Top Rated Competition BBQ Smokers: Which One is the Best for You?

Last Update 0n : 27 January 2021

There are a lot of BBQ smokers in the market and sometimes it can be difficult to choose on. That is why we are here to help.

For a food lover, a BBQ smoker is essential. Not only it can cook meat deliciously but also, it can give your vegetables a deeper flavor. Actually, smoking is one of the oldest techniques to preserve food. That fact that it gives food a better flavor is an added bonus. Nowadays, people use this technique to enrich the flavor of their food. Our ancestors didn’t have smokers, so they smoked their foods manually but we have access to different types of smokers which are easy to operate and a lot safer. But before you buy a smoker, you must do your research because there are tons of smokers in the market and not all of them are good. So here is some Top Rated Competition BBQ Smokers.

In any gathering or occasion barbeque or smoked meat is always welcome. Smoking not only enhances the flavor of your meat but also kills a lot of harmful bacteria and fungus. But if you are deciding between a smoker and a grill, you don’t need to choose only one item. Now you may think, why buy a grill smoker combo? Well. Why not? A grill smoker combo allows you to cook your food in two different ways. Not a lot of people have the means to buy both a grill and a smoker. A grill smoker combo saves you a lot of money in the long run. Now you may ask what is the best smoker grill combo? There is a lot of grill smoker combo in the market. Before you buy one you should do your own research but we can certainly help you. One of our top- rated combos is Brinkman gas grill smoker combo.

Whether you buy a grill smoker combo or just a smoker you should have some idea about the product you are buying. Now you may ask what should you look out for when buying a grill smoker combo? First, you have to look out for capacity. How much food you can cook at a time is a huge factor when you are having a party or family gathering. Price is also a huge factor. Make sure the combo is within your spending limits. When buying your smoker grill combo, if you look out for these factors you can get a good deal. A good smoker will provide you with tender, even cooked meat. But smokers can be expensive. So, before you buy a smoker, compare it with others.

What kind of smoker you should buy depends totally on you. If you are a beginner you will have a different need and skillset from someone who is professional. If you are not a professional and smoking is just a hobby then you shouldn’t spend too much money on a smoker. Just start with something simple. Before buying a smoker ask your friends and family for advice. Ask them which models last longer and which are easy to use. No matter how good a smoker is, if it isn’t within your spending limit, don’t buy it. So, do your research before buying a smoker. There are also few other things you should consider before buying a smoker such as- how long the warranty of the smoker is or what kind of fuel it uses. It is very important to know whether your smoker runs on coal, pellet, gas or electricity. But perhaps one of the important features is the cooking surface. How much meat you can smoke at a time is a very important factor to know before buying a smoker. If you consider these things while buying your smoker, you should be fine.

A smoker can cost quite a lot of money. So, you would want your smoker to last a long time and in order to do that, you will need to take care of your smoker. Use your smoker gently and clean it after every use. If your smoker is made with cast iron, do not let it in contact with water for too long or else it will rust. Once your smoker rust, it will corrode easily. If you want to keep your smoker outside, wrap it with a tarp to keep it safe from the elements. If you take care of your smoker, it will last you a lifetime.

There are a lot of BBQ smokers in the market. Some are good, others not so much. Before you go out to buy a smoker you must do your research. Otherwise, you will be overwhelmed. Over the years I have tested a lot of smokers and have heard reviews from friends and family. In this article, I will talk about those smokers in no particular order. So, read and find out which smoker suits you the best.

If you are a beginner then this is the best smoker for you to start smoking. It is not very expensive but has a lot of cool features. It has two chrome- plated cooking grids which can be adjusted to variable heights. It is easy to use and comes with an instruction manual. It is also very easy to put together. It has a porcelain coated chip tray. Sometimes dry woodchips can burn too quickly. Before you use them soak them in water overnight. This way they will last longer and they will create more smoke. Make sure the woodchip pan is not all the way against the heating element. It can cause a fire. It is better to be safe than sorry. Before you use the cabinet, you need to cure it. Spray it with a good amount of canola spray and then just smoke some wood on high heat for an hour and never clean the cabinet out. This will help the meat to get a better flavor. This smoker is really well built and the adjustable temperature control is a real plus. All in all, you will be satisfied with this smoker.

