Best Home Preserving Equipment – Food Smokers

12 Best Food Smoker Reviews 2022

Craving some juicy barbecued chicken?  How about some amazing smoked brisket?  Time to fire up that home food smoker and get smoking!

Many people feel that the process of smoking food is an art.  It takes skill and finesses to get that perfectly cooked but still juicy and tender smoked meat.

For the experienced, a food smoker is more than just a tool.  It is a highly sophisticated appliance with multiple features and settings that can elevate your cooking to the next level.

You need to have a clear idea of the features and specifications of different food smokers before buying.  Whether you’re looking to invest in your first home food smoker, or want to check the current best model of the year we’ve got you covered.  

In our best food smoker reviews for 2022, you will find some of our favorites from last year, but also some nifty new machines.  We hope you find what you are looking for!

Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D
Masterbuilt MB20071117
LANDMANN MCO 32954
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
Masterbuilt® Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker with 710 Cooking Square Inches, Digital Control Board, Side Woodchip Loader, 30 Inch, Black, Model MB20071117
LANDMANN MCO 32954 Landmann Smoky Mountain 26" Electric Smoker-Black-OPP w/Viewing W
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Amazon Prime
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Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
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Masterbuilt MB20071117
Masterbuilt® Digital Electric Vertical BBQ Smoker with 710 Cooking Square Inches, Digital Control Board, Side Woodchip Loader, 30 Inch, Black, Model MB20071117
Amazon Prime
LANDMANN MCO 32954
LANDMANN MCO 32954 Landmann Smoky Mountain 26" Electric Smoker-Black-OPP w/Viewing W
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Weber 18-inch
Traeger Grills
Realcook Vertical
Masterbuilt MB20070210
Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker,Black
Traeger Grills Tailgater Portable Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker with Folding Legs
Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Steel Charcoal Smoker, Heavy Duty Round BBQ Grill for Outdoor Cooking, Black
Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker with 3 Smoking Racks, 30 inch, Black
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime
Weber 18-inch
Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker,Black
Amazon Prime
Traeger Grills
Traeger Grills Tailgater Portable Electric Wood Pellet Grill and Smoker with Folding Legs
Amazon Prime
Realcook Vertical
Realcook Vertical 17 Inch Steel Charcoal Smoker, Heavy Duty Round BBQ Grill for Outdoor Cooking, Black
Amazon Prime
Masterbuilt MB20070210
Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker with 3 Smoking Racks, 30 inch, Black
Amazon Prime
Dyna-Glo Signature Series
Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D
Cuisinart COS-116
Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D 43" Wide Body LP Gas Smoker
Cuisinart COS-116 Vertical Charcoal Smoker, Black
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Amazon Prime
Dyna-Glo Signature Series
Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill
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Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D
Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D 43" Wide Body LP Gas Smoker
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Cuisinart COS-116
Cuisinart COS-116 Vertical Charcoal Smoker, Black
Amazon Prime

Best Food Smokers Reviews For 2022

Our expert preserving team has tested the best food smokers on the market in 2022.  We found that a lot of food smoker reviews don’t fully research the products on their list.  The most common articles we found simply serve up the top-sellers on Amazon. 

At Best Home Preserving our team is keen to show you the best home preserving equipment that is available today.  We understand that each individual has different needs and budgets so we have tried to include the best food smokers across price and ease of use.

Around the world, smoking food is popular because the process gives a distinct and unique flavor to food.  However, to get this process right, you need to make sure you use the best food smokers for the product, your space, and your budget. 

Everybody loves to get outdoors around a grill so have you looked at all the benefits of owning a top food smoker?

Overall Best Food Smokers – Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

Achieve amazing smokey flavor with terrific efficiency when you use the winner of our overall best food smokers for 2022! 

