I bought my first ever WSM 18.5 today. It's assembled and ready to burn in. I've read on other posts about the Harry Soo method to breaking in the WSM. Is the "Soo" method the best way to break it in or should I just fill it up and let it go? I thought about rubbing it down with bacon/sausage fat prior to lighting it up rather than wasting six packs of sausage and bacon. Also, what is the best charcoal to use? I've always used KBB but I read where Stubb's was really good so I bought five bags at Lowe's. I appreciate any advice I can get!
New WSM Owner Needs Advice
- Thread starter John G
- Start date
Dave Russell
TVWBB Honor Circle
Stubbs is one of my favorites. I wouldn't worry about the Soo method of seasoning. Read the informative side of tvwb and just start cooking. Water in the pan is the best way to start out.
Dave Alvarado
TVWBB Super Fan
When I bought my 2nd WSM I preferred to season it. It smelled chemical funky, whereas my old one smelled like delicious BBQ. First I ran a half a load of charcoal and like 20 wood chunks (plus a mesquite log) with all vents wide open to burn it out. Then I just went to Costco and bought a big pack of bacon and a big pack of chicken thighs, then ran the WSM with a full load of charcoal, the vents wide open, and no water bowl. Burned the meat to a crisp, but not before it had dripped a ton of fat into the fire which then vaporized and stuck to the inside of the smoker. It smelled delicious after one go and had a decent coating of gunk, so I just started cooking on it after that. I think I did the whole seasoning the day I assembled the smoker and was cooking on it it he next day.
Hamilton Barnes
TVWBB Pro
I use stubbs, Kingsford, and whatever is on sale. I think the best way to season it is to cook some food. The more you cook the better you will get at cooking and the more seasoned the smoker will get. You are going to love it!! Don't forget to post pics and to add some smoke wood!
James Lake
TVWBB Emerald Member
I did beer can chicken on my first cook....there are thousands of ways of doing BBQ right.
Jerry N.
TVWBB Emerald Member
Harry Soo competes in BBQ. Seasoning his smokers may be something that gives him an edge and makes it worth it for him to do. I'm thinking the only thing us average BBQ'ers would get out of seasoning is less money in our pockets and being hungry. IMHO, the best way to season a WSM is to fire it up and put some food on it. If there was some factory funk as Dave mentions above, I'd take a rage soaked in white vinegar to it and be done with it.
As for charcoal, I like lump, but I've heard good things about Stubb's and if my Lowes around here carried it, I'd pick up a few bags myself. If it was on sale, I'd back up the truck based on the comments I've read about it.
Personally, I like chicken for the first cook. You don't have to worry about temps getting too high, you don't have to worry about water, it won't take that long so if you have some problems, you can learn and just start over next time, everything tastes like chicken anyway so why not just cook a chicken.
As for charcoal, I like lump, but I've heard good things about Stubb's and if my Lowes around here carried it, I'd pick up a few bags myself. If it was on sale, I'd back up the truck based on the comments I've read about it.
Personally, I like chicken for the first cook. You don't have to worry about temps getting too high, you don't have to worry about water, it won't take that long so if you have some problems, you can learn and just start over next time, everything tastes like chicken anyway so why not just cook a chicken.
Matt Grabill
TVWBB Fan
As a newbie myself I assembled my 18.5 and wiped down the interior with a damp cloth and fired it up.I turned out the best ribs I have ever made.
I have used Kingsford regular exclusively until this past weekend when I tried Stubbs for a brisket and a butt.Used 1 15lb bag for a 13 hr smoke,good stuff.My local Costco has 2 18lb bags of Kingsford Comp for $15.69 limit 3 so that is what I am using next.I had no clue how much fun these smokers are....makes you look like you know what you are doing !!
I have used Kingsford regular exclusively until this past weekend when I tried Stubbs for a brisket and a butt.Used 1 15lb bag for a 13 hr smoke,good stuff.My local Costco has 2 18lb bags of Kingsford Comp for $15.69 limit 3 so that is what I am using next.I had no clue how much fun these smokers are....makes you look like you know what you are doing !!
G Savrnoch
TVWBB Super Fan
Yup, that's exactly what you should do - just start cooking man
Great advice from everyone, thank you so much. I've cooked on a vertical smoker with a side fire box for years and this is my first bullet style smoker. My vertical smoker was so well seasoned (10 years) that it killed me when it finally died and went to smoker heaven! I look forward to some pulled pork this weekend with some ribs. Thanks again and I will post pics of my first cook!!
As a newbie myself I assembled my 18.5 and wiped down the interior with a damp cloth and fired it up.I turned out the best ribs I have ever made.
I have used Kingsford regular exclusively until this past weekend when I tried Stubbs for a brisket and a butt.Used 1 15lb bag for a 13 hr smoke,good stuff.My local Costco has 2 18lb bags of Kingsford Comp for $15.69 limit 3 so that is what I am using next.I had no clue how much fun these smokers are....makes you look like you know what you are doing !!
Amazon has Stubb's on sale 7.87 for a 15# bag. I saw where someone said there was a 3 bag limit but when I checked it out I didn't see a limit.