Best Offset Charcoal Smoker

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The good old days of cooking over a big, open fire pit are long gone. While these types of grills are still popular, many modern homeowners are opting for more high-tech cooking appliances. Let’s check the Best Offset Charcoal Smoker on the market today.

One of the most versatile grill types is the offset charcoal smoker. Offset smokers, unlike regular charcoal grills, are designed to give you more control over the cooking process. They feature an offset firebox, which allows you to both controls the temperature and smokes your food over a longer period of time.

Offset smokers are often viewed as more of an investment, with many people saying they are worth the money. Offset smokers typically last years longer than standard charcoal grills, which means you get more bang for your buck.

In this article, we’ll be reviewing some of the top offset smokers on the market. Whether you’re new to smoking meat or are a seasoned grilling veteran, one of these smokers might be the perfect choice for your next backyard barbecue.

Best Offset Charcoal Smoker Reviews

Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

Oklahoma Joe's Highland Reverse Flow Offset Charcoal Smoker

The Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker is perfect for anyone who wants to smoke their favourite meats and veggies to perfection! 

This smoker comes with a 900 square inch cooking surface, making it easy to cook for large groups. 

The main chamber is 619 square inches, while the firebox chamber offers 281 square inches of space. The firebox chamber also features a large stainless steel fuel basket and a clean-out door for easy disposal of ash. 

The heavy-gauge steel construction and multiple dampers make it easy to keep the heat and smoke where you want them, while the four baffles locked under the wire grates ensure even heat & smoke distribution through the cooking chamber.

With two smokestack locations, you can customise the setup to your needs. And because it’s made by Oklahoma Joe’s, you know it’s a product you can trust.

Pros

  • Large cooking space
  • Easy ash removal
  • Durable construction
  • Two smokestack locations
  • Even heat & smoke distribution

Cons

  • The door may not seal well

Dyna-Glo DGSS962CBO-D Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

The Dyna-Glo DGSS962CBO-D Charcoal Smoker is perfect for anyone who loves smoked meat! 

This smoker has a large cooking area, so you can cook up plenty of food at once. The offset cooking area also lets you smoke meats like ribs or brisket, which require indirect heat. With 962 square inches of cooking space, this smoker is perfect for any barbecue lover.

The smoker is made with heavy-gauge steel construction, so it’s durable and built to last. It also comes with a removable offset charcoal grate and ash pan for easy cleanup. 

Plus, an analog temperature gauge ensures accurate cooking temperatures every time. 

Its large, steel wheels provide easy manoeuvrability, while its cool-touch spring lid handle allows for safe and easy opening. 

So, if you’re looking for a great smoker that will produce delicious smoked food, the Dyna-Glo DGSS962CBO-D is a perfect choice.

Pros

  • Large space for cooking
  • Steel construction
  • Easy manoeuvrability
  • Accurate cooking temperatures
  • Easy cleanup

Cons

  • It has no meat thermometer

Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Offset Charcoal Smoker

The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Offset Charcoal Smoker is perfect for anyone who wants to smoke delicious food all year round. 

With six height-adjustable cooking grates, you can easily cook whatever you’re in the mood for. 

And with a total cooking space of 1176 square inches, there’s plenty of room to feed a crowd. The porcelain-enamelled steel charcoal chamber ensures that your food will come out looking and tasting amazing every time.

Its charcoal and ash management system ensure that your food will come out tasting great every time. 

The adjustable flue lets you customize the flavour and temperature of your smoke, while the built-in thermometer makes sure that everything is cooked perfectly.

This smoker is equipped with a ‘Smoke Zone’ indicator to help you achieve the perfect temperature and an easy-to-read gauge so you can monitor your progress. 

The offset smoker box ensures even heat distribution, guaranteeing perfectly smoked food every time.

Pros

  • Ample space for cooking
  • Easy to maintain
  • Built-in thermometer
  • Smoke Zone indicator
  • Even distribution of heat

Cons

  • The smoker’s design could be better

Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

Oklahoma Joe's Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Charcoal Smoker

Now you can cook up a whole mess of barbecue goodness with the Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker. 

This beast has 1,060 total square inches of cooking surface, giving you plenty of room to work your magic. 

The removable baffles and optional smokestack locations let you customize the setup to your heart’s content, while the firebox chamber features a large stainless steel fuel basket and clean-out door for easy cleanup of ashes. 

With heavy-gauge steel construction, porcelain-coated cooking grates, and multiple dampers, this smoker is easy to use and easy to assemble. 

This smoker is made with your comfort in mind. The main chamber and firebox have cool-touch handles, which keep your hands from getting too hot. 

It also offers front and bottom shelves, a professional lid-mounted temperature gauge, and large 10″ wheels for easy mobility.

Pros

  • 1,060 square inches of cooking space
  • Removable baffles 
  • Optional smokestack locations
  • Large fuel basket
  • Easy ash cleanup
  • Easy assembly
  • Easy to operate
  • Easy mobility

Cons

  • It may not be a durable smoker

Landmann 560212 Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

Landmann 560212 Offset Charcoal Smoker

The Landmann 560212 Charcoal Smoker is a top-quality smoker that will let you smoke all your favourite foods with ease. 

With its large grilling capacity and multiple positions for the charcoal pan, this smoker is adaptable to any kind of food you want to smoke. 

The chrome-plated steel warming rack also provides additional grilling space, and the large removable ashtray makes cleanup a breeze.

The porcelain-enamelled steel ensures that your food will stay moist and flavorful. 

