Bbqguys Reviews The Top Charcoal Smokers
Smoke and barbecue go together like fresh low-and-slow brisket and your plate. Load up the best charcoal around, stoke that fire, and watch it roar! For many backyard champions, the charcoal smoker sets the bar but how do you know youve picked a winner for dinner? Luckily, youve got us to steer your supper straight. With decades of experience selling and testing every smoker under the sun, BBQGuys is the authority on charcoal smokers. Heres what our BBQ experts consider the best models on the market, based on our three gold standards:
Quality A great charcoal smoker is a tool youll come back to, season after season. With some models boasting premium stainless steel or even hand-welded construction, you can depend on solid endurance. Invest in your smoker. Let it last you many delicious, savory years to come.
Performance Ask any barbeque boss around! The best results count on wider heat ranges, even cooking, high fuel efficiency, and tight seals. Youve worked hard to get that blaze burning. Dont you want your smoker making the most of it?
Features Once upon a time, charcoal smoking was an earthen pit, the elements, and you. Were not knocking old-school, but those bells and whistles get better every year. Nowadays, outdoor chefs can count on serious quality-of-life bonuses to churning out that smoky, tender grub.
Best Cabinet Type Dyna
Product Specifications:
If all you want to do is smokeand lots of ita vertical, cabinet-style charcoal smoker is the way to go. Instead of laying your food out on just one grate, cabinet smokers let cooks to stack several grates on top of each other inside the unit, providing maximum space. The inside is accessed with a door instead of hinged or removable lid, making it easy to slide food in and out.
The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker is a excellent cabinet charcoal smoker that lets you smoke a lot of meat at onceup to 100 pounds at a time! Six cooking grates and nearly 800 square inches of cooking space provide plenty of room for all sorts of dishes.
This Dvna-Glo is durable and reliable with heavy-duty, all-steel construction. The steel construction combined with an assortment of vents provide for good temperature control also. The vertical cabinet-style design also allows the heat and smoke to rise naturally.
Best Charcoal Grills For 2022
We fired up models from Nexgrill, Weber, Napoleon, KitchenAid, Char-Griller and more to find out which charcoal grill is king of the cookout.
Summertime is prime grilling time, which means it’s time to up your outdoor cooking game with the right grill. A charcoal grill might sound less luxurious than a gas grill, but when it comes to flavor, the best charcoal grill absolutely competes. On top of that, charcoal grills are often more affordable than their gas counterparts, making them a good option for tight budgets and beginner grillers. They’re typically easier to set up than a gas grill, too. All you need for charcoal grilling is a lighter, a bag of charcoal and your favorite ingredients. In no time you’ll be reaping the rewards of an easy meal with true smoky flavor.
From cart-style to kettle-style, feature-filled to bare minimum, we tested nine charcoal grills with chicken, ribs and steak to find out which are the best bets for your next backyard barbecue. We’ll update this list periodically.
You May Like: Church’s Campfire Smokehouse Chicken
Things To Consider When Buying A Charcoal Grill
Construction: Look for a grill thats made of thick metal. Not only will it resist rust, it will hold in heat better. Give it a shake to make sure its planted firmly on the ground and wont be easily knocked or blown over.
Wheels: You want at least two to make it easy to move the grill from place to place.
Lid: Check that the lid is tight-fitting so it will prevent heat from escaping.
Vents: There should be vents on top and bottom to give you control over how much air enters the grill, helping you to manipulate the grill temperature.
Ash catcher: To make clean-up easier, you want either a bin or a tray below the grill to collect the ashes.
How do you add more coals? Either a dedicated door or a hinged grate makes it easy for you to replenish or rearrange the coals.
Pk Grills Charcoal Bbq Grill And Smoker Combo
Is your house grill in excellent condition, but youre seeking an outside grill smoker combo this time? You dont have to worry since youve found it: the PK Grills charcoal grill and smoker combo. It is also available in a brilliant red color, which makes this incredibly trendy set even more appealing to the eyes.
300 sq. inches of cooking space may be used to prepare brats and a turkey for Celebration on this best grill and smoker combo. Additionally, you can produce large amounts of food products in a short period of time.
Cast aluminum, in addition to stainless steel, is a long-lasting material. In addition to being rustproof, this material is also quite light in weight. It also transmits heat nearly four times better than stainless steel.
Because its an outside cooking grill smoker, the size is also determined by that function. The dimensions are 48 by 19.2 by 38 inches. This charcoal smoker grill in the shape of a capsule features a foldable body that makes it easy to pack and travel.
Do you think grilling is solely a matter of taste? So, youll agree that no other fuel compares to the flavor of charcoal when it comes to grilling. In addition, charcoal fuel is used to power this apparatus.
In addition to allowing for outstanding circulation in the grill, the four-point venting system is also perfect for both direct grilling and indirect cooking. The result is a combination of fast and efficient grilling and gradual and low smoking.
Pros:
You May Like: Grilled Pork Chop Temperature Internal
Water / Bullet Smokers
No, a water smoker is not a Turkish Hookah.
Theyre also called bullet smokers because of their shape resembling a bullet.
