Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain 22-Inch Reviews

Buying a smoker can be a drag these days because there are so many to choose from. However, if you want to get a model that provides a large cooking space, the “Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain 22-Inch” is an ideal pick. Even so, you have to know exactly what you’re getting and if the features that Weber is offering are what you need. It provides a significant smoking area; it’s easy to operate even if you are a beginner, cleaning and handling it is also straightforward. Put in short terms, this sounds like the best smoker yet. Let’s take a look and see if it delivers as promised.

Upon arrival, the box with the Weber 731001 will also include the following items:

• 2 plated-steel cooking grates
• Porcelain-enameled lid and bowl
• Porcelain-enameled water pan
• Fitting smoke cover
• Porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber
• Silicone temperature grommet
• Steel charcoal grate

Read more: All You Need to Know about Weber Smokey Mountain Mods

Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain 22-Inch Reviews

Features

Strong and durable construction

When you open the box and take the bowl and lid in your hands, you immediately think that this smoker is made to last for a long time, and you are right. The bowl, cover, and charcoal chamber are all made out of porcelain enamel which is not only durable, but it also retains heat during the smoking process. Since the entire unit gets heated up when working, the handles are made out of heat-resistant nylon so that you can grab it without extra protection on your hands. The quality of this product is evident from every angle.

Cooking grates made out of plated steel

Weber 731001 Smokey Mountain Cooker 22-Inch Charcoal Smoker, Black

Cooking grates are an essential part of any smoker as they are the only surface that comes into contact with the food. This smoker has some high-quality grates, that’s for sure. They are made out of heavy-duty nickel plated steel and built-in the smoker. They will look brand new even after excessive use for months or even years. The other great thing about the cooking grates is the room they provide. You can stack plenty of meaty snacks on multiple levels and smoke them together.

Impressive cooking area

Unlike many other smokers out there, this one provides plenty of cooking area. The two plated steel cooking grates are placed on two levels, and together they give precisely 726 sq. Inches of smoking space. In fact, it’s so large; you can easily put a turkey on the top rack and a couple of hams at the bottom rack and smoke them together. If you’re a real grill lover, this is a feature you’d appreciate. Keep in mind that the large smoking area is designed for large pieces of meat. Smoking smaller amounts will not be as effective.

Heat control with multiple dampers

Instead of following the trends and going digital, Weber has decided to keep things nice and simple when it comes to temperature control. There are four dampers in total, one on the top and three at the bottom. They are all resistant to rust and equipped with air vents. If the heat gets too, turn the damper and let it out. When the temperature returns to normal, close them and continue smoking. As you can see, the process is simple and straightforward.

Easy Temperature Reading

The heat control is simple, but what about temperature readings? Again, the solution is entirely traditional in the form of a built-in thermometer mounted on the lid of the unit. All you have to do to know the temperature is to take a look at it. So, you don’t need any extra gadgets or contraptions to measure it. The thermometer is accurate at reading the internal temperature.

Light up the Coal In Minutes

You can’t smoke or grill something without coal. The problem is that setting fuel on fire is easier said than done. Smoking meat is easy compared to what you’re put through before the coal is right for smoking. That is another thing that was considered by the company, so they included an aluminized steel rapid fire chimney starter.

The fire starter will help you set fire to the coal in no time at all. The coal will intake more air, and the fire will be ideal in a minute or two. The handle of the chimney starter is made out of thermoplastic, so you won’t have to worry about getting burned. That is perhaps our favorite feature of this model.

Plenty of space in the charcoal chamber

This is a charcoal smoker, and that means that the charcoal chamber is located on the bottom. You have to place the coal in a round-shaped ring and fire them up. The charcoal chamber and the entire body of the smoker are designed to keep the heat moving upward, making sure that it’s evenly distributed throughout the process. The chamber is built out of durable porcelain enamel that lasts for decades.

Porcelain-enameled Water Pan

The water pan is another essential part of this smoker. Its role is to add moisture to the meat during grilling. That helps keep the meat tender and moist without ruining its taste. Without the water pan, this would be more of a dehydrator than a grill. The presence of water also helps raise the temperature that makes the cooking even faster.

Rust-resistant Fuel Door

The rust-resistant fuel door is a nice little feature that reminds us of old boiler rooms on steam trains or ships. It’s not just a door that makes it easy to add coal, and you can also use it to reach the water bowl. So, you can also add water when needed through the same door. Furthermore, the handle of the door is very resistant, durable, and long-lasting. Still not impressed?

Extra accessories and comfortable handling

It doesn’t matter how hot the lid of this smoker gets because there are two glass-reinforced nylon handles on it. That makes it super-easy to handle at all times. The handles are heat-resistant so that you can remove it during cooking. That’s all nice and cool, but what about the weather? Is it going to rust or deteriorate if you leave it to the elements?

Well, the truth is that the lid has a small curvature at the end, small little curvature that would catch rainwater which would eventually cause damage. Well, to take care of that, Weber has added a stylish and very-useful smoker cover that comes with the package. If you’re not using the smoker, cover it up, and it will be protected from rain, sunlight, and dust. Details like these are what makes the Weber brand so popular.

Benefits and Tips

• Well, using this smoker is straightforward and simple enough to master in minutes, but what about the cleaning process? The Weber Smokey Mountain is large, and it has multiple levels, and it could look like it’s hard to clean, but it isn’t The process goes like this: wait for the coal to extinguish once you are done with the grilling. Once that’s done, remove the grates and empty the charcoal bin. Wash everything down with a hose.You can use detergent and brush down the cooking grates with a sponge.
• This smoker allows you to add a specific flavor to your meat. You can do that by adding special aromatic woodlike apple​ or hickory, but you can also experiment with many others.
• The Weber Smokey Mountain comes with a complete instruction manual. The assembly takes about 20 minutes to complete, and you’ll only need a wrench, a screwdriver and a socket to do it.
• The built-in thermometerwill allow you to keep an eye on the temperature. The dampers make it easy to lower or increase the heat, and the control is super-simple.
• The warranty for the product and all of the parts vary from 2 to 10 years.
• In case you need a replacement part for the smoker, the best thing to do would be to contact Weber directly. They have all the parts you could ever need, and you can get them through their website. It’s easy to get around, and the parts you pick will arrive at your doorstep in a matter of days.

The Conclusion

The affordable price of this smoker is a surprise due to all of the features it provides. You get a large cooking area, a construction that’s made to last, different functions, and an excellent warranty. All of that brings us to a conclusion that this is a product that delivers excellent results and lasts for a long time. If you’re into grilling food, this is a must!

On the other hand, if you’re new to grilling, this is also a great pick because it’s easy to master by a novice. The customer reviews all over the internet are another assurance that this is one of the best smokers on the mountain. It provides with tasty meat that has that unique smoky flavor with every use.

Last Updated on January 23, 2019 by Judith Fertig