Heavy Duty Professional Offset BBQ Smokers

Choosing the best offset smoker can be a challenging task if you don’t know much about them. Offset smokers are available in multiple configurations like upright, reverse flow, and horizontal. In addition to the way they are configured, you need to figure out the best offset smoker design, construction, and heating technology.

If you have come here searching for the best offset smoker, this post is going to be a real treat for you. After testing multiple offset smokers on the market, we have reviewed the eleven options that stood out for quality and performance. Plus, a buying guide, in the end, will help you choose a model that fits well with your needs and budget.

Eleven Best Offset Smokers

Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker

Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Offset smoker is one of the best reverse flow offset smokers you can buy today. This offset smoker combines the best brand name value with multiple exciting features at a very competitive price point. The feature that makes it most standout is its heavy-gauge steel construction.

The customizable baffle setup helps you adjust the heat level and create a customized setup as per your cooking needs. The design includes 4 baffles that guide the heat through the heating chamber and maintain a constant and even heat distribution to the cooking area. The porcelain-coated cooking grates are non-stick in nature and let you cook the perfect food without worrying about undercooking or overcooking.

The offset smoker is equipped with heat-resistant dampers that allow you to control the smoke and heat level. These features are pretty helpful in getting the desired result while working with different types of recipes. However, the cooking plates are not as thick as you will see in professional offset smokers, and you need to make a little bit of modification to adjust the heat and temperature.

Another standout feature of this offset smoker is the effortless cleanup. Like all other Oklahoma Joe’s offset smokers and grills, it has a large stainless steel fuel basket and cleanout door for effortless ash collection and disposal. Heavy-gauge steel construction and porcelain-coated cooking grates are exceptionally rugged and can withstand rough use for many years to come. The non-stick cooking surface also helps in the effortless cleanup.

Final Verdict

Oklahoma Joes’ Longhorn, with a customizable setup and premium grade construction, is one of the best reverse flow offset smokers. The smoker comes with a foldable design and caster wheels making it highly maneuverable.

Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

Dyna-Glo Offset smoker features a vertical design and achieves the natural BBQ and smokey flavor. The space-saving design of the smoker makes it perfect for small backyards, balconies, and portable uses. The total cooking capacity of the smoker is 1176 sq. inches. The main cooking area is 716 sq. inches, while the rest is used as a warming surface.

It has six height-adjustable smoking grates, and the capacity of each grate is 25 lbs. All these features reveal that a smoker is perfect for hosting big meals and can also tackle multiple foods simultaneously. The smoker boasts a porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber and a vertical design for even heat distribution and maximum cooking efficiency. The tight airflow control coupled with plenty of vents ensures that heat reaches each and every part of the meat.

The smoke rack of this smoker catches smoke directly from the fuel and imparts a traditional smokey flavor to the meat. Since this grill is made with the needs of professionals in mind, it has a stainless steel built-in thermometer. The thermometer is precise and accurate, giving you accurate ambient and internal food temperature readings. In this way, it eliminates the guesswork giving you perfect cooking results every time.

The smoker offers maintenance-free cooking and a comprehensive ash management system. The large slidable ash pan collects the ash for a long time and offers effortless disposal in the end. The only issue we faced with this smoker was the assembly. It included all the necessary hardware but lacked the user manual or instructions. It makes it pretty challenging to get everything fixed, and you may seek professional help.

Final Verdict

Dyan-Glo is a large offset smoker with a vertical design that boasts the best-in-class cooking capacity. The well-organized cooking space coupled with customizable heat features lets you cook multiple foods simultaneously with maximum efficiency.

Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

Dyna-Glo Signature series vertical offset smoker is another professional-grade model on the list. This is a heavy-duty offset smoker in a vertical configuration that comprises multiple cooking grids. The total cooking area of the smoker is 1382 sq. inches, including a 284 sq. inches offset grilling surface.

