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Smoker is a metal container with food grilling surface. It also has a bottom tray for fuel and a tray for collecting draining fat. Products located on the grilling surface are exposed to heat and smoke. Thanks to this, the food gets a unique taste. It will be easy to cook meat, fish, and vegetables with the best charcoal smoker. Moreover, food will always be tasty.
The charcoal grill does not belong to the category of those things that are a must have in the house. Still, smoked products are favorite delicacies. You can prepare them yourself. We will tell you how to choose the best charcoal smoker according to how and where you will use it.
Cleaning of a charcoal grill and smoker combo can be more complicated than other smokers’ types. But it will not be a problem with a high-quality device. Also try the Kamado special coal, as it solves all the ash problems at once. It burns up to the end, and you will not have to clean the appliance from tons of ashes.
Top Rated Charcoal Smokers Reviews & Comparison
To simplify your choice of a charcoal smoker, we’ve pulled together all the best charcoal smokers of 2023. Also, we analyzed all the pros and cons of top rated devices. Your turn is to check the charcoal smoker reviews. As all the products below are the best we found on the market, you will need to choose the one that suits most of all. Check a few useful tips on how to use a charcoal smoker and a charcoal grill smoker combo.
CLASSIC PIT BARREL COOKER
WEBER 731001 SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
MASTERBUILT 20060416 CHARCOAL BULLET SMOKER
CLASSIC PIT BARREL COOKER
WEBER 731001 SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
MASTERBUILT 20060416 CHARCOAL BULLET SMOKER
DYNA-GLO CHARCOAL OFFSET SMOKER (DGO1890BDC-D)
DYNA-GLO HEAVY DUTY STAINLESS CHARCOAL GRILL (DGN486SNC-D)
CHAR-GRILLER 1224 SMOKIN PRO
CHAR-BROIL OFFSET SMOKER AMERICAN GOURMET
DYNA-GLO CHARCOAL OFFSET SMOKER (DGO1890BDC-D)
DYNA-GLO HEAVY DUTY STAINLESS CHARCOAL GRILL (DGN486SNC-D)
CHAR-GRILLER 1224 SMOKIN PRO
CHAR-BROIL OFFSET SMOKER AMERICAN GOURMET
BEST OVERALL: CLASSIC PIT BARREL COOKER
Classic Pit Barrel cooker is the device that is able to meet all of your expectations, so it is leading the list of top charcoal smokers. It is developed of high-quality materials including heavy steel and porcelain enamel. By design, it resembles a drum that was turned into a cooker. The meat hangs in the center of the smoker and gets flavored with a perfect smoky aroma. There is enough space inside this vertical charcoal smoker, so you will be able to cook your masterpieces for big companies. The air is evenly circulated so the dish turns into the most delicious you have ever tried before. In addition, it comes together with numerous accessories and doesn’t cost too much.
Why We Like It
- Is the best charcoal BBQ
- Is simple in use
- Goes in a kit with useful accessories
- Can be used as a grill as well
- Can help to cook large portions of meat and fish
- Affordable price
Sale
BEST CONSTRUCTION: WEBER 731001 SMOKEY MOUNTAIN
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker 731001 is the dream of people who are fond of hot smoking. It is equipped with a large cooking area of 726 sq.in. and allows to smoke large pieces of meat and fish simultaneously on 2 levels. The ability to cook 2 separate huge meals at the same time is terrific! This charcoal smoker is absolutely corrosion-resistant and covered with a special porcelain enamel for a better durability. Contain the built-in thermometer to take care of the temperature inside. Contains a heat-resistant handle and the heat shield that prevents the surface under the smoker.
Why We Like It
- Large cooking area
- Contains a built-in thermometer
- Allows to cook on 2 levels at the same time
- Perfect ventilation
- Contains special heat shield
- Is easy to clean
- 10-Year Warranty
BEST BUDGET: MASTERBUILT 20060416 CHARCOAL BULLET SMOKER
Masterbuilt Charcoal Smoker occupies the next position in our review. Why is it so popular? First of all, it is pretty simple in use and is considered to be a cheap charcoal smoker. It is equipped with good long legs that provide excellent stability. Moreover, it is comfortable to cook on such an excellent height. Thanks to the presence of the front door, you will always have a chance to add some coals inside. In order to take care over the cooking there is an in-built thermometer that always shows true information. Can be ideal for tailgate parties and for camping as a charcoal wood smoker.
