User Manual Traeger TFB30KLF Tailgater 20 Grills 37" Portable Wood Pellet Grill

• User Manual - (English)

Table of contents

• GETTING TO KNOW YOUR GRILL
• SEASONING YOUR GRILL
• SUBSEQUENT STARTUP
• USING YOUR GRILL
• MAINTAINING YOUR GRILL
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
• TROUBLESHOOTING

User manual Grill

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR GRILL

GRILL PARTS AND FEATURES

PELLET HOPPER

An 8-pound (3.6 kg) capacity pellet hopper will keep you cooking for hours. Pair that with Traeger’s Digital Arc Controller and delicious food is just a “click” away.

GRILLING SPACE

With 300 in.2 (0.19 m2 ) of grilling space, your Traeger® Grill has the real estate for party-sized orders of T-bones or racks of ribs.

BARREL SHAPE

Traeger’s signature barrel shape creates a vortex of convection. It circulates hot, smoky air around the cooking chamber, surrounding your food with wood-fired heat for even cooking on all sides.

NO FLARE-UPS

You don’t have to worry about drippings flaring up and causing nasty fireballs that destroy your meal because Traeger® Wood Fired Grills cook by using indirect heat. Most drippings are safely channeled into an external grease bucket for easy disposal.

TIP: Take care of your Traeger® Grill by using a new Traeger drip tray liner before each cook to help keep your grill clean.

YOUR CONTROL PANEL AND DISPLAY

Your Traeger® Grill is equipped with a Digital Arc Controller. Before you begin using the grill, it will be helpful to familiarize yourself with the different features of the control panel.

1. CENTER BUTTON Use this button to turn on the grill and cycle through Temperature > Timer > Probe Alarm modes. Press and hold for two seconds to cancel a setting. To put the grill in the shut-down cycle, press and hold the button for two seconds in Temperature Adjustment mode.
2. “UP”/“DOWN” BUTTONS Press the “Up”/“Down” buttons to increase or decrease temperature or time. Press and hold to increase or decrease the time rapidly.
   • NOTES: Press and hold the “Up” and “Down” buttons at the same time for 3 seconds to switch between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
3. IGNITE Press IGNITE to start the grill.
4. MEAT PROBE JACK Plug the meat probe into the jack for probe cooking.
5. KEEP WARM This feature maintains the grill temperature at 165°F (74°C) to keep food warm.
6. STATUS DISPLAY Shows current temperature, time remaining in Timer mode, or probe cooking temperature.
7. INDICATOR LIGHT PANEL The icons on this panel will light up when the corresponding feature is active.

The Timer icon will light when the timer is active.

The Meat Probe icon will light once the probe is plugged in and recognized by the grill.

The Keep Warm icon will light while this feature is active.

SEASONING YOUR GRILL

TO BE USED ON INITIAL FIRING ONLY.

In order to ensure proper and safe operation of the grill, follow the instructions below, first, to prime the auger (“charge” the auger tube with pellets) and, second, to season your grill (run your grill at a high temperature).

Remove the porcelain-coated grill grate, grease drip tray, and heat baffle from the inside of the grill.

PLUG APPEARANCE MAY VARY BY REGION.

With the main power switch on the back of the grill hopper in the OFF (O) position, plug the power cord into an appropriate grounded/earthed GFCI electrical outlet.

Open the hopper lid. Make sure there are no foreign objects in the auger before adding pellets to the hopper. Turn grill on: Flip the main power switch on the back of the grill to ON (I). With the grill in Idle mode, press and hold the “Up” and IGNITE buttons simultaneously. The display will flash “Pri” and the auger will begin priming.

NOTE: Once you turn on your grill, it will enter Idle mode, and the display’s dashed border will pulse. This indicates your grill is awaiting a command, and is not actively operating. The grill MUST be in Idle mode to prime the auger.

Check that there is air movement from the draft inducer fan by placing your fingers over the firepot. If the hot rod is getting hot, it will turn red.

DANGER! Do not touch the hot rod.

Press and hold the center button for two seconds in Temperature Adjustment mode to put the grill into the shut-down cycle.

Fill the hopper with your choice of TRAEGER® BRAND HARDWOOD PELLETS. After adding pellets to the hopper, close the hopper lid. We recommend you fill the hopper with pellets at least to the safety grate in the hopper. The auger tube should take approximately 2 minutes to fill with pellets and begin dispensing into the firepot.

To confirm that pellets have reached the firepot, simply check to see that they are moving from the auger tube into the firepot. You only need a few pellets in the firepot to properly ignite your grill and begin the seasoning process.

Continue priming until a small amount of pellets are in direct contact with the hot rod in the firepot. Press and hold the “Up” and IGNITE buttons simultaneously to stop priming and return the grill to Idle mode.

Now you’re ready to place the heat baffle, grease drip tray, and porcelain-coated grill grate back into the grill.

RECOMMENDATION: For easy cleanup, line the grease drip tray with Traeger® Aluminum Drip Tray Liners or heavy-duty aluminum foil. If using foil, be sure the edges and ends of the foil are tight against the bottom of the grease drip tray. Replace foil after each cook to reduce the possibility of a grease fire. Please see “Maintaining Your Grill” on page 25 for more details.

Press the “Up” button until the temperature display reads 450°F (250°C).

NOTE: To change between Celsius (C) and Fahrenheit (F), press and hold the “Up” and “Down” buttons simultaneously

Press the IGNITE button. Let the grill run at 450°F (250°C) for 30 minutes with the door closed to complete the seasoning process.

The controller for this grill comes with an automatic shut-down cycle. When finished cooking on your grill, press and hold the center button for 3 seconds. The display will flash “OFF” for several seconds, then scroll “COOL Dn” followed by the actual temperature until the grill cools down to a safe temperature. While the controller is flashing “OFF,” you can cancel the shut-down cycle by pressing and holding the center button for two seconds.

CONTROLLER SHUT-DOWN CYCLE

Always allow the shut-down cycle to completely finish before powering off your grill at the main power switch. The shut-down cycle ensures the fire is suppressed and the grill ignites properly on the next use.

DANGER! Turning off the main power switch will cut power to the grill components only. When servicing the controller or any other parts, ensure that the power supply is disconnected to avoid an electrical shock hazard.

SUBSEQUENT STARTUP

With the door closed and the main power switch set to ON (I), press the center button once to wake the grill controller. Set the desired temperature with the “Up” button.

Once the desired temperature is displayed, press IGNITE. Allow grill to preheat until desired temperature is achieved.

NOTES:

• If the grill fails to achieve the selected temperature, please see “Operating Tips” on page 28 for more information.
• Once you press the IGNITE button, your Traeger® Grill will always begin with an ignition and preheat cycle.

USING YOUR GRILL

YOU WILL NEED TO BEGIN WITH THESE STEPS EVERY TIME YOU USE YOUR GRILL.

PRE-GRILLING CHECKLIST

1. Check for and do needed maintenance:
   • Clean the Traeger® Grease Management System:
     • Grill Grate
     • Drip Tray
     • Grease Trough
     • Grease Chute
     • Grease Bucket
   • Remove ash (after approximately 20 hours of cooking).
   • Check power cord for twists, damage or fraying.
2. Make sure grill is correctly assembled with all parts present before using grill:
   • Heat Baffle
   • Drip Tray
   • Grill Grate
3. Make sure you have proper airflow:
   • Rear Exhaust
4. Make sure grill is a safe distance from combustibles (see page 2).
5. Make sure grill is on a level surface.
6. Inspect pellets:
   • Make sure you have enough pellets in the hopper.
   • Make sure pellets are not wet.
7. Close the hopper lid.
8. Close grill door.

