Are you looking to impress your friends and family with a delicious and juicy smoked pork roast?
Look no further than your trusty Traeger pellet grill!
With a few simple steps and some patience, you can create a mouth-watering pork roast that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or a beginner, this guide will walk you through the process of smoking a pork roast on a Traeger grill.
So fire up your grill, grab your favorite wood pellets, and let’s get started!
How To Smoke A Pork Roast On A Traeger?
Step 1: Preheat Your Traeger Grill
Before you start smoking your pork roast, you’ll need to preheat your Traeger grill. Set the temperature to 180°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke, if available.
Step 2: Season Your Pork Roast
While your grill is preheating, season your pork roast with Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub on all sides. Place the roast in an aluminum foil pan and pour the apple juice on top.
Step 3: Smoke Your Pork Roast
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the roast. Place the pan on the grill grates and smoke with the lid closed for 1 hour. Remove the roast from grill and increase the Traeger temperature to 275°F. Preheat with the lid closed for another 15 minutes. Return the pan to the grill and cook with the lid closed for another 2 hours.
Step 4: Finish Cooking Your Pork Roast
Cover the pan with aluminum foil, return to the grill, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 205°F, about 3 hours more. Remove the roast from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Step 5: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve your smoked pork roast with roasted onions, potatoes, carrots, and/or apples. Enjoy!
Choosing The Right Cut Of Pork Roast
When it comes to smoking a pork roast on a Traeger grill, choosing the right cut of meat is crucial. The best cuts for roasting are the pork loin, belly, and leg, which are all flavorful and tender when cooked properly. It’s important to choose fresh-looking meat that has a thick layer of fat, as this will add flavor and help keep the joint moist while cooking. While some people may shy away from joints with fat, it’s actually one of the major factors in preventing dried out meat while cooking pork.
One of the most tender cuts of pork is the pork tenderloin, which is cut from the loin. It takes on added flavors from marinades, rubs, and spices with ease. However, it’s important not to confuse pork tenderloin with pork loin, as they are two different cuts of meat. The tenderloin is considerably smaller than the loin and benefits from different cooking methods.
If you’re looking for a super-versatile cut of pork, then the shoulder is a great choice. It can either be minced or diced for cooking slowly in stews or slow-roasted until tender and falling apart. The fillet from the top of the shoulder is just tender enough to be cut into steaks for grilling or barbecuing. The best way to cook a shoulder is slow and low – simply wrap it in a double layer of tin foil and pop it in the oven at 150oC/300oF/gas 2. Cook for 4 to 5 hours or until you get melt-in-your-mouth, beautifully tender meat.
When it comes to smoking a pork roast on a Traeger grill, the tenderloin and shoulder are both great options. However, keep in mind that they require different cooking methods due to their size and tenderness. Whichever cut you choose, make sure to season it well and smoke it low and slow for optimal flavor and tenderness.
Preparing The Pork Roast For Smoking
Before smoking your pork roast on a Traeger, there are a few steps you should take to prepare the meat.
Step 1: Choose Your Pork Roast
Select a pork roast that is at least 3-4 pounds in weight, as smaller roasts tend to dry out during the smoking process. Also, make sure to choose a roast with a good amount of fat on the top, as this will help keep the meat moist during smoking.
Step 2: Remove Excess Fat
Trim any excess fat from the pork roast, leaving only about 1/4 inch of fat on the top. This will help prevent flare-ups and ensure that the meat cooks evenly.
Step 3: Season Your Pork Roast
Season your pork roast with your preferred dry rub or seasoning blend. Make sure to rub the seasoning into the meat and cover all sides evenly. You can also use a marinade or brine to add extra flavor and moisture to the meat.
Step 4: Let The Meat Rest
After seasoning your pork roast, let it rest at room temperature for about 30 minutes before placing it on the Traeger grill. This will help the meat cook more evenly and retain its juices.
By following these simple steps, you can ensure that your pork roast is well-prepared and ready for smoking on your Traeger grill.
Seasoning And Rubbing The Pork Roast
To ensure that your pork roast is well seasoned throughout, it’s essential to create a dry rub that will penetrate the meat. The dry rub used in this recipe is made of brown sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, fresh ground black pepper, smoked or regular paprika, and cayenne pepper.
In a separate bowl, mix all the dry ingredients together until they form a seasoning. Sprinkle the rub over the pork roast with a dry hand, then rub the pork with the seasoning over both sides of the meat, pressing gently so the seasoning adheres well to the pork roast.
Once you have applied the dry rub to your pork roast, place it in an aluminum foil pan and pour apple juice on top. This will help to keep the meat moist throughout the smoking process.
After seasoning your pork roast and placing it in the pan with apple juice, it’s time to smoke it on your Traeger grill. Insert a probe into the thickest part of the roast and place it on the grill grates with the lid closed for one hour at 180°F.
