Can you place the smokebox on the coal burner to burn it in?

No, this is strongly discouraged! The direct heat from the coal burner can cause the metal of the smokebox to melt, damaging both the HMD and the burner.

Burning In Your Hookah Smokebox – Here’s How It’s Done!

Q: Is a coal basket necessary for burning in?

A coal basket is not strictly necessary but provides additional protection against sparks and is a safer alternative, especially in windy conditions.

Q: Do stainless steel smokeboxes also need to be burned in?

Yes, regardless of the material – whether aluminum or stainless steel – all smokeboxes should be burned in before their first use to remove harmful residues.

Last updated on 05.08.2025 | Approx. reading time: 02:02 min

Short Summary of the Article:

Before the first use, every smokebox should be burned in – whether it’s made of aluminum or stainless steel.
Reason: Production residues such as oils can release harmful fumes when heated.
Place the smokebox on a fireproof surface, put two coals underneath and two inside.
Let everything glow through completely – ideally outside and never on your coal burner!
Optional: Burn it in inside a coal basket for extra safety.
Conclusion: Minimal effort, big impact – protects your health and ensures clean smoke.

How Do I Burn In a Smokebox?

You’ve probably heard that you should burn in your hookah smokebox before using it for the first time, right? If not, now’s the time – and we’ll explain what burning in a smokebox or HMD actually means. After explaining why it’s important, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide so you can easily follow the process at home.

Why You Should Always Burn In Your Smokebox

Hookah HMDs or smokeboxes are made of metal. The Kaloud Lotus or the very popular ONMO HMD are made of aluminum, while models like the Na Grani HMD or the AO HMD 912 are made of stainless steel. Basically, all relevant models use one of these two materials. During manufacturing, oils are used to make metal processing possible. When the smokebox heats up during a hookah session through the direct contact with the coal, these oils evaporate – and you inhale them. That’s exactly why burning in your smokebox before the first use is so important.

Step-by-Step Guide: Burning In Your Hookah HMD & Removing Production Residues

After taking your smokebox out of the packaging, you might think there are no oils or residues on the metal and burning in isn’t necessary. However, we strongly recommend doing it anyway, since the residues can form an ultra-thin layer that isn’t visible to the naked eye. Better safe than sorry – so let’s burn in the smokebox instead of risking inhaling toxic fumes created when these residues evaporate. Here’s how it works:

Place the smokebox on a fireproof surface – ideally outside on paving stones.
Light four coal cubes on your hookah coal burner.
Place two of the glowing hookah charcoal cubes underneath the smokebox and two inside.
Let the coals glow through completely so the HMD reaches maximum temperature.

Tip: If you want to be extra safe and avoid sparks or anything catching fire, you can also burn in your HMD inside a hookah coal basket. Follow the same steps as above – just place the coals and the smokebox inside the basket.

WARNING: Some customers have tried placing their new smokebox directly on the coal burner to burn it in. We strongly advise against this! The metal can overheat and melt – destroying not only the smokebox but also the burner!

Our Conclusion on Burning In

Hookah smoking is harmful to your health, but we still believe you should at least avoid inhaling toxic fumes from production oils. That’s why we consider burning in the smokebox essential and strongly recommend that every customer does it.

To make sure your next bowl doesn’t taste burnt, your HMD also needs proper cleaning after each session. Learn how to clean your smokebox after smoking and what you absolutely shouldn’t do in our article: Cleaning Your Hookah Smokebox – How to Get Your HMD Truly Clean Again.

Want to clean your hookah the right way? You’ll find all pro tips in our category: Hookah Cleaning

FAQ: Burning In Your Hookah Smokebox

Why should you burn in a new hookah smokebox?

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During manufacturing, residues such as oils remain on the metal. When heated for the first time, they can release harmful fumes. Burning in removes these residues by evaporating them.

How does burning in a smokebox work?

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Place the smokebox on a fireproof surface, put two glowing coals underneath and two inside. Let everything glow through completely – ideally outside.

Can you burn in a smokebox on the coal burner?

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No, this is strongly discouraged! Direct heat on the burner can overheat and melt the metal, damaging both the HMD and the burner.

Is a coal basket necessary for burning in?

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A coal basket isn’t required but offers additional protection from sparks and is especially useful in windy conditions.

Do stainless steel smokeboxes also need to be burned in?

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Yes, regardless of the material – aluminum or stainless steel – every smokebox should be burned in before the first use to remove harmful residues.