Smoking meat isn’t easy. At least if you’re using a charcoal smoker. You need to get the amount of coal right, get the fire going, and make sure that the temperature holds for the length of your cooking session. Plus, it takes a bit of practice to get things right. Fortunately, for those of us who aren’t “pit-savvy” yet, there’s another option available – the gas smoker. This type of smoker lets us cut down on some of the most consuming parts of smoking meat. You can “set it and forget it” while still getting some deliciously smoked meat afterwards. Of course, not all gas smokers are good for you. Don’t you worry though because we’ve got your back. Below are the best gas smokers you’ll ever find in the market today. But if you’d rather look for the gas smoker of your dreams, make sure to check out our buying guide below too.
Dyna Glo DGW1235BDP-D
Review: When it comes to gas smokers, nothing beats the Dyna-Glo 36″ Wide Body LP Gas Smoker. Restaurant-grade smoked meat is a breeze when you’ve got this in your backyard. The smoker features a robust steel body construction with powder coating which not only increases the smoker’s durability even while exposed to harsh elements but also enhances its heat retention capabilities. It comes equipped with four adjustable cooking grates that provide you a total of 1,235 square inches of cooking space. This enables you to smoke multiple meats simultaneously. You can adjust the height of the grates to accommodate the large cuts such as chicken and turkey. The smoker also comes with two heavy duty burners made of cast iron that deliver a total output of 20,000 BTUs. An electro-pulse ignition system ensures reliable startup every time while an easy-to-read thermometer makes monitoring your cooking session a breeze. The smoker has a vertical design to ensure the efficiency of the smoker. Warm air rises which means that smoke and heat will naturally rise upwards (not sideways!). The smoker won’t need to burn a lot of gas in order to reach your desired temperature at the uppermost grates. Another great feature added to the design is the dual doors. There’s one door for the main body of the smoker and another to provide you with access to the wood chips and water bowl which allows you to keep the smoke inside the chamber while cooking. As an added bonus, this gas smoker is that for all these cool features, you won’t need to spend a lot. That’s why it’s the best of the best.
Camp Chef Smoke Vault
Review: A lot of gas smokers have a limited temperature range, finding it hard to go below 225 degrees Fahrenheit which is the ideal temp to cook tough cuts like beef brisket and pork shoulder. Fortunately, there is one that is capable of going as low as 160 degrees Fahrenheit – the Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24″. That’s not the only thing we love about this gas smoker. It also can reach up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. With a wide temperature range, the versatility of this smoker is much better than others in the same category. Speaking of temperature, the smoker features an 18,000-BTU burner that can be controlled by a heat control dial. It also features a protected burner drum and three adjustable damper valves (one on top and two on each side) for maximum temperature control. A heavy gauge steel wood chip tray enables you to infuse your meat with your favorite flavors while the water pan keeps your food juicy and moist throughout the cooking session. There’s a removable porcelain base tray to make cleanup so much easier and a matchless snap ignition for reliable startup. There are two adjustable cooking grates that you can use to cook two slabs of ribs. Camp Chef also includes a nickel-plated mesh jerky smoking rack. Compared to the Dyna-Glo model, this unit is a little more expensive but it also offers a lot more. Not to mention, you can convert this gas smoker from propane to natural gas if you so wish it.
BroilKing 923617
Review: If you’re looking for a gas smoker that can withstand daily abuse, then there’s only one we recommend – the Smoke™ Vertical Gas Smoker from Broil King. This gas smoker features 770 square inches of cooking space provided by four adjustable stainless steel cooking grids which are incredibly durable. You also get 16 stainless steel hooks that you can use to hang chicken or any other food types that may work. A stainless steel fold down drip tray collects all the juices and grease from the food. The 14,000 BTU burner is also made of stainless steel and even comes with a 5-year warranty (so does the firebox). In case you’re wondering, all other parts come with a 2-year warranty. The smoking chamber features a full steel design that includes insulated panels for durability and heat retention. Epoxy coating on the outside protects the metal from moisture. The doors are also made of steel and feature silicone gaskets to create a tight seal. Heavy duty latches also help keep the door closed and will last a good long while. Roto-Draft™ dampers made of heavy duty cast aluminum with a chrome coating help you maintain a consistent temperature inside the cooking chamber. The Accu-Temp™ Thermometer on the door lets you keep an eye on how hot your smoking chamber is. In addition, this smoker features a dual door design, allowing you to easily access the the wood chip tray and water bowl when needed without letting the smoke and heat in the cooking chamber out. As you can clearly see, this is one gas smoker that’s built to last for as many barbecue sessions as you can handle.