1. This smoker has a 1500- watt heating element with fully adjustable temperature control.

2. This smoker has two chrome- plated cooking grids which are included and can be adjusted to variable heights.

3. It has a full range heat indicator which is very helpful while smoking meat.

4. Side handles are cool- touch spring wire door handle with latch system. So, there is no chance for you to burn your fingers.

5. This smoker has a porcelain coated water pan and a porcelain- coated chip tray.

6. It has a dimension of 36.5 x 19 x 16.5 inches.

7. It has a 1.3 cubic Ft. cooking capacity which allows you to smoke a lot of food at once.

8. This smoker runs on electricity.

• The instruction manual that comes with this smoker is easy to read and the smoker itself is easy to assemble.

• It has a fully adjustable temperature control which allows you to relax while the meat is smoking. You don’t have to do anything manually so you don’t have to be so alert.

• The smoker has sufficient space within and you can smoke a lot of meat at the same time in case you want to throw a party.

• The water pan and chip tray are porcelain- coated so they are fireproof.

• It has a fully- welded steel cabinet that includes side handles, cool- touch spring wire handle with sure- lock latch system and adjustable draft control.

• Sometimes drippings may not fall on the drip pan.

Since this smoker is not as expensive as others and is easy to use, it is a good start for beginners.

This smoker is easy to use and it has ample space for smoking meat. It has a great design for a compact electric smoker. It has a fully- insulated smoker body and integrated thermostat temperature control for even, consistent smoking. You will not have to worry about running out of propane, it is very easy to add wood chips. The digital control makes it easy to get the correct temperature setting and the heat distribution is spot on. The window makes it easy to check on the food without opening the door to let heat out. It is also very easy to assemble and extremely easy to use. This smoker has an 800 watt heating element which provides even, consistent smoking. The insulated construction keeps the heat inside. All in all, with this smoker, you can smoke your meat easily. It is also very affordable so you won’t have to break the bank.

1. This smoker has a digital panel which controls on/off, temperature, and time. This means that you don’t have to check the food so often.

2. It has three chrome- coated smoking racks which allow you to easily and effectively smoke all your meats at the same time. It has the capacity to smoke- 9 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 racks of ribs, 3 pork butts, 36 sausages, or 24 burgers.

3. It is very easy to use. Simply plug the smoker in, set the digital controls, and it does all the work.

4. It has an integrated thermostat temperature control for even, consistent smoking which allows the meat to be tender and delicious.

5. The smoker has a fully- insulated smoker body which ensures the even distribution of heat and smoke.

6. The insulated construction keeps the heat inside and the 800 watt element provides even consistent smoking.

7. It has an adjustable air damper for smoke control.

8. The removable drip pan ensures easy clean- up. One less thing for you to worry about.

9. It has a removable water owl to add moisture and flavor.

10. It has the dimension of 18.5 x 18.2 x 33.4 inches.

• The smoker has ample storage so you can smoke a lot of meat at the same time so that you can throw backyard parties for friends and family.

• It has a digital control panel so you don’t have to do anything manually.

• If meat doesn’t smoke evenly, it can taste quite bad. This smoker has an integrated thermostat temperature control for even, consistent smoking which makes the meat taste better.

• The adjustable air damper controls smoke so the smoke doesn’t irritate your eyes.

• If you have a tight budget and cannot spend a lot of money on a smoker then this smoker is perfect for you because it is very affordable.

• Sometimes the control panel can be difficult to use.

For a modest price, this smoker has a lot of good features. You will be satisfied if you use this.

The Dyna- Glo offset smoker allows you to smoke your favorite foods with wood chips and charcoal. This smoker is a bit sophisticated than the previous ones. Vertical smokers are ideal for capturing the maximum smoke flavor. There are 6 height- adjustable cooking grates, with a total of 1176 square inches of cooking space, to accommodate different sizes and types of food. When you are smoking your meat, you will want it tender and smoke flavored. To achieve this you will need slow cooking and this smoker has an offset functionality which keeps direct heat away from the food. This helps to prevent food on the bottom racks from cooking too fast which ensures tender, even cooked food. This smoker has a porcelain- enameled charcoal chamber which is designed to keep briquettes stacked tightly. This improves the burn efficiency of the briquettes. The steel ash pan is removable and it is designed to handle large amounts of ash for hours which means you don’t have to empty the ash pan often. This smoker is not cheap but also not too expensive and it has a lot of cool features. So, try this one out and see how much you like it.

