Best Meat Smokers Reviewed and Rated

Smoking meat is an old-age tradition that still tickles your tastebuds, with the only exception being the fact that the techniques have changed. While you can smoke well on a grill, nothing beats a dedicated smoker for succulent low-and-slow smoked ribs, pork, and brisket. It’s a cliché. The aroma curling up from the smoke is something hard to beat. Smoke is now a dimension of food. Hundreds of years ago, no one would have thought that. Whether it’s the smell or the taste smoke has come a long way from its prehistoric origins to the culinary delight of the modern day food scene. The smell just makes your mouth water up and forces you to take out a cleaver or a knife to dig into the meat. Even smokers have become more modern. They are now equipped with state-of-the-art features, making it easy to smoke at the comfort of your own home. Even if you don’t have a state of the art smoker, you can enhance your skills and cooking process with a digital meat thermometer.

Our Top 3 Picks

  • Masterbuilt Digital Smoker
  • 5 out of 5
    Our rating
  • Ideal smoker
  • Price: See Here
  • Weber Smokey Mountain
  • 4.6 out of 5
    Our rating
  • Durable
  • Price: See Here
  • Dyna-Glo Vertical Smoker
  • 4.2 out of 5
    Our rating
  • Heavy Duty
  • Price: See Here

The great thing about modern smokers is that you don’t have to hover around them all day; they can effectively create a stable cooking environment, so you aren’t stuck shoveling coal and monitoring the temperature. You might think that you need an expensive, industrial-sized smoker to be able to enjoy the wonders of smoked delights at home, but more and more it’s becoming easier to find inexpensive, effective smokers suitable for your own backyard. There are smoke boxes and smoke canisters that you can add to your traditional grill arsenal, however, we tend to prefer smokers using natural lump charcoal as well as wood, and the variety of electric and gas smokers abound. Let’s take a look at our top picks of the best meat smokers in the market.

10 Best Meat Smokers

We reviewed the 10 best meat smokers available on the market today. Reas our in-depth reviews and make a smart choice that will also msave you money.

1. Masterbuilt 30″ Electric Digital Smoker

Spice up your barbecue with the Masterbuilt 30″ Electric Digital Smoker and bring the distinctive flavors of smoked foods to your home whenever you want them. Whether it’s salmon, jerky, chicken or beef, no matter the food, people will follow the smoke that signals homemade succulence. The delightfully smoky aroma that permeates from the Masterbuilt has a way of making friends and family flock around the smoker in the spirit of good times and good food. It’s a smart solution for big groups and preserving foods for the off-season. Its slow-cooking goodness attracts family, friends and good times. When you’re finished doing your business with the meat, if not eaten right away, be sure to put it in a refrigerator.

Features & Specifications:

  • 730 sq. inches of cooking space
  • Four chrome-coated rack
  • Rated best pick by Jane’s Kitchen.
  • 800 Watt heating element
  • Digital temperature and timer controls
  • Thermostat temperature control for even cooking from 100 to 275 degrees F
  • Convenient side loading wood chips
  • Removable drip pan
  • Removable water pan
  • Digital electric smokehouse includes side wood chip loader
  • Ideal smoker for all experience levels

Pros:

  • This electric smoker is quite spacious inside providing 730 square inches cooking surface. You’ll have ample room for your ham, fish, sausage, chicken, or jerky–enough to feed extra-large crowds on special occasions, holidays, and family reunions.
  • The intuitive pushbutton digital control panel includes temperature settings that range from 100 to 275 °
  • Easy to set, the temperature is remarkably consistent, so your food comes out exactly the way you want it.
  • All walls in the smoker are 100% insulated for energy-efficient cooking.
  • No more overcooked meat on one side and half raw meat on the other. Plus, the control panel includes a 24-hour timer with an automatic shut-off, so food is never overcooked or dry.
  • This smoker features convenient to lead side tray for adding wood chips of your preferred flavor. Now you do not need to open the smoker for loading chips which saves the heat and smoke inside for perfect cooking.
  • The smoker lets you add juice, vinegar, or your favorite beverage to the removable water pan to infuse moisture and add another layer of flavor to your food. For a milder flavor, you can use the adjustable air damper to decrease the smoke level.
  • The drip pan at the bottom of the smoker is placed to catch the drippings which actually add the right taste to any sauce or gravy.