The smoker features a traditional design with a front door opening. The door gives you quick access to multiple food items. Multiple grilling and smoking racks help you prepare various food items simultaneously. The charcoal hopper capacity is around 20 lbs, and the side opening aids in effortless fuel loading.

To adjust the heat and temperature, you can adjust the height of the charcoal tray. This charcoal smoker by Dyna-Glo features the industry’s best build quality for reliable and long-term service life.  The chrome-plated non-stick cooking racks and stainless steel bodies are highly resistant to corrosion and other damaging factors.

Also, the non-stick surface is pretty easy to clean, and a large ashtray with a cleanup door makes the cleanup quick and easy. This charcoal smoker lacks advanced controls, and you will not get a built-in thermometer. For more precise and accurate control, it is advised to pair it up with an accurate smoker thermometer.

Final Verdict

Dyna-Glo Signature series offset smoker is a competitively priced option that helps you cook multiple food items simultaneously. Its premium build quality coupled with user-friendly design help it stand out as the best offset smoker under 300.

Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker

If you are on a budget and wish to make a sound investment, consider Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker. Unlike other inexpensive offset smokers, it features heavy-gauge steel construction for unmatched stability and heat retention. This offset smoker is the perfect choice to host big parties since it comes with ample cooking space of around 610 square inches.

Along with the main cooking area, you will get 281 sq. inches grilling chambers in the firebox. What we found most impressive was its customizable cooking space. With optional haystack locations and removable baffles, you can customize the setup as per your requirements. In addition to a customizable setup, it boasts an impressive cooking mechanism.

Its 4 baffles setup guides the heat and smoke through the main chamber for even and constant heat distribution. This feature is pretty helpful to avoid undercooking and overcooking, and even beginners can cook on this smoker like a pro. However, its heating plates are slightly thin, and even with the perfect heat distribution, there are chances of food burning.

Ease of cleaning is another standout feature of this snooker. Its stainless steel fuel basket offers a mess-free experience. Plus, the wide door-opening for ash removal aids in the quick and effortless cleanup. The porcelain-coated cooking grates are also pretty easy to clean. You may also face some leakage issues with this offset smoker. However, these issues can be fixed easily by using a high-quality sealant.

Final Verdict

Highland reverse flow offset smoker by Oklahoma Joe’s with a functional design, and ample cooking space is one the best offset smokers you can buy today. Although it is an inexpensive unit, it stands among the good offset smoker for its impressive price-performance ratio and customizable cooking setup.

Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro Side Fire Box

Next on our list of best offset smokers is Char-Grill E1224. This is the best budget offset smoker that combines the even heat distribution mechanism and a functional design making it perfect for Texas-style barbecuing. Although this grill is not the sturdiest options market, you will get an acceptable quality for the price. The grill barrel and side firebox are made with powder-coated stainless steel.

Plus, non-stick cooking grates ensure long service life and even heat distribution for perfect cooking results. The total cooking area of the smoker is 830 square inches, including 530 sq. inches of main cooking area and 250 sq. inches of grilling space inside the firebox. With this ample cooking space, you can host a big meal with the offset smoker.

Since it is a budget option, you cannot expect a perfect experience right out of the box. The smoker is highly prone to leakage, and it is advised to use barbecue silicon to fix the issue. Also, it requires assembly, and it is actually a demanding and time taking job. The grill features medium-quality baffles and cooking grates for even heat distribution.

However, if you want to enhance its performance further, you can replace or modify its baffles. To make the unit beginner-friendly, the manufacturer has installed charcoal drawers. The charcoal loading is pretty easy, and also you can add charcoal during the process without any issue. The ash is also dumped well and can be collected through a sideway for mess-free cleanup.

Final Verdict

CharGrill E1224, with the decent build quality and a large cooking area, is one of the best entry-level offset smokers. Its highly functional design coupled with an even heat distribution mechanism helps it stand among the best budget offset smokers.