  • This machine made our food smoker reviews truly inspirational and allows anybody to BBQ like a professional. 
  • The upright design allows for six height-adjustable cooking grates to contain a variety of different foods.  Each grate has a 25-pound capacity to cook your whole meal in one place.
  • You get 1176 square inches of total cooking space and 784 square inches of smoking area in this monster machine. 
  • Remove trays to allow for the slow-cooking of larger cuts of meat, or leave all 6 in to feed family and friends.  
  • An offset smoker box allows for even heat distribution throughout this quality best food smoker. 
  • This nifty appliance even has a custom charcoal chamber to ensure briquettes stay tightly packed.  When you have space between the briquettes you lose burn efficiency and waste money and time.
  • This best food smokers ash and charcoal management system consists of a grate, and a sliding, removable ash pan made from steel.  This makes for easy cleaning once everything has cooled down.
  •  An in-built stainless-steel thermometer with an easy-read gauge makes monitoring the cooking temperature a breeze.
  • A “Smoke Zone” indicator lets you know when the temperature is right for infusing the best flavor.
  • Its smokestack comes with an adjustable flue to further aid temperature control and food flavor.  In fact, use the side dampers with the flue to help with the transfer of heat and have optimum airflow.
  • When considering the versatility and numerous features of the Dyna-Glo smoker, it easily claims the position of the overall best food smoker.

 Best Seller Food Smokers – Masterbuilt Digital Electric Food Smokers

Masterbuilt Digital Electric Food Smokers

 

  • The Masterbuilt 30-Inch digital electric food smokers are perfect for beginners or pros alike.   
  • They are easy to use and deliver fantastic flavor without the hassle and grime of charcoal, or the space wastage of an offset smoker.
  • Simply choose your wood-chip flavor, load the food to be cooked, plug in the unit and flick the switch.  
  • Masterbuilt is a name synonymous with food smoking and BBQ.   With over 15 units available in the Masterbuilt line, trying to find the best food smoker for you can be tricky.
  • We chose the 30-inch machine to include in our food smoker reviews because it is easy to use and has some amazing features.
  • Be aware, this product often sells out on Amazon and is the reason it wears the “Best Seller” tag in our list of best food smokers reviews!
  • All Masterbuilt food smokers are solidly built!  The main chamber of this unit is steel construction with plastic trim and an aluminum interior. 
  • A generous 730 square inches of interior space allows ample room to feed a family.
  • This unit offers 4 removable trays to accommodate large or small portions and deserves its place in our best food smokers list!
  • What sets this terrific home food smoker apart from others in its price range is the digital control panel that is set into the roof.   With up to 24-hour programming available, this can truly be a “set and forget” operation. 
  • Control power, cooking time, and temperature with push-button accuracy so you will never have to worry about burning food.
  • A unique external wood-chip loading system lets you load wood chips without needing to open the smoker’s door.  This keeps the internal temperature constant as there is no need to open the door to keep loading chips.  
  • With a top temperature of 275 degrees F, this is not the machine to use for hot and fast smoking.  It is, however, perfect for jerky, smoking fish, and tender, juicy slow-cooked ribs.
  • An added bonus is to buy the cold-smoking add-on kit and use this to turn your machine into a cold smoker.
  • The Masterbuilt 30-inch digital electric food smoker is classified as the best seller of food smokers because of its remarkable features above and how easy it is to use. 

Landmann Smoky Mountain Electric Food Smokers

 

  • If you are looking for the great value in a home food smoker then you have found it right here!
  • The Landmann Smoky Mountain Electric Food Smokers are a solid steel box that takes food smoking back to its traditional roots.
  • This 26-inch (66 cm) smoker has a see-through window that allows you to monitor your food without needing to open the door leading to lost heat and flavor.
  • With a 443 square inch capacity, 3 cooking trays and a 1500-watt heating element this compact machine really packs a punch.
  • Perfect for medium-density living, this trendy little machine would suit the apartment or condominium lifestyle.
  • Lacking wheels for easy mobility, the legs come with screw-out levelers making them perfect for outdoor use.
  • Take the Landmann Smoky Mountain on holidays, or to a friend for tasty BBQ, with handles on either side for easy lifting and carrying.
  • A porcelain-coated 3-in-1 combo tray serves as a wood chip box, a greased pan, and a water pan. 
  • The grease diverter plate is meant to divert fats into the greased pan.  Our food smoker reviews experts had a little trouble with this and found that fat dripped into all 3 areas.
  • The cooking grates are chrome-plated and slide out, making them easy to clean.
  • With a dial thermostat to control heat from low to high, this machine makes food smoking easy.  We suggest investing in a good digital thermometer to ensure even cooking of larger pieces of meat.
  • If you are looking for a compact, easy-to-use, and great value best food smoker, go no further!  The Landmann Smoky Mountain may just be the right choice for you. 
  • Its solid construction with a glass window makes it easy to monitor the smoking process.  Our expert food smoker reviewers loved the compact design and the fact that you just plugin and set the dial!

