Best Charcoal BBQ Smoker

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The charcoal smoker is the main cooking equipment for all barbecues. There are many models to choose from, and sometimes it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs. Let’s check the Best Charcoal BBQ Smoker on the market today.

The main question should be how much you want to cook at a time and what type of food you intend to cook. If you are planning on large groups of people, then you need a smoker that can provide enough food for everyone.

If you only plan on cooking for your own family, then you will not need a smoker that can produce food for large groups. You will easily be able to choose a unit that can meet your needs.

This post is about the best charcoal barbecue smokers that are currently on the market. They range in price and cooking abilities, so you should find one that is perfect for you. 

Best Charcoal BBQ Smoker Reviews

Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Charcoal Smoker Review

Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Charcoal Smoker

The Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Charcoal Smoker is perfect for anyone who loves the taste of smoked meats but doesn’t want to slave over a fire all day. 

This smoker has porcelain-enamelled steel construction and nickel-plated cooking grates to make sure your food comes out perfect every time. 

The water pan helps to regulate the heat, while the thermometer ensures that your food is cooked perfectly every time. 

With easily adjustable dampers and a heat-resistant nylon handle, you’ll be able to cook whatever you like however you like it.

Plus, the individual vents on the bowl and lid let you customize the smoking process to get the best results. And if you need help figuring things out, don’t worry – this smoker comes with 3D interactive instructions!

Pros

  • Two cooking grates
  • Easy assembly
  • Thermometer
  • Nylon handle
  • Precise heat control
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • The quality of grates is cheap

Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Smoker Review

Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Smoker

The Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker is a great smoker for anyone looking to get into smoking meat. 

It has 395.4 sq. inches of cooking space, so you can cook a lot of meat at once, and it comes with two porcelain-coated smoking racks to make sure your food doesn’t stick. 

The front-access door makes it easy to get your food in and out, and the built-in lid thermometer ensures that your food is cooked perfectly every time. 

Plus, the porcelain-coated charcoal pan and water bowl keep your smoker clean and easy to use.

Pros

  • 2 cooking grates
  • Front-access door
  • Built-in lid thermometer
  • Easy to clean

Cons

  • The charcoal pan is very small

Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Smoker Review

Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Smoker

Dyna-Glo DGSS1382VCS-D Charcoal Smoker is a smoker that is designed with your cooking experience in mind. 

The five chrome-plated cooking grates provide ample space to cook whatever you would like, while the 1382 square inches of cooking surface lets you cook multiple items at once. 

With heavy-gauge steel construction, this smoker is made to last, and with Cool-touch handles and a Cool-touch spring lid, you will never have to worry about burning yourself while smoking your favourite food.

This smoker has a stainless analog temperature gauge with “Smoke Zone” to help you achieve that perfect smoked flavour every time. 

The oversized steel wheels make it easy to transport your smoker from patio to picnic spot, and the removable offset charcoal grate and ash pan makes cleaning up a breeze. Plus, the sausage hooks are a great added bonus.

Pros

  • 5 cooking racks
  • Heavy-gauge steel construction
  • Cool-touch handles and lid
  • Temperature gauge
  • Easy mobility
  • Sausage hooks

Cons

  • The design isn’t too great

Cuisinart COS-118 Charcoal Smoker Review

Cuisinart COS-118 Charcoal Smoker

Are you looking for a smoker that will let you cook up all sorts of delicious meals? Then you need the Cuisinart COS-118 Charcoal Smoker! 

This smoker has two 18″ stainless steel racks, 512 square inches of cooking space, and a porcelain enamel water bowl. 

The top and bottom vents provide a dual air vent system to ensure your food is cooked evenly. And don’t worry about messes – the latching base makes it easy to clean up.

With an adjustable heat and smoke control, you’ll be able to create delicious smoked meats like a pro. 

With its sturdy steel housing and tall design, this smoker is easy to use and produces delicious results every time.

Plus, the included smoker mats and aluminium drip trays help keep things tidy while you cook.

Pros

  • 2 steel racks
  • Even cooking
  • Adjustable heat & smoke control
  • Durable steel construction
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • The smoker is not well designed

Masterbuilt MB20040220 Digital Charcoal Smoker Review

Masterbuilt MB20040220 Digital Charcoal Smoker

The Masterbuilt MB20040220 Digital Charcoal Smoker is the perfect smoker for anyone who wants to smoke like a pro. 

With its digital control panel and smart device control, you can easily regulate the temperature and cook time to ensure perfect results every time. 

The digital fan ensures precise temperature control, while the built-in temperature gauge and meat probe thermometer let you monitor your food’s progress at all times.

The gravity-fed hopper holds 16 pounds of briquettes, and the reversible smoke & sear cast-iron grates give you a delicious smoky flavour every time. With 560 total square inches of cooking space, this smoker is perfect for large gatherings.

Pros

  • Digital control panel 
  • Smart device control
  • Precise temperature control
  • Built-in temperature gauge 
  • Meat probe thermometer
  • Large hopper capacity

Cons

  • The customer support is poor

Classic Pit Barrel Charcoal Smoker Review

Classic Pit Barrel Charcoal Smoker

Looking for a smoker that is simple to operate and doesn’t require much assembly? Look no further than the Classic Pit Barrel Charcoal Smoker! 