YOU WILL NEED TO BEGIN WITH THESE STEPS EVERY TIME YOU USE YOUR GRILL.

PLUG APPEARANCE MAY VARY BY REGION.

WARNING! Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection must be provided on the circuit or outlet used to power the grill.

Press the “Up,” “Down,” or center button to wake the grill controller.

Once your grill is on, press the “Up” or “Down” button to select your desired temperature, press the center button, then press IGNITE to start the preheat cycle. Make sure the door is closed.

WARNING!

• When operating this grill, maintain a minimum clearance of 18 inches (45.7 cm) from grill to combustibles, such as wooden railings or home siding.
• Never operate this grill under a combustible ceiling or overhang.
• Only operate grill outdoors.
• Use ONLY TRAEGER® BRAND HARDWOOD PELLETS, which are specifically made to work in our grills. Never use heating fuel pellets in the grill.

Once preheating is complete, load food into the grill. See page 20 if using the meat probe prior to loading food into the grill.

NOTE: Always run your grill through the full shut-down cycle when you are finished using your grill. To initiate the shut-down cycle, press and hold the center button for two seconds in Temperature Adjustment mode.

WARNING! We recommend you clean the grease drip tray and TGMS frequently to reduce the possibility of a grease fire. Please see “Maintaining Your Grill” on page 25 for more details.

Close the grill door to proceed with cooking. Unlike a gas grill, you must keep the grill door shut during cooking.

IN CASE OF FIRE:

WARNING! With regular maintenance and cleaning of your Traeger® Grill, a grease fire is unlikely. In the unlikely event of fire, immediately turn the grill OFF (O) and leave the grill door closed until the fire is out. Do not unplug the power cord. Do not throw water on the unit. Do not try to smother the fire. With the grill door closed, the fire will be starved of oxygen and burn itself out. If an uncontrolled fire does occur, call the Fire Department.

COOKING WITH THE MEAT PROBE

Use this method when your recipe specifies an internal goal temperature for your food.

Insert the meat probe’s plug into the jack on the lower left corner of the controller, then thread probe through the access hole grommet on the left side of the grill barrel, as shown.

Insert the probe tip into the thickest part of the meat—not in the fatty portion or touching bone. The probe needs to be in the meat at least 2" (5.1 cm). This probe may not be suitable if you can’t insert the probe into the thickest part of the meat and 2" (5.1 cm) inches into the meat.

WARNING!

• Meat probe is extremely hot during and after cooking. Use caution when removing.

• Improper placement of the meat probe or improper meat probe calibration could result in raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs, which may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

Reading the temperature: Press the center button on the control. The probe temperature will display for 5 seconds, then revert back to the temperature of the grill. After removing your food from the grill, always use a meat thermometer to confirm that you have actually achieved the target internal meat temperature.

WARNING! Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

REIGNITING YOUR GRILL

WARNING! If at any time the grill fails to light, or the fire in the firepot goes out while cooking or smoking and there are sufficient pellets in the pellet hopper, it is important that you follow these steps. Failure to do so may cause a hazardous “over-firing” of your grill due to an excess of unburned pellets in the firepot.

DANGER! If the grill failed to light or the fire went out, turn the main power switch OFF (O) and disconnect the power cord. If the grill is still hot, allow it to cool thoroughly

Open the door and remove all food, the porcelain-coated grill grate, the grease drip tray, and the heat baffle.

WARNING! After the grill, pellets, and ash have completely cooled, remove all unburned pellets and ash from inside and around the firepot. (See instructions for proper handling and disposal of ash on page 26.)

Plug power cord into an appropriate grounded electrical outlet and restart the grill. Pellets should fall into the firepot and the hot rod should begin to heat (it will start to turn red).

CAUTION! Do not touch the hot rod.

When flames start to come out of the firepot, turn the main power switch OFF (O). Let the grill completely cool. Place the heat baffle, grease drip tray, and porcelaincoated grill grate back into the grill.

