To make the most of meats and other foods…
…professional and home chefs use offset smokers…
…also known as barrel smokers or horizontal smokers.
Despite the fact that some offset smokers are powered…
…by electricity, traditional models use fuel such as charcoal…
…or propane in an external firebox attached to the cooking chamber.
This produces heat and smoke, which circulates…
…through the cooking chamber and out of an exhaust vent to smoke food.
For your patio or deck, the best offset smokers on Amazon…
…depends on the type of fuel you prefer…
…the size and weight of the smoker, and the method of temperature control.
You can use this guide to determine…
…which product is best for you and read about the following models…
…all of which are considered among the best offset smokers on Amazon.
Here are a few words from Alejandro before we get started…
As a smoker, I use this exclusively, and it’s great for the price.
For best results, do an initial burn at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for an hour.
Then it works like a charm.
The set-up took about thirty to forty minutes, but was well worth it. I use it almost daily now.
Now, let’s get started…
Types of Offset Smokers
There are several types of offset smokers depending on the fuel they use…
…such as electric, charcoal, wood pellets, and gas.
Electric
Electric smokers utilize a heating element that sits…
…at the bottom of the smoker to produce heat.
It requires an external power source…
…such as an extension cord plugged into a power outlet outside your home.
The fact that electric smokers are tethered…
…to a power source means they are not portable…
…unless you also have a generator.
Beginners will appreciate this style of smoker…
…which features an automatic internal thermostat…
…that lets you precisely control the temperature.
Some models even have Bluetooth connectivity…
…so you can control the heat settings using an app on your smartphone or tablet.
Charcoal
Most grill cooks use charcoal because it produces more smoke…
…than electric or gas smokers, which imparts a smoky flavor to their food.
Although offset smokers and grills are relatively easy to operate…
…to master them you must learn how to control the temperature…
…using the intake and exhaust dampers.
Although these smokers are ideal for people…
…who enjoy having hands-on control…
…there are charcoal models available…
..with fully automatic temperature control-ideal…
…for people who wish to enjoy the taste of charcoal…
…without getting their hands dirty.
The charcoal offset smoker should be cleaned regularly…
…to prevent the buildup of creosote…
…(a thick, oily substance left over from fire)…
…and other byproducts that could negatively affect the taste of food.
Keep reading…
Pellet
The slow burning of wood pellets…
…in pellet offset smokers imparts natural smoky flavor to food.
Pellets made from natural wood, mesquite, and hickory…
…provide a range of different flavors, including sweet, whiskey, and charcoal.
This type of offset smoker usually has a dial…
…or digital temperature control;
…all you need to do is place food in the cooking chamber, add pellets…
…set the temperature, and then keep track of the time.
You can check on the food and adjust the temperature if necessary…
…and the offset smoker will automatically adjust the dampers…
…to increase or decrease the temperature as needed.
Gas
A gas smoker usually uses liquid propane…
…or natural gas to provide a low, slow-cooking heat that is easy to control.
With a built-in ignition switch, these are easy to start with a push of a button.
Gas can be slowly increased or decreased from an attached tank…
…to adjust the temperature as needed.
The size of gas smokers is usually smaller than electric, charcoal…
…or pellet models, so they’re not ideal for cooking for large groups.
Although the smaller footprint and gas fuel source are better suited…
…to small outdoor spaces and areas where charcoal use is restricted.
Perhaps you are wondering…
Features to Look for in the Best Offset Smokers on Amazon
Here are some important factors and features…
…to consider when choosing an offset smoker for your patio or deck.
Quality
If you’re likely to use your smoker frequently…
…and/or keep it outdoors where it’s exposed to the elements…
…choose a robust model with a lid that closes securely…
…and a strong seal between the firebox and the main chamber.
Stainless steel construction of the smoker body…
…and cooking grates is a sign of good quality.
Insulation and Ventilation
Cooking food is a slow process requiring the cooking chamber…
…to maintain a relatively constant temperature.
It is important to ensure that you have adequate insulation…
…in your smoker so that you don’t burn more fuel than is necessary.
Despite insulation maintaining an optimal heat level…
…the temperature inside the smoker is actually controlled by the ventilation system.
Most models include at least one intake damper…
…and one exhaust damper, though some models…
…provide additional vents to allow for more precise control.
The damper vents control the flow of oxygen, smoke…
…and heat in the smoker for an ideal slow-cook experience.
Thermometer
A thermometer on an offset smoker can range…
…from a standard dial unit attached to the lid to an electronic thermometer…
…that can automatically adjust the ventilation system based on the temperature.
For experienced grillers, digital temperature control is not necessary…
…and a simple dial thermometer will suffice.
Nevertheless, those who are new to grilling…
…may want to learn how to control the temperature…
…before moving to a traditional charcoal offset smoker.
Intake and exhaust dampers on charcoal smokers…
…require more knowledge and experience to control the fluctuating heat…
…as charcoal is more susceptible to rapidly climbing and falling temperatures.
Size
From portable smokers with a 150-square-inch cooking surface…
…to full-size smokers with multiple cooking surfaces…
…and a combined cooking surface area…
…of over 800 square inches, smokers vary in size.
Your choice of smoker size will depend on how much space you have…
…how many people you expect to cook regularly…
…and whether portability is an issue.
You may not want a smoker that occupies most of your patio space…
…if you have a small patio.
A cooking surface of at least 600 square inches is recommended…
…if you entertain crowds of eight or more.
In most cases, portable offset smokers are gas models…
…that are connected to a small propane tank.
One or two adults should be able to lift and load them into a vehicle.