Char-Broil The Big Easy
Review: The Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill is not just a gas smoker. If you want more out of your unit than just smoking meat, then this is the one you’ve been looking for. This gas smoker doesn’t just let you cook low and slow, it also functions as a grill and roaster when you want it. The smoker features Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared cooking technology. What is that? Well, it’s a steel emitter plate that is placed above the heat source that retains the heat from the burner and radiates that to your food on the cooking grate above. Because of this, there are no hot or cold spots on your grill surface; consistent grilling temperature is easier to achieve. Your food tastes juicier and flare-ups are eliminated. The smoker also features 180 square inches of cooking space from the removable grill grate and 1200 square inches of smoking and roasting space courtesy of the cooking basket; this basket is large enough to fit a 21-lb turkey. There’s a stainless steel smoker box that you can access from the side, enabling you to refill the wood chips without having to open the lid. Other components of the smoker includes a removable grease tray, a basket lift hook, two half shelves, and a metal thermometer. In addition, there are two side-mounted carrying handles which means you can bring this baby on your next tailgate party or picnic at the park.
Masterbuilt GS30D
Review: The Masterbuilt 20051311 GS30D 2-Door Propane Smoker is the perfect gas smoker for any beginner who wants to level up his smoking skills. Like a lot of our picks, this gas smoker from Masterbuilt comes with a ton of cooking space – four chrome smoking racks that equal to 717 square inches of cooking space. But what makes it stand out is how it regulates heat which is the most important factor when it comes to smoking meat. This gas smoker features several different ways for you to regulate the temperature inside the smoke chamber. There’s the dial that controls the burner’s heat output. Then, there’s the adjustable vent located at the back of the unit. And then, there’s the valve that allows you to regulate how much fuel is being streamed to the burner. In addition, this baby comes with a dual door design. This means that you won’t need to open the door of the main cooking chamber, and thereby unintentionally release heat and smoke, when you need to add more wood chips and/water. A separate door ensures that the temperature inside your cooking chamber stays consistent at all times. Other highlights include a push-button ignition system, a locking door, a built-in temperature gauge, and a cool-to-the-touch wire handle.
Smoke Hallow PS40B
Review: Smoke Hollow is a well-known brand of gas and electric smokers, so it’s really not surprising to find one of their models on our list. The smoker is made of double-walled steel; this material is great at holding heat in which makes it easier for the unit to maintain a consistent temperature. The double-walled construction is not just for heat retention. It also improves the unit’s durability and lengthens its lifespan. This gas smoker offers a huge amount of space to cook for a large family. There are 4 chrome-plated cooking grills where you can fit a variety of different meats. The wood and water pans are coated with porcelain for durability. Both trays have a large capacity which prevents you from refilling the trays constantly. This prevents you from frequently opening the door and letting the heat as well as the smoke out. The door, by the way, features a cool-to-the-touch spring wire handle which keeps your hand safe from getting burned. A push-button ignition ensures reliable startup whenever you’re ready to start cooking. There’s also a 15,400 BTU stainless steel burner as well as an adjustable air damper that helps you control temperature throughout your low and slow cooking session.
5 More Gas Smokers Not To Be Missed
Gas Smokers Buying Guide:
So, you want to buy a gas smoker. Can’t fault you there. You get deliciously smoked meat with less effort on your part. Gas smokers were made for those who want to set it and forget it. Pitmasters who want convenience in terms of cooking and maintenance. Of course, not all gas smokers can do an amazing job. Some are naturally better than others. In addition, what’s good for you won’t necessarily be good for another pitmaster. We all have different smoking needs to consider. That’s why we decided to give you a little help in finding what gas smoker fits you to a T by writing this in-depth buying guide.
