We will check out the Best Charcoal Smoker Reviews 2017 in this post. You will find the detailed review on each smoker with their positives and negatives.
Currently, the top Charcoal Smoker on our list is the Weber 731001, and this is a beast of all the smokers available in the market. For those, who have no price constraint, this is the apt machine for you.
And for those who are having some budget issues, then the Top Ranked Charcoal Smoker in-budget is the Dyna-Glo system that we have listed in the end. It is a good choice among all the low-budget systems.
Our Picks: Best Charcoal Smoker Reviews of 2017
When you get to taste Barbecue food at a restaurant made on Charcoal Smoker, you will get a blast of great flavors in your mouth. And you may wish to try making such food at home.
To get the right kind of flavor, you need to choose the Best Charcoal Smoker. And below are some of our favorite picks!
#1 Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain Cooker - Top Rated Charcoal Smoker
The Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is the foremost one on our list of Best Charcoal Smokers. Although a bit costly, it is the device which offers you with the most excellent kind of features. It is a product with the best reviews, quality as well as features to offer to you. And that’s why we have covered it as the top ranked. It is a high-class smoker and you will surely love to own it.
Features
The most recommended one out of all the Charcoal Smokers is the Weber product. You need to work slow on the machine to get the juiciest and moistest cut of meat. After you get started with the device, you will tend to go slow on this machine.
Setup of this Charcoal Smoker includes the inbuilt thermometer which allows you to check the temperature. Besides that, the set up also consists of the Porcelain Enameled Water Pan as well as Strong Cooking Grates for smoking your food with an ease. The Cooking Grates of this device are made up of Nickel. Nickel is a high-grade material and it increases the durability of the product to a greater extent.
The dimension of the Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is 24 x 23 x 48.5 inches. And the weight of the machine is 68 pounds. This device also carries a heat resistant handle in its setup. Here charcoal is used as the power source. And the best part is that it comes with a 10-year limited warranty.
This Weber 731001 Smokey is most suitable for the beginners, as it is easy to handle and also capable of cooking almost all kinds of smoking food. The shape of the system is compact. And the final point is that this smoker can be set up quickly within minutes.
The only drawback found in this Charcoal Smoker is the after sales service, and many users have complained regarding this is that the client’s support needs to be improved.
As of now, no serious issue is reported against this Charcoal Smoker. The cost of the Weber 731001 is on a higher side, less affordable for all. While on the other hand, it has got excellent ratings on Amazon!
#2 ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ
Next product to feature on our list of top rated charcoal smokers is The ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ. It is another heavyweight Charcoal Smoker which is having an extremely higher delivering rate. You can prepare food at a quicker pace with this appliance. And such features make it a must buy for the meat lovers out there.
Features
The ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ is the highly ranked one among all the Smokers for backyard BBQ smoker. This system is an all-in-one in which you can Smoke, Grill, Roast and also charcoal the food.
With the unit, You will also be provided with a User Manual, so it would be easy to set up this unit completely. Also, this Charcoal Smoker makes use of indirect heat and then it produces convection current within the cylinder which gets the thing done in the machine.
The dimension of this ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ is almost 21 x 20 x 21 inches. And the weight of the machine is about 34 pounds. The device is made up of 100% stainless steel. This makes the structure of the device extremely tough and capable to sustain uneven loads.
Apart from that, another good feature is that it comes with a 5-year warranty. The processing is found to be fast. Moreover, the handling of the appliance is also quite easy. With this Charcoal Smoker, you also have options of cooking the food either with Steam, Smoke and also with the convection heat.
The negatives of the ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ is that the amount of Charcoal recommended for running it is high but there are some changes which can be done to maintain the amount of coal used. Also, it is found that when the climate gets colder, the efficiency of the product reduces.
So these are the info on the ORION. The cost of the ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ is found to be reasonable, while it has been highly rated by the Amazon users too!
The ORION Cooker Charcoal Convection BBQ is one of the most user convenient product on our present list of top Charcoal Smokers.
#3 Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker Charcoal Smoker
The Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker is the next product to feature on our list of Best Charcoal Smokers. This one is known for cooking your meat in different kinds of ways. Apart from that, there are many excellent features of this appliance which might please every kind of user.