They have three removable sections, made of sheet metal, and when you top it off with a domed lid it looks like a big bullet.
How Water Smokers Work
The bottom section contains the firebox where a perforated metal ring holds the charcoal in the center of the grate and away from the side walls. The bottom section also has vents, and there may be an access door to feed the fire.
Suspended above the fire box is a water pan section where most of the heat energy transfers into the water. The pan is narrower than the chamber allowing the excess hot air and smoke to circulate the sides and into the cooking chamber above.
In the cooking chamber above the pan, youll find one or more grates to hold the meat.
What makes water smokers unique is the pan of water supported just above the coals. The water regulates the temperature, making it easier to maintain 225F to 250F . The steam also adds moisture to the cooking chamber preventing the meat from drying out.
Bullet smokers are easy to handle and are portable. Youll find them at many barbecue competitions around the country.
Water Smokers Are Best For
Bullet smokers are the best choice for first-timers and people on a budget. We know they work because pros use them for competition smoking. The pit-masters in the following video traded in barrel smokers for water smokers and, havent looked back since.
Tips To Follow For A Safe & Efficient Operation:
Here are some safety tips that have to be followed for safe and efficient usage of the charcoal smoker.
- Always purchase a smoker having enough cooking space to cook food as per your requirements -either for your family or at large events to use it.
- Ensure that the coals are extinguished completely after using the smoker to get rid of any fire hazards.
- Want to travel with this charcoal smoker, then select a model that is lightweight, compact, and portable enough to carry along with you. Place this smoker on the back of your RV, vehicle , or truck bed.
- Before using the smoker, you have to burn the charcoal for a couple of minutes. Check out for coals to be covered in gray/white ash as a sign to hot enough.
- Remain open the lid/doors to the smoker while arranging and lightening the charcoal. Close the lid when once the charcoal starts burning properly.
Also Check: Can You Hook Up A Propane Grill To Natural Gas
How To Start A Charcoal Grill
The best way to start a charcoal grill is to use a chimney starter like this one from Weber. Stuff some newspaper in the bottom, fill the chimney with coals, and light from beneath. Within 15-20 minutes, the coals will become ashy, and you can carefully dump it into an even pile within the grill basin. If you’re using indirect heat, or trying to keep some resting space, put it to one side.
If you don’t have a chimney starter, you’ll probably still want to use some paper, but fire starters will work well, too. The one thing both Steven Raichlen and Pat LaFrieda instruct against is lighter fluid. You don’t want to drink the stuff, why would you eat off its fumes? Instead, make a substantial bed of newspaper, pile your charcoal atop it, and light.
Benefits Of Using A Charcoal Grill Over A Gas Grill
Indeed, it has numerous benefits of using a charcoal grill over a gas grill. Some important things are given below:
A charcoal grill can provide a huge amount of smoke rather than a gas grill. As a result, you can get more delicious smoky foods by a charcoal grill.
- A charcoal grill significantly cheaper than a gas grill.
- It is more bearable than a gas grill.
- It burns more than a gas grill.
- A gas grill is tough to move around with weighty tanks. Unlike, a charcoal grill will be easy to move.
- A gas grill could make a risk of flares-up. On the other hand, a charcoal grill is a bit safe while cooking.
F.A.Q
Recommended Reading: Older Weber Gas Grill Models
Beginners Guide To Smoking In A Charcoal Smokers
Recipe #1 Smoking Ribs
When learning how to smoke ribs on a charcoal smoker, it can be tempting to purchase premium materials for superior results. However, there is no need to spend too much money on pure charcoal that burns hot and fast. Smoking should be a slow process, so standard charcoal briquettes are sufficient.
Follow this guide on how to smoke ribs on a charcoal grill.
Is It Okay To Use Regular Charcoal Briquettes
Many kamado manufacturers recommend or even dictate that you use more expensive lump charcoal rather than briquettes. They argue that briquettes produce more ash than lump, and the ash can block airflow as it builds up over long cooks. Most kamado manufacturers also sell private-label lump charcoal, so they just might have a conflict of interest. Generally, we recommend using Kingsford Original Briquets in charcoal burners, because they’re affordable, consistent, and readily available. Lump charcoal, especially the bargain-basement varieties, can be inconsistent. We’ve seen bags that were half pulverized charcoal dust and half large chunks of construction material. It’s not unusual to find metal and plastic debris mixed in. Nonetheless, I personally prefer high-quality lump in a kamado over briquettes, because it’s lighter and easier to stir around at the bottom of the deep firebox, while briquettes tend to get compacted.
Recommended Reading: Char Broil Grill Cleaning
The 11 Best Charcoal Smoker Complete Reviews For 2022
In case youre looking for a BBQ smoker that delivers a true charcoal flavor, go no further than the models listed below!
Based on their excellent combination of price and quality, weve selected and analyzed these best charcoal smokers excellent models, noting what we like about them, what we dont, and/or our overall impressions of them.
To help you out, weve put together this list of the top charcoal smokers you can buy right now.
