The Best Gas Smokers in 2023

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. But the question is, what is the best gas smoker? 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 best gas smoker for your needs and for your budget. When you finish reading this guide, you will be confident in your ability to get a smoker that will meet your needs.

Top Gas Smokers Reviews

1. Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker

The Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker is one of the best 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.

This is one of the best vertical gas smoker options. The four shelves provide plenty of cooking space. The wood and water tray are porcelain enameled for easy cleaning and durability.

2. Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24″ Small Gas Smoker

The Camp Chef Smoke Vault is the best 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 on 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.

3. Dyna-Glo Vertical LP Gas Smoker

The Dyna-Glo Vertical Smoker is the best 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.

4. 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 is able to 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.

5. 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 a number of invited 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 really 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.

6. 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 definitely 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.

7. 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 best 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 all the way 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 smoke 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.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Gas Smokers

Gas vs. World

Gas Smokers Compared to Other Types

With a gas smoker grill, the propane tank keeps the heat steady and constant. They are simple to use. All you need to do is set the temperature and basically walk away. If you want to grill and smoke at the same time, you may want to look for the best gas grill smoker combo available online.

Electric Smokers

Similar to gas smokers, an electric smoker is easy to maintain and requires almost no attention during the cooking process. They are great for beginners, but out of all types of smokers, they are the ones that are going to give your meat the least amount of smoky flavor.

Charcoal Smokers

Charcoal smokers are the traditional way of smoking your food. They have a very high learning curve, but they add flavor that just cannot be beaten.

Starting the fire takes a long time, and maintaining the fire takes a long time. If you do not choose the right type of charcoal, things will not turn out well.

If you want the flavor of charcoal and the convenience of gas, you may want to look at a gas charcoal smoker combo.

Pellet smokers

Pellet smokers are nice in that they are designed to feed only enough pellets into the firebox to keep your meat at a set temperature. Additionally, you can boast that your meat is being smoked by wood because technically the pellets are compressed wood.

The downside with pellet smokers is that because they have a mechanical auger, they are prone to breaking. And you still need electricity for a pellet smoker to work.

We have created some other guides if you want more information on charcoal smokers, gas smokers, and pellet smokers.

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 the best 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.

Gas Smoker Brands

Masterbuilt

Masterbuilt has built its business on these pillars:

1. Faith and Family First, and then the Rest.
2. Do the Work and Make It Fun.
3. Leading Edge Quality and Innovation.
4. World-Class Customer Service Every Time.
5. Share the Goodness.

Each one of these founding ideas is reflected in the products they create. When you look at Masterbuilt propane smoker reviews, people comment on the high quality of the product and the commitment of the company to providing excellent customer service.

It is clear that product innovation is at the heart of what they do. They have developed an unmatched reputation with electric smokers, and they will continue to work to keep their products the best. As a team, they work together to create products that make life great.

Char-Broil

Starting in 1948, Char-Broil brought its first grill to the market. Every year since then they have introduced innovation after innovation with the goal of becoming the standard-bearer for modern grills and smokers.

Char-Broil gas smoker reviews online attest to the fact that they are making their dream become a reality.

The creative minds behind Char-Broil believe that they have on their shoulders what they refer to as the “heritage of innovation.” Their goal is to make grilling, smoking, and barbecuing more affordable and more memorable.

Every time you purchase a Char-Broil vertical gas smoker, you know that you are purchasing a product from a company that is performance-driven.

Whether you use your grill occasionally or you use your grill every single day, they want it to work the way it should from the get-go. They pride themselves on producing a product that allows you as their customers to: “Live It Up.”

If you’re a beginner at smoking you also need to have a good thermometer for monitoring the temperature of your meat. With wireless meat thermometers, smoking a brisket can become way easier than ever.

How to Season a New Smoker

Ready for your next cook-off with that sleek BBQ gear? Well, hold your horses because there’s one thing you need to do first- season it! The initial step to grilling some finger-licking barbeque is to learn how to season a new smoker. The task may seem daunting but worry not because we’ve got you covered.

Seasoning isn’t just about adding pepper and salt to meat but rather, cleaning the inside of your smoking equipment. You might hear other BBQ aficionados call it ‘curing’ or ‘pre-seasoning,’ and to some extent, they’re right. It’s laying the proper foundation for tremendous BBQ results. Let’s explore simple steps that you should follow to unlock your smoking beast truly.

What You Didn’t Know About Seasoning

Seasoning a brand-new smoker serves two primary purposes: extending the equipment’s life by preventing rust and cleaning off unwanted contaminants from the manufacturing process. But more importantly, it’s a great chance to know your BBQ baby inside-out to avoid ruining any expensive brisket.

The exact method will vary from one smoker to another, be it a pellet, ceramic, propane, offset, or electric smoker. However, there are a few necessary steps that apply to each one of them. So, grab some cooking oil, dish soap, and fire-making materials, and let’s get started!

Step-by-step Guide on How to Season a New Smoker

As we mentioned, seasoning is the first thing you’d want to do with your modern smoker. If your smoker is one of those that needs post-manufacturing assembly, you’ll have it easier because you’ll be dealing with one part at a time.

Step 1: Cleaning

Once you get your newly-purchased home, it might still have some leftover metal shavings, oils, solvents, or abrasive paint inside.

So, it’s a brilliant idea to clean grates, pans, racks, and the interior thoroughly with the use of soap and water. If you are doing it before assembling the individual parts, consult a professional grill cleaner.

Other experts suggest that you use a mild detergent to degrease the machine and plenty of water to remove grime and manufacturing oils. Utilize a soft cloth to prevent scratching the delicate finish. When through, allow the smoker to air dry.

Step 2: Spray/ Wipe down the interior with oil

Next up, you’d want to look for oil that has a high boiling point. Grapeseed or canola oil might do the trick!

This type of oil will help you attain a thin, hard, protective surface after heating. Use cooking can spray oil quickly, and it’s efficient too.

With a disassembled smoker, rigorously all of the interior, door, walls, and lid with a thin layer of coat. Then, coat grates and racks with a similar wipe. Most specialists advise against spraying the water pan, but if need be, coat it outside.

Finally, it’s time to let the oil soak appropriately for about 10 minutes before embarking on the heating process.

Step 3: Heating

For the heating procedure, you’d want to carefully heat the smoker to high temperatures and leave it there for 3-4 hours. We recommend that you follow a general thumb rule- bring up the temperature rating of your smoking device, according to its manual.

After the set time, bring it down to the average temperature to avoid warping the thin metal in most smokers. It’s not ready for meat yet, so don’t put anything inside except for the oil.

How Do You Season a New Offset Smoker?

When it comes to seasoning a new offset smoker, the steps are similar until Step 2. The guidelines below apply to offset smokers only:

Once you coat the entire smoker with high burn-point oil, fill a single chimney with charcoal, and then light them. The stack should be swamped with smoke within 10 minutes or so.

Let the chimney heat up continually. Accelerate the process by adding more firewood into the firebox. When the stack attains full ignition, pour the hot coals into the firebox.

Meanwhile, ensure that the intake and exhaust are wide open to allow for uninterrupted air inflow. It will aid the smoker to reach slightly higher temperatures than generally used for smoking.

Allow the smoker to heat a peak temperature rating of about 280-300 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 2 hours. Then allow the smoker to cool off completely before cooking.

How Do You Season a New Electric Smoker?

So, you have just unpacked your modern electric smoker and perhaps wondering what to grill first. However, seasoning a new electric smoker is as easy as a ‘dry run,’ and it’s something that you could do without breaking a sweat!

Back to Step 2, when you’re done with coating the interior of your smoker with oil. You must avoid applying oil to the heating element, chip tray, water tray, and grease tray. Particularly, do not fill the water bowl with water when seasoning a new Masterbuilt electric smoker.

Best Practices for Seasoning a Brand New Smoker

Now that you know the nitty-gritty of how to season a new smoker, you can go ahead and cook all those tasty and delectable barbeques. Regardless of what type of smoker you own, Daddy Cooking Tips has all the information you need to become a BBQ fanatic. Seasoning a new smoker takes time, but it’s butter-to-bread easy.

Again, you must understand what model of smoker yours is. Read the manual first to eliminate all the guesswork. Then read this guide to know everything about seasoning a smoker and why it’s not a complicated process after all.

Need to check out the best smokers of the year or the latest BBQ recipes in town? Not sure which wood type is suitable for meats? Rest easy. Our blogs and How guides will help you take your barbequing skills to the next level.

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 and 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 best gas smoker for your needs. Find a smoker you like, grab a slab of meat, and get smoking.