Don’t say no to barbeque parties. It only takes ambrosial, competition-worthy, low-and-slow meats to impress your friends and family. The best offset smokers cover the biggest part in this because it ensures that you have delicious food for your party guests.
We are going to look at one of the most important equipment for becoming a pitmaster who can grill and pit perfectly, and this equipment is called an offset smoker. They are often thought of as the traditional smoker for their simple, yet effective design
Offsets look cool!! But choosing one can be a bit difficult. The most common problem people face while looking for effective and in-budget offset smokers is that They are built from thin metal so heat retention or heat distribution is poor making them difficult to work within cold weather, Paint flakes off and they are prone to rust.
Some have poor fire management control because the fireboxes leak so badly, so you cannot control oxygen and that is what controls temperature and smoke quality, The food chamber doors also leak so you can’t control the draw of air with the chimney damper. That hot air seeping out the doors also carries with it the moisture from your meat.
Bad choice in many offset smokers has turned more people off barbecue than any other thing. After one season of frustration, owners dump them and often never return to smoking. So, choosing them wisely can save you from any future problems.
There are many different kinds of cheap offset smokers out on the market, and the number of varieties can be chaotic for you to understand. The best offset smokers ensure that you have incredible food for yourself and all of your party guests.
So don’t worry we are here to guide you with the best offset smokers. Before you invest in one of these good looking meat making machines. Take a look at our extensive experience and expertise in smokers. This review will help shed some light on the smokers you may not be so sure about to get divine results.
Best Offset Smokers At a Glance:
Table of Contents
Brand: | Weber Dimensions: | 21.00 x 19.00 x 41.00 inches Weight: | 39.10 lbs Cooking surface: | 481 sq. in
✓Superior heat retention
✓Best temperature Control
✓Extra smoking capacity
✓Even heat distribution
✓Easy to add charcoal or wood
✓Double-decker warming rack
✗Thermometer is not that much accurate
Low and slow is the way to go. If you are looking for the delicious smoked ribs, chuck roast, sausages, chicken thighs, and legs then Smokey Mountain Cooker (SMC) is the right choice for you. The SMC is simple to use all through the cook, heavily constructed, relatively inexpensive, and yet a very good smoker.
This offset charcoal smoker has excellent temp control. The water bowl inside makes it easy to maintain 225-250°F all day with very little effort. Once you get your grill to about the right temp, turn it on and you won’t have to check, adjust, or do anything to keep the temperature constant. There is No pre-seasoning required due to porcelain rather than the other products with black spray paint over metal. Paint doesn’t peel and your food will have the perfect color and taste.
The amazing part of SMC is the side door, you can add wood chunks or additional charcoal. One load of charcoal can smoke for 6 hours without reloading. The quality of this charcoal smoker is excellent and gives great results. There are 3 good size vents on the bottom and 1 on the lid for temp and smoke control. The included cover is a super perk to save your quality time by protecting it from rain and keeping the parts clean. The Cover contains a nice Velcro strap to prevent it from blowing away. Everything fits perfectly and can last for years
Smokey Mountain Cooker (SMC) comes in 3 sizes, 22”, 18”, 14”
These smokers are durable and easy to use. Now, it will be easy for you to select according to your will. You can do excellent work with these smokers if you’ve ever used any smoker before.
Brand: | Char-Broil Dimensions: | 23.10 x 23.40 x 36.20 inches Weight: | 22.68 lbs Cooking surface: | 180 sq. in
✓Fits up to a 21 lb. turkey
✓There are no flare-ups
✓Food cooks evenly
✓Convenient carrying handles
✓Portable and easy to use.
✗Surface area for grilling is small
Temperature is the key to cook perfectly. Surely, investing in char-broil won’t leave you any regrets. The Char-Broil Big Easy is a nice propane cooking appliance with a variety of functions. It controls Temperature from 9,000 to 18,000 BTU’s. It heats up really quickly and provides even heat distribution to your food.
The cooking requires you to be careful on the temperature setting and how high\low you place your food. Once you understand that the higher the food is located on this grill the hotter and faster it will cook, you can adjust accordingly depending on what you’re cooking. The temperatures throughout remain relatively even.
