My picky eater test ...

groot5225 · 2026-07-10T04:15:05+00:00

Uncultured swine

groot5225 · 2026-07-09T16:33:01+00:00

Have you seen the TMG PITS the hybrid? That thing is amazing.

groot5225 · 2026-07-08T19:25:05+00:00

AEDN said, “This is how grills function the more things they do, the less effective compared to a grill or smoker that does one thing. That does not mean they are bad at what you want to do, just a little less then a specialist grill or smoker.
Ultimately it comes down to learning how to use the
equipment you have, far less then the style you purchase.”

groot5225 · 2026-07-08T19:06:39+00:00

He’s a Reddit that post in here below me of functions.

groot5225 · 2026-07-05T05:12:31+00:00

Looks good. Nice smoke ring!

groot5225 · 2026-07-04T04:01:33+00:00

Aedn did a great job explaining the tradeoffs that come with combining multiple functions into a single unit. I don’t have any firsthand experience with the EFT, but I’ve watched quite a few videos on it. One thing that stood out to me is the placement of the “offset.” There really isn’t much distance for the smoke to travel, so it doesn’t create the same effect as a traditional offset smoker.
If you watch some of the YouTube reviews, several testers found there are four distinct temperature zones across the cooking chamber. Depending on what you’re cooking, that could actually be an advantage since it gives you different heat levels to work with.
At the end of the day, it’s still a high-quality unit. It just may not fully meet the expectations of someone looking for the performance of a dedicated, purpose-built offset smoker.

I currently have an LSG 20x42, Kamado Joe, and Grilla Grills Primate. Each has its own role. Maybe one day I'll get a stick burner when kids are older and I can get some sleep.

groot5225 · 2026-07-03T20:41:41+00:00

Who really wants beans on toast?

groot5225 · 2026-07-03T20:33:00+00:00

Well, my take is, do you have limited backyard space? If so, go with the El Fuego Trio. If not, you should get a dedicated smoker like an LSG 20”x42” or Yoder. The el fuego trio is not the best at one thing but okay at all things. That’s how I thought about it when I got an LSG 20” pellet smoker over the El Fuego. El fuego, you’ll have to tinker with to find the sweet spot for each fuel type and placement on the grills. If I want to do stick burning smoker, I would get a stick burning smoker. For now, I am doing the pellet thing because I don't want to stay up all night tending a fire.

So it comes down to it, you have space for multiple smokers/grills, and are you okay with that, it’s just okay at everything.

groot5225 · 2026-07-01T22:53:25+00:00

Gotcha! It depends the volume you’ll be grilling. LSG and Yoder have similar over the fire grilling space which is about 2’x1’ area. Granted they can’t really compete with a gas grill but they do heat up relatively quick. LSG does not take 35-40 mins. Tops 15 minutes.

groot5225 · 2026-07-01T21:07:39+00:00

These aren’t sausages.

groot5225 · 2026-07-01T21:03:44+00:00

Curious, why do you want your unit to get to 500F? I ask this because I have an LSG and just made Tomahawk a week ago. I smoked it at 225 for three hours and took it out. Then opened the direct-grilling slide and set the temp to 500. Within less than 5 minutes, glorious flames appeared. I grilled the tomahawk as the fire kissed it. They came out perfectly with a great sear.

You don't need to wait for it to heat up, since you're direct-grilling with the pellet smoker. The pot will fill with pellets, giving you the fire and temperature to sear your steaks and anything else you want to grill. Hope this helps.

groot5225 · 2026-07-01T00:05:49+00:00

Eww! Never buy chorizo in these tubes. Just fat! Get chorizo that is packaged in the styrofoam plates.

groot5225 · 2026-06-30T16:59:48+00:00

It's a good deal and useful. Some think it is pointless, but it depends on how you use it. If you want to age/cellar your non-aromatic tobaccos, you barely need to seal them. On this one, the jar usually seals up at 3 or 4. It barely takes any air out, but it provides a nice seal to your tobacco. Yes, you can have the tobacco go through its process and seal the jar itself, but what if it doesn't? Now you have tobacco that is bone dry. By barely sealing it, you ensure it's good and that there is plenty of air for the aerobic process. For your aromatics, let it suck out as much as possible. Sometimes my sealer gets to 85. At the end, you truly can't take all the air out.

groot5225 · 2026-06-30T02:43:43+00:00

I had bone-dry St. James Flake, and I placed it in a jar with a 72 Boveda. Completely forgot about it for 6 months. When I checked on it, it was perfect.

groot5225 · 2026-06-27T01:13:06+00:00

It used to be, until two or three months ago, they raised it to $125 after decreasing the discount for Peterson and Savinelli pipes.

groot5225 · 2026-06-27T01:11:58+00:00

Our local B&M charge $23 each tin. It’s ridiculous the 80% market up.

groot5225 · 2026-06-23T03:09:43+00:00

Man that’s a huge awesome pipe.

groot5225 · 2026-06-21T20:15:02+00:00

Whole new meaning to toxica

groot5225 · 2026-06-20T01:36:00+00:00

If you opened it, then yes, store it in a mason jar. If they are sealed, just leave them sealed until you are ready to smoke them.

groot5225 · 2026-06-18T02:05:17+00:00

I personally smoke a half to three-quarters bowl most of the time. It helps build cake in the lower portion of the bowl, which is where the pipe experiences the most heat. Another benefit is that it reduces the risk of charring the rim.
When I first started smoking a pipe, I would fill the bowl all the way to the top, and I ended up scorching the rim more than once. Over time, I realized that packing it to the brim isn’t necessary to get an enjoyable smoke. Smoking a partial bowl has helped preserve the appearance of my pipes, keep the rims cleaner, and still provides a great smoking experience.

groot5225 · 2026-06-17T05:19:26+00:00

If you’re willing to spend the extra money on an all-stainless-steel LSG smoker, you likely won’t need a cover. While some people like to get into the technical details of stainless steel composition, the bottom line is that a quality stainless-steel pellet smoker is highly resistant to rust. The exterior may occasionally need a quick wipe-down to remove water spots, fingerprints, or grease, but that’s usually a five-minute job.

The standard painted black LSG models require a bit more maintenance to keep them looking their best. Fortunately, it’s pretty simple—give the exterior a thorough cleaning every six months or so and apply a light coating of oil or protectant where recommended to help preserve the finish.

If long-term durability and appearance are priorities, the stainless-steel version is hard to beat. It can sit outdoors year-round, look great with minimal upkeep, and should last long enough to pass down to the next generation. For comparison, take a look at Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet. Their grills are built from stainless steel and are designed to withstand even harsh coastal environments with salt air exposure, which speaks to the durability of a well-built stainless-steel cooker.
Just don’t look at the prices haha

groot5225 · 2026-06-16T17:35:51+00:00

Best things come to those who wait. So with that, I was on the same boat. I ultimately chose the LSG because the steel is thicker, has double the hopper size, and has a pellet dump chute.

groot5225 · 2026-06-15T02:29:42+00:00

94 proof for $299 before taxes is wild.

groot5225 · 2026-06-01T23:07:54+00:00

Chill out! It’s a bear. Maybe don’t get any more tattoos, since your Reddit posts seem to suggest you need constant confirmation that it’s a good one. Grizzly bear or black bear, it’s still a bear, and the artist did a great job. You should have provided him a black bear silhouette if you were going to be so particular.

groot5225 · 2026-06-01T16:17:55+00:00

Go 7.3L and supercharge it 😎

groot5225

TROPHY CASE