MSRP: $549
Type: Premium Pellet Grill
Grilling area: 549 square inches
Temperature Range: 160°F to 450°F
Wifi Enabled: No
Hopper Capacity: 18 lbs of Wood Pellets
Weight: 132 pounds
Dimensions (WxDxH): 40.39 in. x 22.4 in. x 27.28 in
What I Like: Great value (Grill, cover, meat probe shelf included), quality construction, excellent customer service
What I don’t: Not wifi enabled, controls a bit vague at first
The Traeger Fremont Pellet Grill may be the one pellet grill that I get the most questions about. That is because the Traeger Fremont is an amazing value and it is only sold at Costco Warehouse. You cannot find this pellet grill online or at any other store other than Costco. It is a great grill for a great price, and I have recommended this grill to friends countless times.
Since so many people have an eye on a Traeger Fremont, I thought I would write an in-depth review so you can decide if it’s the right pellet grill for you!
Key Features
Traeger is considered among the best pellet grill manufacturers in the US. They were the first company to patent the original pellet grill technology and had exclusive manufacturing rights up until very recently when its patent expired.
Digital Arc Control System
The Fremont features Traeger’s new Digital Arc Controller. This digital controller is an upgrade from the standard dial controller found on the entry-level Traeger Pro 22. The Digital Arc Controller lets you control the temperature in 5-degree increments from 180 degrees F to 450 degrees F. But also the left side of the controller has a “Keep Warm” button that takes the grill down to 160F if you want to keep food warm after it is cooked, but it is not quite time to eat.
The control panel has one input port for the included meat probe. The digital display shows the internal temperature of the cooking chamber and the temperature of the probe.
Pellet Hopper
The Fremont pellet hopper can hold 18 pounds of wood pellets, which is pretty standard. The hopper clean-out system at the base of the hopper is well-designed and very easy to use. This may seem like a minor point, but some hoppers can be difficult to completely empty. However, Traeger keeps it simple and it just works. This is a real value when you are looking to quickly change pellets for the food you are cooking.
The hopper does not come with a pellet sensor that lets you know when the hopper is low like on some of the high-end Traeger models.
Overall Build Quality
The Fremont pellet grill is constructed with powder-coated steel to prevent chipping and rusting. The cooking grates in the cooking chamber feature porcelain-coated steel, so they will never rust and food will not stick to them.
The pellet hopper has been designed with a high-grade polymer induction fan. The front shelf is solid power-coated steel as well and is sold. The two bottom wheels are very stout. Overall Trager pellet grills easily have an above-average quality in comparison to their competitors.
Even though the Fremont is considered an entry-level pellet grill Traeger did not skimp on the build quality. This grill also has a 7-year warranty on the body, legs, and hopper, and a 3-year warranty on the grates and controller.
Cooking with the Traeger Fremont Pellet Grill
Cooking on the Trager Fremont is an absolute joy. Although this pellet grill may not have all the bells and whistles of some of the high-end pellet grills, this grill consistently performs. It features a max temp of 450 degrees which is definitely hot enough to grill, it has a large enough cooking capacity to fit a whole packer brisket, and it has a pellet hopper large enough to run for 24 hours. And it won’t break the bank!
Grilling
The Fremont has a top temperature of 450 degrees F, which is more than sufficient for grilling. It does not offer any sort of direct flame capability of other searing features that some higher-end pellet grills feature, but that does not compromise the ability to grill. There is no question this Traeger can easily grill burgers, dogs, and steaks.
One of the best features about grilling on this Traeger is you never have to worry about flare-ups. The fire pot is completely protected with a large hit diffuser which evenly distributes the heat throughout the grilling space. Grease is collected with a patented Traeger Great Management System, which is basically a pitched grease tray that empties into a bucket mounted on the side of the grill. Although this is relatively simple, it works. And that’s what counts.
The built-in digital timer located on the main control panel is a great feature to help remind you when to flip your food or take it off the grill. Immediately next to the timer is the input for the integrated meat probe. You can set your steak on the cooking grate, insert the meat probe and know exactly when your steak hits medium rare. It really takes all the stress out of grilling and lets you enjoy your time cooking for your friends and family.
Smoking
Smoking barbecue is really where this grill shines. The Digitial Arc Controller is great at maintaining consistent temperatures through a long cook. All pellet grills will have some amount of variability in temperature, and this Traeger grill is no different. However, the overall temperature swings are pretty low and the peaks and valleys are much smoother when compared to other pellet grills that are similar in cost.
Traeger claims that you can fit 4 racks of ribs on the Freemont, but I think that is a bit of stretch. However, I have been able to comfortably fit 3 racks of ribs on the main cooking area. You could squeeze a fourth on the top rack, so I guess Traegers claims are accurate.
The main cooking space is also large enough to fit a whole-packer brisket. I was able to fit a 15-pound brisket, but that is as big as I would want to go comfortably.
The Traeger Fremont also features a warm mode which keeps the grill at a consistent 160 degrees. This is a feature that I love and is great if you like to cook large briskets or pork shoulders. Since they can take over 12 hours to finish, but sometimes can cook a bit faster, it’s nice to keep the meat warm for a few extra hours until it is time to eat.
