Looking for the best backyard offset smoker to take your BBQ to next level? You’re at the right place!
If you are a food lover and serious about backyard BBQ grilling and smoking meats then an offset smoker can be your best choice.
Offset smokers are the traditional smokers for their simple and effective design. They are considered the classic smoking tool for producing the best smoke flavour using real wood and charcoal as fuel.
The real beauty of an offset smoker is that you don’t require space for both a smoker and a grill because most of the models available on the market provide both features.
With high-quality materials, offset smokers are well-built to provide large cooking areas, and due to a separate firebox, they can easily hold heat and smoke.
The process of choosing the best offset smoker for the backyard is not that difficult because there are many varieties available in the market. One basic rule to follow is to summarize all the features you’re looking for in a product whether it is a manufacturer’s warranty, price, or overall structure.
Some of the basic features to consider in choosing the best offset smoker include a heavy metal construction unit for keeping the heat consistent, a proper ventilation system through control rate of oxygen and the most important element is the built-in thermometer gauge for controlling and monitoring the temperature.
In this article, I will explain and review those offset smokers that will provide the best BBQ experience in your backyard. This will help you to limit your options to buy a model that will suit your budget, cooking requirements, and lifestyle standards.
First, on the list of best backyard offset smokers is Char-Broil Oklahoma Joe’s highland offset smoker. It is a reverse flow smoker that provides the best smoke flow possible.
With its ‘reverse flow technology,’ this smoker removes one of the major problems in offsets by pushing the smoke to flow over the meat and back again before going out through the chimney. With this smoker, you can also have the option of locating the chimney in the standard position if you want.
For semi-professional smoking or even when it comes to the backyard, this Oklahoma’s highland smoker range is simply unbeatable because it possesses a great quality, features, and price and that is why they are called the Webers of the smoking world.
This backyard offset smoker unit is built from high-temperature steel, including wheels with a weight of approximately 200 pounds. It has a generous 619 square inches of cooking space on the grill which is not that huge but for a whole brisket and pork butt it is more than enough and it’s not that difficult to heat.
For controlling the high temperature within the unit, quality dampers are available in the chimney that is easy to adjust and help to regulate airflow, and can hold heat in most weather conditions due to the thick sheet of steel.
Further, the Highland smoker also has an in-built thermometer at the side closest to the firebox which indicates the temperature at the hottest spot. It also has the option of installing a second thermometer on the opposite side as well which itself is a great idea.
From a narrow shelf for resting utensils and a heavy cart with wheels so that it can move around on your own, this Oklahoma Joe’s smoker has all the features to make your backyard BBQ look easy.
This product is named after a real person Joe belonging to Oklahoma who back in 1987 started the company and used his knowledge to shape a quality smoker for the backyard having dimensions of 39 x 20.9 x 23 inches with a weight of 176 pounds.
One of the most widely used brands when it comes to backyard offset smoking is Royal Gourmet. Their stress on practicality and the latest technology sets them apart and so far their best product is Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill offset smoker.
With a solid steel durable construction, this offset smoker can withstand the hardships of frequent outdoor usage. It signifies its longevity and ability to survive under various weather conditions. Moreover, the hassle-free installation process makes it easier for the users to quickly set up this offset smoker and start enjoying their cooking experience.
This charcoal grill offset smoker can work both as a smoker and grill at the same time. With a cooking area of 811 square inches, this smoker allows you to cook different types of food in less time.
This steel smoker contains 443 square inches of double-split enameled-wire cooking grates that helps to make the meat tender and also make it easy to add charcoal even while grilling.
Furthermore, this Royal Gourmet offset smoker also has 184 square inches chrome-plated swing-away warming rack for keeping the food warm to get more good flavours by melting the meat.
To achieve the best grilling, this charcoal grill offset smoker divides the charcoal pan into two different levels. Thus providing you with an adjustable heat control system and also giving you the distance between the food and charcoal. The charcoal pan can hold up to 4.4 lbs. of coal.
What sets this product apart from the normal offset smokers is its ability to control and monitor the temperature. For that purpose, a thermometer gauge is installed in the unit that helps you to examine the temperature and gives a clear condition of your food to be cooked evenly.
With a weight of 54.3 poundsand dimensions of 53.39 x 27.95 x 48.82 inches, the Royal Gourmet smoker has all the benefits and features that you are looking for in other normal offset smokers.
