Meat smoking enthusiasts will agree that there’s nothing like having a smoked juicy meat that was properly heated and flavored in a smoke. And having the right type of smoker can make a huge difference and influence the end result of your smoking activities. There are different types of smokers such as the best offset smoker, reverse-smokers, and pellet smokers. But our main concern here is the offset smokers because of they provide better smoke flavor brings out more juice from the smoked meat.

Best Offset smokers are the best types of smokers available in the market right now. If you’re looking to buy the best offset smoker for effective and proper meat smoking, you are definitely at the right place.

This round-up post provides the best models available when it comes to The offset smokers. But first, let’s look at the functionality of an offset smoker and how it is different from other types of smokers.

What is an offset smoker?

Offset smokers are also known as side firebox or barrel. They are often known as the most traditional meat smokers, and their smoked meat output is usually of the highest quality. They are designed in different sizes for different types of meat.

Currently, the most popular types of these smokers have different sizes, although they are sealed or covered with boxes or cylinder. A lot of people prefer using an offset smoker for smoking their meat because it gives them a pure natural taste of smoked meat.

With this type of smoker, you can add some amount of wood to give the meat a smoky taste. It comes with a wood fire or charcoal housing, positioned in a way that smoke is directed at the cooking space. This is where the meat receives the smoke in the cooking space before it goes out through the chimney. If you’re looking for the best quality smoked meat, using an offset smoker will certainly provide such quality.

The design of offset smokers

Some offset models have an extra vertical cooking chamber where smoke can pass through to the chimney. This gives the meat an extra smoke flavor. Controlling the temperature of an offset smoker is a breeze. All you need to do is to adjust the exhaust vents and air intake. When you open the vents, it increases the supply of oxygen, which increases the flame and penetrates the meat better.

Most offset smokers are made with durable steel construction, which enhances stable temperature and maximum heat control. Some offset smokers are quite heavy, so you may need to settle for a lightweight model if portability is an issue for you.

Offset vs Pellet vs reverse-flow smokers –  What are their differences?

An offset smoker is quite unique when you compare them with other smokers. They have certain features you may not see in other types of smokers. Let’s look at the differences between offset smokers pellet, and reverse-flow smokers.

Offset vs reverse-flow smokers

When it comes to appearance, you may not see many differences between these two. But the differences lie in their temperature range. An offset smoker has different temperature levels to help users adjust to the specific meat they are smoking. You can adjust the smoker to varying levels of heat for different types of meat. This type of smoker will certainly be great for commercial grillers or those looking to have a big party. Reverse smokers, on the other hand, allows for meat to be more evenly smoked. They come with a steel plate and allow heat to easily pass through the cooking surface when the heat is at the hottest point.

Reverse smokers provide an even dispersion of heat throughout the cooking chamber, thereby providing an equal level of heat in the cooking space. But with this type of smoker, it takes a longer time for the meat to be properly smoked since there’s no hotter section. The choice you make will depend on your preference. If you are regularly smoking the meat for a large group of people, it will be more ideal to go for an offset smoker. You will be able to control the temperature for each section better. But if you’re always smoking a small amount of meat, a reverse smoker may be perfect for you.

Offset vs Pellet smokers

While the Offset smoker is composed of 2 sections (the cooking space and the firebox), the pellet smoker comes with 3 sections (the fire tray, water pan, and the cooking chamber). The water from the water pan that goes to the meat makes it juicier compared to the offset smoker. Below are other differences.

Versatility and ease of use

It takes a longer time to start an offset smoker than it takes to start a pellet smoker. So, if you are in a hurry or need your food ready on time, a pellet smoker will take lesser time to smoke your meat. Also, pellet smokers have a sealed design and a controlled airflow. This makes it easier and less stressful to maintain a constant temperature in the smoker.