Landmann 560212 Charcoal Grill

Landmann 560212 is a compact design smoker-grill combo that offers impressive portability without sacrificing the cooking capacity. This offset smoker by Landmann features a rugged build quality and conventional design, making it equally useful for beginners and experts. The smoker has a wide main grilling space of around 716 sq. inches.

In addition to this impressive grilling capacity, it has a secondary warning area of around 201 sq. inches. With such an impressive cooking capacity, this offset smoker is an excellent option to feed a big crowd. This smoker-grill combo has a foldable side table that helps you keep everything organized. However, it folds down for compact and safe storage. Legs are also foldable, which helps in effortless transportation. The caster wheels make the smoker highly maneuverable.

To make your cooking experience perfect, it features multiple temperature controls. A handle crank lets you adjust the height of the charcoal tray to get the ideal heat level. Plus, its built-in temperature gauge enables you to measure the ambient and internal food temperature. Remember, the built-in gauge has limited precision, and it is recommended to use an accurate smoker thermometer for precise temperature data.

To make the cleanup quick and easy, it has a comprehensive ash collections system. The large capacity slidable tray makes the ash collection and removal quick and easy. Also, the chrome-plated grilling grates are non-stick, and we found them pretty easy to clean. The grill doesn’t come pre-assembled, and also, we didn’t receive any instructions or video demonstration on how to assemble it.

Final Verdict

Landman Charcoal grill is a top-rated offset smoker that combines efficiency and ease of use for the best user experience. With a controlled airflow mechanism and multiple vents, it ensures even heat distribution throughout the cooking chamber, making it the best value offset smokers.

Broil King 958050 Offset Smoker

If you are not on a budget and looking for an advanced offset smoker, consider Broil King offset smoker. It is one of the best smokers under 1000, featuring an advanced airflow mechanism and Roto-Draft damper technology for flawless smoking and grilling experience.

The grill is designed with the needs of professionals in mind and packs a wide cooking space and multiple cooking functions. The total cooking space of this offset smoker is 825 squares inches. The main smoking chamber measures 625 sq. inches, while the rest is left as warming space.

The dual-chamber design is pretty helpful when you have to deal with multiple foods simultaneously. For even heat distribution and efficiency, this grill features advanced vent air technology. Plus, the Roto-Draft damper helps you achieve the desired temperature level, and you can get professional-grade results with little effort.

Although it is an expensive model, it boasts best-in-class construction and promises a long service life. The 2 mm steel body coupled with cast iron smoking grids makes it essentially rugged against all types of wear and tear. The non-stick cooking surface and cleanout door have made the cleanup quick and straightforward.

Final Verdict

Broil King 958050 uses advanced smoking technology, and even beginners can cook multiple foods with unmatched taste and flavor. It is a horizontal barrel smoker with a wide cooking surface and warming racks making it a perfect option to hosta big crowd.

Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker

Royal Gourmet CC1830F, with a total grilling space of 800 sq. inches, is one of the best affordable offset smokers. Although it is an inexpensive offset smoker, it leaves very little to be desired and can outperform many expensive options when it comes to performance. The grill’s cooking area is divided into three parts, making it exceptionally versatile.

The main charcoal grill space is around 483 sq. inches, while the warming racks measure around 179 sq. inches. In addition to that, you will get a 183 sq. inches side box smoking area where you can prepare your favorite BBQ with mouthwatering smokey meat. Moreover, this smoker-grilling combo features the best heat adjustment system.

The 2-level adjustable charcoal pan helps you achieve the desired temperature level within a few minutes. The enclosed cooking chamber with multiple air vents maintains the temperature and prevents overcooking and undercooking. The cooking area is strictly non-stick, and also it has a well-designed ash management system. This offset smoker offers a mess-free cooking experience and effortless cleanup with all these features.

The grill has a separate preparatory and storage area where you can keep your seasoning and grilling essentials organized when they are not in use. Also, it comes with wagon-style wheels for ease of transportation. The construction quality is also fine considering its budget price. However, the lower part of the grill, including legs and wheels, is pretty flimsy, making the grill’s stability doubtful.

