Lone Star Grillz Pellet Cooker - On Site Review

[AZ Fogey]

Well, I take it back. After watching a YouTube video of Chris reverse searing a couple of tomahawk ribeyes on the LSG Pellet Smoker, I tried the sear function last night. It worked very well and was not as cumbersome as I thought it would be. I took the steak off at 120°, put it on a plate, and turned the Fireboard up to 450 with the lid open. After 6 or 7 minutes it felt hot enough, and I put the steak back on and seared it for 2 minutes a side. Very nice result with meat done medium rare a strong Maillard reaction on the outside. Next time, I'm going to pull the steak at 110° so I can get even more fat dripping on fire flavor.

[willxfmr]

I already have the pooper, and have been fighting hard to not add the Adjustable Grill to the stable. The struggle is real.

[Troutman]

I envy you and your LSG family of cookers.

[AZ Fogey]

My LSG Pellet Grill arrived about month and a half ago. I went with the Off-Road package because it was the only way that we could get the cooker around the house over our gravel yard to its home with all the other pits on our covered back patio.

It's everything that Troutman surmised. I've had two pellet grills previously and the LSG checks off every thing that I always wished the others had. Quality through and through. And no, I haven't used the slide-over grill, nor am I likely to. My go-to sear machine is one of those flame-throwing pistols. Spendy, but it does a wonderful job.

This cooker has ruined me a little because if I'm feeling the least bit lazy, I just turn on the Fireboard and fire up the pellets. It puts out great tasting food with just the right amount of smoke. It does not spew ash and I just vacuum it out every 6 or 8 cooks. It's just SO EASY.

This pellet grill has in no way replaced my first true love, the LSG Adjustable Grill and Smoker, but I sure am happy to have it.

[Johnny Big Time]

A couple of corrections. The cook chamber is 7ga. steel, not 10. And it weighs 445lbs., not 300. This is for the 20x42 unit. The 20x36 unit weighs 395lbs.

[AZ Fogey]

Troutman Great review. I saw Chris's video on this the day it came out on YouTube, and my thoughts about it are completely in line with yours. He really nailed this one with some great features and then, on top of that is the superior LSG quality.

[Sweaty Paul]

I’m jonesing bad for one of their insulated vertical cabinet smokers.

[bbqLuv]

My pellet grill from Cabela's can sear over the firepot. I use grillgrates and get a good sear.
But the area is small. Perhaps it is a better idea than in practice.

[glitchy]

Troutman I’m just guessing after a 2-3 years you’ll like need to do paint touch up is all unless there’s more to the finish than I’m seeing. Not a huge deal, just think powder coat is more maintenance free. Maybe a dab of touch up paint if you chip it. That’s what the heat comments were meaning that it won’t be burnt off a pellet grill like an offset firebox.

[Troutman]

I don’t understand your paint comment. The walls of a pellet cooker don’t get hot enough to burn the paint like say a fire box on a stick burner. Mine has survived nicely going on 4 years. High temp paint should hold up to heat as well as high temp powder coating, all you’re doing is raising the over cost of an already expensive cooker.

[Troutman]

Well no such thing as a perfect solution. The idea of grilling and using it as a charcoal cooker are gimmicks that entice the one cooker only crowd. Not meant to be solutions to either technique. In my pellet those items were extras, I simply said no thanks.

[glitchy]

Thanks for taking the time to do this and share. I see a lot of potential here for an excellent pellet grill. There are a lot of things to like and only a few to nit-pick.

I really like the Fireboard controller and would love to have a grill with one. I love that fire pot clean out. The grates look well designed and spacious (though I would love to see stainless at this price point). A 40lb hopper would be handy since I often buy pellets in 40lb bags. It will be very interesting to see this cold smoke in action and see how the smoke profile plays out. That off center fire pot with the low exhaust might make it one of the better smoke profiles in the market.

The things I question are the charcoal basket, how do you control airflow? The ball valve (doesn’t seem like that would work well being right by the stack)? Can you run the fan to help? I also would have rather seen a fixed rain cap on the stack. In my experience adjustable stacks on pellet smokers often lead to more problems than benefits. I could see it helping with the charcoal basket though. I also would have liked to see a powder coat finish. Pellet grills don’t usually get hot enough to burn off paint, so why have a finish you will likely have to maintain.

[Dadof3Illinois]

Troutman I've saved up my pennies, nickels and dimes to get a new cooker...had my sites set on either a LSG (standard flow) or Lang (reverse flow).....but now I'm not sure after you've mentioned those Santa Maria pits!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Troutman]

Dadof3Illinois Both? Sure and then I'd have to hire a divorce lawyer, budget can't spread that thin

[Dadof3Illinois]

Troutman just get both!!.....you know you want too!!