Traeger Ironwood 650 vs 885 (2021): What’s the Difference Between the Pellet Grills?

Fact: Traeger is synonymous with pellet grills, and you’re already on the right track if you’re planning on buying one from it. After all, its products are versatile and reliable and can last you through the years.

The Ironwood 650 and 885 are two smart pellet grills that came out not too long ago. Compared to their “dumb” counterparts, they come with several features that could up your cooking game. But how are they different from each other? We compare the two to help you decide which one you should get.

Traeger Ironwood 650 vs 885 Comparison Chart

Design and Build

Traeger’s iconic sawhorse design is alive and well in the Ironwood 650 and 885.

When you first lay your eyes on the Ironwood 650 and 885, it’s unmistakably a Traeger grill. They sport the brand’s sawhorse legs, as well as its all-terrain wheels to make moving them around an easy task.

Going by just their build, you’d be hard-pressed doubting their overall quality. They’re also capable of holding up to 20 lbs. of pellets, so you’ll have plenty of fuel to smoke food for hours on end.

You’d get pretty much the same experience on either one. The only difference is that the Traeger Ironwood 885 is larger, and by the same token, you can cook more food on it.

Cooking Performance

You can cook a lot more meat at a time with the Traeger Ironwood 885.

The Traeger Ironwood 650 (left) can accommodate plenty of food, but the Ironwood 885 (right) takes it up a notch.

These grills’ names refer to their total cooking area in square inches. At that, the Traeger Ironwood 650 and 885 have 650 sq. in. and 885 sq. in. of space to work with, respectively. That’s taking into account the main and top racks, for the record.

This two-tier grate setup is adjustable. You can remove the top rack if you don’t need it, for instance. You can even move the main rack higher if you’re dealing with more delicate food.

Last but not least, it has a grease tray beneath the grates. It’ll not only catch drippings and funnel them into a bucket on the side, but it’ll also vaporize them to impart even more smoky flavor to what you’re cooking.

Just like other Traeger products, these are also versatile. You can use them to grill, smoke, barbecue, bake, roast, and braise—you name it.

Controls and Other Features

Traeger adds a touch of “smartness” to grilling and smoking.

The Traeger Ironwood 650 and 885 have features to take the heavy lifting out of the picture and ensure a full-bodied smoky flavor. On their D2 Controller, you can set the temperature between 165°F and 500°F. The D2 Direct Drive auger will then automatically add the amount of pellets you need depending on the temperature you selected.

Thanks to their WiFIRE technology, you can monitor and control the temperature on the Traeger app. Speaking of, the app contains a ton of recipes to choose from. If you find one that tickles your fancy, you can send it to the grill. It’ll then set the optimal temperature and cooking time on its own, making it beginner friendly. Throughout the cooking process, you can also stay on top of how much heat is inside with the included probe.

Moreover, they have a Super Smoke mode that produces as much smoke as possible. The way it works is it drops the temperature and uses the grills’ fan at variable speeds. Their Downdraft Exhaust System also makes sure that the smoke won’t leave the grill until it has completely circled around the barrel. It goes without saying that these make for a deep woody flavor.

Verdict

The decision really depends on whom you’re cooking for.

There’s no definite winner here, considering the only difference is size. In other words, choosing between them really boils down to what you need. If you’re cooking for a small or medium family, the Traeger Ironwood 650 is more than enough. But if you have a large family or frequently have guests over, the Ironwood 885 is your better bet.

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