Best Large Capacity Food Smokers – Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Food Smokers

best food smokers for large families

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Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Food Smokers

The Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Food Smokers are one of a very large range of outdoor cookers from this iconic brand.  We chose this model for our best food smoker reviews for its capacity, portability, and affordability.

  • Being almost complete when it arrives in the box, all you need to do is place all items in the unit and do a “seasoning” burn before using.  
  • A stainless-steel exterior not only looks impressive but allows for easy cleaning and with 1000 square inch capacity it will feed the whole family.  
  • This easy-to-use and stylish best food smoker features an insulated, double-walled build that allows it to retain heat for extended periods.
  • 4 stainless steel removable trays allow for large cuts of meat or tons of fish, vegetables, and smaller meats at any one time.  Super easy to clean.
  • The Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Food Smokers have a control panel built into the top of the unit.  This simple but advanced digital interface uses an LED display for smooth operation.
  • With a user’s guide included, our expert testers found they could easily use the control panel intuitively without having to study the guide.
  • A top temperature of 275 degrees F makes this unit a go-to for low and slow food smoking such as pulled pork or smoked salmon.
  • Heat is generated via a small electric element which makes temperature regulation a breeze.  An optional smoker box can be used with either pellets or wood chips to create smokey flavors.
  • There are 2 main operation modes:

Meat temperature mode:  will run the unit until the in-built meat temperature probe reaches your pre-set temperature.  This feature makes it simple to “set and forget”.

Specified time mode:  We found this a more “hands-on” approach.  You will need to monitor the temperature manually and check different parts of the meat to ensure proper cooking.  Great for those who are passionate about everything home food smoking!

  • The smoker has a full-sized glass window, allowing you to easily monitor your food.  A side note here is that the glass does get very hot so you need to be watching if there are small children about!
  • This unit has no legs, so sits only a foot off the ground.  The testers in our food smoker reviews suggested using a stand or solid table for easy loading of food.  This also keeps the hot glass out of reach of children to avoid burns.
  • Weighing only 50 pounds and incorporating a handle and wheels, this pint-sized yet powerful appliance is great for camping or tailgating.  With its rectangular shape, it is much easier to fit into cars or truck-beds than the traditional “barrel” smokers.
  • There is also a side-locking latch on the door to provide a smoke-tight seal and prevent the loss of heat and flavor.
  • A removable temperature gauge is included to monitor cooking temperature.
  • The smoker box is relatively small and will only hold enough fuel for about 3 hours of smoking.
  • All these features of the Char-Broil Digital Electric Food Smokers make it easy to use and reliable.  With terrific capacity and portability, this nifty unit deserves its place in our top food smoker reviews for 2022.

 Best Beginners Food Smokers – Weber Smokey Mountain 18-Inch Charcoal Food Smokers

Weber Smokey Mountain 18-Inch Charcoal Food Smokers

The Weber name is another iconic brand so it was obvious that our testers needed to have a Weber included in our Best Food Smokers for 2022. 

We chose the 18-inch Weber Smokey Mountain for its ease of use, versatility, and price.  Perfect for beginners, this outstanding home food smoker is also popular with food smoking experts.

  • Easy to assemble – just attach the brackets and legs and clip the plastic cover onto the handle.
  • Constructed from premium-grade steel with a porcelain enamel coating on the inside and outside for durability and easy cleaning.  Weber offers a 10-year warranty on the body parts with a 5-year warranty on all plastic parts. 
  • Includes a cover to protect your Weber smoker from the weather.
  • The upright design takes up less space than the traditional “kettle” and is perfect for beer chicken or turkey.
  • Includes 2 18-inch chrome cooking plates which will take a full rack of ribs or a whole salmon for smoking.
  • The porcelain enamel water bowl holds enough water for well over 12 hours of cooking.  An added bonus is that the water bowl also regulates the temperature inside the smoker during cooking.  By absorbing the heat and slowly releasing it the water bowl helps keep the temperature inside the unit stable.
  • Add flavor to your steam by adding spices, herbs, or apple cider vinegar to the water bowl.  This will give your pulled pork a whole new taste sensation. 
  • Easily adjust the temperature by opening or closing any of the 4 in-built vents.
  • Doubles as a grill by moving the fire grate and ring to replace the water bowl.  Use the top grate to grill your favorite BBQ.
  • Comes in 3 parts for easy cleaning and transport making it great for camping or tailgating.