How much food do you want to cook at a time?
Smokers are designed to cook large cuts of meat which means that a small one can easily cook enough food for a group of 4 to 6 people. A medium-sized one can potentially cook enough food to feed a hungry football team while a large one can probably feed your entire neighborhood.
That being said, you also need to consider the size of the food you want to cook. Most gas smokers come with height adjustable cooking grates. This means that you can adjust the placement of the grates based on how big the piece of meat is. But this also means that there will be times when you won’t be able to utilize all the racks you have. For example, if you were to cook an entire chicken or turkey, you probably won’t be able to use all of your racks unless you chose an extra large gas smoker.
Height is not the only consideration when you’re factoring in size. The width of the smoker should also help you determine whether it’s right for you. Is it wide enough to accommodate a full rack of ribs? What about a full brisket?
Does it have a dual door design?
Cooking something low and slow means maintaining a consistent temperature as well as smoke inside the cooking chamber for a significant amount of time. You don’t want to cause any fluctuations inside the chamber. You also don’t want precious smoke that should be infusing your meat to get out. What all of that means is that you should have a separate door enabling you to access the water pan and the wood chips when needed without opening the main cooking chamber.
How easy is it to control temperature?
We’ve already mentioned the importance of temperature control and dual doors are not the only factor you need to consider when it comes to this. Leaks are another point of consideration. You need to make sure that the doors of your cooking chamber and firebox are tightly sealed when closed. You also need to look at the build of the smoking chamber itself. Is it made of material that holds heat very well? Does it have insulated panels? How about dampers that help you maintain a specific temperature?
What’s the build quality?
Naturally, you want your gas smoker to last. While they’re not very expensive, they’re also not cheap. You need to look for a solidly constructed gas smoker that is made from stainless steel or cast iron. Both are great at retaining heat but cast iron requires a lot of maintenance because it’s prone to rust. Stainless steel, on the other hand, does not wear and tear easily. They’re very durable and resistant to rust. If you want something for heavy duty use, then you should opt for a gas smoker that’s made of this material.
Another indication of good build quality is the stability of the legs, the fit of the pieces, and the length of the warranty. You don’t want your gas smoker wobbling, especially when it’s cooking your favorite foods. You also don’t want gaps between the pieces that can potentially affect temperature control. Moreover, the warranty of a gas smoker tells you a lot about the manufacturer’s confidence in their product.
Is it a front-loading design?
We already mentioned a dual-door design which is a must if you want to have optimal temperature control. But you also need to look for a front-loading design – a gas smoker that lets you access all the racks in the cooking chamber from the front instead of the top. This makes things convenient. Imagine cooking a variety of foods on different levels and if you have to check on the one at the lowest rack, you’ll need to take out the top ones first. With a front-loading design, you can easily add or remove foods from the various racks without disturbing the other items that are still cooking.
Does it require much assembly?
Most gas smokers are quite easy to assemble, but it’s still important that you check reviews to make sure that you’re comfortable setting things up on your own. Clear instructions in the manual is a must as well.
Do you want something portable?
Gas smokers, like a lot of grills in the market, come in various shapes and sizes. Not all of them will be easy to move or take with you for a ride. If you want a gas smoker that you can use at your next tailgate party or take with you on a roadtrip across the states, then you should consider weight, size, and handles for carrying.
How easy is it to clean?
It doesn’t matter what type of grill you have, cleaning it will always be an important factor when choosing the grill of your dreams. Not if you want to avoid contaminating your food with growing bacteria and ensuring the long lifespan of your unit. So, how easy is it to clean? Look for a gas smoker that has a removable wood chip tray, grease tray, and grates. All of these make them easier to wash and dry before placing them back in the cooking chamber. If you want to make things more convenient for you, try to look for pieces that are dishwasher-safe.