Seasoning MES

[jisgren]

Just picked up a MES at Academy for $169 (Rebranded 30" model -- green color with wild turkey logo).

What is the best way to season it? I know on an iron pit you spray it down with oil -- is the necessary in the electric, or should I just set up a good smoke for a couple of hours empty?

Thanks!

 

[ronp]

I think thats what the book says. Set at high to burn any oil off.

Good luck with the MES.

 

[pitrow]

I just turned mine on to about 250 for a couple hours to let it burn everything off. then threw in a small handful of chip for some good smoke. The mistake I made was being lazy and not wanting to do it out in the cold, so I tried seasoning it in the closed garage. The smoke that burns off at first is REALLY acrid and stunk up my garage for a couple days.

 

[tender loins]

I assume you are already up & running, but the manual said set at 275 for 3 hours. For the last 45 minutes, add a cup of wood chips.

No mention of oiling or anything. This applied to four 2007***x models that the manual covers. Mine was a stainless version, don't know if different...

 

[deltadude]

When I seasoned my new MES, I ran for about 1.5 hrs at 270 then wiped down inside with paper towels, sprayed with PAM ran another 1.5 o 2 hrs at 270, then added wood chips and ran another 1+ hour. After the MES cooled down inside, I wiped out the inside with paper towels.

 

[smoked]

easy, run it for half hour at 160 or so to burn the oil off with the damper to full open, then pick a choice of wood and run it at 225 for 4 hours and it's perfect..........you can spray some oil in there after the first burn and before the wood smoke burn, but that is totally up to you........just remember to give it that first burn to get rid of all the manufacturing oil burn off so it does not get into your food.........great smoker........I looked at the "wild turkey" one at Joe's sports to be an addition to my existing onw, but I have not talked myself or the little lady into another smoker just yet........