A removable grill grate is ideal for grilling your favorite foods such as burgers, chops, wings, steaks, chicken, and veggies. And with the TRU-Infrared technology, there are no flare-ups, food can’t fall down between the cooking grates, and the results are tender and juicy.
It is perfect for your cravings but cooking for more than 3 people on the grill will get crowded but you can overload it with way too much stuff, everything will still cook evenly if things are of the same size.
This backyard smoker requires cooking with the top open. The inside has a large volume and the way in which these cooks is simple yet very effective. The most amazing part is the Side-mounted smoker box, which is accessed from the outside of the unit, allowing you to add wood chips without having to open the lid.
Easy to assemble and use. It provides plenty of space to grill steaks, burgers, chicken or sides. Its Operation is really easy. There’re 2 knobs, High for frying, middle for roasting, low for smoking. It’s portable nature make the Smoker/Roaster/Grill ideal for picnics and tailgates, or at home in your own backyard.
Brand: | Char-Broil Dimensions: | 17.5 x 46.2 x 44.8 inches Weight: | 46.5 lbs Cooking surface: | 290 sq. in
✓This can be used as a grill as well as a smoker
✓It has a temperature gauge
✓Have Multiple dampers
✓Easy heat and smoke control
✓Easy ash removal
✓Easy to move around and light weigh
✗It may be small for some
✗In some cases, paint on the exterior flakes off
Char-Broil has been America’s favorite grill brand. The Budget Offset Smoker from Char-Broil is the Combination of new Offset Smoker, BBQ & Charcoal Grill. It will get you smoking and cooking low and slow.
This is the perfect and cheap smoker for your porch or yard, it has a firebox but you can also put charcoal in the main smoker part either for extra heat or just to cook burgers and hotdogs. “Awesome grill for an awesome price”
It features a vertical pipe smokestack with adjustable dampers, a temperature gauge, and an offset firebox to stoke the fire without losing heat. The heat distribution can be regulated in the smoking box so that you can cook at about any temperature that you want.
Since this charcoal grill is so small, the temperature can fluctuate so need to keep an eye throughout the cook. This smoker do a wonderful job of smoking, and yet is also perfect when you just want a quick BBQ grill
It is decently sealed and its chimney is very useful for preparing the coals in the main container for BBQ. It also features porcelain-coated cooking grates for easy cleaning. It’s not as heavy-duty as more expensive smokers. This best offset smoker sits on a trolley which has two 8″ wheels, so it’s easy to maneuver around your deck, patio or yard.
It also has a bottom wire mesh which is ideal for smoking pellet or charcoal storage and the side shelf makes a useful space for storing your utensils, or even as space for preparing food for smoking or grilling.
Brand: | Cuisinart Dimensions: | 25 x 25 x 45 inches Weight: | 25.00 lbs Cooking surface: | 510 sq. in
✓Dual air vent system
✓Two-Tiers of Steel Smoking Racks
✓Portable enough to take everywhere.
✓More control over heat and smoke
✓Easy to maintain and clean
✗The front door has no gap
✗There isn’t enough airflow
Cuisinart 18-inch Charcoal Smoker is easy. To give it a try, light the charcoal, add some wood chunks, fill the water bowl, and load fresh foods on the two interior racks. The racks can be stacked inside the 3.45 square foot smoking chamber. There’s enough room to smoke fish, meats, vegetables, or even a whole chicken.
It has a porcelain enameled steel bowl that holds water. The grill space can be a little limited if you are entertaining a lot of people. The temp between the top and bottom grill is about 15 degrees, With the water bowl 3/4 full you can run temperature up to 200F.
Without water, you can push to 225F. It features a vertical side door for easy access to water and fuel. Set it and forget it, don’t open the lid or door until you’re ready to take it out so that means you need wireless thermometers.
It is easy to put together and has Heavy gauge steel, not like tin. It’s simple to maintain and clean-up is easy. The two vents can be opened or closed in order to manage better heat retention and smoke leaving the chamber. Lift the lid for easy access to foods as they smoke.
It’s a great addition to an outdoor grill kitchen and ideal for making your guests a deliciously smoked meal.
Brand: | Char-Broil Dimensions: | 31.5 x 74 x 50.6 inches Weight: | 205 lbs Cooking surface: | 1,060 sq. in
✓Dual fuel source.