Cons:

  • Some users found issues with the heating element.
  • The Masterbuilt’s electric heater sometimes doesn’t seem to have quite enough oomph if you really load it with meat.
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2. Weber 18″ Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker

Enjoy the delicious taste of freshly smoked meals from the comfort of your own home with the Weber 18″ Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker. From the very beginning, Weber revolutionized backyard grilling. Since then, they have continued to develop products that enhance the grilling experience. Apart from having no health risks,  The Smokey Mountain Cooker Charcoal Smoker makes it easy to enjoy authentic smokehouse flavor at home. For the moistest, juiciest cuts of meat low and slow is the mantra. That’s where the Smokey comes right in.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 19″L x 19″W x 41″H
  • Weight: 39.07 pounds
  • Material Type: Steel
  • Charcoal smoker for authentic smokehouse flavor at home
  • Made of porcelain-enameled steel
  • Heat-resistant nylon handle
  • 2 nickel-plated 18-1/2-inch-wide cooking grates for a total of 481 square inches
  • Water pan
  • Built-in thermometer;
  • Individual vents on bowl and lid
  • Storage cover
  • Warranty: 10-year limited warranty
  • Power source: Charcoal

Pros:

  • This outdoor smoker offers ample space to cook different types of meats. The grates themselves offer just the right surface for barbecuing ribs and a turkey at the same time.
  • A durable, built-in lid thermometer allows you to easily monitor your smoker’s temperature.
  • The porcelain-enameled water pan adds steam to the smoking process so meat stays moist and tender.
  • The two cooking grates are made of heavy-duty plated steel, providing ample room for smoking ribs and a roast at the same time.
  • The Weber Smokey Mountain cooker smoker is designed with a no-rust aluminum fuel door and four air vents.

Cons:

  • The side door leaks smoke and lets in oxygen, making it hard to shut down the supply of oxygen and kill the coals.
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3. Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

Take your outdoor cooking to the next level with the Dyna-Glo Charcoal Offset Smoker which will equip your patio or deck with a durable centerpiece that friends and family will gather around for many years to come. With the Dyna-Glo, anyone can smoke their favorite foods with their favorite wood chips and favorite fuel source, charcoal. The offset charcoal box design allows for much greater heat control, in addition to channeling the smoked flavor across the foods for a tasty barbecue-smoked flavor. For a truly distinctive flavor, this smoker offers you a wealth of custom cooking options. The Dyna-Glo features six height-adjustable cooking grates that provide a total of 1176 sq. in. of cooking space, able to smoke up to 150 lbs. of food at once.

Features & Specifications:

  • 1176 sq. in. total cooking area offers significant space for all your grilling needs
  • Heavy-gage, porcelain-enameled steel wood chip box delivers maximum smoke flavor
  • Temperature gauge lets you easily monitor smoker temperature
  • Smokes up to 150 lbs. of food at once to feed all your family and friends
  • Offset firebox design helps keep heat down and channels smoke across food
  • Heavy-duty steel body construction with high-temp powder-coat finish for long-life durability
  • Height-adjustable cooking grates allow you to cook food of any size
  • Grease management system collects drippings and condensation from inside the food chamber, making clean-up easy
  • Heavy duty carrying handles for easy maneuverability

Pros:

  • The offset functionality of this smoker is designed to keep direct heat away from the food, helping to prevent food on the bottom racks from cooking too fast.
  • Burn efficiency is improved as well thanks to the uniquely designed charcoal system that includes a porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber, which is designed to keep briquettes stacked tightly.
  • The smoker’s dual doors are designed to minimize reduction in cooking temperature when access to the food is needed or when more wood chips or charcoal briquettes are added.
  • The heavy-duty steel body construction features a high-temp, powder-coat finish that ensures a long life, while the smoker’s charcoal and wood chip tray is made with heavy gauged, porcelain-enameled steel for hours of maintenance-free cooking.
  • Vertical design lends itself to naturally rising heat, achieving greater efficiency and improved smoke flavor. Offset design keeps direct heat away from the food, allowing for slow cooking.
  • Six height-adjustable cooking grates accommodate various sizes of food.