With a perfect balance of portability and functionality, this offset smoker is a perfect solution for all your outdoor cooking adventures.
Pros
Big cooking room
Adjustable charcoal pan
Control heating system
Built-in thermometer gauge
Double-coated enameled wire
Cons
For tall users, this offset smoker may be a bit short
If you are searching for an offset smoker that requires less space then Dyna-Glo Heavy-Duty Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker & Grill is the recommended option. It is a very tall and thin smoker with a charcoal-based grill and stands which is 59” tall.
Most offset smokers sit on the right side of their fireboxes but this product is designed to sit on the left side of its firebox. Thus making it a unique model to be available for your backyard.
This vertical charcoal smoker provides you with 1382 square inches of cooking space to cook food for a big amount in your backyard on 5 chrome-plated cooking racks that are placed vertically so that you can cook your food easily as well as evenly.
From briskets to ribs, burgers, and brats different variety of foods can be prepared to get a classic and tasty smokehouse flavor.
It is important to mention that this charcoal smoker is built from heavy stainless steel to reduce heat retention and it is extremely durable. But despite the strong material this smoker weighing 124.3 pounds is not that heavy because it has two wagon wheels which make it easy to move around.
Another good feature of this Dyna-Glo charcoal smoker is its ability to control the temperature using a temperature gauge that is installed inside the smoker. This temperature gauge has a “Smoke Zone” and the “Grill Zone” which help to indicate the ideal temperature for cooking.
One major plus of this serious smoker is its cool touch technology available on the hands and the lid grip to avoid any harmful accidents. With dimensions of 45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8 inches, it is designed to bring ease and comfort.
Furthermore, with this low-cost offset smoker, you can take out all the parts and clean them with ease. So if you want to level up your backyard BBQ experience then this vertical charcoal smoker and grill is the best backyard offset smoker available and it is all you want.
If you are having a budget problem in trying to get the best offset smoker for your backyard, then the Char-Griller Smoking Pro Charcoal grill is the ideal option for you. At a low cost, it has all the useful features that you are looking for in a backyard offset smoker.
The Char-Griller smoking pro has a very unique design due to which it is very suitable for all kinds of houses. It is considered to be the starter smoker or grill by many customers and having a grill on the right of its firebox it is said to be a traditional offset smoker model.
This smoking pro charcoal grill is full of features. Starting with its high-quality construction unit that is made with heavy-duty stainless steel that brings a sense of flexibility and comfort to the users.
Furthermore, it has anti-rusk and anti-stick grill grates which are made of cast iron to provide even heating so that you can enjoy your cooking.
Another real quality that this charcoal grill smoker has and what makes it outcompeted from other smokers is its 830 square inches large cooking space. With that space, you don’t need another cooking stove to cook a large amount of food for your family.
What makes this smoking pro charcoal grill special is its versatility to be used both as a smoker and a grill. For adding charcoal this model has a full charcoal tray which can be taken out quite easily as compared to other models.
Moreover, for discarding and cleaning out old ash this smoking pro model provides an ash pan which makes the process quite simple.
For accurate temperature readings, this model has a thermometer gauge. Though it weighs 113 pounds with two big wheels this offset smoker is easy to move around whether on hard surfaces or off-road like grass or dirt.
With all of these features, the Smoking Pro charcoal grill having dimensions of 62 x 29 x 50 inches is the perfect starter grill available at a reasonable price and one that can be considered the best backyard offset smoker that can surely raise your cooking experience.
For smaller families and couples, the ZPG-450A is the perfect size pellet grill and smoker that is tested and designed to give a smoky flavor. It is manufactured by the brand Z grills and is considered the smallest and the cheapest pellet smoker they have made.
With its 8-in-1 versatility, this wood smoker will let you grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbeque, and char-grill your food within a temperature range of 180-4500 F while ensuring the quality as well as giving the wood-fired flavour.
Like most the mainstream pellet smokers, this ZPG-450A is also built from heavy-duty high temperature powdered coated steel which is not that thick but enough to withhold the heat to prevent any kind of smoke leakage.
Furthermore, this model has quality cooking grates that are made of porcelain-coated cast iron. These grates are rust-resistant and don’t make the food too much sticky.
Moreover, the 450-A pellet grill weighing 84 pounds is comfortable to move around with the help of two big wheels. Also, folding the table is an additional option that this model provides to the users.
This Z grills pellet smoker with dimensions of 45 x 28 x 49 inches is designed for small households and thus gives less space. To be precise, an exact 452 sq. inches of cooking space is available with 324 sq. inches on the bottom and 128 sq. inches from the top.
With these small pellets, the biggest advantage is that the smoker will use fewer pellets for heat as compared to a large area. In this 450-A pellet smoker, there is a pellet hopper that can hold 15 lbs. of pellets offering a large cooking time and also terminating the problem of refilling the hopper constantly.
For controlling the temperature in the ZPG-450A model, the latest PID-style technology has been used which allow the pellet smoker to get to the required temperature as quickly as possible which is about +/-100 F. This advanced PID controller gives accurate temperature readings in winter or summer.
Also, a stable temperature increases the performance of the 450A pellet griller to get more consistent results. With smart digital control, you don’t have to constantly monitor the temperature. You can do some other stuff while the smoker does its work.
All in all, this pellet grill and smoker having features of versatility, efficiency, and convenience can be an outstanding addition to any small household.
Which factors should you Consider when choosing the Best Backyard Offset Smoker?
If you are a BBQ lover, you will understand the importance of having the right offset smoker in your backyard. However, choosing the best backyard offset smoker is quite a challenging task, especially where there are a variety of options available in the market.
Therefore, to make it easy for you, I have come up with the ultimate guide on what factors to consider when buying the offset smoker for your backyard. Reading all the way will help you in picking the right backyard offset smoker.
1. Cooking Capacity
Before selecting an offset smoker, the first thing is to analyze your cooking requirements. Consider the frequent usage, the amount of people you will be cooking for and the types of food you will plan to smoke. To determine the maximum capacity for all your cooking needs, it is crucial to go through these assessments.
Choosing the right size of offset smoker with large cooking area will help you to accommodate all your cooking needs without compromising on performance.
2. Construction and Material
For longevity and consistent cooking performance, a reliable and well-manufactured offset smoker is crucial. Always go for offset smoker having durable materials such as heavy gauge steel or cast iron. With these strong materials, not only it will increase the life span of offset smoker but will also improve its cooking capability.
3. Temperature Controland Consistency
A hallmark of a great offset smoker is its ability to control the temperature accurately. For getting optimal results every time, its important to adjust temperature in various cooking environments to suit different meats.
Adjustable dampers, multiple vents, and a reliable temperature gauge are some of the features you should look for in an offset smoker. To maintain a consistent temperature throughout the cooking process, these elements will contribute significantly.
4. Ease of Use
To enjoy your outdoor cooking adventure, you need to have an offset smoker with user-friendly features. It must have easy controls, accessible fireboxes, and well constructed grates. Your comfort level should always align with your chosen smoker.
5. Portability and Storage
Before using the offset smoker, evaluate the available outdoor space. For limited spaces, smaller portable models are ideal, while for expensive backyard setups, larger models are more suitable.
It’s better to consider compact and portable models if you have limited space. These smokers without compromising their cooking capabilities are very easy to transport.
Frequently Asked Questions
1-Can you BBQ on an offset smoker?
Yes, why not. Offset smokers are designed particularly for your backyard BBQ. Usually, it is done in two ways. By burning the charcoal fire under the cooking grates and grill over the coals.
2-Can you use an offset smoker as a charcoal grill?
One of the key features that sets offset smokers apart from pellet grills is that both wood and charcoal can be used as the heat source when it comes to cooking food.
3-Is a smoker better than a BBQ?
For getting the best taste, a smoker is probably the best option because it usually takes more time to prepare food than on a grill due to its lower temperature as compared to grilling temperatures.
4-Are backyard offset smokers any good?
Offset smokers have a large cooking grate due to which they are perfect for big chunks of meat. Also, it’s very easy to add fuel like wood and charcoal because of their double chamber giving you the perfect BBQ experience in the backyard.
5-How do you keep an offset smoker from getting too hot?
To prevent smokers from getting too hot, just close the damper and open up the damper if you find the smoker is getting too cold and try to put more wood in the firebox.
Conclusion
With so much knowledge of offset smokers, it’s time for you to start cooking your favorite food with your favourite offset smoker.
In this article, I have explained 5 of the best backyard offset smokers available in the market with their special features, characteristics, pros, and cons that you should consider in selecting the best model. All of these models can both be used as a smoker and a grill as well with both wood and charcoal as heat sources. The choice is all yours.