Temperature and cooking time

Offset smokers and pellet smokers operate at varying temperatures. Because of this, the cooking time and results differ. But an offset smoker produces juicier and more flavored BBQ due to its slow process of cooking. It allows the meat to take a good dose of the heat at a slow process compared to a pellet smoker.

So, if you wouldn’t mind spending a few more minutes to get more flavor and juice on your meat, an offset smoker should be your preferred smoker. It provides the right flavor and moisture your meat requires.

Affordability and quality

When it comes to quality, there are different factors to consider. But in most cases, pellet smokers are designed with stronger steel frame than their offset counterpart. Although you can find some offset smokers with the better quality material than some other pellet smokers. One thing you need to understand about the quality of smokers is the strength of their construction material. These smokers are always taking up a high degree of heat.

They need to be designed with heavy duty steel in order to retain better heat and stand the test of time. That’s the most important feature to consider. So on average, a pellet smoker has more quality than an offset smoker. However, when it comes to affordability, offset smokers are far cheaper than pellet smokers.

Size and portability

Pellet smokers are smaller in comparison to offset smokers. If you’re going to be moving your smoker for both indoor and outdoor use, a pellet smoker should be more ideal. However, their disadvantage lies in the amount of meat they can handle.

Although a pellet smoker can handle a considerable amount of meat, an offset smoker handles even more. This makes the offset smoker more ideal if you’re cooking for a large number of people. You can smoke a large portion of meat at the same time compared with the pellet smoker.           

In which way does offset smokers work best?

All offset smokers have 2 main parts: its cooking chamber and the firebox. The cooking chamber is where the meat is kept during smoking while its firebox houses the wood or charcoal used for the smoking. An offset smoker’s cooking chamber is placed slightly above the firebox.

The offset smoker works great when used both indoors and outdoors. As wood burns inside the firebox, it heats up and takes the smoke through a channel straight to the meat chamber. Since the offset smoker is designed with steel, heat can be effectively controlled to give the meat the required level of temperature.

It comes with an adjustable temperature control where you can adjust the level of heat that comes to the meat chamber. That’s where you can specifically control the heating temperature for a specific type of meat you are smoking. So, if you need maximum heat, you can control the desired level with the temperature control.

The smoker’s adjustable chimney and intake dampers are used for controlling the airflow. These features help you manage the level of oxygen that is accessible at the firebox. With the offset smoker, you will have different charcoal or wood options, depending on the type of meat you are smoking.

Offset smokers are best used for family get-togethers and outdoor parties. It allows you to determine the level of temperature or heating you need for a particular meat. However, smoking with this type of smoker may be time-consuming and labor-intensive, considering that you are regularly going to make sure that wood or charcoal is always available during smoking.

The Best Offset smokers for you to buy

If you’ve not used an offset smoker before, it may be a bit difficult to select the right smoker, considering the plethora of options available in the market today. But knowing your smoking needs and having the right features in mind will help you take the right decision when selecting the perfect offset smoker for your needs.  The following are the best 5 models based on their ease of use and general quality.

Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker

Our Rating: [star rating=”3.4″ numeric=”yes”]

Royal Gourmet is the type of smoker you will love to have when you don’t have a lot of time to look into temperature details for smoking. The smoker is very easy to use as it comes with an adjustable handle and a strong sealing cover.

With this smoker, your food will be kept warm for a long time. But the very important features of the smokers include a state-of-the-art thermometer for easy temperature readings, durable design, and customized lead for controlling temperature.

It’s the perfect smoker for both beginners and experienced smokers looking for the best griller for different types of food.  Royal Gourmet is 100% heat-resistant, which means there will be no leftover of paint chips after using the smoker.

Most smokers in the market will normally start shelling off paint after some time. But the high-quality design of the smoker makes it different.  If you’re looking for the perfect grill for your indoor and outdoor use, this superior quality offset smoker will

Pros

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• Super fast for smoking
• Comes with an efficient thermometer
• Heat-resistant
• Strong steel lid that keeps food warm
• Easy to use
• Adjustable charcoal pan

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Cons

• A bit more expensive

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Char-Broil American Gourmet

Our Rating: [star rating=”3.5″ numeric=”yes”]

The Charbroil American Gourmet gives you three different cooking options as you can use it as a charcoal grill, a BBQ, or an offset smoker.