1. This smoker has the dimension of 20.2 x 34.5 x 47 inches.

2. It has a 15000 BTU heavy duty cast iron burner. If you want quick and reliable ignition, you will need an electric pulse ignition system.

3. This smoker has a gauge porcelain- enameled steel wood chip box. It also has a charcoal chamber that keeps briquettes stacked tightly for increased burn efficiency.

4. The offset design of the smoker optimizes indirect heat flow which allows slow cooking and infusing smoke flavor.

5. This smoker has a total smoking area of 784 square inches and it smokes up to 100 pounds of food at a time.

6. The dual doors of the smoker minimize heat loss while adding wood chips throughout the smoking process.

7. The durability of the smoker is ensured by heavy duty steel body construction with high temp power coat finish.

• You can boost cooking precision and temperature control by utilizing steel smoke stack’s adjustable flue which is one of the best features of this smoker.

• This smoker has six height- adjustable cooking grates. So, you can accommodate different sizes and types of food.

• One of the special features of this smoker is the offset design which allows slow cooking and infusing smoke flavor by optimizing indirect heat flow.

• This smoker is very durable.

• It has ample space to smoke meat. So, you can throw a party and be sure that you can feed all the people.

• The assembly of this smoker can take a long time.

All in all, you will be very happy if you buy this smoker.

This is a 4- in-1 smoker and grill. This is best suited for seasoned smokers but beginners can also try it if they dare. The dimension of this smoker grill is 82 x 23 x 54 inches. So, you can imagine that it is quite a sturdy thing. It has two lower shelves and two condiment racks for extra storage. If you are a barbeque lover then this is a must for you. It has four grilling options in one unit. You can grill chicken, beef, seafood or vegetables even. This smoker grill has a significant size with multiple cooking options. You cannot go wrong with this one.

1. It has four grilling options in one unit. You can cook meat, seafood, and vegetables at the same time, in different ways. This is a BBQ lover’s dream. You can use it as a liquid propane gas grill, as a charcoal grill or you can use the infrared searing burner. The smoker firebox is just as marvelous.

2. It has a three burner liquid propane gas grill that can cook up 20 hamburgers at the same time. The ceramic infrared side burner is perfect for searing steaks and seafood to seal the flavor.

3. The charcoal grill comes with an adjustable charcoal pan that can easily control the temperature while providing the charcoal- grilling flavor.

4. If you want to smoke food, the offset, side smoker firebox is perfect for it.

• A lot of people would love to have a grill and a smoker but it can be quite expensive to buy both and they take up a lot of space. To solve this problem, you can buy a smoker grill. This particular smoker grill is way better since it allows you to cook in four different ways.

• Barbequed food is really delicious but it can get quite boring to eat food prepared in the same way. With this smoker grill, you can prepare your food in many different ways.

• The ceramic side burner is perfect for searing steaks and seafood to seal the flavor.

• It comes with two lower shelves and two condiments racks.

• It takes quite a lot of time to assemble it.

If you are a barbeque lover, this is a must- have for you.

1. This smoker has the dimension of 19.7 x 16.9 x 32.1 inches.

2. With a regular smoker, to keep putting the wood chips in the fire might become tiresome but the Masterbuilt has a smooth- operating wood chip loading system which allows you to easily add woodchips without having to open the door. Not having to open the door keeps the heat and smoke inside.

3. It has 721 square inches of cooking space with four chrome- coated racks which is enough to feed a party.

4. This smoker has an 800 watt heating element.

5. It has a blue LED display which provides easy reading, even in direct sunlight.

6. To ensure even cooking, the thermostat controls the temperature from 100 to 275 degree Fahrenheit.

7. It has a new drip deflector and front- access drip pan which makes clean up easy.

• The smoker is easy to assemble and easy to use.

• It is very well insulated so the smoke and heat stay inside and the meat is evenly cooked and tender.

