Best Offset Smoker

The Offset Smoker has a more classic smoker design, which is very popular.

Food smokes in the long horizontal chamber, while you can tend to wood and charcoal in a separate firebox attached to the other side.

Our article will look at some of the best Offset Smokers available today.



How Does an Offset Smoker Work

The Offset Smoker has a larger chamber that looks almost like an oil drum or a metal box. You place your food into this container to smoke.

Then there is a smaller chamber that sits more to the side, where you will make a fire with either wood or charcoal.

The firebox’s heat travels into the main cooking chamber and enters to cook and smoke the food inside the cooking chamber.
A chimney-like device comes out of the cooking chamber furthest away from the firebox, which helps to control temperatures and vent the box properly.


How To use Your Offset Smoker

In the video and out steps, you will see exactly how to use most Offset smokers;

  • Start The fire – If you have an electric smoker grill, the easiest way to start up is to use charcoal and then add wood. The best way to light the smoker is with your chimney starter, and once they are lit, you dump them inside the firebox and place a few pieces of wood in the firebox if you use wood. Place the wood around the charcoal and not directly on top of them. Once they are heated, you can place them on the charcoal. While you wait, keep placing log by log in the firebox to heat up. Keep the vents and the firebox door open, as you need oxygen to get the fire going.
  • Get the Temperature Right – Unless you have a calibrated internal thermometer, you will need to check the temperatures manually. Get a probe set up at the grate level where you will cook the meat, and you will need to adjust the vents to keep the right temperature. When you have the desired temperature, position the vents on the sides to 1/3 open and the chimney to ½ open. Recheck your firebox and add new heated logs. Make sure to only gradually make fine adjustments to your vents as needed and not all in one go.
  • Manage Your Fire – After adding your meats to the smoker in the Oven box, you will need to manage the fire. Check the firebox every 45 minutes or so, and put in new logs or charcoal as needed. Check the temperatures and ensure no white smoke is pouring out of your chimney. If your temperatures drop, you can add more logs to the fire and leave the firebox door open for a bit. Make sure to rotate your meat so that it cooks evenly.

Features of a Good Offset Smoker

There are a few characteristics that you need to consider when looking for a good offset smoker;

  • Warranty – A warranty is something to look for when purchasing such an investment. The warranty gives you peace of mind that may protect you against manufacturing faults and issues. With good use and maintenance, your offset smoker should last without issues.
  • Quality Seals – Any smoker that does not seal properly will most likely leak valuable smoke and heat. This, in turn, means that you will use more fuel and lose much of the sought-after smoky flavor in the air. Check all the smoker doors and ensure that they seal properly and that there are no gaps.
  • Quality Dampers – Dampers that slide easily and seal well are ideal and vital for controlling gear and smoke levels within the cooking chambers. Ensure you can easily adjust the dampers and the oil when necessary.
  • Sturdy Build – Grills are large and heavy-duty items and si are most Offset smokers. Make sure that the build of the offset smoker is sturdy and durable. Look for durable materials and strong legs with proper wheels and hinges.
  • Temperature Gauges – BBQ’s without temperature gauges is a risky thing. For better temperature control and to understand what is going on under your smoker toy’s hood, a quality thermometer will need to be built into the hood. You need to be able to monitor the internal temperatures without having to constantly open the smoker or BBQ, which may cause a loss of heat and smoke.
  • Heavy Gauge Metal – A thicker metal used in your Offset smoker means you will enjoy better heat retention and reduced fuel consumption. Thicker metal construction will also not easily warp over time and offers better heat retention in colder weather and rainy seasons. Keep in mind that thicker metals also take longer to heat up initially and respond slower to change when adjusting temperatures in the chamber.
  • Cover – As part of maintenance and keeping your offset smoker in good condition, covering it after use is vital. Most Offset Smokers come with a cover included, or you can purchase a cover separately. A cover protects it against rain, dust, and pests that may cause damage and deteriorate the Offset Smoker in time.

How We Test and Score Offset Smokers

These reviews are based on intense research, analysis, and feedback from our experts and real users from different digital platforms.

We spent 29 hours trying, testing, and scoring these Offset Smokers for different key parameters and then shortlisted the best products in the market, saving you time and effort.

We used the following parameters for our tests and analysis.

  • Capacity – We noted the maximum proportion of food that the grill can handle.
  • Temperature Control – We observed how helpful temperature control was in grilling to avoid overcooked and undercooked food.
  • Removable Ash Pan – We checked how easy it was to disposed ashes.
  • Durability – We researched how long users can use these grills without any reported changes in their quality or design.
  • Style – We analyzed how appealing the design or style of the grill is as if it could meet the user’s expectations.

Reviews: The Best Offset Smokers

In our review list, we have some of the best available Offset smoker brands and models that are available to you today;
We hope you love the products we recommend!
So that you know, We may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.


1
Reviewed by: Eliza Ward Score: 96.75

This Dyna-Glo model gives you plenty of options in grill and offsets smoker designs, from which you can choose.
  • The smoker has six height-adjustable cooking grates to accommodate various sizes of foods.
  • There is a large 1890 square inches of cooking space available.
  • There are effective charcoal and ash management system for maintenance-free cooking.
  • The smokestack features an adjustable flue to add additional flavor and control temperatures.


Rating CategoryWeight %Score
Capacity25%100
Temperature Control25%100
Removable Ash Pan20%95
Durability15%90
Style15%95
Total Score100%96.75


2
The Royal Gourmet offset smoker and grill has a large, heavy-duty design with an 800-square-inch cooking surface.
  • The cooking grates ensure good circulation of heat and smoke.
  • There is an ashpan to remove ash and a smoker combination system.
  • The cooking area offers you a smaller and more compact 800 square inches, perfect for different types of grilling items.
  • There is also a Chrome plated warming rack.

Rating CategoryWeight %Score
Capacity25%100
Temperature Control25%95
Removable Ash Pan20%95
Durability15%90
Style15%95
Total Score100%95.5


3
The Dyna-Glo Signature Series offset smoker is a grill and smoker with a heavy-duty design.
  • The Offset Smoker and grill has five chrome-plated cooking grates and cooking space of 1382 square inches.
  • A heavy gauge is used for the construction of the body.
  • The design has cool-touch handles and allows you to access food and fuel safely.
  • There are oversized wheels for safe and easy portability.

Rating CategoryWeight %Score
Capacity25%100
Temperature Control25%95
Removable Ash Pan20%95
Durability15%90
Style15%90
Total Score100%94.75


4
The Oklahoma Joe Longhorn is a heavy-duty design Reverse Flow Offset Smoker.
  • The Grill has 1060 square inches of cooking space.
  • This is a Reverse Flow Smoker with a series of 4 baffles.
  • There are a firebox chamber and a large stainless steel fuel basket.
  • All heavy gauge steel construction with porcelain-enameled coated grates and dampers.


5
From Broil King, a top brand, we have their heavy-duty cast iron offset smoker available in two sizes.
  • The Offset smoker and grill are constructed of 2mm steel with a 625 square meter primary cooking area.
  • It has heavy-duty cast-iron cooking grids.
  • There are an air vent system and chimney-style rack with Roto-Draft damper technology,
  • The dual-purpose smoke diffusing charcoal trays are removable, and there is an ashtray in both cooking chambers.


6
The Real cook Vertical design Charcoal Offset smoker has a heavy-duty design and is ideal for outdoor grilling and smoking.
  • This is a quality Offset Smoker with a built-in thermometer.
  • There is a 453 square inch cooking space and crossbar with four hangers inside the lid to hand meats.
  • It is a multifunctional smoker for hot and cold smoking with different cooking methods.
  • There is also a latch locking system.


Index Table: Top Rated Offset Smokers

No.ProductImageFeaturesBrandScore
1Dyna-Glo Wide Body - Vertical Offset Smoker
  • Charcaol Smoker
  • Vertical
  • Size Options
Dyna-Glo96.75
2Royal Gourmet 30 Inch - Offset Smoker
  • Large Cooking Surface
  • Durable
  • OPtions
Royal Gourmet95.5
3Dyna-Glo Signature Series - Heavy Duty Offset Smoker
  • Charcaol Smoker and Grill
  • Vertical
  • Heavy Duty
Dyna-Glo94.75
4Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn - Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
  • Large Cooking Surface
  • Removable Baffles
  • Heavy Gauge Steel
Oklahoma Joe’s97.3
5Broil King 958050 - Offset Smoker
  • Size Options
  • Heavy Duty
  • Cast Iron
Broil King96.9
6Realcook Vertical - Heavy Duty Offset Smoker
  • Two Options
  • Vertical Design
  • Heavy Duty Strength
Realcook97


About the Author

Eliza Ward

Eliza Ward is a food enthusiast, blogger, author, and mother to three lovely kids in South Africa. She has always had a fetish for grilled food and has the best product recommendations for all her friends and family. So she turned what she loved into her full-time job - by testing and recommending the best grills for our online readers. Eliza is more than happy with the thank you notes she receives from her readers.