These Smokers Will Up the Ante on Your Summer BBQs

Summer is just around the corner — do you have your beach tents and umbrellas on the ready yet? — which means you’ve probably got all kinds of smoking and grilling plans on tap. Home-smoking meals at home is easier and more hands-off than many realize, making it a great option for busy people, even during midweek.

There are so many choices when it comes to smokers. Whether you’re looking for a versatile indoor/outdoor option for home-smoked weeknight meals or a larger-scale smoker for tailgating and barbecues, these top-rated barbecue smoker grills will help you achieve juicy mouthwatering perfection this summer.

The Best BBQ Smokers

What to Consider

Before diving into a purchase, consider what kind of fuel you want and what type of smoker configuration best meets your needs:

Size and Type

Look at the space you’re planning to put the smoker in before settling on one. Would a vertical smoker work better, or do you have room for something bigger? Offset smokers have two side-by-side compartments for fuel and food and are most likely to require wood or charcoal fuel. Vertical smokers generally open at the top for food and at the bottom for fuel, while box or cabinet smokers often feature front-load doors for your meat and fuel.

Keep in mind that the bigger the smoker, the bigger the flavor! For those who want smoked food but don’t have an inside space, we have a great option on our list.

Fuel

We feature smokers that run on charcoal, wood, gas, and electricity. Wood and charcoal will impart the smoky flavors you remember from your childhood. Different species of wood are fun to experiment with — you’ll find that some deliver a sweeter flavor while others bring the spice. If you’re debating between smoke and charcoal, know that charcoal creates less ash and smoke.

The Texas-style offset smoker has historically been the most popular option for serious barbecue enthusiasts, but technology has improved considerably. While electric and propane smokers may have been dismissed by serious smokers a decade ago, these days, they can produce top-notch meat that will please even the most discerning palates.

Propane and electric gas smokers should be used in tandem with wood chips to impart that fantastic smoked flavor, but because less wood fuel is required, cleanup is much easier. If you want more information about which direction to go in, read this guide.

Features

Think carefully about your goals. If you want to be able to smoke multiple birds and cuts of meat at the same time, you’re going to want one of our larger choices with adjustable and removable racks. Want to make jerky? We’ve got an option for that, too.

A smoker is a big purchase, literally and figuratively — you’re going to want to make sure that your investment is well-thought-out. Keep the above in mind and you’ll have a delicious season of smoked treats in no time!