The catch
Traeger Woodridge Elite
The side sear station is its own cooking surface, and the pellet chamber still tops out at 500°F.
Side by side
Traeger Woodridge Elite vs Traeger Ironwood 885: More weight buys Elite a side station and an ash keg
Quick verdict
Take the included side station and ash keg, or go for the lighter Ironwood 885.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Put total multi-level rack area on the same basis for comparison
Woodridge Elite has 970 square inches and Ironwood 885 has 885, a difference of 85 square inches, or 9.6% of the smaller figure.
Where this comes from
970 minus 885 = 85 sq in. 85 ÷ 885 × 100 = 9.6%. Both totals add up several rack levels, so they are not a continuous pan area. No serving count is drawn from them.
The catch
Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
Expect a heavy grill that claims a lot of patio space.
Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Why pick it
- Separate searing and enclosed storage are what you want
- The combined ash and grease keg is your preference
- The catch
- The side sear station is its own cooking surface, and the pellet chamber still tops out at 500°F.
Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Why pick it
- Your food works well with the Ironwood 885 rack layout
- A published chassis 46lb lighter appeals to you
- The catch
- Expect a heavy grill that claims a lot of patio space.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
Woodridge Elite or Ironwood 885? Compare usable rack space, pellet capacity, searing setup and cleanup before you commit to a grill.
Take the included side station and ash keg, or go for the lighter Ironwood 885.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
The largest uninterrupted main grate is what the meal needs
Elite’s listed total is 970 square inches, 85 more than Ironwood 885 has. Multiple rack levels and Super Smoke come with both, so the new name does not by itself mean a new smoking mode.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Depends
- Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
A planned pellet reserve for a long cook
Elite’s hopper takes 24lb, and Ironwood’s takes 20lb. Both pellet chambers stop at 500°F, and Elite adds a separate side station for finishing and other pan work.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Depends
- Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
Regular cooks in which cleanup and movement matter
Ironwood sticks with the older arrangement for maintaining grease and ash. Elite’s keg and enclosed storage may justify the larger appliance, but nothing is claimed about a measured temperature-stability or fuel-efficiency gain from its insulation.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Depends
- Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
A 20lb bag goes into an empty Elite with 4lb of hopper space to spare
A 20lb bag uses up the Ironwood’s nominal hopper capacity. In the Elite hopper, the same bag leaves 4lb free.
- Traeger Woodridge Elite
- Depends
- Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Depends
In practice
Differences you will notice
Put total multi-level rack area on the same basis for comparison
Woodridge Elite has 970 square inches and Ironwood 885 has 885, a difference of 85 square inches, or 9.6% of the smaller figure.
How we worked this out
970 minus 885 = 85 sq in. 85 ÷ 885 × 100 = 9.6%. Both totals add up several rack levels, so they are not a continuous pan area. No serving count is drawn from them.
The hopper comparison becomes usable once a pellet-burn assumption is stated
Elite's hopper holds 4lb more than Ironwood 885's. At the illustrative 1.5lb/h rate, that is a 2.7-hour fuel margin. Both pellet chambers still top out at 500°F.
How we worked this out
The only reason for assuming a constant 1.5lb/h burn is to put the hoppers on the same scale. 24 ÷ 1.5 = 16h. 20 ÷ 1.5 = 13.3h. In practice, use depends on temperature, weather, the food and the grill design. It is not advice to run a grill unattended.
A 20lb bag goes into an empty Elite with 4lb of hopper space to spare
A 20lb bag uses up the Ironwood’s nominal hopper capacity. In the Elite hopper, the same bag leaves 4lb free.
How we worked this out
Elite 24 minus 20 = 4lb. Ironwood 20 minus 20 = 0lb. Hopper capacity cannot tell you how long it is safe to leave a grill unattended.
Option A
Traeger, Woodridge Elite
Woodridge Elite
Body insulation, Super Smoke mode and a separate side sear station come with this 970-square-inch pellet grill. Its 221lb chassis is meant for a patio cooking area that is already established.
- Best for
- Smoking, with high-heat finishing kept separate
Facts we checked
- 585 sq in on the main rack, 970 sq in in total
- Maximum chamber setting of 500°F, plus a 24lb hopper
- Published grill weight of 221lb
- EZ-Clean keg that combines grease and ash
Option B
Traeger, TFB89BLF
Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
Its pellet hopper holds 20 pounds and its cooking area measures 885 square inches.