Cons:

  • The grill has thin steel walls so keeping rust off is very important.
  • The thermometer on the front of the smoker is not so good quality.
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4. Masterbuilt Dual-Door Propane Gas Smoker

The Masterbuilt 30-inch vertical gas smoker delivers smokehouse flavor as easy as grilling. It is heavy-duty, allowing you to smoke large amounts of food at one time. Its dual-door design lets you add chips without losing heat. The consistent heat of propane allows you to smoke any time of year. The best part about the smoker is that it regulates heat nicely, helping maintain a more consistent temperature. This is the biggest factor in smoking meats of any kind. With 717 square inches of cooking space over four movable chrome cooking racks, this smoker gives you the ability to cook large food and lots of it. The built-in temperature gauge allows you to always know the temperature of the inside of the smoker and when it’s ideal to add certain foods.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 43.5 x 21.4 x 21.1 inches
  • Weight: 58.43 pounds
  • Material Type: Steel
  • Heat saving, two door propane smoker design
  • 717 square inches of cooking space
  • 4 movable chrome-plated cooking racks
  • Replenish wood and water without opening the cooking chamber
  • Great temperature control-adjustable air damper, temperature gauge, and precise burner control knob
  • Long lasting 15,400 BTU stainless steel burner
  • Heavy-duty, cold rolled, powder coated steel construction

Pros:

  • The vertical design facilitates more effective smoking as the smoke rises from the bottom of the unit to the top infusing your meats with that succulent, smoky BBQ flavor.
  • Another great advantage of the vertical design is that it doesn’t take up much space on your backyard patio or deck.
  • The lower door provides a separate entrance to the chip tray and water pan so that very little heat and smoke escapes while you are attending to these important elements.
  • The porcelain-coated wood chip tray and water pan are removable for easy clean-up.
  • The built-in temperature gauge allows you to always know the temperature of the inside of the smoker and when it’s ideal to add certain foods.
  • The pushbutton electronic igniter is convenient and fast and the insulated doors seem to help the smoker hold in the heat better.
  • The cool touch wire handles is an added value because it allows you to open the door often without having to use protective hand accessories every time you want to check the cooking process.

Cons:

  • The chip tray is too small and is ineffective at what it’s supposed to do.
  • A large rack of ribs needs to be cut in half in order to fit into the 30-inch smoker.
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5. Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker

The Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker represents a great option for the “beginner” smoker or those who don’t need to feed an army every time you cook. Char-Broil is an innovator in the popular gas grill arena with clever designs, low to midrange prices, and excellent customer service. For several years they have focused on infrared cooking. It features multiple dampers, a temperature gauge and extra grilling space in offset chamber. A vertical smokestack with adjustable dampers helps control the smoke and heat. If you love the delicious flavor of nicely smoked foods, this smoker is just perfect for mid-sized smoking.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 44.75 x 46.25 x 17.5 inches
  • Weight: 46.5 pounds
  • Grate Material: Porcelain Coated Wire
  • Side Shelf Material: Black Painted Steel
  • Fuel Type: Propane
  • Combination Offset Smoker, BBQ & Charcoal Grill
  • 290 square inch cooking surface in main chamber
  • 140 sq. in. cooking surface in firebox chamber
  • Adjustable height steel fire grate
  • Clean-out door for easy ash removal with adjustable built-in damper
  • Color: Black

Pros:

  • Easily remove leftover ash from your firebox with the convenient door for quick and easy clean up.
  • The offset firebox lets you stoke the fire easily without having to open the lid and heat the smoke flow freely into the main chamber.
  • The storage rack keeps your cooking utensils and extra gear close at hand.
  • The side shelf is a handy place for your grilling tools and cooking accessories that doubles as extra workspace while you’re cooking.
  • The durable porcelain coating on the cooking grates makes them rust-resistant and easy-to-clean.
  • A vertical pipe with adjustable dampers, regulates heat and smoke by drawing it through the cooking chamber.
  • Lid-mounted temperature gauge keeps track of pre-heat status and monitor the inside temperature of your grill.
  • With the wheels, you can easily move your grill around your backyard or patio.