Features
The Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker is the Kamado style cooking Charcoal Smoker. On this device, You can easily heat the meat on high flame as well as do a slow roast also, making the Charcoal Smoker versatile.
The lid used in this Char-Griller 16620 is of 22 gauge steel and offers temperature in the range of 200-700°F while cooking. With the Kamado style of cooking, you can save a lot of money which is wasted with the use of less charcoal in the system. Thus, it saves both money as well as fuel consumption.
The dimension of this Charcoal Smoker is given by 21.6 x 28.7 x 24.8 in inches. And the weight of the unit during shipment is found to be 98 pounds.
The other features included in this are locking lid which keeps your food packed completely. Setup of this unit also consists of an Easy Dump Ash Pan which helps in the effective cleaning of the appliance.
The cost of the machine is found to be a fair one, looking out the features provided for the price paid. Moreover, the after sales team is considered to be very supportive and helpful. As well as the installation of this device is also much simple.
It is very much easy to control the temperature of this equipment with the Precise Temperature Control. You can work out easily at any given temperature with the help of this device.
Hereby, we have provided you with the details and some specifications about the Char-Griller 16620 Akorn Kamado Kooker. Although, a bit expensive than the previous smokers it has got amazing ratings on Amazon on its side!
#4 Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset
The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset is another top ranked Charcoal Smoker on our present list. It is a large size appliance which offers the users with the plenty of space to cook their meat. Besides that, it is a strong device with the rigid construction. So you can use this product for a longer period of time without any kind of worry of breaking down.
Features
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset is generally a tool for Outdoor Cooking. It lets you cook your meet in a slow pace. With this appliance, you can cook around 150 pounds of food at a single time. In the interior portion of this Charcoal Smoker, you will get six adjustable and sturdy wire racks for placing food.
The Charcoal Box of the Dyna-Glo is made of Porcelain Enamel, which assures easy cleaning of the Smoker. Also to mention this system has got such a vertical design which smokes the food in spite of less amount of charcoal. For serving this purpose, setup of this unit consists of an Offset Firebox Design.
The dimension of this Charcoal Smoker is given by 20.2 x 34.5 x 47 in inches, and the weight is around 57 pounds.
So if you want to transfer this machine from one place to another, it is very much easy for you. This machine makes use of strong cooking racks which helps in cooking the food of any size.
The customer service of this Dyna-Glo is reportedly supportive. Whereas, the cost of the unit is an affordable one. Also, the process of installation of this machine is also simple.
Moreover, the Dyna-Glo is made up of Heavy Duty Steel Body Material. In this way, the construction of the body becomes very much rigid and the product life enhances to a greater extent.
The quality of the build used here is of low quality. And many customers have reported this issue for this.
Hereby, We have provided you with the precise information about the Dyno-Glo for Charcoal Smoker. You can get this Charcoal Smoker at an affordable price. Besides that, the ratings of this appliance are also great as far as Amazon reviews are concerned.
#5 Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker
The Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker is the another least costing smoker to make it to our list. It is an extremely capable smoker which can cook good quality meat for you. It is a kind of device which is easy to control and use, making it a must buy for everyone. Check out the extraordinary features of the vertical smoker in the section given below.
Features
With the Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker, you get around 365 Inches of Cooking Surface Area. This Cooking Surface Area is sprayed over 3 Adjustable Cooking Grates and These Cooking Grates are highly durable as Chrome is coated on them.
Setup of this Unit features multiple dampers. You can use these dampers easily for controlling the rate of temperature as well as smoke while cooking the food. Apart from that, these dampers are very much easy to use as well as adjust. It consists of 3 such cooking grates.
There is also a Cool Touch Handle which gives you a firm grip over the smoker. Ash Handling is a problem in most of the Charcoal Smokers. But the setup of Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker includes a Drawer which helps in the handling of ash. Apart from that, it also makes the cleaning of the Charcoal Smoker easier than ever.
Moreover, the water pan which is used in this smoker is coated with Porcelain. So it will continue working for you till a longer period of time. You can also easily refill the water pan once it empties.
Besides that, the weight of the Char-Broil is just 30 Pounds which makes it too easier to transport it easily from one place to another.
The smoker is made of Steel. The steel provides rigidity to the structure of the Charcoal Smoker. And the best thing is the quality of food that you will get with the Char-Broil Vertical Charcoal Smoker.
This vertical smoker from Char-Broil is a light weight, low cost, easy to use, user convenient as well as a compact appliance. Must buy product for the meat lovers who are low on their budget.
#6 Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker
The Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker is another light weight as well as cost effective tool to make it to the top charts. It is easy to work with this device. The operations are quite simple. For the kind of users who doesn’t like much fancy stuff and extra features, it is the most suitable kind of smoker. There are many reasons why you must take this Masterbuilt to your home.
Features
The cooking surface area of the Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker is almost 400 Square Inches. With this much space, you can cook enough amount of meat in order to feed a whole small family.
For accommodating the food while cooking, setup of this unit consists of two smoking racks. To maintain the durability of these smoking racks, there are coated with porcelain.
Charcoal is the main source of power for this appliance. Now adding Charcoal to the device can sometimes be burdensome for many. But with the Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker, you can easily add Charcoal from the Front Access Door.
For measuring the temperature of the device as well as of the food consumables, setup of this unit consists of a lid thermometer. It measures the temperature with precision and lets the user know about the same.
Apart from that, the Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker also has a Charcoal Pan as well as a Water Bowl for storing the food items while cooking.
Even the Charcoal Pan and the Water Bowl has Porcelain Coating. So you don’t even have to worry while using this tool.
The Masterbuilt 20060416 Charcoal Bullet Smoker is a simple product. It is capable of simply cooking the meat and it is also available at low cost. It is a must buy the tool for the users who have storage or budget issues in buying a smoker.
#7 Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker
The Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker is the final one to feature on our list of Best Charcoal Smokers. It is another smoker with some unique features which is capable of preparing good quality food with an ease. This device is from the house of Cuisinart which is a well-known name in the manufacturing of Kitchen Appliances. There are many reasons why one should get this Cuisinart COS-118.
Features
Cooking on the Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker is quite easier than the other Charcoal Smoker. All you have to do is to ignite the charcoal, add some fuel, fill the water bowl and place the food on the racks.
The COS-118 is vertically designed. Due to this, it takes up less space on the ground. The size of this top rated Charcoal Smoker is 18 inches, which is enough to cook food for a Small Family.
With this device, you get the total cooking area of 510 square inches. For accommodating your food consumables, there are two stainless steel racks.
The water bowl of this unit is made of enamel with Porcelain. Porcelain gives durability to the water bowl and assures the continuous and long time working on the component. For providing the cooling effect to the system, there are two vents. It possesses a Dual Air Vent System on the top as well as bottom of the appliance.
The whole product is made up of stainless steel. Stainless Steel provides strength to the structure of the Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker. Apart from that, you can easily clean and maintain it too.
Moreover, it weighs just 25 pounds which make it easier to move the appliance easily from one place to another.
Besides that, the control over heat and smoke in this unit is enormous. Due to the Vertically Designed Barrel, the heat is distributed evenly within the appliance. Whether you are a homemaker, chef or anyone the Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker is for all of them.
The Cuisinart COS-118 Vertical Charcoal Smoker is a simple to operate the appliance. Those who wish to get an equipment which works easily, they must get it.
Points to Consider before Buying Charcoal Smoker
We saw all the reviews of the Top Rated Charcoal Smokers in the previous section. But still there may be some doubts unsolved on your side, and you may feel to ask them out to any expert.
We have tried to list out some of the common doubts that people have before buying any Charcoal Smoker. Our main aim is that the user clears their all kinds of questions with respect to the Charcoal Smoker.
Starting with it, there are many deciding factors which might affect the purchase of charcoal smokers. We have listed out some of the notable questions while choosing an appropriate Charcoal Smoker.
The five top questions that you must consider while buying a Charcoal Smoker are:
1. Space Constraint
This point is one of the vital considerations that one need to make, but many users forget about this. You have to check the area which is provided for the machine. Then you need to test and see whether the space provided is enough for your home or not.
Now the charcoal smoker comes in different shape and size. So before making the selection, you should get an idea of the system you are going to buy. Also, you can now decide the location where you will set up the unit in your home.
And if you find out that the smoker does not fit in the outdoors, you can look out for an outdoor choice since you don’t have the right kind of place for the indoor units.
So mark the dimensions of the area that you have got for placing and then try to match the smoker with all the products available in the market.
