Cleaning, Maintaining, & Preparing Your Smoker for 2026
While the recent winter storm may make it hard to believe, warmer weather will be here before you know it. Time to make sure your pit is ready for some serious brisket runs!
And while Lone Star Grillz builds pits that last a lifetime, masterwork equipment for pitmasters like you needs an annual physical. That tough ¼" carbon steel deserves a little love!
How Do You Deep Clean a Smoker?
In the BBQ world, there's a common myth that says you should never clean a smoker because doing so washes away all the flavor. This is wrong.
You don't want to remove seasoning or gouge the steel, but you do want to get all the creosote off your smoker. You also want to remove all the grease. Either one could ruin the flavor of your next cook or even create a fire hazard.
Start by degreasing two danger zones: the bottom of the main chamber, and the grease drain. Both areas tend to collect sludge over time. Old grease becomes rancid, so don't leave it there.
Next, use a plastic putty knife to gently scrape carbon deposits from baffle plates and tuning plates.
Mechanical Maintenance for Your Smoker
Check the following:
- Door seals: Should be intact and flexible. Lone Star Grillz smokers use gaskets. While they rarely cause problems, we do sell replacement gaskets designed especially for your model. Just contact us and we'll send what you need.
- Hinges and latches: Should open smoothly. If they don't, use a small drop of high-heat oil to get them moving again.
- Pellet smokers: Vacuum out the ash and check for damp or compacted pellet dust left over from winter storage.
How to Prevent a Smoker from Rusting
Warm up the smoker a little bit and then wipe down the exterior with a thin coat of linseed or cooking oil to maintain the signature Lone Star Grillz patina. This also protects your smoker against humidity and the kind of minor surface oxidation that regular heat cycles can cause.
Treat the inside of your smoker like a cast-iron skillet. Wipe it down with grapeseed oil, then run a clean low-temp fire at 225° to 250° F for two hours so you can bake it in.
Both steps will protect your smoker from oxidation and ensure many months of pleasurable cooking and smoking!
Start Smoking Season the Right Way!
If you've taken all three steps, your smoker is now a fresh, blank canvas for your next brisket. Check your fuel supply to make sure it's nice and dry, then start planning that first cook!
And hey, we'd love it if you'd post your first 2026 cook and tag us! Let's see that clean blue smoke!