Smokers: Reviews

Updated August 2011

When barbecue aficionados and backyard chefs want to take their cooking to the next level, the logical tool to add to the repertoire is a smoker. Whether using charcoal, propane or electricity, smokers allow cooks to explore recipes and flavors that a standard charcoal or gas grill can't support. There are even solutions for apartment dwellers, as you'll see in this analysis of the best smokers overall, based on expert and user reviews.

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Best all-around smoker

Weber Smokey Mountain

*Est. $300 for 18.5-inch size Compare Prices

Reviewers rate the bullet-shaped Weber Smokey Mountain the best charcoal smoker. (BBQ connoisseurs say charcoal smokers produce the best-tasting smoked food.) The Weber Smokey Mountain smoker wins praise for its durable… expandporcelain-enamel finish and its ability to maintain a constant temperature for hours at a time. Owners also rave about the smoky, tender food it turns out. Its 10-year warranty attests to its durability. Some critics say the 18.5-inch Weber Smokey Mountain is too pricey, but most are delighted with this consistently popular smoker, which is also offered in a 22.5-inch size (*Est. $400). collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Editors at Cook's Illustrated magazine tests three smokers, including the 18.5-inch Weber Smokey Mountain.

AmazingRibs.com: Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn reviews charcoal smokers in a wide price range.

About.com: About.com's guide to barbecues and grilling rates the Smokey Mountain a perfect 5 out of 5 stars.

TheNibble.com: Restaurant owner Phyllis Haskins joins the editors of TheNibble.com in naming the best smokers.

Food & Wine Magazine: The 22.5-inch Weber Smokey Mountain is included among the best grills, smokers and infrared cookers in this review by Food & Wine magazine's Christine Quinlan.

ZDNet.com: Jason Perlow, founder of foodie website eGullet.com, says the Weber Smokey Mountain is "by far one of the best and most inexpensive setups you can use for amateur, home-style barbeque." But no other smokers are mentioned, and it's unclear how many models he's tried.

ProPitmaster.com: Konrad Haskins, the pitmaster who writes this blog, says he just looked at a buying guide for smokers that cost under $400 (perhaps at About.com), and he considers some of them "excellent choices." One of these is the Weber Smokey Mountain.

Amazon.com: More than 350 owner reviews combine to give both sizes of the Weber Smokey Mountain a very high average score, with more than 80 percent giving them the maximum rating.

Chowhound.com: A long discussion thread in this forum centers on the question of the best charcoal smoker.

Buzzillions.com: Of the approximately 50 owner reviews, only a couple give the Weber Smokey Mountain a rating of less than 4 out of 5 stars.

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Buy from Amazon for $299.00
QualityMatt- ers.com for $301.92	NorthlineEx- press.com for $299.00	Abt Electronics for $299.00

Luxury smoker/grill combination

Big Green Egg

*Est. $750 Learn More

Though some come close, no smoker can match the temperature control afforded by the thick-walled, charcoal-fueled 18-inch Big Green Egg. This Kamado-style cooker not only smokes meat at low temperatures, it can also get… expandsearingly hot, so you can use it to bake bread or pizza or put a proper crust on steaks. The ceramic Big Green Egg, which also comes in 24-inch, 15-inch, 13-inch and 9-inch sizes, can maintain its temperature in pretty much any weather. It's heavy and very expensive, but if you're looking to invest in a versatile smoker and grill, the Big Green Egg is ideal, reviewers say. Because it's ceramic, however, it is not indestructible. This makes it important to buy from a licensed retailer, so the lifetime warranty from the manufacturer will be in effect. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Cook's Illustrated magazine's editors test three smokers, including the Big Green Egg.

About.com: About.com's guide to barbecues and grilling is a credible expert on grills and smokers; here he reviews the large Big Green Egg, giving it an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Fine Cooking: Reviewer Charles Miller says he used the Big Green Egg for a winter and found it good at producing smoky flavor in chickens.

Food & Wine Magazine: Grilling expert Steven Raichlen rates the Big Green Egg last in this roundup of seven grills.