2. The cost of the Smoker
The two parameters cost and budget are the main concern here. And they play a significant role in choosing the right charcoal smoker for you.
If you have a certain budget for buying the Best Charcoal Smoker, then stick to it and search for the right unit that within your budget. Now the charcoal smokers costs range from $50 to $10,000.
And now the price shows the quality level present in each system. The smoker which is available at low cost has less quality when you compare it with the one which costs you more. But if you have a budget, you have stick to it and search for the best product in that price range.
3. The quantity of the Food to Cook
The Charcoal Smokers come in different sizes, so you must know the right size that you require for smoking your food.
Such as, if you want the unit for a barbecue party at your place, then using a large Charcoal Smoker is more preferable. Whereas, if you wish to cook for personal use, then you must choose a compact and easily movable smoker.
Also, you have to check for the use of your system. Do you require to move the System often from one place to another? Then it is better to choose the one which is comparatively small and light. Otherwise, go for a bigger machine.
Also to mention, that the larger unit doesn’t mean that it is better than the small smoker. There are many instances in which are the Charcoal Smoker are small in size but performs well and can work on the large quantity of food.
4. Durability
This property means the feature in which it runs for a quite a real time without any kind of failure. You would only love to use that run for a long time without any issue.
Now all the components used in a machine will wear out after continuous use for a long time. Therefore it is our responsibility to choose the one which is of high quality.
So if you want to possess a machine which is more durable, you will have to invest more in the machine. So if your budget is good enough to buy a durable one, then go for the durable one.
5. Extra features
Although, it is not an important consideration for all of us. But for those who wish to have some extra features on their smoker can check out for additional features on their charcoal smoker.
The add-on feature includes the grilling element, while some of them provide the vent for closing the smoker and others don’t include such features.
When compared with other kinds of Smokers, you can easily clean the Charcoal Smokers. Therefore the extra features help the users with one or the another task. Still, it remains an optional concept.
Hereby, we have mentioned all the points which are necessary to keep in mind while purchasing the Best Charcoal Smoker. We can include more factors into it. Still, we have tried to cover the major points here. So remember the factors and choose the right unit for you.
Best Charcoal Smoker Benefits & their Drawbacks
After we have gone through the considerations to buy the Charcoal Smoker. Now, We will now check out the positives and negatives of using the Charcoal Smoker.Each and every unit has got their benefits and the drawbacks. We will first understand the positives and then move on to the negatives of using this Charcoal Smoker.
Benefits of using the Best Charcoal Smoker:
- A new skill- By using the Charcoal Smokers, you could learn many things. The processing time is high here, so you could learn to be more patient. Also cooking on a charcoal smoker is totally a new concept, so you could get to learn this skill by using this Smoker.
- Smoky taste- It has come to our notice that these units produce more smoky flavor when you compare it to the other kind of smokers. So for those who want the smoky flavor to be a bit high, opt for this option only.
- Less expensive- These kind of products are comparatively less costly compared to the other gas/electric smoker. So it’s another benefit for choosing the charcoal smoker.
- Higher temperature- The range of temperature ranges between 500° – 700°. So if you want to cook your favorite steak, then you should prefer the Charcoal Smoker as it is best for cooking steak.
- Portability- It is an extremely portable tool. So if you wish to take your smoker to a further place whenever you want, then you must go with the charcoal smoker. And this is possible only due to the property of portability in it.
Drawbacks of Using the Charcoal Smokers:
- Longer Cooking Duration– The Charcoal Smoker takes a bit longer time when compared to the gas grills. This kind of smokers takes around 15-20 minutes more compared to the other kind of smokers available in the market.
- Difficult to Control the Temperature– The temperature found is quite high. So controlling this much amount of heat could turn out to be a tough task. Still, check on what the experts say, and place the coals on one side of the grill system.
- Produces a lot of Ash– For solving this issue, you can use the ash-removable tray.
Summary
In this article, we have seen the points to consider while choosing a Charcoal Smoker, along with the benefits and the drawbacks of the Charcoal Smoker. Hereby we provided you with the article on Best Charcoal Smoker Reviews 2017. We hope that this article will be helpful to you in making the selection among all the Charcoal smokers available. Till then keep visiting us on Smokerify!