Top Section – the lid has a plastic-coated, cool-touch handle, an adjustable vent, and a built-in thermometer.

Middle Section – includes the 2 cooking grates and water bowl.  A swing-down aluminum door gives access to the lower cooking plate and allows you to add more wood, charcoal, or water while the unit is in use.

Lower Section – inside the base you will the fire grate and ring.  Supported by 3 aluminum legs it also includes 3 adjustable vents.  A stand-out feature of this best food smoker is an aluminum heat shield.  This is designed to protect whatever surface you are cooking on however, our team of expert testers still suggests using a grill mat.

With all the products in this food smoker review, the Weber Smokey Mountain 18-inch Food Smoker is probably the easiest to use, making it one of the best food smokers for beginners.

 Best High End Food Smokers – Traeger Tailgater Pellet Grill & Smokers

Traeger Tailgater Pellet Food Smokers and Grill

If you are looking for a wood pellet food smoker the Traeger name has been winning awards since 1986. 

The Traeger Tailgater 20 Pellet Grill and Food Smoker give you 6 functions in one compact BBQ.  Smoke, roast, bake, grill, braise, and BBQ whenever and wherever you like.

  • This large barrel smoker will feed the whole family or even your buddies on game day.  Made from superior quality steel you can expect years of faithful service from your Traeger Food Smoker.
  • Solid in construction this unit is easy to move around with wheels on one side.
  • Traeger also offers excellent customer service and warranty on their products.
  • The Digital Arc Controller allows you to set and maintain the precise temperatures within the unit.  Accurate within 5 degrees, it can be controlled from a smartwatch or device.  Just download the Traeger smartphone app and you can control the cooking process within your Traeger Tailgater Food Smoker via Wi-Fi.
  • This cooker has a special keep-warm feature that retains your food’s heat until you’re ready to eat.
  • It has a maximum temperature of 450°F (232°C) so works very well to grill.
  • The grill grates are coated with porcelain, preventing food from sticking, and allowing the grates to be cleaned easily.
  • Folding legs allow for easy storage or transportation.  Take it camping or use it in your truck bed.  
  • The standout feature of this smoker is that it can be powered by both electricity and by burning wood pellets.
  • A built-in meat probe ensures accurate cooking anytime, anywhere.

With features that no other machine can match, the Traeger Tailgater Pellet Food Smokers takes out our Best High-End Food Smoker for 2022.   

The Digital Arc controller and smartphone app put this machine head and shoulders above its competitors.  Add in the “keep-warm” feature and Traeger are in a class of their own.

 Best Budget Food Smokers – Realcook 17-Inch Vertical Charcoal Smokers

Realcook 17-Inch Vertical Charcoal Smokers

A Realcook 17-Inch Vertical Charcoal Smoker packs a punch at a truly affordable price. 

Finding one of the best food smokers for 2022 on a budget wasn’t difficult once we found this machine.

  • Solid steel construction ensures durability and the matte black finish gives it a truly elegant look.
  • 2 chrome-plated cooking grills allow 453 square inches of cooking space.
  • A crossbar inside the lid and 4 hooks make this a terrific machine for making beef jerky.
  • Get huge flexibility as you can smoke foods, roast, bake, grill, braise, or steam.
  • With 2 access doors using this nifty food smoker is simple and easy.  Lift the lid for access to the top grill and monitor food on the lower grill by opening the top door.  Use the lower door to add more charcoal or wood depending on what you are using.
  • The smoker’s handles are made from heat-resistant Bakelite, meaning you can carry it about comfortably and open the lid without needing mitts.
  • A porcelain-enamel water bowl keeps food moist and tender during a long, slow cook.  Add herbs, spices, or even apple cider vinegar to create some truly unique taste sensations.
  • The smoker has a latch-locking system that allows you to split it into two pieces.  Use as a smoker, a single or double grill, or even as a fire pit.
  • The built-in thermometer and adjustable air vent allow for easy temperature control and even cooking.
  • Strong legs for stability round out this compact food smoker.

