How to Use a Pellet Grill: Step by Step, With Traeger's and Pit Boss's Own Instructions

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Last reviewed: November 2026. Sources last checked November 2, 2026. The procedures below are quoted from Traeger and Pit Boss; we have not tested them on every model. Your owner's manual has the final word for your grill.

Using a pellet grill comes down to five things: burn it in once before the first cook, start it the way your maker says, cook with the lid closed, cook to internal temperature, and let the shutdown cycle finish. The grill does the rest: an auger feeds hardwood pellets to a firepot, an igniter lights them, and a fan and controller hold the temperature you set. The details differ by brand, and Traeger and Pit Boss even disagree on whether the lid should be open at start-up, so below we quote both and say where they differ.

What you need

• Pellets made for grilling. Traeger describes its own as "made from 100% natural, food-grade hardwood." Grilling pellets on Amazon
• An outlet. The auger, fan and controller run on household power: Traeger's start-up steps begin with "Plug in the grill and turn it on using the power switch."
• A meat thermometer, because you cook to internal temperature, not by the clock. Instant-read thermometers on Amazon

Before the first cook: the burn-in

Both makers call for a first firing before you cook anything. Traeger says "this simple, one-time initial firing process will burn off any residual, non-toxic oils from the manufacturing process." How long it takes depends on the grill:

Traeger's own summary: "A WiFIRE grill will take about one and a half hours, while a non-connected grill will take roughly an hour." Pit Boss does not publish times on its start-up page. It asks you to "watch the video below and follow the steps to complete the burn off on your grill."

How to use a pellet grill, step by step

1. Fill the hopper with dry pellets. Damp pellets cause problems: Traeger says "moisture can expand the wood and make it crumbly. Crumbly pellets can clog the grill's auger and may fail to ignite."
2. Start it the way your maker says, lid included. Pit Boss says to "open up the hood of your grill and set it to 'smoke'," because on that setting "the grill will feed pellets for 3 ½ to 4 minutes and then stops," giving the igniter a chance to light. Traeger says the opposite for its Timberline and Ironwood grills, which are "designed to ignite and preheat with the lid closed." Check your manual.
3. Wait for the fire, then set your temperature. Pit Boss says "from the time you turn it on to the time you have a fire is only about 3 minutes." Traeger's first-firing steps say to "wait approximately 15 minutes for the fire to establish," and warn that on its large grills "preheat time can take longer than expected." Don't expect the readout to sit perfectly still: Traeger says that at a 350°F setting "the actual internal temperature may fluctuate ±15°F."
4. Add the food and keep the lid closed. Traeger: "Every time you open your lid, you lose heat."
5. Cook to internal temperature. Use the numbers in the table below, measured in the thickest part of the meat.
6. Let the shutdown cycle finish. Traeger says "the shutdown cycle typically takes between 25 and 30 minutes," during which "the grill will burn off excess pellets as it cools," and that "not allowing this cycle to complete can cause issues with ignition and temperature management during your next cook." Pit Boss describes its own routine: turn the dial down to 200°F for five minutes so the pellets burn out, then, with the lid closed, turn it to OFF, and "the grill will begin its automatic cooldown cycle."

Safe internal temperatures

Those are the minimums on the USDA FSIS safe temperature chart. For pork, the National Pork Board agrees: "The safe internal pork cooking temperature is 145° F followed by a 3-minute rest," and "ground pork should always be cooked to 160° F." Cuts you smoke to pull, like pork shoulder, go much higher than the safe minimum so they turn tender.

Cleaning and pellet storage

• Clean the inside regularly. Traeger's schedule: "Every 2-3 Cooks (or every 20-24 hours of cook time): Deep clean the inside of the grill."
• Only vacuum ash from a cold grill. Traeger says a dedicated vacuum is the best way to clear the firepot, "but this must be done with extreme care to avoid the risk of fire. Make sure your grill is COLD when cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot."
• Store pellets dry. Traeger says to "keep them dry and airtight." Pit Boss adds that "damp pellets can also throw off temperature or just not ignite at all."
• Keep pellets away from heat. Pit Boss: "Wood pellets are extremely flammable and should be used and stored with caution."

Common beginner mistakes

• Skipping or cutting short the shutdown cycle.
• Starting with the lid in the wrong position for your brand.
• Opening the lid to check on the food.
• Using pellets that got damp.
• Vacuuming ash before the grill is cold.
• Cooking by time instead of internal temperature.

FAQ

How long does a pellet grill take to light?

Pit Boss says about 3 minutes from switching on to a fire. Traeger's first-firing steps allow about 15 minutes for the fire to establish, and preheating takes longer on big grills.

Do you need to season a new pellet grill?

Yes. Traeger and Pit Boss both call for a first burn-in before you cook. Traeger's takes roughly an hour on non-connected grills and about an hour and a half on WiFIRE grills.

Should the lid be open or closed when starting a pellet grill?

It depends on the brand. Pit Boss says to open the hood and set it to smoke. Traeger says its Timberline and Ironwood grills ignite and preheat with the lid closed. Follow your owner's manual.

Related: Five pellet grills compared · Pit Boss vs Traeger

Sources

Traeger: how to season a grill, success tips for Timberline and Ironwood, how to clean a grill and how to store pellets. Pit Boss: starting up your wood pellet grill and the dos and don'ts of wood pellet storage. Safe temperatures: USDA FSIS and National Pork Board.

Sources last checked November 2, 2026.

If you want to know other articles similar to How to Use a Pellet Grill: Step by Step, With Traeger's and Pit Boss's Own Instructions you can visit the category Pellet Grill Reviews.