AmazingRibs.com: Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn reviews smokers of all kinds and at all price ranges, but the Big Green Egg review does not have as much detail as some of his others.

Buzzillions.com: More than 360 owner reviews give the Big Green Egg (in different sizes) an average score of 4.9 out of 5, and none rates it lower than 4 out of 5.

Find a Dealer at BigGreenEgg.com

Budget propane smoker

Brinkmann Vertical Gas Smoker

*Est. $150 Compare Prices

The cabinet-shaped Brinkmann Vertical Gas Smoker runs on propane. It's not only less expensive, it also requires less tending to and is generally easier to use than either the Weber Smokey Mountain or the Big Green Egg… expandsmokers. With four cooking racks, the Brinkmann gas smoker can prepare enough food for large gatherings. Its main heat source is a propane burner, which heats a pan containing wood chips. Some aficionados complain that food prepared in gas smokers has a slight propane taste, but most reviewers say the Brinkmann cooks evenly and gives food a good smoky flavor. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

AmazingRibs.com: Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn reviews smokers and says the Brinkmann Vertical Gas Smoker "may be my favorite El Cheapo Gasser." At this price, he says, you sacrifice some build quality, so the smoker "has to work harder" on cold days, which means you'll need to burn more gas and wood.

HomeDepot.com: The Brinkmann Vertical Gas Smoker has garnered close to 25 reviews from owners.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $159.97

Outdoor electric smoker

Bradley Original Smoker

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

According to reviews, the Bradley Original Smoker is a hands-off smoker that needs no tending whether you're hot- or cold-smoking, slow-cooking, or roasting food. This electric smoker (which is meant only for outdoor use)… expandlooks like a mini-fridge. Its four racks hold a lot of food and are also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. The Bradley Original produces smoke by burning discs of compressed wood, or bisquettes, which are automatically fed onto the burner and extinguished in water once they're spent. The bisquettes cost 30 to 40 cents each, however, so costs can add up. Owners say food smoked in the Bradley Original is moist and flavorful. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

About.com: About.com's Derrick Riches rates the Bradley Original 4 out of 5 stars and says that it's the best electric smoker available.

Cabelas.com: About 120 owners rate and review the Bradley Original Smoker here, giving it an excellent rating.

Amazon.com: Close to 90 people rate and review the Bradley Original at Amazon.com, awarding it a very high average rating.

Buzzillions.com: More than 25 people contribute reviews of the Bradley smoker here.

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Buy from Amazon for $268.04
Zoostores.c- om for $549.99	Cabela's for $299.99	Wayfair for $599.00

Easy indoor smoking solution

Savu Smoker Bags

*Est. $10 for three Compare Prices

Reviewers say that Savu's Finnish-made aluminum smoker bags are the best way to smoke food indoors. In addition to their ease of use and cleanup, the Savu Smoker Bags keep smoke nicely contained so it doesn't permeate… expandyour home's carpeting, draperies and furniture. Reviewers say food prepped in the Savu bags is tender, with a genuine smoky flavor. These disposable bags can be tough to find in stores, but they're readily available online. They cost around $3 to $4 apiece, however. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Cook's Illustrated Magazine: Cook's Illustrated magazine editors review three indoor smokers, including the Savu Smoker Bags.

TheNibble.com: Editors praise the Savu Smoker Bags as a convenient, easy way to prepare a meal.

About.com: About.com's guide to barbecues and grilling notes that while the Savu Smoker Bags impart a smoky flavor, chicken skin will not crisp because meat tends to steam inside the bag, and ribs came out a bit chewy.

The New York Times: This is an older review, and Savu has since begun marketing a smoker bag that uses hickory chips -- this report discusses only the bag that uses milder alder chips.

Amazon.com: Only about a dozen owners review Savu Smoker Bags, and they give the bags mixed reviews, with an average rating of 3.3 out of 5.

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Buy from
Amazon

for $15.49

Old Smokey Electric Smoker *Est. $125

2 picks including: About.com, Amazon.com…


	Old Smokey Electric Smoker In Stock. Average Customer Review: