdn]

I just got one of these last week and I'm obsessed with it. Pancakes, hashbrowns, eggs, and my first smash burgers. They were all better than expected. The unit is really nice and you feel like you got something special here. The folding tables are probably the best feature as they provide ample space. I was able to initialize the tank monitor, just hold the button for 3 seconds, when it starts going side to side then listen for beep prior to putting the tank, Once you put the tank on just wait, it should come back with a full reading after a few seconds. I had to do this twice, I think I pushed the button a second time after putting the tank on and it canceled it initially. The first time I didn't hear the beep either, so not sure.

[@kenljohnston]

I use a cover made for a Ironwood XL and I don't have to drop the shelves by using it. It's so nice not having to remove my utensils from the PAL system every time I use the griddle.

[@brentmsdn]

If you decide to get the Traeger cover you won't be disappointed. It's like that balistic material that beads water, and with a zipper it's easy to put on and off. Folding the tables is a must on my patio. 3 year warranty on it. It's so tight you don't need straps or anything so very convenient.

[@micahroberts3564]

40 degree drop is unbelievably consistant. Only the Weber might be mord consistant. On my Camp Chef i get 200F temp differences, Blackstone its routinly 150 or more. My brothers Pit Boss has 500 in middle and 260 in corners That Traeger is one damn impressive unit

[@D1rtyharold]

Good video. Thanks for making it.

[@AllPhillyinATX]

I looked at the Traeger initially but ultimately decided on the Halo. I’ve been very satisfied. Enjoy your purchase and I’ll check back for some cooking videos and results. Cheers!

[@DAD_VOD]

Thanks for the comment. I contacted Traeger about the battery issue and they are sending me a complete replacement power panel. Their customer service is great but this issue should never have been passed on to the customer.

[@crashcopter6000]

No issues with high temps on the Halo? I'm trying to make a decision between the two as we speak.

[@AllPhillyinATX]

@@crashcopter6000 no issues. Numerous zones to adjust the heat accordingly. The Halo is built like a tank. And it’s currently the same price as the Traeger through Father’s Day, with a lot more cooking area. The Traeger grease trap i feel is a big mistake. The Halo insulated lid is a game changer as well. I live in Austin and have a BBQ specialty store. When comparing both in person/side by side…….it’s a no brainer. No hate on Traeger but the build quality is not equal. Good luck and enjoy whichever you ultimately purchase.

[@johngreen2650]

@@AllPhillyinATX I also live in Austin and went by and compared the two side by side. I went there planning on getting the Traeger Flatrock but when compared to the Halo I couldn't make up my mind . I did my research again and I like the separated cooking zones on the Flatrock. Also I didn't think I would use the Halo portable/separating feature with the unusual stand. The adjustable casters on the Halo are nice. The Halo was tempting but I ultimately went with the Flatrock. Traeger customer service has come through for me in the past on my Timberline 1300 and I know they will take care of any issues I might have on the Flatrock. I hope you enjoy your Halo griddle, they are impressive looking. So far the grease trap in the front doesn't seem like a problem.

[@crashcopter6000]

Thanks for the review ~ well done! I don't think the temps are an issue. Check out less expensive grill reviews. They have 100+ degree swings and the edges never break 250... It would even out with food on it - and you'll likely never cook that hot unless you're searing. Congrats on your new rig!

[@DAD_VOD]

Good to know, thank you for the feedback. I'm looking forward to cooking on this all summer!

[@ELEVOPR]

I did mine 7 times, I like the number 7 honestly it took me from like 2pm to about 10:30pm? My battery would not stay either and have to use tape to hold it. 15 Mintues to get hot 10 to 15 to stop smoking. 35-40 mintues to kool down. Plus all the down time in between Minutes were not exact and sometimes I let it kool down for longer Hence the 8.5 hours total. I did 7 thin layers making sure to soak up any lost running Avocado oil, Came out great nothing stuck to it, not the onions, not the Hot dogs, not the Chicken and not the Smash Burgers. Only thing I did not like is burger grease splattering all over the place, pretty messing with lots of cleaning in between. I Used to smoking slow and low and Grilling on gas grills, This type of cooking was by far the messiest ever and you must be at the grill at all times when cooking. Especially with smash burgers. Onions and chicken and hot dogs I can walk away a little. Not sure if I had fire on to high but I had it set at Medium to Medium High, Also not sure if all the splattering of grease was from griddle being to hot "Burgers Did Not burn" Or Burger Content was to fat as I used 73% Lean 27% fat. I have to say burgers came out fantastic and looked like show product. Just a bit to messy for my liking. I will try and turn down the heat to medium high and even at medium you can get up to 475+ Degrees Fahrenheit

[@f14flyer11]

make sure your 9v battery terminals are aligned correctly...mine fits fine...I can see if they are reversed it may not go fully in...

[@DAD_VOD]

@@f14flyer11 it ended up being defective and they sent me a new back panel

[@KevinCoop1]

Hmmmm. First and last video of your griddle. I think I’m happy with my Blackstone.

[@DAD_VOD]

LOL I'm not a great cook and don't do food reviews but I've definitely been using it a lot and enjoy it. Thanks for checking it out.

[@CatfishCraig]

Accessory or no Accessory version we need 😮

[@Mattmc23]

Did you hear back from Traeger on the battery issue??

[@conditionsunknown9384]

Do you have to have the battery at all ? I mean if I plug it up will the AC power cord work the burner lights and the ignition? Great video Thanks

[@DAD_VOD]

No, you don't need the battery but it's nice to have if you don't want to plug it in or if there is a power outage

[@weldonfamily979]

You got the paper towel on wrong. The chrome pieces go in the outside to keep the paper towel flaps down.

[@therealfastmart]

That explains why the roll kept unraveling in the wind! Thank you for calling this out!

[@TeXasDadBod]

All Traeger Flatrocks have been recalled the propane leaks when all the knobs are completely turned off. No license retailer is allowed to sell any that they have in stock currently .Call Traeger for replacement parts ASAP.

[@DAD_VOD]

Wow good to know! I'm surprised I have not received a notice from them yet as I registered mine through their warranty process. Also...I think there is a rusty spot on the griddle that I will need to report...

[@ZanzibarBQ]

The propane doesn't leak. What actually happened was they had a manufacturing issue with the knobs that led to some of them being mislabeled. This resulted in some people leaving the gas turned on by accident. It's not actually a malfunction with the unit, just a misprint on the knobs. If you turn in a recall claim for your Flatrock, they will simply send you new knobs.

[@joeywya453]

it wasnt a propane issue at all. it was a knob issue. and theyve been transparent in listing which serial numbers and getting them replaced. i just bought one today from home depot and the recall is still in place. the issue was the knob knotches being slightly off on some of them and the burner not turning off if youre not paying attention. what i read today was that it was about 60 units confirmed with the issue out of thousands and thousands

[@ELEVOPR]

I think you have to let it cool down each time you season it, is that correct? Planning on getting the Halo soon. Same prrocess. Thanks for sharing.

[@DAD_VOD]

You want it nice and hot when you put the the seasoning oil on it and rub it in then let it cool all the way down and repeat the process.

[@Nater9-9]

That’s not accurate. You wait for the smoke to clear before reapplication. Once fully seasoned, only then do you let it cool down. Give it at least 30 minutes to cool down before storing away.

[@therealfastmart]

@@Nater9-9 right, I may have added confusion but in the video I left it on high heat the whole time as a seasoned it waiting for the smoke to clear before reapplying and then after the final seasoning did I turn it off and let it cool down. I've seen others who let it cool down each time which I don't really understand as that would literally take forever! Thanks for watching.

[@Nater9-9]

@@therealfastmartfor sure. The instructions Traeger provides are a bit vague. Only reason I knew the exact answer was by contacting them via their website.

[@ELEVOPR]

@@Nater9-9 Yes, put on then wait for smoke to stop, wait till it cools down, reheat add another coat of oil, and repeat.

[@mr.yoshen2722]

What kind of towel did you use to apply that seasoning?

[@DAD_VOD]

I just used a cotton rag and it worked fine. I now use "shop rag" paper towels after each cook.

[@matthewehansen]

Is any of the enamel flaking off from inside the burner compartment?

[@therealfastmart]

Not yet, it is very durable unlike my previous Blackstone that had that issue.

[@matthewehansen]

@@therealfastmart interesting-I have tried two so far and both have been flaking off easily right out of the box. Picking up a 3rd tomorrow- fingers crossed.

[@matthewehansen]

3rd was flaking as was a 4th in the showroom as the floor model. Moving on and bought a Halo 4B.

[@JakeHolder]

@@matthewehansenhow do you like the halo? My first had the flaking and now about to open the second

[@matthewehansen]

@@JakeHolder it’s been awesome so far. Great quality, easy to assemble, and super easy to control heat and zones. I’ve never had a griddle before so maybe I am not biased by other manufacturer cooking style and how they operate but I don’t think there is a better option right now. The Traeger was just of poor quality. Poor metal prep, lack of attention to how the enamel was applied, lack of quality management and standards on their suppliers and sub-suppliers.

[@rkooscar6866]

What temperature reader is that.

[@DAD_VOD]

It's a generic one I picked up on Amazon. Can't say it's the best as I've noticed some variances compared to other thermometers but it's close enough for what I use it for.

[@rkooscar6866]

How is the tarp cover?

[@DAD_VOD]

The cover that comes with it is very nice and seems to be heavy duty. My only concern is how form fitting it is and if it will tear in the wind as it rubs on the metal.

[@101tecman]

9 volt door sucks I’m in same boat

[@DAD_VOD]

I contacted Traeger customer service and they sent me a new power source panel and it fixed the issue. Their customer service is 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@ktarv6111]

Did the cover come with it??

[@DAD_VOD]

No, unfortunately it costs an extra $100! But it is a nice heavy cover with a good zipper!

[@ktarv6111]

@@DAD_VOD thanks. I purchased it about a week ago and still in the box.

[@CatfishCraig]

Bud these are big companies. To fit a cover is nothing to them. Lets see if they listen??????

[@norrisdority3642]

Dude… get on with it