If you are looking for one of the best food smokers on a budget, look no further. 

With flexibility, portability and great capacity, a Realcook 17-Inch Vertical Charcoal Smoker is a top addition to any backyard or balcony.  

With a 1,500-watt heating element, the Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker is a versatile food smoker that’s also easy to use and clean up after using. It has three chrome food racks for food of all sizes, and analog controls for temperature control. It also comes with a wood chip tray for adding some smoky flavor. I like food smokers on Amazon because it’s easy to read food smoker reviews before buying food smokers, and food smokers are generally affordable. 

The Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker is basically a vertical water-cooled electric smoker so you don’t have to worry about having food dry out on the outside of the food while it cooks slowly inside. This fact, along with its 700 sq. inches of cooking space, makes this food smoker one of the most efficient food smokers around.

Masterbuilt food smokers come fully assembled so you can start cooking food as soon as you have it out of the box. The Masterbuilt food smoker is not a bad choice for those who are on a budget and/or want to smoke food at home without having to resort to propane or charcoal.

The food smoker has 4 chrome-coated racks, which you can find in most food smokers. What’s nice about food smokers that have internal water and electric elements is that the inside of the food smoker stays clean due to the fact that it doesn’t dry out food by making it sit right on top of a flame. Also, the food doesn’t dry out due to the long cooking time food has in an electric water food smoker like this one. The food cooks slower so there’s no need to worry about it drying out on the inside while cooking on the outside.

The Masterbuilt food smoker‘s double-wall construction helps keep heat and smoke inside the food smoker so you don’t have to worry about food taking on a charred taste on the outside while it’s still raw on the inside.

It is big enough to feed a large family or an entire neighborhood, at 700 sq. inches of cooking space, and has wheels for easy transport from storage to its cooking location. 

The food smoker comes with a built-in temperature gauge so you know how hot it is inside when the food begins to cook. 

The Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS is a food smoker that has 5 chrome-plated cooking grates which are made of heavy-gauge steel. The food smoker features 1382 square inches of total cooking space, has a cool-to-touch spring lid grip, and includes a removable offset charcoal grate and ash pan.

Despite the food smokers’ large size, the product only weighs 124 pounds with a durable powder coat finish. The food smoker comes in a beautiful black exterior with chrome-plated cooking grates and includes sausage hooks, which are perfect for food roasting, to hang your food while it cooks.

The food smoker also features three adjustable dampers that allow you to control airflow to meet your food roasting and food smoking needs.

It also features a temperature gauge that has a smoke zone, which will indicate the best temperatures for you to cook your food at. The food smoker uses charcoal briquettes and wood chips or pellets which are not included with the purchase of this product. Dyna-Glo offers a 5-year limited warranty on all parts which is included in the manual for this food smoker.

Key Features:

  • Five chrome-plated cooking grates for ample cooking space
  • Heavy-gauge steel body construction for durability
  • Temperature gauge with the smoke zone for perfect smoking temperatures
  • Cool to touch handles and spring lid grip for safe food handling
  • Oversized steel wheels for easy portability
  • Sausage hooks for food roasting
  • Removable offset charcoal grate and ash pan for food smoking
  • Comes in a beautiful black exterior with chrome-plated cooking grates
  • Includes 5-year limited warranty on all parts

Char-Broil 19202101 Deluxe

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The Char-Broil food smoker is an affordable large food smoker that provides great smoke capabilities at a low price. The food smoker comes with four, chrome-plated racks which are adjustable to change the food smoking capacity. 

This food smoker also includes a removable food thermometer so you can monitor the internal temperature without opening the door. With the easy-read, blue LED digital control panel and a large stainless steel food smoking latch you can set the food smoker from the inside of your house.

The food smoker has an insulated smoke chamber which ensures that food is cooked with indirect heat for a long time without smoke leaking out every time you open the smoke chamber door to check on the food. The Char-Broil food smoker also has a removable food probe that allows you to monitor the food temperature without opening the food smoking chamber. 