Once the first hour is up, remove the pan from the grill and increase the temperature to 275°F. Preheat with the lid closed for another 15 minutes before returning the pan to the grill and cooking for an additional two hours with the lid closed.
Finally, cover the pan with aluminum foil and return it to the grill until the internal temperature reaches 205°F. This should take approximately three more hours. Once done, remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
By following these steps and creating a flavorful dry rub, you can smoke a delicious pork roast on your Traeger grill that is sure to impress your family and friends.
Setting Up Your Traeger Grill For Smoking
To set up your Traeger grill for smoking, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps. First, ensure that you have assembled the grill according to the manufacturer’s instructions. If you are using your grill for the first time, remove the grill grates, grease drain pan, and heat baffle to make any troubleshooting or start-up issues easier to deal with.
Next, add the wood pellets to your grill’s hopper. This is the large metal box attached to the main body of the grill. If your Traeger runs out of pellets while cooking, you can add more from the hopper.
Then, preheat your grill. To do this, open the grill’s lid and switch it on. Set the temperature to 180°F and preheat with the lid closed for 15 minutes. For optimal flavor, use Super Smoke, if available.
While your grill is preheating, season your pork roast with Traeger Pork & Poultry Rub on all sides. Place the roast in an aluminum foil pan and pour apple juice on top.
Insert the probe into the thickest part of the roast. Place the pan on the grill grates and smoke with the lid closed for 1 hour. Remove the roast from grill and increase the Traeger temperature to 275°F. Preheat with the lid closed for another 15 minutes. Return the pan to the grill and cook with the lid closed for another 2 hours.
Cover the pan with aluminum foil, return to the grill, close the lid, and cook until the internal temperature reaches 205°F, about 3 hours more. Remove the roast from the grill and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
By following these steps, you can set up your Traeger grill for smoking and enjoy a delicious smoked pork roast.
Smoking The Pork Roast On The Traeger Grill
Smoking a pork roast on a Traeger grill is a great way to infuse delicious smoky flavor into your meat. Here are the steps to follow:
Step 1: Preheat Your Traeger Grill
To start, preheat your Traeger grill to 215°F. This will give you a low heat setting to smoke your pork roast. Place the pork loin on the grill and cook for one hour.
Step 2: Increase The Temperature
After an hour, raise the temperature to 375°F and continue cooking until the meat reaches an internal temperature of 140-145°F. This will take anywhere from 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on the size of your pork roast. Check the temperature at 1.5 hours so you don’t overcook it.
Step 3: Season Your Pork Roast
Remove the pork roast from its packaging, pat it dry with paper towels, and trim off any excess skin, silver skin (if present), or fat. Brush with oil and sprinkle the rub over all sides of the pork roast.
Step 4: Smoke Your Pork Roast
To smoke your pork roast, set your Traeger grill to the SMOKE setting and let it fire up for 4-5 minutes with the lid open. Once it’s smoking, turn the temperature gauge to 225°F and close the lid on the grill. Let it preheat for 10 to 15 minutes.
Place an aluminum pan with 2 cups of apple juice into a corner of the grill (this will help keep some nice moisture in the grill during the long smoking process). Place the seasoned pork roast on the grill, fat side up. Insert the temperature probe into the meat.
Roast the pork for 3 hours with the lid closed. After this time, transfer the meat into an aluminum pan and place back onto grill (with temperature probe still attached). Continue to cook for another 5-6 hours or until the temperature in the thickest part of the meat (not touching any bones) reaches an internal temperature of 190°F.
Step 5: Finish Cooking Your Pork Roast
Once your pork roast has reached an internal temperature of 190°F, remove it from the grill and transfer it to a clean baking sheet. Allow it to cool for 30-60 minutes, or until cool enough to handle. Then shred it with two large forks or a pair of shredder claws.
Step 6: Serve and Enjoy!
Serve your smoked pork roast with your favorite sides such as roasted onions, potatoes, carrots, and/or apples. Enjoy!
Checking The Temperature And Adjusting Cooking Time
Checking the temperature of your pork roast is crucial to ensure that it is cooked properly and safe to eat. Insert the thermometer probe into the thickest part of the roast, avoiding bones and large fat deposits. Check the temperature after 3 hours of smoking and again after 2 hours of cooking at 275°F.
If the internal temperature has not reached 205°F after 3 hours, continue cooking until it does. Keep checking the temperature every 30 minutes until it reaches the desired temperature. The total cooking time will vary depending on the size of your pork roast, but expect it to take around 6-7 hours in total.
If you are running out of time, you can increase the Traeger temperature to 400°F and still end up with a great piece of meat that is juicy and flavorful. However, keep in mind that this will result in a different texture and flavor compared to cooking it low and slow.
Remember to always let your pork roast rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures that your meat is tender and moist. Enjoy your delicious smoked pork roast!
