No. Your Saffire Grill does not need seasoning or “breaking in.”

Natural Lump Charcoal is the best. Natural lump charcoal burns cleanly with very little ash production. As its name suggests it is all natural wood turned into charcoal. Many types of briquettes are composed more of coal (fossil fuel, out of the ground) than natural wood species. See more info on charcoal here.

Saffire does not recommend using lighter fluid to light your charcoal. Lighter fluid chemicals leave a residue that requires several high temperature non-cooking burns to clear away. Lighter fluid usage also voids your warranty.

A heat deflector is designed to block flames from touching the food on your Saffire cooking grid(s), converting your Saffire grill into a “smoke-only” smoker, and is included with every Saffire grill.

Your Saffire grill’s design and construction also provides you with superior air control and the flexibility to smoke “low and slow” without a deflector for a more flame-kissed flavor. Try both styles and pick your favorite!

Saffire’s superior air control allows tighter temperature control without relying on external “bells and whistles.” Air flow is the key. Adjusting your top and bottom vents controls the air flow through your Saffire grill. See the Saffire Manual page 11 for details on suggested settings. Also…

Make sure you have enough lump charcoal in your firebox. Think about your Saffire Grill as a controlled camp fire. What kind of fire are you trying to build? Arrange the lump in your firebox to build a big fire, and fill the firebox to the brim. Visit the Saffire video page and watch the How to Light your Saffire Grill video for details on lighting.

Check to see if your fuel is dry. Think of lump charcoal like you would wood. Wood can hold moisture in even when it looks dry. The same is true of lump charcoal. Make sure you store your charcoal away from the elements, preferably in an air tight, sealed container.

Clear the air holes in your firebox of leftover lump or ashes to ensure proper air flow.
Take a look at your temperature gauge. Contact the Saffire team if it is not reading correctly on the grill or after the “boil test”.

Make sure not to let your grill get too hot. Also see “How Hot is Too Hot for My Saffire?”

The temperature gauge at the top of your grill should tell you how hot your grill is. There shouldn’t be any need to let the grill get hotter than 700° F. For the safety of your grill and internal components, we recommend cooking at or below the 750° F level. Never let your grill exceed 900° F. This is for your own safety, as well as for the safety of your grill.

You should check the ash level before each cook, and remove it if it’s building up.

For grills with fire grates that hold the charcoal in the firebox, never let the ash build up enough to reach the fire grate. Cutting off some of the air from the bottom of the charcoal makes it burn insanely hot, which can permanently damage your fire grate.

No. Your Saffire grill is solidly built for you to enjoy Grilling, Smoking, and Baking whatever the temperature is outside. Do not pour water in your Saffire to put out your fire. That could cause it to crack and will void your warranty.

However, if you have bamboo side shelves, we do recommend either covering them up or taking them off and storing them in a dry location when you aren’t grilling. This will prevent a moldy/mossy build-up on the wood surface.

Your Saffire grill is a high quality, top performance machine built for the outdoors. Grill covers are usually not necessary. If your grill will consistently be in contact with harsh chemicals like chlorine (from being right next to a hot-tub, for example [which we do not recommend]) or salt (from being used near the ocean), we do suggest a cover. Otherwise, covers simply reduce the need to clean the exterior of your grill from the elements. Note that you can also optionally cover your grill with a tarp. Make sure your grill is cool before covering to avoid condensation build up, which can potentially cause mildew on ceramic parts.

However, please note that if you have bamboo side shelves, we do recommend either covering them up or taking them off and storing them in a dry location when you aren’t grilling. This will prevent a moldy/mossy build-up on the wood surface.

Saffire recommends using a Build Kit on combustible surfaces. The Build Kit’s ceramic feet and stainless steel shield create an air buffer between the base of your Saffire grill and the combustible surface to prevent scorching or ignition. DO NOT LEAVE YOUR SAFFIRE OPEN AND UNATTENDED to avoid igniting combustible material or overheating your grill (1000+ degrees dome temperature). Review any local regulations regarding the placement of outdoor grills, smokers, cookers, etc. DO NOT USE INDOORS except when approved for commercial use.

It’s time to get smokin’! Unscrew the cap (aka “bellybutton”) on the chip feeder port. Load your chip feeder with the wood chips of your choice. Slide the chip feeder into the port and rotate it to dump the chips. Remove the chip feeder. Screw the cap back on. Now you’re in business!

This is your Efficiency Plate. Peel the white cover off your Efficiency Plate and put it below your firebox at the very bottom of your Saffire grill, feet down. The air between the plate and the bottom of your Saffire creates a buffer that helps your grill hold heat for long cooks better than any other kamado on the market!

Here is how you can transport your grill, even if it’s an XL.

First remove the internal components and Side Shelves:

– Take the Side Shelves off, wrap them in padding and put them in the transport vehicle.
– Lift out the Cooking Grid and support rack and set them aside.
– Lift out the Ceramic Fire Ring and place it in the vehicle.
– Lift out the Ceramic Firebox and place it inside the Fire Ring.
– Put the support rack and cooking grids right on top of the Firebox and Fire Ring.

Now remove the grill head from the grill cart. You can use gloves or padding to lift the grill by the side shelf brackets​, or one person can grab the hinge and the other person can hold it by the air control at the bottom. Lift the Grill out of the cart and place it in the vehicle. Put the cart in the vehicle as well. You can put the interior components back in the grill if you need the space.

Finally, make sure there is padding and/or support around the grill in case someone slams on the brakes or pops a wheelie on the way. You should also ensure that the firebox isn’t sitting on any edge, like a seat, unsupported.
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This is how we do it (although we usually avoid doing those wheelies).

Please check out this page, which highlights general grill use topics, including those found in your manual. If you can’t find your answer there, please contact us.