You can set your desired internal food smoking temperature and then let food smoke until it reaches that temperature. This ensures that food is thoroughly cooked while at the same time having a great smoked flavor since it absorbs all of the smoke flavors.

Additionally, this food smoker has a food smoking latch that attaches to the food smoking chamber and is then locked with a key so smoke stays in when you are cooking food. The Char-Broil food smoker also has an easy-read, blue LED display on the front of the food smoker for temperature control. This means that instead of opening the food smoker to check on how food is cooking, you can just look at the digital control panel which displays both food smoking temperature and food smoking time.

This food smoker has some great features such as the food smoking thermometer, easy-read display, and food smoking latch. These great features combined with the food smoker’s low price make this food smoker a great value.

Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D 43″ Wide Body LP Gas Smoker

Dyna-Glo’s DGW1904BDP-D is a great value for the money. You get some high-end features, like precision temperature control and an excellent wood chip box with a heat shield at this price point.

Huge Capacity Food Chamber: The food smoker chamber is large enough to smoke food for your whole extended family on Thanksgiving. The food chamber is easy to remove and clean with its stainless steel rack.

Two Dual Cast Iron Burners for High Heat: Dyna-Glo designed the DGW1904BDP-D with two high heat capacity cast iron burners so you can get your food up to temperature quickly on days when the wind blows or you’re dealing with extremely high temperatures.

Adjustable Temperature Controls: Using the control panel, you can dial in specific cooking temperatures with precision using the programmable thermostat (120-450F) and food smoker chamber thermometer (100-550F). 

Large Wood Chip Box Keeps Chips Smoldering: The wood chip box is large enough to keep chips smoldering without immediate re-loading for hours on end. Flavor your food with the taste of wood smoke, but don’t worry about harmful chemicals or food flavors leaching into the food smoker chamber because Dyna-Glo installed a heat shield in the tube above the wood chip box. 

Heavy Duty Construction: The food smoker chamber is tough with a powder-coated steel exterior and a welded tubular steel frame with legs for stability. Protect your food smoker from the elements with a matching cover (sold separately).

This cast iron burner is ideal for food smokers because it can get food up to temperature in no time, so you don’t have to spend all day cooking food in your food smoker. This burner also holds up better than stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about food flavors leaching into the food chamber over time. 

Precision Temperature Controls for Perfect Cooking: The Dyna-Glo food smoker incorporates a food thermometer and precision thermostat to make food smoking easy. You won’t have to constantly check your food smoker’s temperature or food with this food smoker. The removable food chamber rack makes it simple to cook large quantities of food for family gatherings, parties, celebrations, etc.

Easy-to-Use PID Temperature Controls: There are three different heat controls on the Dyna-Glo food smoker: food smoker chamber thermometer (100-550F), food grilling (120-450F), and food smoking (100-300F). The Dyna-Glo food smoker has a precision temperature control with an adjustable thermostat that can be programmed to specific food smoking temperatures.

Ventilation Hood for Even Heat Distribution: The food smoker has a ventilation hood that helps to circulate heat evenly throughout the food chamber. This ensures food is cooked evenly on all sides, so it doesn’t dry out or overcook. 

Evenly Distributed Heat with 3 Different Zone Controls: With three different zone controls (grilling, food smoking, food smoker chamber), the Dyna-Glo food smoker lets you choose what your food will taste like. You can use all three functions at once (grilling, food smoking, food chamber) or just use one of them (grilling, food smoking). The side shelf is perfect for keeping spices and other cooking tools within arm’s reach.

Two Dual Cast Iron Burners for High Heat: Dyna-Glo designed the DGW1904BDP-D with two high heat capacity cast iron burners so you can get your food up to temperature quickly on days when the wind blows or you’re dealing with extremely high temperatures.

The food smoker kit includes all of the parts you need to get started food smoking, point of purchase. Cook food with precision using the food smoker kit’s food temperature monitor and food thermometer gauge. 

