Transform your backyard grill with our guide to smoking meat. From charcoal smokers to electric and propane stoves, here’s what you need to know about the different types of smoker.
The right smoker can help take your barbecue to the next level, delivering juicy, tender cuts of meat that fall off the bone every time.
With so many different options to choose from, it’s not always easy to know which type of smoker is best for your garden. Here we go over the excellent grilling styles to give you a better idea of what might work for you.
What is a smoker?
Many people confuse smokers with crickets, and it’s easy to see why. Both produce delicious, smoky cuts of meat using fuel sources such as charcoal, gas, or wood. However, grills and smokers work very differently.
While grills hold the meat close to the heat source and quickly sear it, smokers slowly pour heat over the meat from a distance. This makes each piece of meat even more tender than grilled. Smoking can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days depending on what you’re cooking.
A smoker is designed to cook meat more slowly than a grill and keeps the cuts farther from the heat source. Some designs can serve as a grill and smoker depending on how you use them.
Different types of smokers use different types of fuel, which can affect the taste, efficiency, and overall cost of ownership of your smoker. The most common types of smoker fuels include:
- Propane or natural gas
- Electricity or solar
- Wood chips
- Charcoal lumps
- Manufactured pellets
Some smokers have a simple design that is easy for beginners to master with just a shallow learning curve. Many use a “set and forget” approach so you don’t have to watch your meat. Others are more suitable for experienced grill masters and offer more precision and control when cooking.
There are several different types of smokers to choose from depending on your budget, level of experience and the type of flavor you are looking for. In this smoker comparison, we examine the unique types of smokers, how each one works, and if they might be the right choice for you.
Offset smokers
Offset smokers were first seen by oil field workers( source ) in rural Texas. They used old oil drums to slowly smoke their food and prepare a delicious dinner at the end of a hard day’s work.
Today’s offset smokers have become a bit more sophisticated, but they still require an expert touch to master. You can find a wide range of qualities when it comes to offset smokers, from flimsy, poorly insulated models to more expensive, automatic options with thick walls and airtight seals.
How they work
Offset smokers have two compartments that work together to create delicate and flavorful dishes. The main cooking space is usually placed to the side, with one or more grates inside to increase the cooking surface. A sealed door allows for loading and unloading of cuts of meat, while a chimney provides airflow and ventilation.
Attached to the main cooking chamber is a smaller firebox, usually placed at a lower elevation to allow smoke to rise. You can use charcoal, wood chips, or even whole logs as a fuel source. In some designs, the firebox has a removable grill plate, allowing YOU to use the unit for both grilling and smoking.
For a tall smoker, the walls should be thick enough to maintain an even temperature. Cheaper models that use thin metal dies, however, tend to lose heat quickly and can be difficult to control while cooking.
Who they are perfect for
Offset smokers are among the bulkier designs available and are therefore not suitable for smaller gardens and patios. You need adequate space to operate a net safely and comfortably, so this style is best suited for those with lots of outdoor space.
Offset smokers can also be harder to control than other styles, such as B. Electric or pellet models. They are best suited to grill masters who are familiar with the art of smoking. Beginners may struggle to master the settings required for one-set cooking.
Advantages
- Can cook large amounts of meat
- High-end models are durable and efficient
- Some designs can serve as a grill and smoker.
Disadvantages
- It can be difficult to control the heat, even for experienced smokers.
- Many inferior models on the market
Drum smokers
One of the simpler smoking designs, drum smokers are reminders, easy to use, and are gaining popularity in the smoking community. You can even find DIY kits to build your own drum with little to no experience.
How they work
Often referred to as an ugly drum smoker or UDS, this design has a very simple setup with a single chamber for grilling. As the name suggests, it resembles a vertical drum barrel. At the bottom of the container, a basket contains charcoal or wood chips for fuel. About 30 cm above the heat source is the cooking grate, which supports the cut of meat you are cooking.
To use a drum smoker, simply add some charcoal or chips to the basket and then pile up some burning material. This keeps the heat at a lower level, allowing you to cook your food more slowly. You can also use drum smokers like a regular grill by adding a basket full of hot charcoal instead of just a few briquettes at a time.