Cleaning and Maintenace
Cleaning of the unit involves the removable parts of the grill grate, grease drip tray, and heat baffle. After you clean and remove the grates you remove the heat diffuser plate to vacuum the ash and remaining pellets from the fire pot. Traeger recommends that you vacuum out the fire pot after 30 hours of cooking.
The entire process of cleaning takes about 10 minutes for a quick clean. I recommend cleaning the grates after each use, and deep cleaning after every few cooks. Read my guide on How to Clean a Pellet Grill for some tips and tricks.
What I Like/What I Dont Like
What I Like
Consistent Temperature – The Digital Arc Controller does a fantastic job of managing the temperature and keeping the set temperature within the range
Easy to Clean – Interior parts are easily removable and it does not produce much ash.
Assembly and set up – The assembly of the grill was simple and easily directed by the instructions provided. All of the materials and tools are provided, and it does not take long at all
Amazing Value – You will not find a better value within the Traeger product line
What I Don’t Like
Controls not intuitive – The electronic display required the use of two out of the five buttons for almost every setting of the LED screen. This made the timer, attachable meat probe, temperature, and shut-down cycle not very user-friendly at first. You will get the hang of it, but at first, you may be a bit confused.
Not Wifi Enabled – The Fremont is not a WiFi-enabled grill so you cannot remotely monitor or control your grill with your phone. Although this feature was once a luxury, it is a very handy feature and should be standard on even the no-frills models like the Fremont. The Traeger WiFire system is one of the best Wi-Fi apps on the market and can be found on the Pro 575 ($799) model and other more expensive Traeger grills.
The Fremont is a Costco Value
Costco offers the Traeger Fremont for $549, making it the best value in the Traeger product line. $549 also includes a quality grill cover, a wired meat probe, and a stainless steel front shelf. Once you start looking at other entry-model Traeger pellet grills and other manufacturers you will realize what an absolute steal that is.
The cheapest Traeger available outside of Costco is the Traeger Pro 22, which costs $649. The more expensive Pro 22 has an outdated dial-type controller and does not come with the meat probe, folding front shelf, or grill cover.
The least expensive Traeger that comes with a digital controller is the Pro 575, which costs $800. That is $250 more expensive than the Fremont and does not come with a cover or a folding front shelf. Buying the shelf and cover on their own will cost you an extra $140.
The Competition
- Traeger Pro 22 ($599) – The Traeger Pro 22 is the least expensive freestanding pellet grill that Traeger offers to the general public. The Costco-exclusive Traeger Fremont however is $50 dollars cheaper. Plus the Fremont comes with an included grill cover and meat probe, two things not included with the Traeger Pro 22. Also, the Pro 22 has an older-style manual dial controller that is set in 25-degree increments. The digital controller on the Fremont is much nicer and can adjust the temperature in 5-degree increments.
- Traeger Pro 575 ($799) – The Traeger Pro 575 is the second cheapest grill that Traeger offers. This grill features a nearly identical digital controller to the Fremont. The Pro 575 is a touch bigger, but not by much. The Pro 575 does not come with a grill cover like the Fremont. However the Pro 575 is wifi enabled, so you can control the grill with your phone using Traegers WiFire App. This is a very nice feature, but it is up to you to decide if it is worth an extra $250 dollars.
- Camp Chef SmokePro DLX ($599) – The Camp Chef Smoke Pro DLX is Camp Chefs introductory model and is the least expensive model in its product line. It. is a very nice grill and is comparable in size and features to the Traeger Fremont. It is not wifi enabled. However, unlike the Fremont, it does not come with a meat probe and grill cover.
- Green Mountain Grills Ledge ($899) – The Green Mountain Grills (also known as GMG) Ledge is a beautiful grill, but it is significantly more expensive than the Traeger Fremont. The Ledge is Green Mountain Grills least expensive pellet grill, and it is jam-packed with features. The main grilling area is about 100 square inches smaller than the Traeger Fremonts cooking area. However, the Ledge is Wifi enabled and comes with a very cool “skylight” in the lid so you can look at your food with the lid closed. It’s a very solid base model grill, but $350 dollars more than the Traeger Fremont. Also, the Ledge does not come with a grill cover.
Comparison Table
| Grill | Temp Range | Cooking Area | Hopper Capacity | Grate Material | Wifi Enabled | Cover Included | Price |
| Traeger Fremont | 160 – 450 degrees | 549 square inches | 18 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | No | Yes | $549 |
| Traeger Pro 22 | 160 – 450 degrees | 572 square inches | 18 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | No | No | $599 |
| Traeger Pro 575 | 160 – 500 degrees | 572 square inches | 18 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | Yes | No | $799 |
| Camp Chef SmokePRO DLX | 180 – 500 degrees | 570 square inches | 18 pounds | Stainless Steel | No | No | $549 |
| Green Mountain Grills Ledge | 150 – 550 degrees | 458 square inches | 18 pounds | Porcelain-coated steel | Yes | No | $899 |
Wrapping Up
The Traeger Freemont is a well-built pellet grill that does what it says for a price that cannot be beaten (seriously I tried, this is the best value pellet grill on the market). There are definitely fancier pellet grills that offer more bells and whistles like Wi-Fi, searing louvers, and larger hoppers. But where I personally think Traeger shines is in the build quality, ease of use, and temperature consistency. You will be able to trust this grill is going to do what you want and it will consistently turn out great food for you!