✓Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
✓Removable charcoal box
✓Two thermometers
✓Cast Iron Warming Rack for convenient storage
✓Temperature gauge
✓Cool-touch handles
✗Difficult to move
✗No hooks for utensils to hang
It’s time to make a barbecue all your own. Oklahoma Joe’s charcoal has both a charcoal grill\gas grill chamber and an attached offset firebox, this multi-purpose smoker with reverse flow technology and grill allows you to cook quickly after work in the evening.
The charcoal smoker and propane grill work perfectly. It provides more heat than one would ever need because it is a reverse flow offset smoker. With lid-mounted temperature gauge, you can Keep on tracking the inside temperature of both the smoker chamber and the gas grill chamber
This reverse flow smoker is solid, massive and if maintained and seasoned correctly, it should last many years. The Heavy gauge steel adds to its durability.
The drip pan is a very simple slide-in type and the unit comes with Cool Touch heavy gauge steel handles, protecting your hands, you can remove the cast iron grates easily and safely. It is not too hard to assemble and is easy to clean. The spiral handle covers do their job and look nice too.
This highland reverse flow smoker is a space saver and is well constructed. The cast iron construction is solid and looks like it will handle the wear and tear of the weather well. It is pretty easy to put together. It is very inaccurate. It goes easy on propane consumption.
Brand: | Dyna-Glo Dimensions: | 20.20 x 34.52 x 47.03 inches Weight: | 57.00 lbs Cooking surface: | 1,176 sq. in
✓Sturdy build materials
✓The offset charcoal holder allows for easier heat control
✓Sliding tray makes charcoal cleaning a breeze
✓Large cooking space
✗Not easily movable;
✗Firebox is small
Vertical smokers are ideal for capturing maximum smoke flavor. With this Dyna-Glow vertical cheap offset smoker, you can now smoke your favorite foods with your favorite wood chips AND your favorite fuel source.
The build is heavy duty and this reverse flow smoker maintains its temperature with minimal effort. The main cooking chamber is huge. So this charcoal offset smoker can handle anything you throw at it with not that big of an investment. This little smoker can maintain the temperature in freezing weather and put out great smoke
The Dyna Glo reverse flow smoker offers a 15,000 BTU cast iron burner which is sure to provide substantial amounts of heat. Indirect heat is ideal for slow cooking (and infusing smoke flavor), the offset functionality of this offset charcoal smoker is designed to keep direct heat away from the food, which helps to prevent food on the bottom racks from cooking too fast.
Dual door design minimizes heat loss while adding wood chip throughout the smoking process in this vertical offset smoker is pretty easy. This is one of the best regular flow offset smokers.
Overall this charcoal offset smoker is ideal for different sizes and types of food with six height-adjustable cooking grates for anyone that wants to smoke meats.
Brand: | Dyna-Glo Dimensions: | 20.20 x 34.52 x 47.03 inches Weight: | 57.00 lbs Cooking surface: | 1,176 sq. in
✓Sturdy build materials
✓Affordable
✓Reasonable large cooking space
✓Easy to assemble
✓Easy to clean up
✗Area in the firebox is much smaller than in the bottom of the grill
✗Less area to hold a water reservoir.
Are you a beginner? And want to become a BBQ Pitmaster? Okay!! we have picked the Char-Griller offset smoker for you. It is one of the hard-working grills which will make you a BBQ Pitmaster right from your first cook. This traditional offset smoker is preferable for steaks, chicken, corn on the cob, and larger quantities of burgers, brats & dogs
It is a high-quality portable barbecue grill. A little heavier than many portables, but It lessens the chances of being knocked over. You can attach it to an existing Char-Griller barrel charcoal grill as a side firebox for some Texas-style smoking.
It has the bottom & tops adjustable dampers to help control the heat. They are perfect for providing air to the coal and keeping the smoke trapped in. The most interesting part of it is that it has a sliding drawer for easy access to coals and ashes and imparts a nice smoky flavor without having to have a separate smoker. Plus point, the removable ash pan makes it easy for coal clean up and saves a lot of the time.
This traditional offset smoker works great as compared to other traditional offset smokers. Room for direct and indirect cooking. Great for camping, charcoal is contained which is important when camping in dry areas. Slightly heavier than a smaller smoker, the firebox is much easier to clean coals than the main grill.
