Pulled the trigger, now loading Tom Petty's The Waiting Is The Hardest Part into my music playlist

[AmosMoses01]

After what seemed like forever, I finally have a covered area in the back yard, and all the pellet smoker investigation came to decision time. I had narrowed it down to Rec Tec, Yoder and Blazin' Grills, and just kept being drawn to Blazin', so today I called Tim at Blazin' Grill Works and ordered the Grand Slam in copper vein, with insulated lid and Wifi unit. Tim says that it is three weeks or so lead time... so queue up the Tom Petty. 🙂

I still need to get the electrician to run power to the shed, so there's still a lot to do while waiting. I'm thankful that my wife is cool with me spending the money on this setup (will be ordering GrillGrates as well as the Fireboard Extreme too), but she said she'd enjoy the fruits of the smoker as much as I will. I am very blessed with an awesome wife!

So, recommendations for the maiden voyage with the soon to arrive smoker? I've seen some suggestions to do pork shoulder or whole chicken for the first cook, but wanted to check with the wood pellet board for wise counsel.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

[Jerod Broussard]

Forget what I did first on mine. I know I hate to see it sitting idol. I got the silver but would get the copper if I got another.

[Rod]

Definitely a pork butt for the first voyage. Nice long cook to help break her in.

[ecowper]

My maiden cook on my WSM was chuck roast for chili. Cause if I screwed it up, it didn’t really matter

[Jerod Broussard]

I did a Meatloaf on my offset for a first cook. $30 worth of WET mesquite chunks on the cook.

[Huskee]

Congrats! A copper Blaze'N is very high on my list of next purchases, as is a covered spot in my back yard! #jealous

[JGo37]

Yep, I want a BBQ Gazebo myself...

[AmosMoses01]

Thanks! This has been something I have wanted for many, many years. Definitely blessed to finally get this.

[EdF]

Wibs! Easy and mellow!

[Bogy]

Wabbit wibs?

[JGo37]

Robin Williams singing "I'm dwiving in my car, turn on the wadio" (look it up)!

[EdF]

"Dwivin' in mah cah, smoking a cigah - the only time I'm happy's when I pway my gitah"!

The Jack Bwuce voision!

[Sweaty Paul]

I’m partial for a pork butt and pork ribs (I like St Louis ribs or spares). Big long cook.

[rwalters]

Congrats! Love the Blazin grills!! First cook = Bacon for breakfast (just wait till you try pellet cooked bacon...275 for about 30-45 mins... YUM!). Oh wait, that only covers breakfast... there's still lunch and dinner! Hmmmm....

Ribs
Pork butt
Tri-Tip
Brisket
Chicken
Burgers
Sausage
More bacon

So many options... just roll the dice and cook something. Heck, with the Blazins build quality, you'll have many many years to try it all

[JGo37]

Lampasas Roast Goat or Round Rock Armadillo Pizza.

[Troutman]

Obviously we could go from animal to animal, cut to magnificent cut, but what you want to do during the break in is to get some fat rolling around that cooker. When I bought mine it was recommended that I grab some chicken and cook it first. Lots of fat in the skin, helps to season the cooker walls, along with a good spray down of some Pam or other cooking spray (essentially canola oil).

[JGo37]

Absolutely right on, and the thoughtful answer that should have come first, before all the cravings and humor. Break it in seasoning it correctly is the must-do first step.

Ask a bunch of people sitting at a keyboard what to do, and everybody answers with their stomach...

[AmosMoses01]

Thanks y’all! My wife definitely prefers chicken, and in her honor the maiden voyage is going to be just that. Tomorrow I’ve got the electricians coming to run power to the shed, so preparations for the arrival of the Grand Slam are getting almost complete. I’m guessing T minus 2 weeks or so till it gets here. Why does time feel like it is crawling when you’re waiting for something awesome?

[treesmacker]

Yeah! How many chickens fit in there. Spatchcock, whole, split, beer can, wings, drumsticks, lollipops? How ya goin to do it?

[kenrobin]

I broke my pellet smoker in by smoking a few pounds of Hormel's thick cut bacon. Came out great & put a nice scent inside of the chamber.

[smokenoob]

congrats! put on "Runnin’ down a dream"

https://youtu.be/dXYl5NrHPb4

[Mr. Bones]

Big Fave, here!

[AmosMoses01]

So jazzed, Tim just called, Grand Slam shipping today!

[adamjs83]

How long does it take?

[AmosMoses01]

Not sure exactly, Tim said the shipping company will call me next week to lock down the day and time for me to be there and sign for it. I would expect to see it sometime midweek next week, I'm on I35 in central Texas so it should be pretty quick coming from Nebraska.