Consider getting a smoker with wheels if you want portability…
…without sacrificing too much on size. It will be much easier to move around.
Weight
Weights of offset smokers range from 20 pounds…
…to over 200 pounds for extra-large models.
Unless you plan to move your smoker regularly…
…weight is not a major consideration.
Many cooks keep their smokers in one location…
…especially if they are large models.
Offset smokers are also affected by the size of the hopper:
…a narrowing compartment in the smoker where charcoal…
…or wood pellets are loaded to be automatically added…
…to the smoker when needed.
The larger the hopper, the less frequently the smoker needs to be filled.
Accessories
Smokers with offsets may include a variety of useful accessories.
There are simple items like grill utensils, pellets…
…or charcoal as well as more expensive extras…
…such as a cover for the smoker and racks to store charcoal, utensils, or food.
Consider whether you’ll actually use accessories…
…before you buy a smoker since they can increase the price.
If you don’t plan on moving your smoker…
…for example, then there’s no point in investing in a set of wheels.
Here’s the main part…
Our Top Picks for Best Offset Smokers on Amazon
| Image | Brand | Buy |
|---|---|---|
 Top | Masterbuilt | Check Price on Amazon |
 Top | Z GRILLS | Check Price on Amazon |
 Top | Oklahoma Joe's | Check Price on Amazon |
Let’s go through them one by one…
Masterbuilt MB20040220 Gravity Series 560 Digital
- Reaches 225°F in 7 minutes or 700°F in 13 minutes
This Masterbuilt model is worth checking out…
…if you want connectivity and the taste of charcoal.
You can control the temperature and cook time…
…on this digital charcoal grill/offset smoker using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.
In addition, there are built-in temperature gauges…
…and meat probe thermometers to monitor your food.
In addition to weighing 147 pounds, the smoker has four wheels…
…that allow it to be moved around easily.
Up to 10 pounds of lump charcoal or 16 pounds of charcoal briquettes…
…can be stored in the hopper, allowing you to cook for up to 15 hours…
…before needing to refill.
When the temperature is set, the digital fan…
…and gravity-fed hopper work together to increase…
…or decrease the temperature rapidly to the desired setting…
…so you do not have to guess what the temperature will be.
Z GRILLS ZPG-550A 2020 Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
- ★ ULTIMATE 8-IN-1: Barbecue wood fire pellet grill: bbq✓bake✓roast✓braise✓smoke✓grill✓sear✓char-grill
The Z Grills ZPG-550A will be a great choice for grilling beginners…
…and those who like to set it and forget it.
It has everything from an ignition control system to a temperature controller.
There is a 423-square-inch main cooking surface…
…and a 167-square-inch warming rack for a total of 590 square inches of cooking area.
You can load up to 16 pounds of wood pellets into this offset smoker…
…which adds pellets gradually according to the temperature settings you choose.
Using an electronic ignition switch means no more matches or lighters:
Just press the ignition button…
…set the temperature between 180 and 450 degrees Fahrenheit…
…and let the smoker do its thing.
Go on…
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
- 900 total Square inch cooking surface- 619 Square inches in main chamber, 281 Square inches in firebox chamber
The vast majority of people can’t afford to spend $1000-$2500 on an offset smoker.
Unless you decide to mortgage your house to buy a smoker…
…which is not the best investment.
The budget end of the spectrum is unfortunately full of cheaply made…
…poorly insulated smokers that attract people…
…with their authentic looks, only to leave them disappointed.
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland is our top recommendation…
…for anyone with a budget under $500.
Oklahoma Joe’s uses heavy-gauge steel for better heat retention…
…and stability as opposed to many cheap offset smokers.
Grill grates are porcelain-coated and provide 619 square inches…
…of cooking space in the main chamber and 281 square inches in the firebox chamber.
Additionally, the same company sells the Longhorn…
…which has 751 square inches of cooking space in the main chamber.
You can configure the Highland as a reverse flow offset smoker…
…which means heat from the firebox must travel…
…under a baffled flue to the end before it reverses back…
…and drafts through the main cooking chamber.
“The whole unit is made of steel, including the wheels. It weighs nearly 200 pounds, so you’ll be glad for the heavy-duty rollers, and you know it isn’t going to lose much heat.”
MARK JENNER – Founder, Author, and Chief Editor at FoodFireFriends.com
Sum Up!
A good offset smoker is one that meets both your budget and requirements.
Most of the products reviewed in these offset smoker reviews…
…offer adequate cooking space for a large family or even some guests.
If you want your smoker to last a long time…
…make sure you take proper care of it.
As time goes on, you’ll become more adept…
…at maintaining the right temperature and managing the fire.
Conclusion
There you have it! That was easy, wasn’t it?
You now have a pretty good idea of at least what to look for in a smoker…
…and maybe even a clear picture of which smoker is right for you.
You are probably so close to your first brisket…
…or rack of ribs that you can almost taste it!
Learn more about the best offset smokers…
…and how they work by reading our article about that topic.
Please let us know what you thought about the article…
…and if you have any thoughts about what the best smoker is…
…we’d love to hear them!
Until next time, we wish you tender meat, delicious sauces…
…and barbecues without rain.
Happy grilling!
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Hi there! I’m a food enthusiast and journalist, and I have a real passion for food that goes beyond the kitchen. I love my dream job and I’m lucky enough to be able to share my knowledge with readers of several large media outlets. My specialty is writing engaging food-related content, and I take pride in being able to connect with my audience. I’m known for my creativity in the kitchen, and I’m confident that I can be the perfect guide for anyone looking to take their culinary journey to the next level.
