The 5 Best Offset Smoker Reviews for 2024

If you want to do a lot of barbecuing and food smoking and be serious about it, it is high time that you get the best offset smoker available in the market.

An offset grill is ideal in churning up an awesome barbecue. It can cook a huge amount of meat at a time. It is basically inexpensive to operate and when well-cared and maintained can give you many years or even a lifetime of use.

A great smoker is an outdoor device that can cook food on indirect fire and at low temperatures. It looks like a regular charcoal grill except that it has two chambers – the cooking chamber and a small firebox. The position of the firebox (on the side or below) is what makes it either a horizontal or vertical offset grill.

The smoke coming from the fire imparts flavor to the food. It consists of a large grill and a hopper for the wood or charcoal an id often on the side of the smoker. A hole on the side of the smoker transfers smoke from the hopper all the way to the grill.

Offset smokers are often referred to as traditional smokers because they can produce slow and low mouth-watering meats. They come in these major categories: Horizontal, Vertical, Cabinet. They are popularly used in grilling competitions and restaurants.

Top 5 Best Offset Smokers Reviewed In 2020

The best offset grills mentioned below have gone through an-depth analysis based on types, best features, ease of use, customer recommendations and prices.

Reasons to Choose an Offset Smoker

Many barbecue enthusiasts prefer offset smokers for these reasons:

• Almost all offset grills come with a large cooking space. More often the cooking area comes with 2 or even 3 individual cooking racks allowing you to cook a lot of meat at a time. You can even find a smoker large enough to cook an entire pig.
• An offset grill is a charcoal grill and a smoker in one. This will save you a lot of money and space. There are many smokers that are combo sets where you smoke food in the main cooking chamber and grill the traditional way in either an individual griller or in the firebox.
• When you are smoking food, you will need to add more charcoal or fuel. In offset smokers, there is no need to open the cooking chamber’s lid to get to the fire because it has a separate chamber for that. Without opening the lid, the smoker will not lose too much heat that will prolong cooking time.
• Many smokers look like they were used by cowboys of years past. Some even look like steam engines. An offset grill in your yard exudes the feel and confidence of serious food smoking. Not to mention that it looks cool, too.

Offset smokers are getting to be a popular option for outdoor smoking and barbecuing.

Types of Offset Smokers

Offset smokers can either be in the traditional or reverse flow forms.

1. Traditional Offset Smokers

This is a natural and the hottest type of offset smoker. It comes with a cooking chamber, a smokestack on one side and a firebox on the other side. Heat and smoke are produced in the firebox. They then go to the cooking chamber, circulates through the food and out though the smokestack. This cooks the food and gives it a smoky flavor.

Traditional offset smokers tend to unevenly cook food. Since the firebox is located on one side of the cooking chamber, food closest to it will cook faster. To avoid this, you will have to carefully position and rotate the grill. Close monitoring of the food is also necessary.

2. Reverse Flow Offset Smoker

This type of smoker costs more than the traditional one. Food cooks evenly in this type of offset smoker because the firebox and smokestack are located on the same side. It also comes with a deflector plate below the grates.

The deflector plate diverts smoke and heat leaving the firebox from going all the way up. The deflector plate with holes controls the upward flow of smoke and heat allowing them to first flow through the entire cooking chamber before finally going upwards at the other end of the chamber.

This process allows an even temperature on the entire cooking chamber. Regardless of how near or far food is from the firebox it will cook at the same temperatures allowing even cooking.

Smoke in a reverse flow smoker flows efficiently out from the chimney for a pollution-free and simple operation.

Qualities of the Offset Smoker

Before getting to work on how to choose the excellent offset smoker, there are certain considerations you need to ponder on:

• Do you have the space for an offset grill? Most offset smokers are large and if you have a small yard you may not have enough space for one.
• What is the normal weather condition in your area? Low temperatures, constant heavy rains and high winds negatively impact the performance of an offset smoker.
• Offset grills have a learning curve. You need to dedicate some time into perfecting your skills to enjoy and maximize the use of your offset smoker.

If you are ready to own an offset smoke, here are the features you need to look for to get the best offset for the money.

• Heavy Metal.

An offset smoker needs to be made of thick heavy metal so it can retain heat better to keep temperatures constant. It will also reduce the need for more fuel. The smoker can get to be really hot so one that is made of thick metal will not easily warp with constant use.

An offset smoker made of thin metal will not produce even heat. It will be hot on one side and cold on the other side of the cooking chamber and you will need to turn the meat every so often so it will cook evenly.

• Temperature Gauges.

