Offset smokers have been around for a long time, and they are one of the most popular smoker models around. This classic smoker grills food in a chamber with a horizontal shape while wood or charcoal is loaded in a firebox attached to the other end of the smoker. The best offset smokers also have shelves within the cooking chamber to smoke your briskets, beef, and other food. Some even have special racks for ribs.
Due to the popularity of this type of smoker, there are so many brands marketing their model. While this is a good thing because it increases your options, it can also be confusing to decide on the one to go for. This is why we have decided to help you out. In this piece, we reviewed five of the best offset smokers so you can make the right choice.
Table of Contents
Best Offset Smokers
| Image | Best Offset Smokers | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro | 99% |
 | 2. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Smoker | 96% |
 | 3. Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Smoker | 92% |
 | 4. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo | 89% |
 | 5. Dyna-Glo DGSS730CBO-D-KIT Signature Series Offset Smoker | 85% |
Want to learn more?
Here are our Best Offset Smoker reviews.
1. Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro
The Char-Griller is an offset smoker with a traditional grill for making Texas-style barbecues. It has a firefox by the side with a large enough chamber to contain a significant woodpile. Measuring about 820 Square inches, this smoker is ideal for private and professional use. The firebox is 50 Square inches and specially designed to provide the grill with all the heating it needs to grill food to perfection.
Both the grill barrel and the firebox are constructed with heavy-duty steel with powder coats. The cooking grates are also made with nonstick cast iron. This nonstick feature allows for easy removal as your food will not get stuck to the grates. This is especially helpful if your beef or meat contains a lot of sticky fat. The fire grate is also adjustable to give you maximum control over the level of heat your food is exposed to.
Char Griller is an effective smoker for your small and large events. Its wide grates allow you to grill large portions of food at once. To avoid making a mess, the manufacturer has also included a removable charcoal drawer in the structure which serves as an ash collector.
Why do we like it?
- Solid construction
- Has wheels for easy movement
- Wide storage racks
- It has a heat gauge for maximum temperature control
2. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Smoker
Dyna-Glo is another durable offset smoker with a vertical design that fries food with rising heat. The construction of this smoker allows your food to roast uniformly without burning by heating the cooking grates directly. Dyna-Glo does not grip food quickly but is a slow cooker. Standing at 784 Square inches of smoking area, this is one of the best offset smokers money can buy. It has six adjustable grates to accommodate different food sizes. Each grate can carry as much as 25 pounds of food which makes it a heavy-duty smoker.
Dyna-Glo has a steel charcoal chamber coated with porcelain enamel to prevent rusting. It also prevents your food from sticking together in a limited space which tends to lead to burning. To improve efficiency even further, the charcoal chamber deposits ashes into a removable ash pan made of steel instead of littering your floor or cooking area with the waste. This allows you to collect and dispose of the ash effortlessly.
This offset griller will smoke your food well and will also serve you for long. We recommend it for its efficiency and the long term value it guarantees.
Why do we like it?
- Smoke Zone thermometer for heat regulation
- Very easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
3. Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Smoker
Oklahoma Joe is one of the most popular grill brands in the market, and this Highland smoker model of theirs is indeed a smoker per excellence. You can enjoy your grilling exercise with this classic smoker that features heavy-duty construction, high-temperature release, convenient fire access door and several dampers that offer you more control over how your food turns out. This smoker is ideal for your backyard BBQ hangouts, camping trips and large parties.
It has about 628 square inches of cooking space and 281 square inches of secondary space for other food items. You will have no issues regulating the heat output of Oklahoma Joe’s because the dampers are adjustable and allow you to regulate the level of heat and smoke released. Any smoker that offers you maximum control over heat output has to be one of the best offset smokers around.
Furthermore, you will have no issues gaining access to your food because the front shelf is exactly the full length of the smoker itself. With such a wide space, loading the smoker with your food and food removal after it is done is easy.
Why do we like it?
- Anti-rust porcelain cooking grates
- Cool-touch handles
- Special area for food warming
- Has wagon-style wheels
4. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo
Here is another offset smoker by Oklahoma Joe. This versatile model is a combination of firewood and gas heating. It has two separate chambers. One cooking chamber is for smoking with wood, while the second one is for grilling with gas. This model also has an offset firebox with a gas burner by the side. While Highland does an equally good job, this model gives the user two heating options. You may choose to use the wood chamber or speed up the process using the gas chamber.
The LP Smoker combo has a special section for your cooking utensils with an additional shelf underneath to store metal and steel tools. There is also a temperature gauge mounted on the lid. With this gauge, you can evaluate the heat within the chamber without the need to open it. If the heat is too much, you can simply reduce it. If it is not hot enough, the choice is yours to raise it by stocking the fire if you are using the charcoal chamber or increasing the gas output if it is the gas chamber.
With about 1060 Square inch of total cooking space, you have sufficient grilling space for grilling food for many people at the same time.
Why do we like it?
- Versatile food smoker
- Maximum heat and smoke control
- Air damper in the firefox chamber for effective air circulation
- Value for money
5. Dyna-Glo DGSS730CBO-D-KIT Signature Series Offset Smoker
The Dyna-Glo D-Kit series is another model by this manufacturer to make our list of best offset smokers. This smoker has a total cooking area of 730 Square inches. The offset cooking area is 287 inches, and the primary cooking area is 443 square inches. The D-Kit comes with a cover that protects the cooking grades when it is in and out of use. Spotting a heavy gauge steel body, this smoker is weather resistant. It will not rust, neither will the metal begin to fall apart due to wear and tear.
If you are looking for a smoker that allows you to grill food without the need to spend money in a few years on a replacement, this is the smoker to go for. The charcoal crate and ash pan are all removable, so you can load your coals into the chamber effortlessly while taking out ash waste without messing up your cooking area.
The enameled porcelain cooking grates allow for easy transfer of heat to ensure that your food sears as well as it should. Dyna-Glo D-Kit smoker is indeed a valuable smoker for households and businesses.
Why do we like it?
- Ultimate flame Control feature
- Sturdy moving wheels
- It has an easy to open spring lid handle
- Allows you to diversify your cooking options
Offset Smokers Buyer’s Guide
If you want to end up with the best offset smokers money can buy, you need to know what to look for in a smoker. The features matter because a smoker with durable and user-friendly features is one that will accommodate your cooking needs and easy to control. In this buyer guide, we will like to address a few features to look for in an offset smoker.
Construction Quality
If you want the best results, buy a quality smoker made with thin metal. A thin metal construction will allow you maximum control over the heat input and the smoke output of the smoker. The best offset smokers have at least a thick steel body of ¼ inches with vents stationed at strategic points for premium airflow. Also, the quality of the steel material matters. You don’t want a smoker made with poor quality steel as this will only develop corrosion over time.
Cooking area
When evaluating the cooking area, what you should be most concerned about are the cooking grates. Make sure you go for smokers with at least two cooking chambers with large enough grates to accommodate significant food portions at a time. If the grates are too small, there is only so much food you can grill at a time.
Size
Measure the area you wish to place the smoker before you order for it. The last thing you want is to buy a smoker that is too big for your space. Besides the area you want to keep the smoker, also consider extra space for ease of movement as this is important too.
Wheels
The best offset smokers have wheels for easy transportation. We recommend that you avoid smokers without wheels. If you go for a wheel-less smoker, you will need help lifting and moving it anytime there is a need to transport it or change its position.
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