Cuisinart COS-116 Vertical Smoker, 16″ Charcoal

The Cuisinart COS-116 Vertical Charcoal Smoker is an extremely efficient food smoker. The Cuisinart Vertical Charcoal Smoker has all the features you need to cook food like a pro. It is easy to assemble and it takes only 60 minutes to heat up before you can start smoking your food.

The Cuisinart Vertical Charcoal Smoker is equipped with two tiers of steel smoking racks. These two compact smoking racks give you a food smoking area of 402 square inches so, in total, you have enough room to smoke up to 30 pounds of food at one time.

Although the food smoker is made out of steel and porcelain-enameled parts, it has a stylish black color. The Cuisinart Vertical Charcoal Smoker is equipped with two air vents. These are located at the top and bottom of the food smoker so you can have complete control over your food’s heat and smoke.

The food smoker comes equipped with a hinged lid that is vertically mounted on it. This vertically hinged lid makes it easy to smoke food without having to worry about blocking food’s heat and smoke inside the food smoker.

Cuisinart Vertical Charcoal Smoker comes with a porcelain-enameled water bowl. This food smoker does not come equipped with propane or charcoal fuel options, nor does it have electric power options; therefore, you are required to use charcoal briquettes in order to start food smoking.

The Cuisinart Vertical Charcoal Smoker provides users with full cooking capabilities that work by using the heat and smoke of burning charcoal briquettes.

What is Food Smoking?

Smoking is the process of cooking, preserving, and flavoring food through the use of slowly cooked timber, charcoal, or wood pellets.

During the smoking process food is:

  • Slowly cooked over indirect heat for up to 12-16 hours.
  • Exposure to heat and smoke from a burning or smoldering source infuses flavor and kills any bacteria.

A long period of exposure allows heat and smoke to slowly penetrate foods giving them a smoky flavor and killing germs.  The depth of taste depends on the type of wood used.  Food smokers most commonly use cherry, mesquite, or oak.

There are many different varieties of food smokers and these are based on their fuel source.

Electric:    Use electricity as a fuel source to heat and burn the wood thus creating smoke.  While electric smokers are easy to use they impart the least smoky flavor to food. 

Propane:   Fueled by propane or natural gas they use flames instead of a heating rod to create smoke mostly from wood pellets.

Charcoal:   Compared to their electric and propane cousins the charcoal food smokers impart more flavor to the food. These units are cheaper and require fire to get the smoker going.

Wood:   These are the choice of smokers for experts in the field as they impart the purest flavor to foods.  They are tricky to operate and it can be difficult to maintain temperatures constantly at the specified levels. 

Pellet:   Similar to wood the pellet smokers make use of wood that has been processed into pellets. Like electric smokers, these too can be expensive but are easy to use.  You only need to load the compartment with wood pellets and fix the settings for simple smoking.

What To Look For When Buying A Food Smoker

Here are some factors you need to look out for in a food smoker.

Smoking Capacity and Size

Are you looking to cater for a family barbecue or a party? When selecting your best model consider the amount and type of food you plan to smoke.  The capacity of your intended food smoker must match your needs. 

Portability 

You may have to move the unit in and out of a storage area if you lack a permanent outdoor space.  Choose a model that is lightweight and portable if this is the case.

Heat Sources 

There are advantages and disadvantages to each different heat source. For instance, an electric food smoker with its stove-like temperature regulator is the easiest to operate but expensive.

Propane smokers are ideal when you do not have a power outlet but you must check the levels regularly. 

Cost 

For beginners, investing in a slightly cheaper but equaly efficient model will be wiser.  It is important to decide your budget before you begin shopping as there are some very expensive models.

Features

You might want digital control features in your food smoker to automate the cook for you.  Or a set and forget specification. For most folk the art of food smoking is a form of cooking that requires active participation.  Decide how active a you wish to be in the process before your purchase.

Versatility

Some models have only the smoking function where others include a grill.  Always look for versatility but beware that while some lower-priced models promise multiple features not all of them deliver it.

buying a smoker

 

Conclusion

Now that you have read our comprehensive review of the best food smokers available you can choose wisely.  And if you found this review valuable read more of our valuable content on canning equipment, dehydrators, and vacuum sealers.

Find the ideal machine to keep your family and friends coming around for your amazing barbecues.

So light up your best food smoker and take your flavors to the next level.