- Best for
- cook for eight or more people as well as a family of four
Facts we checked
- Cooking area comes to 885 square inches.
- Hopper capacity is 20 pounds of pellets.
- Its top listed setting is 500°F.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Traeger Woodridge Elite | Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooking surfaces | 970 sq in total, 585 sq in main rack | 885 sq in total | Elite’s listed total is 970 square inches, 85 more than Ironwood 885 has. Multiple rack levels and Super Smoke come with both, so the new name does not by itself mean a new smoking mode. |
| Pellet supply | 24lb hopper | 20lb hopper | Elite’s hopper takes 24lb, and Ironwood’s takes 20lb. Both pellet chambers stop at 500°F, and Elite adds a separate side station for finishing and other pan work. |
| Chamber ceiling and searing | 500°F, separate side sear station | 500°F, indirect cooking | Chamber settings, localized flame heat and separate side stations measure different things. Match the cooking method along with the temperature. |
| Controls and smoke mode | Wi-Fi app access, Super Smoke mode | Wi-Fi app access, Super Smoke mode | Connectivity helps only where the network reaches. No advantage in flavor or temperature accuracy is inferred from a named mode. |
| Cleaning and installation | EZ-Clean combined grease and ash keg, 221lb dry weight | Separate grease bucket and periodic internal ash cleaning, 175lb dry weight | Ironwood sticks with the older arrangement for maintaining grease and ash. Elite’s keg and enclosed storage may justify the larger appliance, but nothing is claimed about a measured temperature-stability or fuel-efficiency gain from its insulation. |
| Patio equipment | Body insulation, enclosed cabinet and included side station | No Elite cabinet and side-station package | What the Elite adds affects storage, prep and finishing. No numeric fuel saving is assumed from the insulation. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Traeger Woodridge Elite
- The advertised total area counts an upper rack. Check actual pans and cuts against the footprint and vertical clearance.
With Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
- Despite sitting at the premium end, it offers no direct-flame searing.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
Separate searing and enclosed storage are what you want
Go with Traeger Woodridge Elite. Elite’s listed total is 970 square inches, 85 more than Ironwood 885 has. Multiple rack levels and Super Smoke come with both, so the new name does not by itself mean a new smoking mode.
Your food works well with the Ironwood 885 rack layout
Go with Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill. Ironwood sticks with the older arrangement for maintaining grease and ash. Elite’s keg and enclosed storage may justify the larger appliance, but nothing is claimed about a measured temperature-stability or fuel-efficiency gain from its insulation.
Decision guide
How to decide
It comes down to the included side station and ash keg versus the lighter Ironwood 885.
Fit the food to the actual racks
Elite’s listed total is 970 square inches, 85 more than Ironwood 885 has. Multiple rack levels and Super Smoke come with both, so the new name does not by itself mean a new smoking mode.
Fuel capacity and cooking temperature are separate matters
Elite’s hopper takes 24lb, and Ironwood’s takes 20lb. Both pellet chambers stop at 500°F, and Elite adds a separate side station for finishing and other pan work.
Think through the routine of cooking and cleaning
Ironwood sticks with the older arrangement for maintaining grease and ash. Elite’s keg and enclosed storage may justify the larger appliance, but nothing is claimed about a measured temperature-stability or fuel-efficiency gain from its insulation.
What this page can’t tell you
- Treat the pellet-duration estimates as illustration only. They use a stated illustrative burn rate, so they are not measured runtime or permission to leave a grill unattended.
- Rack totals leave open both the serving count and whether a single large item fits.
- Smoke-flavor, temperature-stability and searing-performance tests are not claimed.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the pellet grills and smokers we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
8 of the 22 models checked meet every need here: “Run a brisket overnight” and “Get to 500 degrees or more for a hot finish”.
8 models fit, out of 22 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “Run a brisket overnight” and “Get to 500 degrees or more for a hot finish”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Traeger Woodridge Elite |
|
|
|
| Traeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Traeger Woodridge Elite
Separate searing and enclosed storage are what you want
See price & reviews on AmazonTraeger Ironwood 885 WiFIRE Pellet Grill
Your food works well with the Ironwood 885 rack layout
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money