With the main power switch set to ON (I), press the center button once to wake the grill controller. Set the desired temperature with the “Up” button.

NOTE: If the procedure is not successful, see the “Frequently Asked Questions” section on page 27 for troubleshooting tips or contact Traeger’s customer service (see page 30) to help diagnose the problem.

MAINTAINING YOUR GRILL

WARNING Fire Hazard: Grease fires are most frequently caused by failing to properly maintain the grill by not cleaning the grease from the unit on a consistent basis.

WARNING Turn the main power switch on back of the grill hopper OFF (O) and disconnect the power cord before initiating any of the maintenance below.

1. CLEANING YOUR TRAEGER GREASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (“TGMS”):

During your cooks, grease drippings will fall onto (i) the grease drip tray and be channeled into (ii) the grease drain (the “Trough”) and then out of the grill through (iii) the grease drain tube, (iv) to be collected in the grease bucket. These four components are the components of the Traeger® Grease Management System (TGMS). Grease will accumulate in all of these locations and should be regularly cleaned to reduce the risk of fire.

How often you need to clean the TGMS depends on the fat content of your food. Fattier foods will require cleaning of the TGMS more often, and sometimes you will need to clean the TGMS after every cook.

Visible pieces of food and bits of hardened grease or other buildup indicate a need for cleaning.

All components of the TGMS should be inspected before each use for signs of grease buildup.

CAUTION Accumulated grease is easier to clean off when the grill is still warm—not hot. Be careful not to burn yourself. Heat-protective gloves are recommended.

Clean the grease out of the V-shaped grease drain (the “Trough”) and grease drain tube. We recommend cleaning these locations regularly.

Remove all grill grates and the grease drip tray. This will provide access to the V-shaped grease drain and grease drain tube opening inside the grill. Scrape the grease accumulation from inside the V-shaped grease drain and grease drain tube using a stiff, nonmetallic tool. Much of the loosened grease can be pushed down through the grease drain tube and will fall into the grease bucket. Wipe up remaining grease residue with paper towels or disposable rags.

Regularly clean the grease out of the grill barrel on the interior bottom and sides. If grease is allowed to build up, a grease fire could result.

Scrape the grease accumulation from inside the barrel using a stiff, nonmetallic tool. Much of the loosened grease can be removed using paper towels or disposable rags. Excessive scraped-off residue can be cleaned using a vacuum cleaner as described in Step 4 page 26) when cleaning the firepot of ashes.

Inspect and clean the heat baffle for any grease or debris.

NOTE: Traeger’s drip tray liners can help keep your grill clean and can help reduce the risk of flare-ups.

2. CREOSOTE REMOVAL:

When wood pellets are burned slowly, they produce tar and other organic vapors that combine with expelled moisture to form creosote. The creosote vapors condense in the relatively cool exhaust vent of a slowburning fire. As a result, creosote accumulates on the exhaust vent lining. When ignited, creosote makes an extremely hot fire. Airborne grease particles will travel through the cooking chamber, and some of this airborne grease will accumulate on the exhaust vent lining, similar to creosote. This could contribute to a fire.

Periodically scrape the creosote and grease accumulation from the inside of the vertical and horizontal sections of the flue pipe or interior lining using a stiff, nonmetallic tool. A wooden paint stir stick, for example, would work for this task. Once the creosote and grease residue has been loosened from the interior lining and ventilation gaps in this downdraft system, much of it can be removed with paper towels or disposable rags. Do not spray water or other liquid cleaners onto the inside of your grill to remove creosote.

NOTE: The Traeger® Downdraft Exhaust System should be inspected at least twice a year to determine when a creosote and/or grease buildup has occurred.

When creosote or grease has accumulated, it should be removed to reduce the risk of a fire.

