Grilled food is delicious, but smoking food outdoors takes the flavor to a new level. With a smoker, meats cook slowly while being infused with mouth-watering savory natural smoke. The result is a tender piece of meat with a taste that can't be replicated on a grill or in the oven.
The best smoker has admirable safety features, a temperature gauge or digital thermometer, and sometimes a timer. Then there are also simple models you can add to the grill you already own to smoke food without investing too much cash in the process.
What's the best smoker for you? We've rounded up our top six picks. Let's run down their features and tell you why we like them.
Masterbuilt digital electric smoker
A smart electric unit
Side-load wood chips without opening the door with this electric, thermostat-controlled smoker.
Pros:
- Side-loadable wood chip system
- Temperature control
- Large capacity
- Timing controls
- Insulated
Cons:
- Moisture tends to get under the temp control unit
You'll be the king of the barbecue with the Masterbuilt digital electric smoker. The max temperature setting is 275 degrees, and the inside has enough room for two turkeys, four pork butts, four racks of ribs, or six chickens. That's a lot of space! With a patented side wood chip loading system, you can add wood chips without opening the door. Smart! This unit is fully insulated and built to retain heat, and it uses an electric thermostat-temperature control for a consistent smoking experience.
Weber Smokey Mountain cooker and charcoal smoker
Control the heat
With a removable fuel door and side dampers, you control the heat in this rust-proof smoker.
Pros:
- Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl to retain heat and prevent rust
- Temperature gauge
- Dampers to control temp
- Tons of room
Cons:
- Expensive
If you're cooking for a family, the Weber Smokey Mountain cooker and charcoal smoker is the way to go. The interior is huge and plenty big enough for six full racks of ribs. You have complete control over the heat with the temperature gauge at the top, side dampers, and the fuel door at the front. Charcoal is the preferred fuel source for the Weber, and it does a fantastic job of adding smoky flavor to poultry, beef, or even fish when used in conjunction with wood chips or pellets. This smoker is porcelain-covered, will never rust or bend, and is usable year-round.
Char-Broil The Big Easy smoker roaster and grill
Never have a flare-up again
Infrared technology and propane power this easy-to-use roaster and smoker that guarantees your food will never flare up again.
Pros:
- Uses propane
- Infrared technology cooks food without flare-ups
- Roasts and smokes
- Holds 25 pounds of food
- Internal cooking basket
Cons:
- No thermometer
Smoking and grilling food is fun, but things go south quickly with flare-ups caused by fat in meats. You'll do away with that problem using the Char-Broil The Big Easy, an infrared cooker and smoker. Powered by propane and using wood chips for smoking, this unit is a roaster and grill in one. Put your food in the cooking basket, turn on the propane, add your wood chips, and you're good to go. An entire large turkey cooks and smokes in under two hours. Now that's impressive.
CARPATHEN Z-Smoker tube smoker
An inexpensive add-on
Add this smoker to your existing grill and you'll have a real smoker of your very own with very little investment needed.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Easy to use
- Fits in any size grill
- Works with any wood pellets
Cons:
- Gets very hot
If you're testing the waters or don't have room for a giant smoker on the patio, the Carpathen tube smoker is just what you need. Designed to work with any style grill, this tube turns out meat that falls off the bone and is oh-so-tasty. It works with a variety of wood pellets and can do cold or hot smoking. The unit is perfect for smoked cheeses, meats, poultry, and more. If your budget is low and your expectations high, toss the Z-Smoker in your cart now.
Dyna-Glo Signature Series offset charcoal smoker and grill
For serious smokers
If you have a turkey or two under your belt, you'll dig this heavy-duty smoker with enough racks to feed the extended family.
Pros:
- Heavy-duty build
- Five cooking grates
- Temp gauge and smoke zone
- Cool-touch lid
- Wheels for mobility
Cons:
- Tricky assembly
With five cooking grates, the Dyna-Glo Signature Series smoker and grill can handle any size menu. The offset smoker has a cool-touch lid to keep fingers safe, and the whole unit is on wheels to easily move it from one side of the yard to the other. The handles on the Dyna-Glo are cool-touch, and there's a stainless steel temperature gauge with a smoke zone indicator at eye level. For big cookouts, you can't go wrong with the charcoal-powered Dyna-Glo.
Traeger Grills Pro Series 34 electric wood pellet grill and smoker
Do it all
Cook and smoke foods at the same time with this wood pellet model.
Pros:
- Cooks, smokes, grills, and roasts
- Precise temperature control
- Solid steel build
- Big enough to cook eight chickens
Cons:
- Hard to get over 350-degrees
Wood-fired flavor comes easy with Traeger Grills Pro Series 34. The smoker's interior is large enough to hold six whole chickens, so feeding your family should be easy. This model uses wood pellets to infuse food with delicious flavor and control the smoke output. A thermometer on the smoker puts you in charge of the heat during every step of the smoking process. Beginners and seasoned pros will both love Traeger.
These are smokin'
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The best smoker is the one you're comfortable using. If you're yearning to up your BBQ skills, go with the Masterbuilt digital electric smoker. It's powered by electricity, fits a lot of food, and has a wood chip system that side loads to prevent burns.
If you're feeding a big family or like to entertain the neighbors, you'll want the Weber Smokey Mountain cooker and charcoal smoker. It's 22-inches, won't rust, and has exceptional temperature control.
And if you're not sure if a smoker is for you, start small with the CARPATHEN Z-Smoker tube smoker. This all-metal tube fits in any size grill and smokes meats and cheeses to perfection without putting a dent in your budget.
Why trust us?
At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.
