Best BBQ Smoker in the UK | 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 Ceramic 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 ProQ and 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.
On top of that, the smoker is manufactured by an internationally respected brand, the ProQ, established more than a decade ago. Located in Cornwall, southwestern England, the company offers around 70 products for outdoor cooking both amateurs and professionals.
As for cold BBQ smokers, we recommend products from the ProQ brand. If you plan to handle large amounts of food, go for the ProQ Food Smoking Cabinet.
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. Note that the product does not come with the ProQ ® Cold Smoke Generator, which needs to be purchased separately. Made of high-grade stainless steel, this accessory uses wood to produce smoke for about 10 hours.
Best-Selling BBQ Smokers in the UK | Comparison Table
Char-Broil Kettleman™ Charcoal Barbecue Grill, Black Finish.
- Super-Sized Damper - simply open to let heat out and close to increase cooking temperature.
- Hinged Lid - Prop the lid open and tend to your charcoal and food with both hands.
- Lid-Mounted Temperature Gauge - monitor the inside temperature of your grill.
- Heavy-duty Steel Legs in a gun-metal finish - provide a solid stance.
- Easy-access, Ash-tight Bowl - fits snugly on the bottom of the grill to capture and contain ash.
- Cart Wheels - Easily move your grill around your backyard or patio.
- Front Latch - secure lid during transport to and from its station.
- 2 Years Warranty - all parts including the burners.
SUNLIFER BBQ Charcoal Smoker Grill, 3-in-1 Heavy Duty Barbecue Grill for Garden Camping Outdoor Cooking...
- 【QUALITY PROTECTION】- Build-in thermometer with detailed temperature scale and 2 adjustable air vents for greater temperature control. Large capacity charcoal pan provide you a long time smoking without reloading. Removable ash pan make ashes disposal easy and efficient. Heavy duty steel body construction for durability and long life
- 【MULTI-FUNTIONAL】 - Smoking is a popular method that allows food to be preserved longer, it can be used for cold or hot smoking. Cooks different ways - smokes/ barbeque/ steams/ bake/ braise/ roast, offers huge flexibility. The SUNLIFER smoker bbq grill also can be used as a fire pit, a small charcoal grill, a single layer smoker, a barbecue grill and a smoker at the same time
- 【2 ACCESS DOOR DESIGN】 - The charcoal BBQ grill featured 2 access doors is more flexible to check the status of foods and add charcoal, wood or pellets without removing the whole layer to avoid losing heat. The porcelain-enameled water pan captures smoker and moisture for infusing smokey flavor into your meat
- 【LARGE COOKING AREA】- Sunlifer barbecue charcoal grill has 2 chrome-plated cooking grates, total 646 square inches cooking area. The big cooking area can easily smoke or grill meat or vegetables at a time. And also easy to clean. With 4 hooks and crossbar inside, accommodate different sizes and types of food
- 【PROTABLE & EASY ASSEMBLY】 - Two layers design you can easily take them apart to transport or clean. Unlike integral barrel smoker, this bbq smoker can be easily disassemble to 4 parts that merely take a small cube in most of the car trunk. Use as a bbq grill or a smoker it depends on you. With the latch locking system, it can provide you more stability
Uten Barbecue Grill, Charcoal Barbecue Grill Smoker Outdoor Garden BBQ Trolley with Big Wheels and Temperature...
- 【Multifunctional】Double grill multifunctional insulation rack, can thaw and preheat unbaked food, keep baked food warm and cool, 430 stainless steel can play a rustproof, heat-resistant, non-deforming role, has a safe, healthy features , non-toxic smoke, bring your family or friends to enjoy the barbecue together. Enjoy a delicious barbecue!
- 【New Grilling Experience】The stew function makes grilling quick and easy, especially for difficult to prepare dishes such as steak and chicken legs, so that they can be grilled quickly without losing their flavour and aroma. On the other hand it can also be cooked in the smoke of the charcoal fire.
- 【Temperature Controlled】On both sides of the cooking chamber there are ventilation valves, which regulate the temperature ideally, regulate the amount of incoming air and control the amount of fire, with shovels that do not hurt your fingers, and because of the lower cooking chamber temperature, the food will not burn and hardly need to be turned. The intensity of the smoke aroma can be adjusted via the vent valve.
- 【Comprehensive Design】Made of enamelled baking grid, corrosion resistant and easy to clean, oven surface with highly resistant coating, strong and durable, front with sturdy shelves, offers ample storage space, professional large castors, not affected by uneven surfaces.
- 【1-Year Money-Back Guarantee】 We commits ourselves to creating high quality and great design products. Also being confident in this fantastic BBQ grill and offering a full 1-year guarantee.We will do the best for you! If you have any quality problem with items, please contact on us except of man-made damage.
Masterbuilt MB20041020 Gravity Series 560 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker
- Reaches 107 C in 7 minutes or 371 C in 13 minutes
- Control temperature and cook time with the digital control panel or with smart device control using WiFi or Bluetooth
- DigitalFan for precise temperature control
- Built-in temperature gauge and meat probe thermometer for perfect results every time
- GravityFed hopper holds 10 lbs. of lump charcoal or 16 lbs. of briquettes for 12-15 hours of use
Outsunny Charcoal Smoker Grill 3 in 1 Design Round BBQ Roaster Barbecue with Built-in Thermostat, Water Pan and...
- ✅POWERFUL COMPACT BBQ: The perfect addition to your outdoor gatherings this season, it can be used as a BBQ or smoker to cook food just the way you like it.
- ✅ON-BODY THERMOMETER: Keeps you aware of the temperature to prevent burning and overcooking, with air vents for extra control.
- ✅REACHES UP TO 400°C: Powerful heat to keep your food quickly and evenly. STEEL BODY: Ensures durability for consistent use, with a porcelain coating on the outside for safe heat resistance.
- ✅EASY-LIFT LID: Thick handle for safe lifting, perfect for keeping the heat and smoke in whilst cooking. WATER TRAY: Keeps control the dry humidity of the food – also doubles up as a charcoal pit.
- ✅DIMENSIONS: 82H x 57W x 53.5Dcm. Grill rack: Ф37cm. EASY TO ASSEMBLE.