Final Verdict

If you’re looking for the best cheap offset smoker without compromising the cooking space and efficiency, Royal Gourmet 18330F is a definite way to go. The grill combines a professional-grade design with an affordable price making it the best offset smoker for the money.

Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker

Cuisinart CPG-4000 offset smoker is a multi-purpose cooker on which you can bake, cook, roast, and smoke. This offset barrel smoker features a vertical configuration and thick construction, making it perfect for professional and domestic use. This is one of the most advanced smokers that come with digital temperature control.

You can achieve the desired temperature on the smoker within seconds. The cooking space of this smoker is around 450 sq. inches. Also, you will get an additional 120 sq. inches as warming space. With such an impressive cooking capacity, the smoker can feed big crowds.

It is an electric model that uses wood pellets as fuel. The hopper capacity of the grill is 15 lbs, and the wide hopper opening makes it pretty easy to load the wood pellets. Also, it has an impressive ash management system. The large ashtray collects the ash throughout the cooking session, giving you a maintenance-free experience.

Although it is not a small offset smoker, it features an easy-to-transport design making it perfect for outdoor use. The foldable legs coupled with sturdy caster wheels make the grill impressively maneuverable. Finally, we loved the grill’s stable and sturdy construction. The grill is made with premium-quality steel, and for beautiful aesthetics, it is painted with bronze.

Final Verdict

Cuisinart CPG-4000 is one of the best competition offset smokers that boasts a digital temperature control and advanced ash management system. If you want to smoke and grill foods with maximum precision and accuracy, this is the best offset smoker you can buy in 2022.

Z Grills ZPG-7002B 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

Z Grills smoker and grills are already famous for their efficient HEATING technologies, and ZPG-7002B is no exception. This modern offset smoker is an electric model that comes with an autostart electric ignition. The digital temperature controller lets you achieve the desired temperature within minutes.

This is one of the most spacious grills you can find on the market. The total cooking space, including the warming area, is 700 sq. inches. Its cooking capacity is large enough to feed a big crowd. The most exciting feature of this grill is its multiple cooking functions. The smoker can braise, bake, roast, and even grill.

The straightforward temperature control and the built-in smoker thermometer bring precision and efficiency to your cooking. The smoker has a large hopper with a capacity of 20 lbs. With an auto-start electric ignition feature, it gives a quick and effortless start. You can adjust the temperature between 180-450F.

The smoker is made with premium quality stainless steel that is free from leakage. The rust-resistant construction lowers the maintenance requirements and promises a reliable performance for a long time. The LED display gives you real-time temperature and cooking data. The only downside that we faced with this grill is that it is pretty hard to assemble. It doesn’t include a user manual or video demonstration, making it even more challenging to fix its different parts.

Final Verdict

Z Grill ZPG 7002B is equipped with the industry’s best heating mechanism and build quality. With a big hopper capacity, straightforward controls, and the least maintenance requirements, this is one of the best offset smokers for beginners.

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How To Choose The Best Offset Smokers?

The charcoal infuses a traditional smokey taste that can’t be matched, and that is why Americans are so crazy about offset smokers. However, you can’t get the desired cooking results until and unless you go for the right option. In this buying guide, we have discussed all the key features and essentials of the best offset smoker you must consider while making a purchase.

Cooking Capacity

The first thing you need to consider is the cooking capacity of the offset smoker. Offset smokers are available in multiple designs, and each grill has a different cooking capacity. The size of the grill you need depends upon your cooking requirements.

If you cook food for 3 to 4 people, you buy a compactly designed smoker with a total cooking capacity between 300-350 sq. inches. If you have a big family and want to prepare food for 5-8 people, you must look for a grill offering a cooking space between 450-550 sq. inches.

If you host big parties and want to feed a much larger crowd, you can find many horizontal offset smokers offering a wide cooking space of upto 800 sq. inches. Remember, the cooking space mentioned in the product description is not all the grilling space. The total cooking capacity of the offset smoker is the sum of the main cooking space and the warming area.

Versatility

If you don’t want to limit your experience, you need to look for a versatile offset smoker. You can find many smoking-grilling combos on the market that let you perform various cooking functions like smoking, grilling, baking, braising, and smearing. Advanced smokers come with adjustable cooking space allowing you to divide the cooking space for different foods. Some models come with a pre-divided cooking space. The cooking area is divided into various cooking chambers, making it easier for you to cook multiple foods simultaneously.

Heating Efficiency

The cooking efficiency of the offset smoker largely depends upon the heating mechanism. The advanced air vent mechanism with an enclosed chamber design is a perfect option. An efficient airflow mechanism maintains the heat throughout the cooking chamber for a long period. Heat adjustment is another feature that you should look for.

Offset smokers use two different mechanisms to adjust the heat level. The first way to adjust the heat level is by changing the charcoal tray height. This is an easy method but involves a lot of guesswork, and also it may take time to achieve the desired temperature. Expensive offset smokers use the advanced damper technology that allows you to get the required temperature with maximum precision and accuracy.

Ease Of Cleaning And Maintenance

Ease of cleaning and maintenance should be among your top concerns since cleansing the grills is not a simple task. The feature that you must look for is the ash management system. A comprehensive ash management system comprises a large ash collection tray with slidable geometry and a vast cleanout door.

The capacity of the ashtray should be large enough to deal with the residue of a long party. Also, you should look for non-stick grilling and smoking surfaces as they are easier to clean. If the grilling grates are made of cast iron, you need to season them regularly to avoid corrosion.

Portability

Ease of transport and portability is another concern as offset smokers are made for outdoor use. Vertical grills are compact and have a space-saving design. Also, they are pretty easy to transport. If portability is your concern, you should buy a smoker that offers the perfect balance between size and cooking capacity.

Many offset smokers feature compact and space-saving designs without sacrificing the cooking capacity. The foldable designs help in compact storage and effortless transportation. Vertical offset smokers use multiple cooking grids that are stacked over one another. All these design features enhance the cooking capacity of the smoker without making it bulky and heavy.

Build Quality

The offset smoker is a serious investment, and there you must look for a reliable and long-lasting construction. Smokers made with thin metals do not hold the heat well. Grilling and smoking are all about retaining the heat even and low. Therefore you should look for a thick metal construction for best heat retention and even heat distribution.

Smoking also largely depends upon the quality of the ventilation system. Make sure the smoker you buy has enough vents to promote the proper airflow for perfect smoking and grilling. You can also refer to the best offset smoker reviews to find out if a particular model is durability built or not.

Budget

You can find offset smokers over a wide price range between $150 to $1000. Depending upon the heating technology, cooking capacity and construction price of the smoker varies from model to model. However, you can find a very well-built offset smoker between $200 to $400.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Wrapping Up

We can safely conclude that buying an offset smoker without a decent knowledge of features can be challenging. We are hopeful that this review and buying guide will help you make a wise decision. Here is the winner of the round followed by the first and second runner up:

• Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker for its ample cooking space, front door opening, thick steel construction for maximum heat retention, and good ash management system.
• Cuisinart CPG-4000 Wood BBQ Grill & Smoker for its digital temperature controller, electric auto ignition, impressive cooking efficiency, and maneuverable design.

Ease of cleaning and maintenance should be your top concern while buying an offset smoker. You must look for a rust-resistant construction for the least maintenance and enhanced service life. If you love smoking on remote sites, it is advised to choose vertical offset smokers for their maneuverable and space-saving designs. Don’t miss our beginner smoker guide if you are newbie and want to buy a good smoker. Thermometers are very important if you want to cook some tasty meat so also read out our best smoker thermometer review and buying guide.

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