With a cooking space of 290 inches, you will have enough space to prepare large portions of meals. You can gain better smoke flavor with the infusion of charcoal through the firebox chamber.

Moreover, the offset smoker is still affordable, even with all its numerous benefits. It is excellent at fuel efficiency using woodchips and charcoal for optimum flavors.

You will also love the fact that the Charbroil offset smoker comes with adjustable fire grate to give you complete control over the level of cooking temperature you need.

Pros

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• Adjustable height fire grate
• 140 square inches of firebox chamber
• 290 sq.in. cooking chamber
• Solid construction and affordable

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Cons

• It burns more wood

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Charbroil American Gourmet is highly recommended for beginners and seasoned grillers who want to have a better result with their smoking tasks.[/su_box]

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Best offset smoker:Dyna-Glo Charcoal Offset Smoker

Our Rating: [star rating=”4″ numeric=”yes”]

Dyna-Glo is surely one of the most popular offset smokers in the market today.  And it’s popular for good reasons. The smoker is perfect for those looking to prepare the best-smoked meals for themselves, friends, and families. It comes with a heavy duty steel construction that makes it stand the test of time even after rugged use. The power coat finish ensures it last long for you to enjoy its uses and benefits for a long time. But the most amazing feature is the smoking capability.

With the 784 sq inch smoking area, it’s properly designed to smoke up to 1000lb of meat at a go. This makes it perfect for both family and commercial use. Another interesting feature of the smoker is the heat retaining capacity.

It comes with a dual door design that conceals heat as you add wood chips during the smoking process.  If you’re looking for a durable and heat concealing smoker for both indoor and outdoor use, Dyna-Glo offset smoker is surely your ideal smoker.

Pros

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• Designed with heavy-duty steel construction
• Ability to conceal heat for a long time
• Large smoking space for up to 1000lb of meat
• Ideal for different types of meat

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Cons

• Screws are a bit loose

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Char-Broil 40″ Offset Smoker

Our Rating: [star rating=”3″ numeric=”yes”]

Char-broil is yet another high-quality offset smoker for both the novice and experienced smoker. It’s very easy to use and does not cost much. The convenient side shelf makes it very easy to use. You will also love the lid mounted temperature gauge as well as its porcelain coated grates for better heat retention. Char-broil has 3 segments of the smoking chamber, which maintains temperature and reduces the loss of air.

Its moderately large cooking surface of 739 sq makes it possible to smoke different sizes of meat. With the smoker’s convenient ash door, you won’t bother about littering of ashes on the smoker after each use.

Overall, Char-broil is well designed to help grillers get the best out of their indoor and outdoor BBQ smoking with ease. Interestingly, it comes with a 1-year product warranty to give users assurance of quality.

Pros

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• Porcelain coated cooking grates
• Convenient cleanup
• Affordable offset smoker
• Large cooking space
• High-quality temperature gauge

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Cons

• Smoke stark not properly constructed
• A bit difficult to assemble

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Dyna-Glo Signature Series

Our Rating: [star rating=”4.4″ numeric=”yes”]

If you’re looking for a premium quality smoker with all the right features, they don’t come better than the Dyna-Glo offset smoker. It comes with durable steel temperature gauge construction that can stand the test of time. With the smoke and grill zone features, it becomes very easy to maintain the perfect smoking temperature for different types of meat.

Dyna-Glo signature series provides simple usability instructions for those still learning how to prepare the best-smoked meals. This is possible because of the ash pan and charcoal grate for easy ash disposal and quick access to fuel.  With this smoker, you won’t bother about heat retention because of the high-quality steel cooking grates.

Although it’s more expensive than some other models on the market, the overall quality makes the smoker a worthwhile investment. If you want the perfect cooking temperature for your meat, having a great BBQ smoker is the only option. Fortunately, Dyna-Glo signature series surely fits that description.

Pros

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• Very durable construction
• Maintains flavor and heat level
• Very easy to assemble
• Good temperature control buttons

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Cons

Comparatively expensive

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Char-Broil Oklahoma Smoker

Our Rating: [star rating=”3.7″ numeric=”yes”]

If you love the char-boil 40” offset smoker, there’s no doubt you’ll love this model even more.  It’s an upgraded version of their previous model with even more features and better heat retention capacity.

Although its cooking space is lower (about 620 sq inches) compared to its sister model, the smoker has one of the best heat retention capacities among all types of smokers. This is possible because of its multiple shelves that easily control smoke and heat.

With its convenient dampers, it will be very easy to add wood.  This smoker is very easy to use, even though it has a premium quality design.

It has a durable steel construction that makes it resistant to extreme heat. Char-broil Oklahoma offset smoker comes with bottom shelves to help users keep their accessories well organized.  With its efficient thermometer setting, you are assured to get your meat to the right temperature without undercooking or overcooking it.

Pros

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• Sturdy steel construction
• Comes with bottom shelves
• Better heat retention capacity
• Ideal for both novice and professional griller

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Cons

• Difficult to assemble
• Moderate cooking space

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Why should you buy an Offset smoker?

One question that constantly pops into people’s mind is why they have to use an offset smoker when a griddle is available.

Actually, an offset smoker has an advantage over other types of smokers because of certain benefits it has. Yes, grilling may cook your food faster and may be easier to work with, but an offset smoker provides you with the best wood flavor for your BBQ.

It gives you the opportunity to use different types of wood pellets according to the kind of smoke flavor you want in your meat. A normal grill will not offer you this opportunity.

The firebox of an offset smoker is not placed directly under the cooking chamber. This means that smoking takes a slow and flavored process, allowing you to prepare your BBQ meals exactly the way it should. There is no better way to infuse the best flavors in your meat than using an offset smoker.

They are preferred by professional pitmasters

Because of their ability to infuse the right smoke flavor, offset smokers are more valuable to pit masters and for commercial camping events than other types of smokers.

They are more spacious

The spacious design of offset smokers makes them more ideal for people who are preparing large meat cuts for parties and family get-togethers. If you are going to need a smoker for commercial grilling or for smoking a large quantity of meat, an offset smoker will be an ideal option because of its enormous space.

They tend to be more durable

Offset smokers are designed with the highest quality materials. That is why they tend to last longer than other types of smokers. So, if durability is one of the most important considerations for you, an offset smoker will be great for you.

They have versatile cooking options

Most offset smokers can be used to prepare foods in different ways. You can roast, sear, smoke, or grill with a single offset smoker. They can be a perfect substitute for different appliances such as a smoker, stovetop, grill, and even oven.

Things to consider when buying an offset smoker

Before selecting the right offset smoker, there are certain considerations you need to make. Below are things you need to look at before buying an offset smoker.

Serving size

The chamber of the offset smoker will tell you how much food it can contain. If you intend using the smoker to prepare large portions of meat, you should consider getting an offset smoker with more than 500 sq. in. cooking space.

Materials for construction

Obviously, durability should be an important consideration to make when buying an offset smoker. The best quality models are made with heavy-duty steel, especially the firebox. It should be constructed with strong material to be able to withstand the high level of heat it will hold. This will minimize heat loss and maintain the temperature at the right level.

Ventilation

Being able to hold temperature consistently is the ideal way to smoke a good meal with an offset smoker.  So, you need to control the oxygen flow. To do this effectively, you will need a smoker with easily adjustable vents. That way, you will conveniently adjust the heat levels to smoke your favorite meals effectively.

Good handle

Offset smokers are the least portable of all types of smokers. There should be a handy roller to be able to lift or move them easily. Consider an offset smoker with solid wheels or rollers to aid its movement.

Consider multifunctional smokers

Apparently, offset smokers are designed for multipurpose use. They are not just meant to smoke meat. You should select an offset smoker with different cooking methods like direct and indirect smoking.  Some units even have the option of cold smoking, which will be handy on cured meats and fish.

Tips for using an offset smoker for best taste and results

If you are still learning how to use an offset smoker to smoke your favorite BBQ meals, this segment will help you. Below are some tips to guide you when using the offset smoker.

Select the right fuel

Most offset smokers are fuelled by wood or charcoal. Choose the best flavoring wood you prefer for the type of meal you want to the smoker. Do not use wet wood because it will affect the quality of smoke for the food.

Season the smoker

Seasoning the smoker is the best way to get it ready for use. Apply cooking oil or any other type of oil at the inner chamber of the smoker. Afterward, make a fire in the box and add woodchips to raise the smoke.

Make sure the temperature level is between 250⁰ F and 275⁰ F. Maintain this temperature range for about 3 hours. Taking this step before using the smoker for the first time will prevent future rust or corrosion in the chamber.

Make use of charcoal

Although you can use wood in the smoker firebox, it’s always better to make use of charcoal. This is because it is easier to control the temperature of burning charcoal than wood.  Ideally, it is better to use charcoal to generate heat and use wood to add flavor to the food.

Clean ashtray after every use

To prolong the lifespan of the smoker, it is important to maintain regular cleaning habit. After every use, clean the grease from the chamber and wipe out ashes to prevent the buildup of dirt or clogging of the area.

Offset Smokers FAQ

Below are some of your answered questions about the use of offset smokers.

[su_spoiler class=”font-size=24px” title=”How can I use the offset smoker?”]

The offset smoker is very simple to use. It comes with a cooking chamber and a firebox. As the name implies, the firebox is where you place the charcoal or wood. You start by making a fire in the box. Then the smoke and heat move through the cooking chamber and goes out from the chimney.

There is a damper at the door of the firebox where you can control the level of heat and combustion.  With the damper, you can either reduce the level of heat or increase it’s level, depending on what you are cooking.

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[su_spoiler class=”font-size=24px” title=”Which traditional offset smoker is the best?”]

When it comes to traditional offset smokers, it’s it’s important to look at the feature of the particular model you are considering. You should be looking for a large and nice barrel or vertical type smoker. The best offset smokers have durable steel construction and large cooking space for smoking different sizes of meat. Interestingly, the models reviewed above are among the best in the market right now.[/su_spoiler]

[su_spoiler class=”font-size=24px” title=”How do I know the best quality offset smokers?”]

The best quality smokers have thick durable steels that conceal heat within the chamber. Generally, the steel should be about ¼ inch thick. Some may be thicker, but you shouldn’t buy any offset smoker with a lighter steel plate. It will not conceal heat effectively. Apart from that, it could be affected by too much heat when used for a certain period of time.

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Almost all offset smokers have removable wood/charcoal grates, which makes them very easy to clean.

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[su_box title=”Conclusion”]

Technology has really made meat smoking an easy and enjoyable task. With the right types of the smoker, even a novice will be very confident when smoking their favorite food. And offset smokers have come a long way. They are the traditional types of smokers and they provide the best smoke flavor. If you love your meat to have enough smoke flavors, your best bet should be an offset smoker.

They are not really expensive compared to reverse-flow smokers or pellet smokers, even though they are more time-consuming. But you may want to consider a pellet smoker if you prefer timeliness over more flavor and more juice. Your final choice depends on your preference and why you need a smoker.[/su_box]

The above best offset smokers reviewed here are the best types of offset smokers available in the market. They share certain things in common: durability, perfect temperature controls, and large cooking space. On the whole, if you’re looking for the perfect smoker for your meat smoking needs, these models here are the best of the bunch.