Lone Star Grillz 24x36 Offset Smoker | First Impressions & Seasoning

When my Lone Star Grillz 24x36 offset smoker arrived, it took four guys and a Bobcat just to move it from the driveway to the backyard. That gives you a pretty good idea of what kind of cooker this is before you ever light a fire in it.

First Impression: Seriously Heavy Construction

I had high expectations for this smoker, but the build quality exceeded them. It is huge and heavy enough to look almost indestructible, yet the fabrication is surprisingly refined. The welds, lines and fit have the kind of detail you normally associate with something much more delicate than a giant steel offset smoker.

That combination of heavy construction and craftsmanship was the first thing that really impressed me.

Seasoning the Lone Star Grillz Offset Smoker

The initial seasoning process takes several hours, so I waited until I had enough time to do it properly. My son helped me with the process, which made the first fire even more memorable.

1. Remove the cooking grates and internal components.
2. Coat the inside of the smoker and the removable components with cooking spray as recommended by Lone Star Grillz.
3. Reinstall the components.
4. Build a clean fire in the firebox and bring the cooker up to temperature.
5. Maintain the fire for several hours so the protective seasoning can develop on the interior steel.

Learning to Manage the Fire

I will admit I was a little nervous lighting my first fire on a legitimate offset smoker. What I learned very quickly was that fire management still comes down to the same fundamentals: fuel, oxygen, intake and exhaust.

Once I stopped overthinking it and paid attention to how the smoker responded, I became comfortable managing the fire and temperature within about an hour. Roughly seven hours later, the seasoning process was complete.

What I Learned From the First Burn

• Do not be intimidated by the size. A big offset is still controlled by the relationship between fire and airflow.
• Make small adjustments. Give the cooker time to react before changing vents or adding fuel again.
• Clean fire matters. Good airflow and a healthy flame are more important than trying to choke the smoker down to force smoke.
• Spend time learning the cooker before a big cook. A seasoning burn is a perfect opportunity to understand how it responds.

Final First Impression

My first impression was simple: this was one of the most substantial and carefully built smokers I had ever used. I was excited to start cooking on it then, and that first seasoning session gave me the confidence to move from admiring the smoker to actually learning how to run it.

BBQ for the everyday family.

- Mike