• It is very spacious. It has over 700 square inches of cooking space with four chrome cooking racks. So, you can cook a lot of meat at the same time.

• It is very easy to control the temperature. It comes with remote control. So, you can control the temperature from the comfort of your chair.

• Sometimes the drip pan can leak.

If you want to enjoy BBQ with the least bit of effort, then this smoker is for you.

This is every BBQ lover’s dream smoker. It is the modernized version of the ancient Asian cooker. It has the dimension of 45.9 x 29.1 x 52 inches. It has ample space for you to smoke a lot of meat. This Kamado cooks, bakes, smokes, and grills. So, it truly is all- in- one. It has thick ceramic walls that radiate into your food and locks in moisture and enhances the flavor. It runs on charcoal. So, it will be a nice change from electric smokers. If you are interested in this smoker then keep reading.

1. This smoker has a heavy ceramic body which is ideal for efficiently burning charcoal.

2. It has the dimension of 45.9 x 29.1 x 52 inches which is ample space for meat that can feed a party.

3. It has a cast iron top tamper that gives you full control over airflow which allows you to set the perfect cooking temperature.

4. It has a 567 square inches of two- tier cooking surface.

5. It has solid bamboo side shelves that are sturdy and fold down for easy storage.

• You can cook world- class BBQ with the Kamado.

• It is durable as well as budget- friendly. It may not be cheap but if you take care of it, it will last you a life- time.

• There are wood handle and springs to help make the heavy lid easy to lift and hold in position. So, there is no chance of you to burn your fingers.

• It has calibrated cooking vents which allows superior temperature control so that your meat can cook tenderly.

• You may find it difficult to adjust the vents.

All in all, this smoker is worth every penny.

7. Camp Chef Woodwind Classic Pellet Grill with Sear Box (Woodwind)

This smoker has digital temperature control. When you use a regular grill or smoker, you have to control the temperature manually. But the Woodwind does your work for you so you don’t have to do much work. It is fueled by hardwood pellets which not only generate heat and smoke but also infuses your food with a savory flavor. The controller box is weatherproof so you can use it in snow and rain. If you buy and use this product, you will become a BBQ master in no time.

1. One of the best features of the Woodwind is digital temperature control. You just have to start it and the automatic auger will feed pellets into the grill and the digital temperature control will maintain the heat and produce an optimal amount of smoke which will ensure more tender and tasty meat.

2. The temperature ranges from 160 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. So, you can cook food at low or high temperature.

3. It has a 570 square inches of cooking surface area. It also has a removable upper warming rack which gives you a lot of extra room.

4. It has the dimension of 52 x 50 x 25 inches.

5. After cooking for hours cleanup can feel tiresome. But the Woodwind has an exclusive ash cleanout system. You will only need to pull a lever and throw away the ash. You don’t have to waste any time vigorously cleaning it. The cleaning process is very easy.

6. The sear box reaches up to 900 degrees Fahrenheit which is perfect for searing meat and locking in the moisture.

• What good is a smoker if it doesn’t smoke properly? Well, the Woodwind smoker has a smart smoke technology. It has digital temperature control which allows you to maintain heat and produce the optimal amount of smoke with the least bit of effort.

• With the Woodwind, you can grill, smoke, bake, roast, or braise. You don’t have to choose. You can consume meat prepared in many different ways.

• When you are throwing a party, you would want to cook enough food for all your guests. If your smoker doesn’t have enough space then you will have to cook food in batches which can be tiresome. The Woodwind has 570 square inches of cooking surface area which is enough to feed a party full of people.

• No BBQ is perfect without a seared finish. The sear box reaches up to 900 degree Fahrenheit which is more than enough for a seared finish.

• Sometimes the cleanup can be difficult.

For high- quality BBQ, you cannot go wrong with the Woodwind.

8. Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

1. You can cook for about 20 hours per 20 lbs. of pellets..

2. Traeger is a wood pellet grill and smoker. If you use this you will not miss gas or charcoal. Wood pellet gives food a more- smoky flavor.

3. Super versatile and wide temperature range from 180 to 450 degrees to grill, smoke, bake,roast, braise or BBQ.

4. It has 300 square inches of portable grilling space.

• It is portable. While camping or enjoying any sort of outdoor activities, if you crave BBQ, you can cook it with the help of this smoker. It is very easy to carry and set up.