Cons:

  • Some users complain the entire grill smells like toxic fumes while grilling and smoking.
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6. Nordic Ware 365 Indoor/Outdoor Kettle Smoker

Get the delicious smoked taste that you love indoors and outdoors, 365 days a year with the Nordic Ware 365 Kettle Smoker. It is a hybrid of a kettle and a traditional outdoor charcoal grill, and at only 9.1 pounds, it’s one of the smaller and more portable units in the line-up. This Kettle Smoker is compatible for use with all indoor cooktops, outdoor barbecue grills and even campfires. Not just meats, you can cook a variety of food items on the 365 Kettle Smoker, including seafood and pizza. Despite the small size, the Nordic Ware 365 comes fully stocked with everything you need for smoking.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 6.9 x 13 x 13.5 inches
  • Smoking foods at home has never been so easy
  • Transforms everyday food into delicious meals
  • High dome cover allows for maximum capacity
  • Measures 6-7/8 by 13 by 13-1/2 inches
  • Made in the USA with imported handles and thermometer
  • Smoking foods at home has never been so easy

Pros:

  • A high dome cover gives you ample space for loading up your smoker, and the base and water pans allow you to catch drippings and manage the damping settings within your smoker.
  • It is compatible for use with all indoor cooktops, outdoor barbecue grills and even campfires.
  • A single non-stick smoking rack allows you to prepare everything on a single surface, and the raised thermometer is attached to the lid for easy reading and temperature monitoring.
  • Constructed of aluminum, this smoker has metal handles, is dishwasher safe and has a non-stick interior, which makes for easy clean up.
  • A top vent helps you control airflow and oxygen intake.
  • The smoker also includes two side handles mounted to the base so you can easily pick up the entire unit and carry it from place to place.

Cons:

  • It’s not designed for large social gatherings, like some of the more robust models in the market.
  • The lid is not perfectly round and does not fit exactly.
  • It isn’t designed to be used with ceramic cooktops.
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7. Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker

This Vertical Charcoal Smoker from Char-Broil is the perfect choice for those who crave for smoked food. The delicious flavor of smoked meat evokes memories of family gatherings, barbecues with friends and celebrations of life events. Whether you’re a backyard barbecue master or a new cook embarking upon your first smoky adventure, the Char-Broil Smoker gives the outdoor chef complete control over their smoked meals. It has enough cooking space for a small group of 5 to 10 people. You can also adjust the cooking grates to accommodate larger chunks of meat – or alternatively, hang more food to maximize the space. This charcoal smoker would make a great addition to a collection of outdoor cooking tools.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 21.5 x 20.8 x 39 inches
  • Weight: 30 pounds
  • 365 square inches of cooking surface on 3 adjustable chrome-plated cooking grates
  • Multiple adjustable dampers to easily control the heat and smoke while cooking
  • Cool touch handle protects your hands while allowing a firm grip on your grill lid
  • Convenient pull-out drawer catches ash for simple clean-ups when you’re done cooking
  • Easy-to-refill porcelain-coated slide-in water pan
  • Removable combination fire grate and ash pan for easy clean-ups

Pros:

  • Get a firm grip on your grill lid with the Cool Touch Handle, while protecting your hands and fingers from the heat.
  • Convenient pull-out drawer catches ash for simple clean-ups when you’re done cooking.
  • Easy to refill porcelain-coated slide-in tray.
  • Control the grill temperature by opening and closing the dampers. To burn hotter keep the damper open, to lower the temperature, partially close it.
  • Keep track of pre-heat status and monitor the inside temperature of your grill with the lid-mounted temperature gauge.
  • With three adjustable chrome-plated cooking grates, the large smoking chamber offers 365 sq. in. total cooking surface area – more than enough space to cook deliciously Smokey meals for the whole family.
  • A convenient lower access door allows you to easily tend the charcoal and water pans without losing heat, while chrome-plated spring handles on both doors will remain cool to the touch even when the fire is lit.

Cons:

  • The solid charcoal pan doesn’t allow for a good airflow.
  • It has a terrible temperature control.
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8. Masterbuilt Front Controller Smoker

Craving for smoked meats? Look no further. Whether you’re cooking pork, chicken, beef or seafood, the amusingly smoky aroma that permeates from the Masterbuilt 20075315 Front Controller Smoker has a way of making friends and family flock around the smoker in the spirit of good times and delicious food. You’ll achieve competition-ready results in your own backyard, without the hassle of charcoal or propane. Simply plug this smoker in, set the digital controls, and it does the work! This Masterbuilt electric smoker and remote has a full 975 sq inches of cooking space and a smooth operating wood chip loading system.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 40.15 x 20.07 x 25 inches
  • Weight: 72.97 pounds
  • 975 sq. Inch of cooking space
  • Smooth operating wood chip loading system
  • Front access drip pan
  • Drip catching system for easier clean-up
  • 4 cooking racks and an internal light

Pros:

  • Smooth operating wood chip loading system and back wheels for moving.
  • This Masterbuilt electric smoker and remote has a full 975 sq inches of cooking space and a smooth operating wood chip loading system.
  • Water bowl and drip catching system with front access drip pan for easier clean-up.
  • RF remote controls and monitors temperature, time, internal light, on/off and meat temperature.
  • Full foam insulation keeps heat in, reducing your cooking time and making your operation run more efficiently.
  • High output LED lights illuminate food in low light when door is open.
  • Front control panel design allows for more prepping space on top of the smoker.
  • Patented side wood chip loading system to add chips without opening the smoker door.
  • Removable water pan, drip pan, wood chip tray, and front access grease pan for easy cleanup.

Cons:

  • The exterior controls do not look weather proof or even weather resistant.
  • Bad remote battery spring.
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9. Smoke Hollow Vertical Electric Smoker

Get an authentic smoky flavor with the Smoke Hollow 26142E Electric Smoker. This thing runs on electricity, so you don’t need to worry about running out of gas or firewood. The 1500-Watt element allows you to maintain your desired smoking temperature, so just add your favorite chips for real smoke flavor. With its 1.3-cu ft cooking capacity, you can prepare grilled meats, turkey and vegetables at the same time.

Features & Specifications:

  • Dimensions: 16.5 x 19 x 35.5 inches
  • Weight: 34.3 pounds
  • 3 cu ft of cooking capacity
  • Smoke Hollow smoker includes a 1500W heating element
  • Fully adjustable and removable temperature control
  • Chrome-plated cooking grids

Pros:

  • This appliance runs on electricity, so you don’t need to worry about running out of gas or firewood.
  • It is equipped with a 1500W element that allows you to maintain your desired temperature.
  • This electric smoker comes equipped with chrome-plated grids that can be adjusted to variable heights.
  • Commercial quality heat indicator and wood chip and water pan are included to achieve the best results for smoke-style cooking.
  • Fully welded steel cabinet includes side handles, cool-touch spring wire handle with sure-lock latch system and adjustable draft controls

Cons:

  • Warranty is limited.
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10. Bradley Smokers Original Smoker

Take your outdoor cuisine to a whole new level with the Bradley Smokers Original Smoker. Bradley Smokey makes it easy for the novice or expert chef to create a gourmet quality smoked food. Get perfect results every time you smoke with the Bradley Smoker. It is excellent for smoking poultry, fish, beef and vegetables. You’d totally appreciate its precision to consistently produce the best tasting smoked foods.  It features a fully insulated cabinet, a stainless steel interior, easy-to-use temperature controls and four removable racks. The Bradley Original Smoker is fully insulated so that you can smoke on hot or cold days and still maintain the desired cooking temperature.

Features & Specifications:

  • Simple to use temperature controls provided consistent and controlled smoke
  • Maximum temperature of 250 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Can hold up to eight hours of smoke
  • Separate burners for generator and oven
  • Automatic smoke generator
  • Insulated stainless steel interior
  • Four fully supported racks
  • Improved front face plate
  • Extra large front feet for added support and stability

Pros:

  • With a completely stainless steel interior, the smoker is more capable of heat retention and an easy clean-up.
  • It is fully insulated so that you can smoke on hot or cold days and still maintain the desired cooking temperature.
  • With its automatic smoke generator, you don’t have to constantly tend to your smoker, replace the wood or check the temperature.
  • Its automatic advance technology feeds a bisquette onto the burner every twenty minutes, allowing it to smoke for the perfect amount of time, giving of a pure, unadultered smoke flavor. You can load up to eight hours worth of bisquettes at a time.
  • It features separate burners for generating smoke, and for oven heat.
  • With four fully supported, removable racks you get better accessibility without tipping. With 520 square inches of space to fit your smoking needs.
  • With an automatic wood feeder system and consistent, accurate temperature control, you take guesswork out of attaining the perfect smoke.

Cons:

  • Users mentioned having trouble holding temperature.
  • Lack of bisquettes to start the seasoning process.
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The Final Word

Choosing the best meat smoker really depends on what you need out of your unit. You have tons of choices when it comes to charcoal smokers, but it’s all about personal preference. Every unit has its pros and cons, and you have to figure out what is going to work for your needs. Once you’ve gotten used to cooking with your smoker, don’t be afraid of going a little crazy with what you throw in there.