Prior to embarking on a quest to discover todays top charcoal smokers and providing some recommendations, we dissect the wide range of alternatives available and compare and contrast their advantages and disadvantages.
Isnt it about time you learned how to make the best-tasting brisket and ribs on the block, complete with the distinct flavor of charcoal-cooked meat?
Chicken And Indirect Medium Heat
Next, we tested each grill’s medium heat cooking capability by roasting whole chickens. The trick here is to keep the grills at a hot enough temperature to cook a chicken for upward of two hours.
For our tests, each grill gets a full chimney of lit charcoal and a 6-pound chicken opposite the coals for indirect heat.
Each grill got a chimney of hot charcoal.
Cooking over charcoal takes longer than cooking with a gas grill, and we typically need to add more fuel during cooking to keep our grills above 300 F for the full duration. Our favorite bird from this batch was the one cooked on the Weber, though it was a tough call. The bird cooked on the Nexgrill cart-style grill came in right behind, a close second in terms of flavor and texture.
We cooked chicken over indirect heat until it reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
The difference between the two was largely in the crispiness of the skin, with the Weber’s results being superior. Meat from the Nexgrill was delicious, with just a bit more flavor than the Weber. Between them, I’d say it largely depends on your budget and what style of grill you prefer for other meats like burgers or steak. Weber certainly had the superior sear in that category.
Also Check: Pork Temp On Grill
Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker
The Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker that has ample smoking space to cook food for a small number of people. It comes with 2 porcelain enamel racks, a large access door, and a built-in thermometer so you can precisely monitor cooking temperatures.
Key Features of this Charcoal Smoker
- Just the right amount of cooking space for a small group
- With two porcelain racks
- Easy to load charcoal with front access door
- Reduces temperature changes with front access door
- With built-in thermometer
This may be small but it is just the right size for camping, fishing and for personal use. And because of its size, it is easier to clean this smoker.
The Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker is a small smoker/cooker that may just be the right size if you are preparing food for a small group of people. It is made from durable, heat resistant materials and has a built-in thermometer for easy temperature monitoring.
Best Gas Charcoal Smoker Grill Combo: Weber 3
SHOP ON
The Weber 3 Burner Natural Gas Grill takes the title of the best heavy-duty smoker grill on the market. Cooking any type of food with the smoker will leave it tasty.
The gas grill with a smoker has an open-cart design that makes grilling meat easy. The units cooking grates are made of cast iron, and this ensures that your food will be evenly heated to cook properly.
Finally, the combination gas and charcoal grill has side tables, where you can easily keep tools, platters, and seasoning items for easy reach.
Also Check: Temp For Pork Chops On The Grill
Take Realcook Charcoal Smoker To Your Home And Enjoy Outdoor Barbecue With Your Family Anytime And Anywhere
Savor tender and flavorful foods in your own backyard with the Realcook Charcoal Vertical Smoker.
It has been designed to give you a good smoking and barbecuing experience ever. Thanks to the controllable air dampers and multi-layers design, you can easily change the best type of grills to meet your demand. It’s very easy to separate into 3 parts and store into your car trunk for camping, beach, picnic, seaside barbecue, backyard and other outside places
Particular Features You Will Love!
- Different ways to smoke, it can be used for charcoal hot smoking or wood pellet cold smoking with a pellet smoker tube. It offers huge flexibility to smoke | grill | steam | bake | braise | roast on the smoker
- Painted steel, High temperature resistant layer and extra strong legs make it more stable and durable in daily use
- Functional access doors allow you to check the foods on the cooking grates or add charcoal in fire bowl
- Heat resistant & durable handles make transporting, basting and cooking a breeze
- Chrome plated cooking racks accommodates large cuts of ribs, meats, chicken, turkeys, pizzas, sausages, cheeses and other foods
- Adjustable air vents and porcelain-enameled water pan create a balance between smoke and moisture for infusing smokey flavor into your meats
The Kettle Grill As A Smoker
The most popular kettle grill comes from Weber. Its the classic dad-doin burgers in the backyard grill. But, you can also use them for smoking too and honestly, they are one of the very best charcoal grills you can buy.
You wont get competition quality meat every single time, because the temperature is hard to control consistently. However, you can make some delicious home-style barbecue.
A kettle grill looks like the black 8-ball on a pool table. There is a handle on top and a rotating air vent. Inside is a small circular grate at the bottom that supports the charcoal and an 18 to 22-inch grill grate that fits the circumference of the grill for the food. There are one or more air vents at the bottom.
How Kettle Grills Work for Smoking
Most people use a kettle grill by building a blazing base of coals and grilling up a bunch of burgers and dozens of dogs over high heat.
For low and slow cooking, youll set your fire up differently. Youll end up using the same or more charcoal as you would a big grilling fire. The difference is youll set up a 2-zone fire, lighting only a small portion of the charcoal and let it burn slowly to the other pieces, releasing heat over time instead of all at once.
See these articles for more details about different fire building methods like the Minion Method or the snake charcoal method.
The purpose is to add moisture and a bit of aroma to the meat. It also acts to regulate the temperature by absorbing some of the heat.
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