Best BBQ Smoker | Charcoal & Electric. 2022 Comparison, Reviews & Buyer’s Guide

If you want to master the craft of barbecue smoking, you should first and foremost get the right device. Today’s barbecue smokers ensure better precision and make the entire process more convenient. You do not need any more to spend a lot of time checking the temperature and meat readiness, trying not to miss the right moment to add wood. Many modern BBQ smokers are designed to perform these functions automatically. On the other hand, since these machines have become more sophisticated and feature-loaded, it is crucial to buy a smoker from a reliable, trustworthy brand.

What Is the Best Type of BBQ Smoker?

If you want to find the best BBQ smoker, you should first determine your priorities, budget, and how much food you are going to smoke. Based on these considerations, you can pick a traditional charcoal smoker; a feature-packed electric model; a versatile ceramic Kamado cooker for grilling, barbecuing, roasting and smoking; a space-saving vertical option, or a low-temperature cold smoker.

• Kamado BBQ Smokers
• Vertical Bullet BBQ Smokers
• Charcoal BBQ Smokers under $200
• Electric BBQ Smokers
• Cold BBQ Smokers

Kamado Charcoal BBQ Smoker

This type of charcoal smoker is becoming increasingly popular due to its small size and ability to maintain the needed temperature for a long time. Shaped like an egg, it looks like a traditional Japanese rice cooker. Kamado smokers are typically built with thick ceramic walls and have perfect insulation, something that ensures excellent heat retention. Another advantage of this option is versatility as it can be used for grilling, barbecuing, roasting, smoking, and more. With a fireplace situated on the bottom, it has a water pan and several racks to hold the food. As for drawbacks, Kamado smokers are pretty heavy and expensive.

Let's take Kamado Joe, an American brand that takes advantage of oriental cooking techniques. The company offers all-in-one cookers that combine an oven, a grill, and a smoker in one device. Made from 304 stainless steel, galvanized steel, and finished bamboo, Kamado Joe products feature enhanced weather-and mildew-resistance. Additionally, the grill cart has a two-piece design, which makes it sturdier than competitive products.

Kamado Joe makes three models — the 75-pound Kamado Joe KJ13RH, 188-pound KJ23RH Classic I, and the KJ23RHC Classic II that weighs as many as 250 pounds. These machines require less heat for cooking and, at the same time, allow you to cook at very high temperatures for longer. Moreover, you can not only control the temperature but also fine-tune it to get the desired result. The machines maintain consistent temperature ranging from 107 °C to 400°C and have a cast iron air vent.

The Kamado Joe KJ13RH model is the most lightweight and is built with carrying handles. The Classic I option offers 18 inches of cooking size and is engineered with locking wheels. The slide-out ash drawer makes cleaning easy, without the need to remove other elements from the grill. The Classic II model has a patented air lift hinge allowing the user to effortlessly lift the grill dome.

Vertical Bullet BBQ Smoker

This type is one of the most widespread options and is particularly popular with beginners. Due to their compact size and bullet-like shape, these machines take up less space on a patio. Vertical BBQ smokers are easy to use and it is not rocket science to figure out how they work. Fueled by wood and charcoal placed in the bottom, this dual fuel BBQ with smoker uses a water pan to evenly spread the heat and maintain humidity.

The third component is a rack where you put meat for smoking. To regulate the temperature, you can open or close the vents located on the bottom and top of the unit. The advantages of this type include excellent smoke distribution and portability. Also, a vertical design is ideal for smoking sausages. Smaller cooking capacity is one of the main downsides.

Suitable for families and small parties, the bullet smokers like Char-Broil can hold up to two pork shoulders or four chickens. The device has multiple beneficial features, such as multiple vents, a hanging bar for meat, probe eyelets, and a built-in thermometer. Another strength of this product is versatility.

Char-Broil The Big Easy® is a smoker, roaster and grill with TRU-Infrared™ technology. It's equipped with TRU-Infrared technology which prevents flare-ups that can often burn food, delivers even heat to all areas for up to 50 per cent juicer food whilst using up to 30% less gas. You can place wood chips in the smoker box to infuse the flavour and get that authentic smokey flavour.