This smoker comes with 8 stainless steel hooks, a standard grate for grilling and searing, and a coal basket – all of which make smoking your favourite meats a breeze. 

Thanks to its unique design, the Classic Pit Barrel Charcoal Smoker is perfect for anyone looking for an easy way to smoke meat.

Pros

  • Simple to operate
  • 8 steel hooks
  • Unique design

Cons

  • Assembly instructions are not easy to follow

Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II Charcoal Smoker Review

Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II Charcoal Smoker

The Kamado Joe KJ23RHC Classic Joe II Charcoal Smoker is the perfect smoker for anyone who wants to create an award-winning barbecue. 

The cooking size of 18 inches allows you to cook a variety of food items, and the premium cart ensures that your smoker is easy to move around. 

The locking casters and wheels make it easy to manoeuvre, while the 2-Tier Divide & Conquer feature ensures that your food cooks evenly.

The smoker has a patent-pending dual-adjustment top vent that allows you to smoke from 225F all the way to searing at 750F. 

The cast aluminium construction is rain resistant, so you can keep smoking even in bad weather, and the control tower ensures consistent airflow management during dome opening and closing.

The airlift hinge allows the dome to be lifted with ease, and the removable ash catcher makes for easy cleanup. The Advanced Multi-Panel FireBox is designed for superior heat distribution and eliminates breakage. 

With all these features, Kamado Joe smokers are perfect for anyone who wants to smoke meat like a pro.

Pros

  • Easy to move
  • Even cooking
  • Dual-adjustment vent
  • Rain-resistant
  • Consistent airflow

Cons

  • Accessories of this smoker are hard to find

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main benefits of owning a charcoal bbq smoker?

Charcoal smokers are very similar to gas grills in that they both grill, but each has its own unique benefits. Gas grills tend to be faster because they can heat up much faster than any charcoal smoker. However, it is very easy to leave your gas grill on too long or leave the lid up and start a fire or worse, burn down your house or hurt someone.

Charcoal smokers tend to be slower than gas grills, but the heat is much easier to control. With a little practice, it’s easy to learn how long to leave your smoker on to get the exact results you are looking for.

For anyone that enjoys grilled food but doesn’t enjoy the dangers of a gas grill, a charcoal smoker is perfect.

What is the difference between a Charcoal BBQ Smoker and a Gas Grill?

A gas grill uses an open flame, typically fueled by propane, to cook your food. Some people love grilling with gas because it is convenient, and they can start grilling within minutes of deciding to cook. Gas grills are also very easy to clean, which makes them appealing for some people.

A charcoal BBQ smoker typically uses wood or charcoal to cook your food. You have to start the wood or charcoal in order for the smoker to heat up, but this typically takes no more than 10 minutes. Most people agree that the smokiness from a charcoal grill is far superior to a gas grill, but some people just love being able to start grilling within minutes.

How do I know which type of Charcoal BBQ Smoker is right for me?

The first step is to decide whether you want a gas or charcoal grill. For anyone that wants convenience or doesn’t want the hassle of starting a charcoal grill, a gas grill is probably right for them.

If speed and convenience aren’t important to you and you want some of the best-tasting food you’ve ever had a grill, a charcoal smoker is perfect for you.

What would be the best smoker for someone who does not want to spend a lot of money?

While most charcoal smokers on the market cost less than $300, there are some on the market that can be had for under $100. The best smoker for someone who doesn’t want to spend a lot of money is probably an offset smoker. 

An offset smoker will allow the user to cook more food at a time and can typically be found for less than $100.

How can I regulate the temperature of a charcoal smoker?

Heat is one of the most crucial parts of BBQ’ing. Without heat, you won’t get any smoke, and without smoke, your food never tastes the way it’s supposed to.

In order to control the heat of your charcoal smoker, you can adjust the airflow by using different vents on the smoker. You can also add more coals or wood to control the heat of your grill.

Charcoal BBQ Smokers come with a variety of different options to control heat. Many people opt for grills that have adjustable vents on the bottom and lids of their smokers, but you can also find offset smokers with adjustable airflow.

Are charcoal smokers safe to use?

While grilling can be dangerous if it’s done improperly, using a charcoal smoker is actually quite safe. There are three main dangers in charcoal smoking:

1) The heat of the coals can cause fires or burns. You should always exercise extreme caution when placing any type of grill over an open flame.

2) If you make a mistake while lighting your coals or smoker, there is a chance that some of the charcoal may flare up and cause a small fire. This is something you can easily protect against by using charcoal lighter and placing the coals over dirt or sand instead of grass or flammable items.

3) The smoke can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if it is not able to escape the area you are cooking. Always make sure you have proper ventilation and never cook in a confined area like a garage or shed.

Conclusion

If you’re looking for the best charcoal BBQ smoker, this post can help. The key to finding the right grill is knowing what type of food you intend on cooking and how often you will need to use your grill.

Charcoal smokers provide a smokier flavor than gas grills and aren’t nearly as dangerous. If you want some of the best-tasting food you’ve ever had, a charcoal smoker is perfect for you. You can also check our article on the Best Small Charcoal Smoker.

We hope that this article was helpful. If you want to share some of your experience using a charcoal smoker or have any other questions, please feel free to leave a message in the comment box below. I hope you liked our article on Best Charcoal BBQ Smoker.

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