Why We Like It
- Excellent price
- Easy in use
- Portable
- Perfect cooking area
- Contains a built-in thermometer
- Simple to clean
Sale
BEST VERTICAL CHARCOAL SMOKER: DYNA-GLO CHARCOAL OFFSET SMOKER (DGO1890BDC-D)
This charcoal smoker is equipped with 2 doors: one is for cooking and another one – for adding charcoals. This is a type of outdoor smokers that can be used during the whole year. It is equipped with 6 perfect cooking shelves that are fully adjustable. It means that you can set the right height parameters for each of them depending on the product you are cooking. You can even prepare the entire animal at once! This best vertical charcoal smoker with perfectly-designed thermometer will help you to track the temperature inside.
Pros
- Excellent cooking capacity
- Perfect temperature control
- Stable and durable construction
- Easy to keep clean
- Affordable price
Cons
Sale
BEST COOKING AREA: DYNA-GLO HEAVY DUTY STAINLESS CHARCOAL GRILL (DGN486SNC-D)
Dyna-Glo Premium Charcoal Grill also server as the large charcoal smoker. It allows to cook BBQ dishes and to smoke meat or fish, as you wish. Being developed in a classic style, it has a cooking area of 686 sq.in. Its enamel cooking grates are excellent to transfer the heat. The doors are easy to open in order to add some charcoals in the process of cooking. If you are going to use this device as a grill, there is a bonus for you – the ability to cook food on the side shelves. Despite its big size, this charcoal smoker is easily portable thanks to its wheels.
Pros
- Best smoking and grilling capacity
- Easily portable
- Equipped with the wheels
- Easy in use
- Presence of side shelves
Cons
- It’s hard to control the temperature inside
Sale
BEST DESIGN: CHAR-GRILLER 1224 SMOKIN PRO
Meet a fantastic smoker by Char-Griller among top rated charcoal smokers. It is not a secret that the grills developed by this company have long established themselves as strong, reliable and very easy to use grill-smoker. They have a heavy steel structure and a double steel base, which ensure the durability of the device. With cast iron grilles, wheels for easy transport and many other elaborate parts this is the best product of charcoal meat smokers, which provides the user with maximum comfort in operation. The size of the main cooking area of the Smokin Pro is 830 sq.in. In addition, this charcoal smoker is equipped with a temperature sensor.
Pros
- Heavy Duty and durable construction
- Large cooking area
- Excellent design
- Easily portable
- Serves as 2-in-1 device for grilling and smoking
- Texas-style BBQ
Cons
Sale
BEST OFFSET CHARCOAL SMOKER: CHAR-BROIL OFFSET SMOKER AMERICAN GOURMET
This smoker by Char-Broil is considered to be the best small charcoal smoker with a cooking area of 290 sq.in. We all know that Char-Broil charcoal grills are one of the most common in the world. Few brands can boast with such popularity. The key to this success is unrivaled simplicity in design and ease of use. The Char-Broil American Gourmet is the best offset charcoal smoker and is an ideal choice for the majority of buyers who decided to organize their first barbecue area. In addition, this small charcoal smoker also serves as a grill and a fryer. It means that you can cook a piece of meat in any way you like. And finally, you can use either charcoal or gas as a fuel.
Pros
- Offset charcoal smoker
- Small charcoal smoker
- Easily portable
- Lightweight
- Easy to adjust
Cons
- Temperature control system is absent
Charcoal Smoker FAQs
How to Clean a Charcoal Grill?
It is best to deep clean charcoal smoker grills at least once within a grilling season. How to do this? First, collect all your means for cleaning, remove the grill grate and clean it. Then you need to brush and wipe all the debris you can find at the bottom of the device. You also should wipe all the parts with a paper towel to make sure they are dry. Put all the parts back together and start using a charcoal smoker.
What Charcoal to Use in Smoker?
The main advice is to use charcoal that doesn’t contain additives. It should be eco-friendly as well. Also, it would be nice to avoid buying self-starting charcoals as they may leave a bad flavor. The best idea would be to use wooden lump charcoal because it burns longer than other products.
How to Keep Charcoal Smoker Hot?
You should always keep the wood coals together and regularly add some. Also, you may consider buying a special basket. It will raise charcoal up and help the air circulate.
The Best Charcoal Smoker. Final Advice
Now it’s time to say a couple of more words about MyKitchenAdvisor‘s choice charcoal smoker – Classic Pit Barrel cooker. If you are really looking for something great and exotic, stop and choose this smoker. It has a fantastic barrel design and is sold together with 8 hooks, using which you can hang your pieces of meat. In addition, it is equipped with a charcoal basket at the bottom of the construction and it helps to keep a right temperature inside. Lightning appears to be the most difficult part of cooking. But don’t be sad, this best charcoal smoker has a lot of other interesting features. It is a real king of coals and the best charcoal and wood smoker.