• Z Grills wood pellet technology gets you wood fire flavor at the convenience of propane or gas.

• It is very versatile. You can grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to perfection.

• It is very easy to control the temperature,

• Sometimes it can be difficult to remove unused pellets.

You will not regret it if you buy this product.

9. Char-Griller E16620 Akorn Kamado Charcoal Grill, Graphite

The big easy smoker, roaster, and grill is known for evenly cooked BBQ. It has TRU- infrared cooking technology which ensures evenly cooked, tender, juicy meat. It is very versatile since it allows you to smoke, roast, or grill at once. It is portable and very easy to use. All you need to do is to simply connect it to a standard liquid propane tank, turn one knob to on, and another knob to light the unit. It has 1200 square inches for smoking and roasting and another 180 square inch for grilling. You couldn’t ask for anything more.

1. The smoker box can control the temperature from 9000 to 18000 BTU which is more than enough to smoke or roast meat.

2. The dimension of this smoker is 314 square inches of primary cooking space, warming rack 133 square inches for a total of 447 square inches.

3. You will have no flare- up problem with this smoker because it has the TRU- infrared cooking system.

4. The Big Easy is very versatile. It lets you smoke, roast, and grill all in one.

5. It can Cooking surface is cast iron, Body is constructed of 22 gauge steel, Exterior finish is powder coated steel, Interior finish is porcelain coated steel.

6. It is portable. Easy to assemble and easy to use.

• Not only the Big Easy portable but also versatile. Regular smoker and grill are too heavy to move and the moving process can damage them. But the Big Easy can be carried anywhere and you can enjoy BBQ anywhere you like. Most portable smoker and grill do not offer such versatility as the Big Easy. You can smoke, roast, or grill with it.

• It is Locking Lid, 2 folding black metal shelves, Easy dump ash pan, Double wall insulation, Heat gauge.

• It has a removable grease tray which makes clean up very easy.

• You can add wood into the smoker box without having to open the lid. It helps to keep the smoke and heat inside.

• You don’t need any charcoal or oil. There is no spit rod to balance. You can cook BBQ without going the extra mile.

• The worst thing that can happen to a BBQ is that it is not evenly cooked. The Big Easy has TRU- infrared technology which ensures evenly cooked tender meat every time.

Cons:

10.Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker 14- Inch Charcoal Smoker, Black

Now, this smoker is the real deal. It keeps the temperature consistent and does not overheat which ensures tender, evenly cooked meat. The 14- inch one is enough to feed a family but if you want more, there are other sizes. An added bonus is that it is portable. If you compare it with other smokers this size, you will see that it is quite inexpensive. It is easy to set up and easy to use. It is safe to say that, you will be addicted to BBQ once you buy this. It is perfect for outdoor events since it has rust- resistant legs.

1. It has the dimension of 31.4 x 14.8 x 14.8 inches.

2. It has a porcelain- enameled lid, bowl, and a center section that retains heat and provides you with evenly cooked food.

3. It has rust- resistant metal legs which are very useful if you cook outside.

4. It has two cooking grates which provide ample room for smoking two large items at once.

5. It has silicone temperature grommet that monitors the internal temperature of the smoker. Temperature can be also controlled by easily adjusting the dampers.

6. It has a fuel door that comes off and makes adding charcoal and wood easier while smoking.

• It has plated steel cooking grates which are great for searing.

• Most smokers are placed outside and they are exposed to the elements which make them rust faster. But the Smokey Mountain Cooker has rust- resistant legs which can withstand rain or snow.

• It has built- in lid thermometer which helps you control the temperature.

• It has extra- large water pan which helps to maintain the heat for all day smoking. So, the smoker doesn’t get overheated.

Cons:

A smoker can be quite expensive. If you do not spend wisely, you may end up regretting about it. There are a lot of smokers in the market. Not all are same. You have to compare multiple smokers before choosing one. For that, you will need to do your own research. In this article, I have put together some smokers that I think are worth buying. My hope is that you will find my suggestion helpful and buy a smoker that is best for you.

You can also learn about: how to smoke on a gas grill​