Brand: | Pit Barrel Cooker Co Dimensions: | 21.00 x 21.00 x 31.10 inches Weight: | 57.00 lbs Cooking surface: | 240 sq. in
✓Heat efficient design due to vertical cooking
✓Shorter cook-times
✓Portability
✓Legit Even Cooking
✗There is no water pan
✗If it starts raining while you are cooking, Rain can collect in the lid.
You must be thinking why is this Pit Barrel smoker doing in the best offset smoker list? It is different than our other cheap offset smokers. The reason behind is that, As it cooks vertically it is really heated efficient, and it also has a lot of space to cook on, whilst also being easy to move.
We believe that every outdoorsman and woman that enjoys cooking will want a Pit Barrel Cooker because everyone who tries one is simply amazed by the flavor it produces and ease of use. The unique design makes the Pit Barrel Cooker simple to operate Minimal assembly required, producing consistently impressive results with minimal effort compared to other cooker options.
It can offer two different styles of cooking. You can hang your meat for incredible smoking flavors or you can take the lid off and use it for grilling steaks and burgers. It does have a pretty good cooking capacity that Includes 8 stainless heavy gauge steel hooks to hook-n-hang your meal- like 8 racks of ribs, 2 pork butts. It works best as a smoker for things that you can hang.
Set it and forget it – set the damper according to the directions provided then the flavor will be divine. You don’t need power, or pellets to jam up your auger or gas. You can throw it in the back of your truck and easily take it camping. This is a smaller smoker than most of the smokers. It’s not affected by outside temps or wind
Brand: | Camp Chef Dimensions: | 40.5 x 25 x 22 inches Weight: | 127 lbs Cooking surface: | 570 sq. in
✓Large cooking surface will hold two turkeys
✓Dump tray for easy clean out.
✓Built in cool down function
✓Built in digital meat probe
✓Electronic auto-start ignition
✗Hard to get pellets out of the hopper for storage
✗Ashes blow all over the bottom
For the best performance, use Camp Chef Premium Hardwood Pellets. the quality on pellet grill is better than that of any gas grill, it lasts longer and creates an improved flavor. It is a unique cooking system and designed to cook slowly.
Made up of heavy-duty materials, solidly finished, side table attaches with 5 bolts. The pellet grill is designed to channel drippings down to the right, and down a chute into an included bucket. The thermostat is really easy to use and it cleans like a dream.
Ash dump is super easy, with a “lock” feature to prevent accidental dumping. It has an automatic auger that dispenses pellets as needed for improved pellet grill efficiency. Pellet dump is very nice if you want to change wood flavors. There is a large-capacity pellet hopper, which has a small window that lets you see when the pellet level is getting low.
A flawless temperature control selection system controls the Temperature, making smoking easy because Dual LED temperature readout shows internal cooking temps and food temps It works like a convection oven so there are no cool or hot zones, it just keeps the heat even and consistent.
This model is quite large. It comes apart easily for quick cleaning. The burner tray is easily emptied so that you can clean cooking utensils easily. You can Pull a rod out from under the side table to do so. In bonus, There is a beer bottle opener on the grill. You can enjoy you whole meal with this well-assembled smoker.
Brand: | Royal Gourmet Dimensions: | 55.1 x 27.2 x 48.4 inches Weight: | 54.2 lbs Cooking surface: | 800 sq. in
✓Scald-Proof handle design
✓Easy and Quick to Clean Up
✓Easy to tend charcoal without removing entire grates
✓Easy to dump ashes
✗Temperature is not steady
✗It is extremely light
Royal Gourmet CC1830S is a Traditional charcoal grill with an offset smoker combination for dual-style barbecue. The offset smoker can also be used as a small charcoal grill.
Access Door on Side Fire Box, make tending coals easy and quick. It is a compact design and versatile appliance with 2 wheels designed for easy transport, convenience to move around your backyard or patio
The most attractive feature of this backyard smoker is the combination offset smoker, providing an additional 183 square inches of cooking area. Not only good for cooking a smoky flavor, but also allow roasting a side dish like corn or vegetables for the vegetarians in the family.
