How soon after seasoning is the smoker ready?

[spoon]

My family gave me a portable Masterbuilt electric smoker (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FJVSX30/?tag=amazi0a8-20) for Christmas and today is the first non rain/snow day in PA since I've had to put it together. The instructions say I should run it for 3 hours to season it and in the last hour add the wood chips.

I have 2 racks of ribs I'm prepping for the Steelers game today for my wife and kids. After I do the 3 hour run should I wait longer before I put food on it or would it be safe to go?

This is my first dedicated smoker and in the past I've done everything on my Weber 22 One Touch so I have that as backup. I just need to get my cook times down.

Thanks!

[xaugievike]

I don't see why you can't roll right into a cook after the seasoning process. I'd personally wash the racks after the crud burns off during the initial heat. But otherwise, roll on.

[spoon]

Good call on cleaning! Thanks!

[lschweig]

I don't have your unit, but I would think that if you follow the instructions you should be fine as manufacturers instructions tend to over do rather than under do for this type of situation.

[spoon]

That's what I was thinking but since it's my first one I'm like a parent holding their newborn for the first time

[RonB]

The Pittsburgh/New England game is the late game, so you have some time, but you need to figure at least 8 hours to season the smoker and cook your ribs. Babybacks, maybe a little less, and whole ribs, maybe a bit more.

[Atalanta]

Sorry about the Steelers (BF is a fan). Hopefully your cook turned out better.

[spoon]

the cook was the only saving grace of the day

[GadjetGriller]

from what I read on the Amazon site it has a 3 switch heat selector. may want to look into getting your own dual probe thermometer. (one that reads the pit temp and one for the meat, like the Maverick or ThermoWorks smoke) The thermometer in the door is notoriously off. Most likely to high to read the grate where your food will be sitting.

[GadjetGriller]

may if I would just read to the end. You already have a weber 22 so most likely you already have a thermometer my bad.

[spoon]

It's all good I need to get the Smoke after yesterday. Both the door thermometer and spare that I keep in my Weber both read just above 225 but I'm skeptical