Who they are perfect for
Drum smokers are a great choice for beginner grillers as they have a simple design that is easy to perform and use. Plus, the insulated design means you don’t have to worry too much about monitoring the heat source or adding more fuel.
A typical drum smoker can hold around four pork shoulders at a time, making it an ideal size for families and smaller households. However, food cannot be cooked in large quantities. If you want to cook a large batch of meat at once, a stacked smoker or large kamado may be a better option.
Drum smokers don’t offer as much control as other styles, so they may not be the best style for experienced grillers. It also isn’t the most attractive design, so it might not be the best option for the outdoors accents, the aesthetics in the favorite.
Advantages
- Simple and easy to use
- It works as a smoker and grill.
- you can build one yourself
Disadvantages
- It’s not as attractive as other types of smokers.
- It can only take a small amount of food.
Pellet smokers
This is one of the high tech smoker options available on the market. Although other gas, electric, and charcoal models may appear, pellet smokers use an entirely different fuel source to carry meat with a consistent, smoky flavor.
How they work
Pellet smokers are another handy design that allows you to set a time and temperature and then forget about your food until it’s done cooking. Most run on electricity, making this a relatively efficient and environmentally friendly option.
Instead of a traditional combustor for fuel, pellet grills feature a hopper that is loaded with manufactured pellets. These pellets are made from pressed sawdust and are available in a variety of wood flavors. Most people cannot tell the difference between meat cooked with wood chips and meat cooked with pellets.
A snail automatically transports the granulate from the hopper into a combustion chamber. A built in thermostat tells the hopper how often to spit out the pellets to maintain a constant temperature. Many have a digital display that allows YOU to fine tune the settings.
Who they are perfect for
Pellet smokers are relatively new to the grilling scene, but since their inception have made a name for themselves as one of the most respected types of smokers. Both beginners and experts alike will appreciate the excellent level of precision and control that the funnel design gives you when cooking.
Pellet grills also offer the convenience of a “set and forget” approach, making them a great choice for the busy grill master. Most have an easy-to-use display that makes it much easier to set a consistent temperature than it would be with vents and charcoal briquettes.
Best Pellet Smokers in the Market
Advantages
- High-tech design that requires no intervention
- Uses environmentally friendly and energy efficient pellets instead of wood chips or charcoal
- Automatically maintains a constant temperature through a funnel system
Disadvantages
- One of the more expensive options for smokers.
- Several electronic parts and systems can be susceptible to failure
Vertical smokers
Also vertical water smoker, this is one of the reputed types of smokers available in the market today. Bullet smokers are a common type of upright smoker, named for their sleek, spherical appearance. People from grilling novices to backyard grill masters prefer this type of smoker because it is compact, easy to use, and generally inexpensive.
How they work
Vertical smokers have a relatively simple design that traps the rising smoke in a single chamber to slowly cook meat to perfection. The heat usually comes from the charcoal or wood chips found at the bottom of the smoker. However, if you want practical style, YOU will also find petrol and electric powered models.
A bowl of water is placed over the heat source . Not only does this help moderate the heat to keep things low and sluggish, but it also makes for a humid cooking environment. This is crucial if you don’t want tender cuts of meat to dry out when steaming.
At the top of a vertical unit is the main grill chamber. This is where you place the meat you want to cook. Most often, an upright smoker hides one or more racks to give you more cooking space in the chamber.
To maintain airflow, most upright smoker models have vents at the top and bottom of the cooking chamber. This keeps meat from tasting too charred or smoky and gives you more control over the temperature while cooking.
Who they are perfect for
Vertical water smokers are ideal for specialists new to smoking meat. They have a simple and user-friendly design that is easy to understand and use. Due to its compact design, the smoker fits on almost any terrace or balcony.
If you are environmentally conscious, upright smokers are also a great option for your backyard. They have a relatively low carbon footprint, especially gas or electric models. Thanks to their shape, upright smokers burn fuel efficiently to release fewer pollutants into the air.