The Scald-Proof handle design helps the handle to always stay cool no matter the temperature. It is also easy to clean. Removal charcoal, charcoal tray allow users to tend charcoal and dump ashes easily
The Spacious porcelain-coated cooking grates are durable and the cooking temperature can be controlled easily and retain heat evenly helping to lock in the juices and make your meat more tender. The main cooking chamber is designed with an adjustable charcoal pan for better heating.
Regardless of which model you choose, Make sure you hammer down what points will be helpful for you before buying an offset smoker.
Vertical charcoal smoker is designed to smoke and roast foods but cannot grill. The heat source is usually further away from the meat. Horizontal offset smokers can smoke, bake, grill, and some offer direct flame broiling. So, horizontal offset smoker is better than most vertical offset smokers.
Smoking—and often grilling—are all about keeping heat even and low, it’s important to have a smoker that can get the job done.
Many inexpensive smokers are made of thin metal. A smoker made with lightweight metals will probably bleed heat all along its length, leaving you with a hot zone at one end and a cool zone at the other. A good smoker will be made of thick enough metal to keep the heat inside and efficient
An offset smoker comes in all shapes and all sizes. For buying one, you need to consider how much space do you need for cooking. If you want to prepare food for your family and small gatherings then, a small smoker is all you need. But if you looking forward to arranging parties and to invite a whole bunch of people then you need a large offset smoker.
One more thing to consider is storage space. Most offset smokers occupy a large space. Make sure if you don’t have that much space then try to go for smaller ones.
Price is always a big consideration. A well-constructed offset smoker will cost you around $800-1000 for an entry-level model. That is not that much expensive.
If you want to stay safe from smoking meat with bad seals, inadequate ventilation, cheap hinges, flimsy wheels, and limited temperature control, then buy a good one. Spending money for a good quality offset smoker can reduce your frustration level later. So choose wisely!
Temperature plays the main role in cooking so that you could get the best results. In an offset smoker, you have to keep an eye on temperature This is why it must have a good thermometer which is appropriately positioned to tell you the temperature inside the smoking chamber accurately.
To control the smoke damper and smokestack are important. The dampers allow you heat control and smoke control by keeping them open or by closing them. The smokestack is a chimney that can be small or long depending on the design of the smoker, and some of them come with an adjustable flue which is very helpful in controlling the amount of smoke.
While buying your offset smoker keep in mind to look for vents that provide your smoker with proper ventilation to cook your food evenly. More air is needed to get more temperature as oxygen is important for burning so if there is more air there will be more fire in your smoker.
Proper venting in your grill is a must to achieve higher temperatures. Some low-quality grills offer you a venting system in grills but they are poor venting systems and are not that useful while a good quality smoker has the best venting system to provide as much air as you need while cooking.
Is an offset smoker worth it?
An offset smoker is the perfect choice for the backyard griller. What other piece of outdoor grilling equipment out there allows a cook to cook a complete meal, from appetizers to dessert, in a single cook? Grilling a whole meal on a smoker is a tremendous experience, but it’s one that’s accomplished outdoors.
Which is better offset or reverse flow smoker?
Reverse Flow Smoker is better than offset smoker because it is easy to use, especially when you are cooking for a large number of people. It should be noted that this smoker is considered to be a pellet offset cooker because it requires you to use wood pellets to give out the required smoke.
Are Oklahoma Joe smokers good?
Oklahoma Joe's highland reverse flow smokers are considered as one of the best smokers available in the market today. They offer amazing quality and durability, and they work great. Their smokers can produce 250 pounds of smoked meat in a single cooking, and they come with a lifetime warranty.
Oklahoma Joe's highland reverse smokers come with a heavy-duty powder coat finish and a custom-designed firebox. The smoker has two doors to hold as much as 18 pounds of woodchips. There is enough space to hold four whole chickens, and you can make 12 pork butts at the same time.
This is a really tough choice to select one of these best meat making machines. So, here is our final words to make sure that you are making the right choice.
Our best offset smoker from this list will be the ”Weber Smokey Mountain” because of the high rate of multi-functionality that it offers. Quality is excellent and gives great results.
If you’re just getting into smokers and aren’t quite ready to make a big financial commitment, the “Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker” is an inexpensive option that can still do a good job on a side of ribs or brisket.
Everyone loves smoking out whether it’s with your family or a large gathering of friends. So, don’t waste your time and grab the best one and impress your family and friends with your cooking skills. Good Luck!