With a tall hinged lid, this smoker is also great for smoking larger items. And with the large folding side shelves and bottom storage shelf, you’ll have plenty of room to store all of your supplies.

The large easy to read temperature gauge takes all the guesswork out of smoking, while the chimney with adjustable damper allows you to customize your smoking experience. 

And thanks to the wheeled cart, this smoker is a breeze to transport from one location to another.

Pros

  • Large capacity
  • Cool to touch handles
  • Easy cleanup
  • Extra storage shelves
  • Temperature gauge
  • Easy to transport

Cons

  • The assembly instructions are not very clear

Char-Broil 12201570 Offset Charcoal Smoker Review

Char-Broil 12201570 Offset Charcoal Smoker

It’s not easy being a backyard pitmaster, but the Char-Broil Offset Charcoal Smoker makes it a little bit easier. 

This incredible smoker is both a BBQ and a charcoal grill, with a combined 290 square inches of cooking surface. 

The main chamber offers good space to cook up your favourite meats, while the 140 sq. in. firebox chamber provides an ideal place to roast vegetables or slow-cook ribs. 

This smoker features an adjustable height steel grate, so you can customize your cooking experience. 

The clean-out door makes ash removal a breeze, while the built-in damper lets you control the heat and smoke output. 

And with the temperature gauge on the lid, you’ll never have to guess what’s going on inside your smoker. So roll up your sleeves and get ready to barbecue like a pro with the Char-Broil Offset Charcoal Smoker.

Pros

  • Adjustable steel grate
  • Easy cleanup
  • Good heat & smoke control
  • Temperature gauge

Cons

  • The cooking area is limited

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

What is an offset smoker?

An offset smoker is a barbecue pit where the firebox is separate from the cooking chamber. This particular style of smoker uses indirect heat to cook food, unlike the other type of smoker, which uses direct heat. Offset smokers are designed to cook low and slow, at about 225 degrees Fahrenheit. 

A lot of smokers today use gas or electric heating elements to aid the cooking process; however, offset smokers are still popular because they give you that “home-style” feel and taste. This particular style of a smoker is great for smoking all kinds of foods. 

The main difference between an offset smoker and any other style of barbecue smoker is that the heat source is located away from the cooking area.

The cooking chamber is at the other end. The heat and smoke produced in the firebox travel through a large metal tube into the cooking chamber. This tube is offset, hence the name “offset smoker”. The term “offset” refers to the distance between the heat source (firebox) and the cooking chamber.

Who are offset smokers best for?

An offset smoker is a great choice if you want to barbecue smaller cuts of meat or if you want to smoke your food instead of grilling it.

An offset smoker is also a great choice if you want to be able to cook for a party of 8 or more people.

What is the benefit of using an offset smoker?

Food smokes better at low temperatures. A good quality offset smoker will not heat up very much, and you’ll be able to maintain an ideal cooking temperature at about 225 degrees Fahrenheit. 

The constant flow of heat and smoke produced by offset smokers also ensures that meats are evenly cooked. 

Most offset smokers are also very efficient, usually using about half the charcoal of other styles of barbecue pits. However, offset smokers are kind of pricey.

This is probably the main reason that offset smokers are not as popular as free-standing grills. 

What are some examples of foods I can cook on an offset smoker?

Most people use offset smokers to cook meat. Low and slow cooking is perfect for tougher cuts of meat like brisket, pork shoulder, ribs, and beef ribs. 

You can also use offset smokers to smoke vegetables, cheese, fish, or any other food you want to slowly cook over low heat.

What are some common problems with offset smokers?

– Design: Some high-quality offset smokers have a cooking area that is too small unless you’re cooking for a small group of people. 

– Temperature: Some offset smokers are very difficult to maintain, especially during windy conditions. It’s also difficult to control the cooking temperature because you have to manually adjust vents.

– Space: Most offset smokers require a large amount of space.

– Cleaning: Offset smokers are difficult to clean, and the airtight cooking chamber can produce a lot of smoke when you’re cleaning the cooking chamber. 

– Ease of Use: Offset smokers may be difficult to use.

Are offset smokers easy to maintain?

Yes, they are. With the majority of offset smokers, you simply disc out the ashes and coals after each use. A high-quality offset smoker will have three airtight cooking chambers. 

This ensures that your food is cooked evenly, and it also means you’ll only have to clean the cooking chamber once a month or so.

When you store an offset smoker, make sure that you close all of the air vents and place a piece of tin foil on the bottom grate. This will prevent ash from falling out all over your storage space.

Keep your offset smoker in an open-air environment. If you keep it in a shed or garage, make sure that you let it air out for a day or two. If you smoke in an enclosed space, the smoke is sure to make its way into your storage area and ruin any stored items.

Conclusion

Offset smokers are great for people who want to cook low and slow. Their big cooking area makes them suitable for several different types of foods; you can control the heat by opening or closing air vents on the side.

The only downside is that offset smokers are very expensive. If you’re just starting out, a free-standing grill will be a more cost-effective alternative. If you can afford one, an offset smoker is definitely worth the money if you like to smoke.

If you’re cooking for a small group of people, an offset smoker is not the best choice. However, if you’re cooking for a large group of people, an offset smoker is the way to go. You can also check our article on the Best Gravity Charcoal Smoker.

We hope this article has helped you learn more about offset smokers. Just keep in mind that you must have a good amount of space to properly use an offset smoker. I hope you liked our article on Best Offset Charcoal Smoker.

Thank you for reading our article on offset smokers. 

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