If you’re looking to feed a large group of people, an upright smoker may not be the right option for you. Whilst YOU will find a wide range of different sizes, most are only suitable for feeding a large family. At most, you can smoke about two to four pork shoulders or up to ten baby back ribs at a time.
Best Vertical Smokers in the Market
Advantages
- Compact and user-friendly design
- Green operation
- Ideal for beginners and experts.
Disadvantages
- Limited cooking capacity
- It cannot function as a grill.
Electric Smokers
If you are looking for a smoking device that allows you to “set and forget”, then you should go for an electric smoker. It doesn’t require you to add fuel or groom your meat. You can simply program to the desired time and temperature and let go. Thanks to their user-friendly and efficient design, electric smokers have grown in popularity in recent years.
How they work
Instead of using fuel like charcoal or gas, electric smokers have a heating element that needs to be plugged into a power source. High-end electric smokers also have a built-in thermostat to give you precise temperature control. Some even have a digital display for easy programming.
There is a damper above the heating element that redirects radiant heat from the coil to prevent overcooking the food. There is also a wood chip tray to allow the heating element to generate smoke to fill the chamber.
The meat itself rests on a grate in the upper smokehouse. Larger models often feature a series of shelves that extend to the height of the digitized space to provide more cooking space. High-end models can distribute heat and smoke evenly throughout the chamber.
Who they are perfect for
Electric smokers are perfect for beginners looking for a foolproof way to get tender, delicious cuts of meat every time. They offer a foolproof way to maintain a consistent temperature and ensure food cooks evenly.
For those concerned about the environmental impact, electric smokers are more efficient than other styles like charcoal. They also release less gift stuff into the air, making them a greener option for your garden.
If you’re new to smoking meat, an electric appliance is usually a good place to start. It’s easy to program and gives you complete control over the temperature. It also automatically keeps you warm. You don’t have to worry about adjusting the temperature with vents and fuel.
At the same time, high-end electric smokers are also a great addition to any seasoned grill master’s arsenal. They can provide the same smoke flavor as other wood chip smokers when used properly, but with a fraction of the expedited work.
Best Electrical Smokers in the Market
Advantages
- Easy to use and program
- Environmentally friendly
- Ideal for both beginners and experts who want to “set and forget”.
Disadvantages
- Does not withstand wind, weather and wear well.
- Requires access to an outlet or battery bank
Gas propane smokers
Although similar in design to electric smokers, propane smokers use a different fuel source. They’re another popular grill for beginners thanks to their user-friendly design, but they often have a slightly bigger learning curve than their cousins.
How they work
Like electric smokers, propane gas smokers have a heating element that is placed at the bottom of the smokehouse. However, instead of being powered by an outlet or other electrical power source, this type of smoker uses natural gas or propane gas.
Above the heating unit, a damper blocks too much radiant heat to sear the meat, while a woodchip or pellet tray releases smoke for flavor. The device is sealed to ensure meat stays moist during cooking.
Unlike electric smokers, propane devices typically do not have built-in programmable features. Most of the time they don’t have an internal thermostat, instead relying on a display thermometer on the door to measure the temperature.
It may take some practice to get to the right cooking temperature, and even more to maintain it. However, it is easy to do with a rotary knob. Instead of adding fresh fuel or dumping excess heat through the vents, SHE can raise or lower the heating element until SHE reaches your desired cooking temperature.
Who they are perfect for
Propane grills are easy to find and relatively inexpensive, making them a good choice for homeowners and occasional smokers. Most also feature a user-friendly design, although there can be a bit of a learning curve for beginners. They are also eco-friendly as they emit less smoke and CO2( source ) than other types of smoking devices.
You can find propane gas grills in different shapes and sizes to suit your needs. The smaller units are ideal for families and households with limited space, while the larger units have room to feed dozens of hungry guests.
Although the device itself is quite inexpensive, it is important to remember that it requires natural gas or propane as a fuel source. Keeping your smoker full can get expensive, especially if you don’t already have a gas line in your home.
Best Gas Propane Smokers in the Market
Advantages
- Cheap and easy to find.
- It comes in one of different sizes.