3. OUTSIDE STORAGE:

CAUTION If the grill is stored outside, care should be taken to ensure that water does not get into the pellet hopper. Wood pellets expand greatly when wet and will jam your auger. Always cover your grill when not in use with a Traeger® Grill Cover. This custom-fit cover can be purchased at traeger.com.

4. CLEANING THE ASH FROM INSIDE AND AROUND THE FIREPOT (EVERY 20 HOURS OF USE):

WARNING Make sure that the grill is COLD and ashes are extinguished and COLD before cleaning the ash.

WARNING Disposal of ashes should be done only according to the following instructions.

Excess ash in the firepot will hamper ignition and may cause your fire to go out. The firepot should be inspected occasionally and cleaned to remove the ash buildup. Again, cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot should be done only when the grill and ash are COLD.

Remove the grill grate, grease drip tray, and heat baffle to provide access to the firepot and the interior of the grill. Much of the ash outside of the firepot can be removed from the grill with a small metal fireplace shovel or other similar tool.

WARNING A dedicated vacuum cleaner is the best way to remove ashes from the firepot, but this must be done with extreme care to avoid the risk of fire. Again, cleaning the ash from in and around the firepot should be done only when the ash is extinguished and the grill and ash are COLD.

A utility-type vacuum cleaner having a metal collection canister without a bag would be best for this task. However, almost any vacuum cleaner will work safely if this procedure is properly followed.

After ensuring that the ash in the firepot is COLD, vacuum the ash from the inside of the firepot.

a. If your vacuum cleaner is a bagless model, empty any previously accumulated debris from the collection chamber. Then vacuum the ash from the inside of the firepot. Once the firepot is clean, empty the collection chamber into the metal container handled in the manner described below under Disposal of Ashes without delay. Make sure that there is no remaining ash residue left in the collection chamber.

b. If your vacuum cleaner is a model that uses a disposable bag, install an unused bag in the machine. Then vacuum the ash from the inside of the firepot. Once the firepot is clean, remove the bag from the vacuum cleaner and place it in a metal container handled in the manner described under Disposal of Ashes below.

5. DISPOSAL OF ASHES:

WARNING Ashes should always be completely cooled before handling. Ashes should be placed in a metal container with a tight-fitting lid. The closed container of ashes should be placed on a noncombustible floor or on the ground, well away from all combustible materials, pending final disposal. Ashes should be retained in the closed container until they are disposed.

6. CLEANING THE GRILL GRATES:

DANGER Cleaning the grill grates works best while they are still warm. Be careful not to burn yourself. Heat-protective gloves are recommended.

We recommend keeping a long-handled cleaning brush near the grill. After removing your food, give the grill grate a quick brushing. It takes only a minute and it will be ready the next time you want to use the grill.

7. CLEANING OUTSIDE SURFACES:

WARNING Turn the main power switch OFF (O) and disconnect the power cord before initiating cleaning.

Use a disposable rag or cloth dampened with Traeger® All Natural Cleaner or warm, soapy water to wipe the grease from the outside of the grill. DO NOT use oven cleaner, abrasive cleansers, or abrasive cleaning pads on the outside grill surfaces.

8. TESTING THE GRILL AFTER CLEANING:

Before replacing the heat baffle, grease drip tray, and the grill grate, plug the power cord into an appropriate grounded/earthed electrical outlet and turn the switch ON (I). After you set the temperature and press IGNITE, pellets should fall into the firepot and the hot rod should begin to heat (it will start to turn red).

CAUTION Do not touch the hot rod.

When flames start to come out of the firepot, run the shut-down cycle. Let the grill cool down. Now you’re ready to place the heat baffle, grease drip tray, grill grate, and food back onto the grill.

9. If the power supply cord is damaged, it must be replaced by a special cord assembly available from Traeger.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Following are frequently asked questions along with their answers:

TROUBLESHOOTING

Although rare, you may see an error or warning message display on your control panel. Please refer to the following chart for a list of error messages and how to resolve them: