You have heard how flexible and easy-to-use gas smokers are. Likely you went online and you’ve noticed that there are many different models to choose from. You may not have time to test different gas smokers or read gas smoker reviews.
Don’t worry. That’s what we are here for. This guide is designed to help you find the gas smoker for your needs and your budget. When you finish reading this guide, you will be confident in your ability to get a smoker that will meet your needs.
Best Gas Smokers
1. Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker
The Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker is one of the propane gas smokers because It offers four shelves for plenty of cooking space. You can easily access the smoker due to this unit having two doors.
You can attach this smoker to any standard propane tank so that you can start using it fast. It has a 40-inch hose so hookup is easy.
You have full control over the smoke level and the temperature. You can adjust the gas supply so that you can be sure that you are giving your foods the right level of heat. There is a thermometer on the door so that you can quickly monitor the temperature.
The handle is easy to operate. Once you close the door properly, the inner chamber remains rightly sealed for optimal smoking.
Even when it is operating at the highest temperature, the outside of the smoker remains cool to the touch. This ensures safety when pets and children are around. The door seals tightly once you close it. The smoke remains inside and does not escape from around the door.
The thermometer on the door makes temperature monitoring a breeze. This unit appears to maintain its temperature well so that you do not experience any uneven cooking.
The four shelves provide plenty of cooking space. The wood and water tray are porcelain enameled for easy cleaning and durability.
Pros
- You do not have to constantly check the temperature and fire when you are cooking
- The build is durable
- The assembly instructions are concise and clear
Cons
- Some smoke may escape through the door hinges
2. Dyna-Glo Vertical LP Gas Smoker
The Dyna-Glo Vertical Smoker is the vertical gas smoker we are going to review today in its price range. Produces a quality end product, but it’s cheap enough that someone who is just looking to cook for their family will want to invest in it.
It leaves you with an end product that tastes good, is moist, smells great, and that you can be proud to offer to your guests. It does require some initial assembly, but that’s relatively simple.
This unit is perfect for giving your meats the bold smoky flavor you want. With 784 in.² of cooking surface, there is enough room to add just about any meat you want.
It has a one-push ignition that makes lighting the unit a snap of your fingers. The sliding dampers and multiple doors help you to quickly adjust the temperature if need be.
Thanks to its dual design, you can add water and wood chips without affecting the temperature of your food. The 15,000 BTU of the total heat output of the unit means that it is hot enough to cook any type of meat and to maintain its temperature even if it is used outdoors during the winter.
There are a ton of different recipes you can try with a smoker. If you are a vegan or don’t want to smoke meat – check out this roasted beets with goat cheese recipe.
This is not a professional-level smoker. However, it allows a beginner and even an experienced smoker the ability to produce quality food that has a unique and powerful flavor. It’s easy to use and produces a consistent product time after time.
Pros
- Holds Temperature. This is the most important thing for a smoker. This unit keeps a consistent temperature throughout the cooking time. This adds to the excellent results it produces.
- Easy to Assemble. As I mentioned, you need to do a little assembly but is not a lot. It takes about an hour, and you’re ready to season the smoker.
- Spacious. This unit is big enough to allow you to accommodate multiple dishes at the same time. The racks are easy to move around, so it makes the unit versatile.
Cons
- The temperature gauge is not always accurate. You are going to need to use a digital thermometer to make sure you are cooking at the right temperature.
3. Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D 43-Inch Wide Body LP Gas Smoker
Providing 20,000 BTUs of cooking performance, this is the unit to beat. It is extremely reliable and can maintain its temperature even in very cold weather.
A unique feature of this unit is that it has heat seals that allow it to maintain its smoke and improve its cooking efficiency.
This is a very large unit. It has more than 1900 in.² of cooking space. Has six grates that can be adjusted to accommodate whatever type of food your heart desires. It even has a removable rib rack, adding more flexibility to your cooking.
Although this is not a competition-style cooker, it produces food that is on par with what restaurants and professionals make.
There are many examples of individuals who have used this item at competitions and have come out ahead of others with competition-style grills.
You don’t need expensive equipment to make a great barbecue, but what you need is what this unit has and that is something that will get smoke into the meat and hold the temperature where you want it.
This is an awesome unit. It is going to produce delicious food every time. It’s durable, keeps an even temperature, and is everything you want from a gas smoker.
Pros
- Versatile thanks to six-height adjustable cooking grills.
- Pre-installed high-temperature rope seals retain heat and smoke.
- Porcelain enamel Stillwater bowl and wood chip holder.
- Temperature gauge that indicates the ideal temperature for infusing smoke.
Cons
- It can be difficult to control the heat. Many people complain that the unit just gets too hot even at the lowest setting and with both vents open.
4. Char-Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Gas Smoker
This is one of the top-rated gas smokers for newbies. It has two things that new smokers are going to love: it is expensive, and it is easy to use. Right away, it’s noticeable how large of a cooking space this unit has. It’s more than enough to cook for your entire family as well as many guests.
The three smoking racks allow you to optimize the space you’re using inside the smoking chamber. There is also a warming rack, so you can keep your food warm without cooking it. Food comes out great on this unit.
The Char-Broil vertical propane smoker has a large chamber and versatile rack locations. Its unique double-drawer design is perfect for allowing you to cook your food at a steady temperature all at the same time adjusting things like water and wood chips.
For the price, this is a decent smoker. It keeps a decent seal and is not drastically affected by fluctuations in outside temperature. I do not like the wood chip and water tray situation. It just makes things unnecessarily frustrating. But besides that, all in all, it’s a decent product.
Pros
- Size Versus Weight. This is a decent size unit, giving you 578 in.² of cooking space. But it only weighs 25 pounds, so you can move it whenever you need to.
- High-quality parts. The water pan and the ash pan are made of porcelain. This increases the durability of the unit as well as makes it more attractive.
- The ability to add wood chips and water without opening the chamber.
Cons
- One thing I would like to see in the next models of this unit is a separate container for wood chips and water. It just makes things a lot easier that way.
5. Masterbuilt Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control
This is the perfect unit for someone who needs to get a lot of smoking done. Measuring 22.8 x 28.7 x 53 inches, it gives you enough to feed an entire crowd.
A unique feature of the smoker is its doors. It has a 44-inch cabinet door that makes it easy for you to put meat in and take it out. It also has a second door that allows you to adjust any internal pans without losing any smoke or heat.
Its dual burner design gives you complete control of the temperature inside the chamber. Its solid steel construction means that you never have to worry about the smoker warping or losing heat.
The Masterbuilt is a versatile gas smoker. It is designed to be flexible and functional. It works because the designers understand the needs of the end-user, so they made it with sufficient cabinet space and the ability to access different parts of the unit without interfering with the overall cooking.
At 100 pounds, this unit is not portable. However, because of its thick steel construction, it can stand up to the fluctuations of outdoor temperatures. The double burner system is a plus, giving you ultimate control over the cabin temperature.
Pros
- 44 Inch Double Door System
- Very Large Cooking Area
- Adjustable Floor Clamps
- An Easily Accessible Porcelain Coated Wood Chip Pan
Cons
- The biggest complaint I have with this unit is that it doesn’t come assembled. It’s not very hard to assemble it, but it does take about an hour of your time.
6. Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
Many believe that the Char-Broil Big Easy TRU Infrared Smoker deserves the title of gas grill smoker combo. To be fair, it is designed to do just about anything.
One cool feature is that it has an internal smoker box where you put your wood chips or pellets. You don’t need air dampers. It’s flexible, allowing you to adjust the heat from 9000 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs.
This device is a good successor to its predecessor the Big Easy. It adds more functionality and doesn’t require charcoal or oil.
Since it uses radiant heat, the food that is produced is moist and does not dry out. The smoker box can use pellets or woodchips. And you do not need an air damper or a water pan. It is versatile enough to cook a 25-pound turkey and has a cooking area of 180 in.².
This is a versatile unit allowing you to grill, smoke, and cook. While it does some things well, it’s not going to provide you with the most powerful smoked meat flavor.
Sometimes when you get a smoker, it’s better to get one that just focuses on the job. This unit just tries to do too much.
Pros
- Convenient. You don’t worry about flare-ups, you don’t need charcoal, and you don’t need a spit rod. It’s just easy to use.
- Versatile. This is about as versatile as it gets. It can smoke your food, cook your food on the grill, or use infrared heat.
- For such a small unit, it can hold up to 25 pounds of food.
Cons
- Looks pretty, but it’s not solidly built. It looks like stainless steel, but after a few months of use, you start to see the rust wear through.
- Difficult to maintain. Since the unit is made out of cast iron, after you clean it with soap, you need to go through and add oil to prevent rust.
- Price: It’s a little expensive when you compare the price to the quality of the product.
7. Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24″ Small Gas Smoker
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The Camp Chef Smoke Vault is a small gas smoker because it has a wide temperature range. There is a thermometer on the door that is easy to read so that you always know the exact cooking temperature.
You can cook meats slow and low so that the flavor locks into the food. You can use it to bake pies or to slow-cook a whole chicken.
There are two cooking racks and you can adjust them to accommodate your food. The water pan and wood chip tray are easy to operate and maintain.
The base tray is made of porcelain. You can remove it for easy cleaning. On each side of the smoker and the top, there are adjustable damper valves. For maximum heat control, this smoker has a protected burner drum.
This smoker has a strong construction. You can leave it outside without it getting damaged by the elements. It heats up fast and holds the designated temperature well. This allows you to enjoy consistent cooking with a variety of meats and other foods.
Once you are done using the smoker, it is easy to clean. Some of the parts are removable. The other elements only need to be wiped down in between uses.
This smoker is ideal for beginners who are new to smoking. It takes up limited space and the features are simple to use. The materials are strong, so your smoker will not experience damage easily.
Pros
- It is easy to assemble
- This smoker can accommodate multiple types of meat at the same time
- The thermometer is easy to read
Cons
- The door thermometer may vary by about 30 degrees Fahrenheit
Things To Consider
Size
A small propane smoker will make enough food for you and your family. A medium-sized smoker may make enough food for you and 20 – 30 other people. A large smoker can make enough food to cater to a party all day long.
Versatility
Some gas smokers can double as a grill. So if you’re looking for the best of both worlds, gas this is good for you.
Price
Remember, just because a smoker is more expensive does not mean that he is a gas smoker. First, identify what your budget is. Then find the model that has the best reputation, the most features, and is right for your needs.
Name
For many pitmasters, smoking meat is tantamount to a religion. When they put their name on a product, or when they approve a certain product, it’s because they realize it is the best.
You can purchase a generic smoker, but they usually do not offer any future support, and there is no guarantee that the product you get is going to be any good.
Making The Decision
It is been really fun reviewing some of these awesome gas smokers. Now, it’s up to you to decide which product is right for you.
If after looking at these products certain ones catch your eye, we encourage you to do more research. The idea is to learn as much as you can about the smoker before you purchase it.
There are a lot of brick-and-mortar stores that sell smokers. However, my recommendation is for you to buy your smoker online. That way, you’re able to research it and also see what other people who have already used the smoker say about it.
When you read gas smoker reviews, you get a better feel for what it’s like for the average Joe to use the smoker, and that will make it easier for you to buy the gas smoker for your needs. Find a smoker you like, grab a slab of meat, and get smoking.