- ecological variant
Disadvantages
- Uses expensive propane or natural gas as a fuel source
- The learning curve for beginners
Kamado
Kamado grills, also known as ceramic smokers, have been around since their introduction by the American military returning from Japan. Overseas, soldiers will discover how to turn traditional ceramic rice cookers into a makeshift grill. The Big Green Egg company is changing this design, which has been gaining popularity since the 1970s.
Now, Kamado cookers come in all shapes and sizes to meet your unique grilling needs. The only feature that unites them is a thick ceramic cover that allows for excellent insulation and airflow while cooking.
How they work
Kamado grills have a highly insulating ceramic exterior that allows them to maintain an even temperature for hours. It features an efficient design that doesn’t waste excess fuel, making it a fairly eco-friendly option. It’s also tough enough to withstand most wear and tear.
At the bottom of the Kamado’s cooking chamber is a firebox that you can load with charcoal or wood shavings. A removable heat deflector can be fitted over the fire to block direct radiant heat to keep cooking temperatures down. Your cut of meat sits on a grate above this baffle.
Without the heat deflector, a kamado’s surface can reach high temperatures of up to 700F. This means it can be used as both a grill and a smoker, allowing YOU to brown meat and veggies for a smoky flavor.
Who they are perfect for
While you can find inexpensive kamado options at many major department stores, you’ll get the best results with a quality grill that IS manufactured by a reputable company like Big Green Egg. A Kamado grill should be made of high quality, thick ceramic and strong metal fixtures. To be safe, it’s a good idea to look for companies that back their product with an extended warranty.
Because this type of smoker is more expensive than other options, it’s best reserved for serious grill masters. Kamado grills can also be difficult to control, making them a challenge for beginners. They take a long time to heat up and cool down, which can make the learning curve steeper.
While most kamado grills are suitable for a small family, you can find larger options that can cook enough to feed dozens. It’s a good idea to think about who you want to cook for before deciding what size kamado to buy.
Best Kamado Smokers in the Market
Advantages
- Can function as a grill and smoker
- Energy efficient and low maintenance
- Durable design can withstand years of use
Disadvantages
- More expensive than other options for smokers
- Steep learning curve
Kettle grill
Most of us specialize in the simple charcoal grill. It’s a common feature on many terraces and balconies in apartment complexes, with a compact form and simple design that’s easy to use and, perhaps most importantly, fulfilling.
However, what many do not know is that the kettle grill can also be used as a smoker. You just need to know the right technique to get tender and juicy cuts of meat at the end of your cooking session.
How they work
Typically, kettle grills work by heating the meat to a high temperature from below. Place burning charcoal on the bottom of the chamber, place the cooking grate on top and place the meat on the grate for a delicious, smoky brown.
There are two ways you can easily turn your kettle grill into a smoker. Two-zone cooking is a great way to indirectly heat food to cook it more slowly instead of browning it quickly. Simply stack the charcoal briquettes on one side of the grill, add some fuel and then maintain the temperature with the grill’s ventilation system.
The Charcoal Control Snake method gives you a little more precision in terms of the speed and intensity of your maturation. Instead of haphazardly stacking charcoal on the grill, you can cover half the rim of the grill with a small, clean ring of briquettes and then light one end. This allows for a slow, controlled burn that can last for hours.
Who they are perfect for
For people who already have a water surplus, the two-zone or snake cooking method is the perfect introduction to the world of smoking. You don’t have to make expensive investments and learn the basics of fuel control and temperature maintenance.
Even if you don’t already own a kettle grill, it’s an ideal option for someone looking for a grill and smoker combo on a budget. Kettle grills offer the best of both worlds and are compact enough to fit in most outdoor spaces. You can also cook with a kettle grill on the terraces and balconies of apartments without hesitation, provided it is permitted in the rental agreement.
Be aware that it can be a bit difficult for beginners thinking about mastering the temperature control techniques required to grill with a kettle charcoal grill design. If you are a beginner and looking for your first smoker, you should go for a practical design, eg an electric or propane gas smoker.
Best Kettle Grills in the Market
Advantages
- Economic variant
- Works as a grill and smoker with the right technique
- It also fits in small spaces.
Disadvantages
- Limited kitchen space
- Requires complex grilling technology
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