The smoker should have a good temperature gauge on the lid. This is so you can monitor the temperature inside the smoker without the need of having to open the lid. Constant opening of the lid will cause the smoker to lose some heat and will take more time to cook.

• Quality Seals and Dampers.

A good quality offset smoker should have a tight lid to prevent the leaking out of smoke. Leaking will cause the smoker to need more fuel. It will also lose the ability to transfer smoky flavor to the food.

Dampers should be easy to slide, oil, adjust and should also have a tight seal. This is so the heat as well as the level of smoke inside the cooking chamber is well-controlled

• Proper Ventilation.

Consistent temperature is important to ensure good smoking. The proper flow of oxygen inside the cooking chamber controls temperature levels. Oxygen is an important component of fire. More oxygen allows fire to burn better.

There should also be good internal venting. The cooking chamber and firebox should not meet at the height of the grill or even higher for good distribution of heat. For good heat dissipation heat and the meat should not start at the same height.

• Protective Cover.

Even if you will store the offset smoker indoors, a good protective covering such as a waterproof one will protect the smoker against the elements and keep it dry. If the smoker does not come with a protective cover, purchase one that fits its dimensions and size.

• Good Quality Rollers.

Whether you plan to move the offset smoker around or keep it just in one place, sturdy wheels will make your smoker stable.

• Top Quality Paint Job.

Paint should be resistant to heat. If the paint used is not heat-proof it will easily chip off, expose the metal underneath and will easily rust. Chipped paint will cause the metal to thin which could cause heat loss affecting the performance of the offset smoker.

• Storage Space.

The smoker should include some storage space. The area between the legs of the smoker should be with shelves or grates for storing cooking stuff and fuel. It should also include hooks for the cooking utensils. Side shelves are convenient for plates and all the sauces and spices you need.

While a good offset smoker will last a lifetime, a warranty gives you the peace of mind that your smoker is protected against any factory defects.

Look for these features in the offset grill model you are considering to ensure a good choice.

How to Use an Offset Grill?

You may get intimidated when you first try your hand on an offset smoker. Truth is, once you know how to regulate heat, the device is easy to use.

An offset smoker works by allowing smoke and heat to indirectly cook meat. Fire is created in the firebox with the use of wood or charcoal. Smoke and heat then flows from the firebox to the cooking chamber and out of the chimney which is on the other end of the firebox.

Season the offset smoker when using for the first time. Here are the steps to do it.

1. Rub soapy water on the entire smoker.
2. Rinse well to get rid of all the grease, dust, shavings and al factory chemicals.
3. Allow the smoker to dry.
4. Rub vegetable oil all over the cooking chamber.
5. Open all the vents and start fire on the firebox.
6. Allow fire to burn for about 30 minutes.
7. When the fire dies out, cool the chamber.
8. If you are going to cook, start placing meat 30 minutes after starting the fire.

You only need to season your offset smoker once. Here are the preparation steps for cooking with the smoker.

1. Set the temperature to pre-heat the smoker. You can either set it at low (100⁰F) or high (300⁰F).
2. Add in wood or charcoal. When using wood pellets, place them directly into the hopper without soaking. Soaking wood pellets will make it difficult to get the right amount of smoke.
3. When using charcoal, place them inside the hopper in a pyramid manner. This will allow fire to slowly spread from the top to the bottom. It is recommended to use lit briquettes for better results.
4. Set the temperature probes inside the cooking chamber. One probe should be inserted on the meat and the other in one corner of the cooking chamber. The built-in thermometer on the lid is meant to measure temperature of the grill’s top and not on the cooking space.
5. Temperature inside the cooking chamber should be set between 225 °F and 275 °F. While pre-heating, keep the cooking chamber and firebox closed.
6. Arrange food on the racks of the cooking chamber and close the lid.
7. Check the temperatures inside the cooking chamber. Add briquettes or charcoal in the firebox as necessary to maintain the heat inside the cooking chamber or when you need to bring it higher (when temperature is dropping).
8. Opening the intake vent is the best way to get a nice and hot fire going. If you want a higher temperature, you can also open the chimney vent and close it once you have achieved the desired temperature.

Make sure to always monitor the temperature inside the cooking chamber and that of the food you are cooking.

How to Make the Most out of Your Offset Grill

Offset smokers can cook at slow and low heat almost all kinds of meat including pork picnic, pork but, brisket, ribs, sausages and chicken. Once you have mastered the indirect cooking style of offset grills , you will be able to create great smoke meat, fish and poultry as well as perfect barbecues.

Here are tips on how to make the most of your offset grill.