Charcoal BBQ Smoker | Best under $200

If you are looking for a traditional flavour of smoky meat, go for charcoal BBQ smokers. They are available in different sizes and price ranges, so you can easily pick the one that suits your needs best. The most basic versions offer old-school methods of smoking. First, you place a heap of charcoal and then cover it with lit wood chips. To adjust the temperature, you need to tweak the vents. Despite its simplicity, this method allows you to cook for hours without worrying about fuel cost. What we do not like about charcoal BBQ smokers is that they can smoke only a small amount of food at a time.

You may opt for the Char Broil brand, a trusted American manufacturer of grills, fryers, and smokers. Founded in 1948, Char Broil was among the first producers of charcoal grills. The company continued to develop new products and in the 1980s, the Char Broil grill was recognized as the World’s Best BBQ Grill. In 2007, it introduced a “game-changing” infrared cooking system that makes restaurant-quality food.

Today, the company has a large assortment of products and one of them is the Char-Broil Kettleman™ Charcoal Barbecue Grill. The device is engineered with heavy-duty steel legs, a hinged lid, and a metal finish. It is easy to use: open the lid to reduce the temperature and close it to add more heat. The temperature gauge is mounted on the top of the unit, while the ash bowel is at the bottom and easy to access. Thanks to large built-in wheels, you can effortlessly move the machine around your patio.

For those on a budget, there is an affordable BBQ smoker, the Weber Smokey Joe Premium Portable Charcoal BBQ. The product is made by Weber, a Chicago-based company with almost 70 years of experience with grills of all types. George Stephen, who founded the company in the 1950s, invented the first kettle grill and launched its production. So no wonder that the Weber Smokey Joe is so reliable and well-made despite the low price. With a weight of just 4 kg, this portable smoker is 37 cm in diameter. A perfect choice for camping and picnics!

Electric BBQ Smoker

Powered by electricity, this device is the most advanced and convenient type of smoker. With the firebox mounted on the bottom of the unit, the smoker keeps the required temperature automatically as well as distributes heat and collects drippings. The other function of the heating element is to cause the wood chunks to create smoke. Some models are Bluetooth-enabled and let the user control the cooking process through a smartphone. Its main weaknesses include the lack of genuine smoke flavour and the need for a power source.

When it comes to electric BBQ smokers, we recommend the Masterbuilt brand, an American company with more than 45 years of history. It specializes in the production of innovative grills, smokers, fryers, and accessories and boasts world-class customer service. This top-notch Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is made with a digital panel that lets you control the temperature, set the time, and turn on or off the device.

The integrated thermostat temperature control enables consistent smoking. One of the perks we like most about the Masterbuilt electric smoker is its unique system for loading wood chips without opening the unit’s door. The smoker is wheeled and has a handle for easy transportation. It includes 4 racks coated with chrome and a whopping 2,400 sq. cm of cooking space.

The Masterbuilt brand has other digital smokers in its product line as well. Just look at this advanced Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker. With this device, you can set the temperature either on the control panel or via the app on your smartphone. The unit is Bluetooth-compatible, so you can monitor the cooking process remotely. Not only is this smoker smart but it is also very fast and powerful. In a little bit more than 10 minutes, the machine will reach the temperature of 370°C. The product features the GravityFed charcoal hopper designed for 12 hours of briquettes.

Cold BBQ Smoker

What separates this type from others is that it focuses more on smoke and less on heat. That is why cold smokers deliver an amazing smokey flavour that will satisfy even the most demanding gourmand. However, these devices are not created to cook raw meat and are mostly used to add delicious smokiness to the food. The thing is that the cooking temperature is not high enough to thoroughly heat the raw meat but is sufficient to give it a smoky flavour. Cold smokers are especially good for smoking cheese, vegetables, and fruits.

Built with galvanised steel, the unit is weather-resistant and will last you long. The cabinet is pretty spacious and can hold up to 3 kg of cheese or a fish. This product is recommended for both beginners and more experienced users. 

Best-Selling BBQ Smokers | Comparison Table