1. Slow and low cooking is the key to perfect cooking in an offset grill. Temperature needs to be maintained at consistent levels. Practice, a lot of patience and some experimentation are the best strategies.
2. Make sure to season your offset smoker before initial use. Seasoning entails actually running your smoke for the first time. It is therefore also an opportunity to get the feel of the smoker.
3. Experiment with charcoal and wood to know which provides a more consistent temperature for your smoker. Some say charcoal with a few wood chips create a nice smoke is easier to control.
4. Always pre-heat the smoker to the right cooking temperature (based on food to be cooked) before starting to cook.
5. Always keep the lid close to retain and maintain the right cooking temperature. This will also ensure even cooking. Opening the lid every so even is only necessary when cooking a large amount of heat in the grilling space.
6. Clean the firebox of ashes and the cooking chamber of grease after every use. Ashes and grease build-up can cause water to get trap which will eventually lead to rusting.
7. Always make sure to cover your smoker when not in use and store in a dry place.

Best Way to Cook Using the Offset Smoker

There are techniques on how to cook on an offset smoker to achieve an evenly cooked meat.

1. Wood chips burn quickly and will bring down the temperature. Loading 1 or 2 large pieces of wood will keep smoking for about an hour or so. Wood chips quickly burn and you will need to frequently load more to achieve an even temperature. The best way to keep the fire burning is to place wood beside the fire.
2. Add moisture to the firebox to prevent food from drying out due to long smoking hours. Moisture can be added by placing a pan of water inside the firebox.
3. Regularly spray food to keep it constantly moist. Fill a bottle spray with water, apple juice or even beer. Spray every 20 minutes or so and toward the last hour of smoking. Open the lid and turn the meat on its other side with the use of tongs.
4. Rotating the food every hour or so can produce an evenly cooked meat. You may also transfer meat in the cooler part of the cooking chamber to a space near the firebox and vice-versa.
5. Make good use of the temperature probe because it is the most important accessory that comes with your smoker. Insert the meat probe into the meat. The probe will monitor the doneness of the meat.

These are just some of the techniques you can use to comes up with an evenly cook meat using your grill. The more you use your offset grill, the more you will gain more techniques to ensure an evenly cooked and mouth-watering meat.

Adding More Flavor to the Meat

An evenly cooked meat is not all there is to it. You should also ensure that you are able to smoke a flavorful one in your offset smoke. Here is how to do it.

1. Use hardwood, nutwoods or fruitwoods to ensure your food gets the best flavors out of the smoke.
2. Marinate meat at least twenty-four hours before cooking. The brine will bring out the best flavors of the meat.
3. You can also rub some spice all over the meat for better flavor.

Remember an evenly cooked meat is useless if it does not come with the best flavors.

How to Clean and Maintain an Offset Grill?

Cleaning and maintaining your offset smoker is an important aspect of owning this cooking equipment. Cleaning your smoker after each use and doing some occasional routine checks will help keep your offset cooker in top shape. It will also make it last for longer years.

Every offset grill is different. While all require maintenance checks, some need more periodic checking and repairs. Before cleaning and venturing into maintaining your grill, it is important that you read and understand that part of the Owner’s Manual.

Regular Cleaning

• Seasoning your new smoker is the first-ever cleaning job you will be doing. All smokers need to be seasoned prior to initial use to get rid of all the dust, dirt and chemicals used during the product products. If you do not season your new smoker all the contaminants that came with it may mix with your food.
• After every use rid your smoker with all ash residues and food drippings. Most smoker models come with removable or slide our ash and drip trays so this will not be such a hassle.
• Rub cooking oil on the cooking surfaces of the smoker and heat it to about 250⁰ Cooking oil does not only clean the smoker but also provides a protective layer to prevent rusting.
• Clean the external parts of the smoker with soapy water and make sure to dry it out before storing it.

If you are storing your smoker outdoors, make sure to but a protecting covering.

Periodic Maintenance

Make sure to always keep your offset grill free from any ashes or food drippings before storing. These are also the first items you need to check when doing your periodic thorough cleaning and maintenance check.

Avoid scrubbing the metal components of the offset grill as you may remove the protective paint. Without the paint, the metal will rust. Clean out all oily and smoky surfaces in the exterior of the smoker.

If you notice rust in any part of your smoker, remove it immediately to prevent it from spreading. You can also give your smoker a new paint job if it so requires. Make sure to use heat resistant paint.

The search for the good offset smoker 2018 is over. Included in this list are the best offset grills in different categories including different cooking methods that can be done in each smoker.

When you ultimately need to make a choice, remember that the best offset smoker is one that is capable of evenly cooking while retaining most of the best flavors of meat. Look out for the features that will allow you to achieve these cooking goals.

Last Updated on August 17, 2020 by Judith Fertig