Hey! This site is reader-supported and we earn commissions if you purchase products from retailers after clicking on a link from our site.
If you don’t want to be tending to fire for hours on end, but you want great tasting smoked food, choose gas. You can light your smoker and leave it to do its’ job. These smokers are almost as easy to use as electric smokers and are reasonably priced (perfect smoker for beginners). They produce clean heat so they are more environmentally friendly than charcoal smokers. Most gas smokers are rigged up to work with tanks of propane gas. If you want to change it to natural gas get in a professional, but not all propane gas units can be changed.
Table of Contents
- What do Gas Smokers Look Like?
- Pros and Cons of Gas Smokers
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Thoughts
In this article, we will be telling you more about gas smokers and giving you our top choices.
In a hurry? This is our winner!
Runner Up
Best Gas Smokers – Comparison Table
Best Gas Smokers – Reviews
This gas smoker is vertical if you have just a small patio it will still fit in easily (a vertical pellet smoker is an option also). It has 545 square inches of cooking space measured over 4 stainless steel racks which are strong, durable, and easy to clean. The racks can be removed, not only for cleaning but if you want to cook a large piece of meat or a whole bird like smoking a turkey. In addition, they are dishwasher safe which makes life easier.
There is a thermometer on the front door so you can keep an eye on the temperature inside the smoker. The gas supply is adjustable so you will have control over the heat.
There are 2 doors which is ideal. The smaller door at the bottom of the smoker leads to a porcelain enameled steel tray that holds a water pan and a wood pan. You will be able to refill either without opening the main door which is for the cooking area. In this way you won’t let out heat and smoke.
The smoker has a rear vent that can either be opened or closed to regulate the heat and smoke. The door has a very tight seal, so you won’t lose heat or smoke that way. The vent is all you need.
You have to buy the gas tanks, but this smoker comes with a 40” propane hose and regulator so you will easily be able to connect it to the tank.
- 5. 45 SQUARE FEET OF INTERIOR: The spacious 5. 45 square foot interior means there is plenty of room to smoke a variety of meats along with several trays of vegetables. The vertical footprint makes it a perfect size for patios and barbecue kitchens.
- Product Dimensions: 19.3" L x 18.1" W x 38.6" H | Weight: 69.5 lb
- FOUR 14 X 14-INCH REMOVABLE STAINLESS STEEL SHELVES: Four stainless steel racks can be easily removed for smoking whole birds or large cuts of meat. Racks are dishwasher safe, making cleanup easy.
- BUILT-IN THERMOMETER: Features easy-to-read thermometer on the front door for accessible monitoring of the internal temperature.
- TOTAL TEMPERATURE AND SMOKE CONTROL: An adjustable gas supply gives control over the amount of heat. Optimal smoker access through two doors and a rear vent can be opened or closed to control the amount of heat and smoke exiting the oven.
- 545 square inches of cooking space
- Dishwasher-safe stainless steel racks
- Thermometer on the front door
- 2 doors, one for the cooking space and the other for the water and wood chip pans
- 40” propane hose and regulator included
- A couple of customers complained that if they added water to the tray during the smoking process it wouldn’t reach temperature
This gas smoker also has two doors, one leading to the cooking chamber and the other to the wood chip and water pans. Because you don’t have to open the door to the cooking chamber to add water and wood pellets, the heat will be retained.
It is a good size at 30” wide and there are 4 chrome smoking racks and 717 square inches of cooking space. You will be able to smoke a lot of meat and even vegetables (even smoking a fish is easy with this smoker).
The burner is made of strong and durable stainless steel and the wood tray and water pan are porcelain-coated so everything is strong and durable. There is a built-in temperature gauge that allows you to go up to 400F, and the handle is cool to the touch.
The smoker has a tight door to keep the heat and smoke in which means that your food will be immersed in smoky flavors. You can choose different types of wood chips to get different flavors. Try mesquite, hickory, or cherry.
There is an air damper which gives you control over the smoke so you can have as much or as little of the smoky flavor that you want.
- Four chrome-coated smoking racks
- Built-in temperature gauge
- Push-button ignition lights burner quickly and easily
- Patented porcelain-coated flame disk bowl allows flame to reach wood chips while shielding burner from grease
- 15, 400 BTU stainless-steel burner
- 4 chrome cooking racks
- 717 square inches of cooking space
- Temperature gauge
- Cool handle
- 2 doors so you don’t have to open the cooking chamber door to add wood or water
- 1 customer complained that the inside paint flaked away
- A couple of customers complained that the smoker didn’t hold the heat well
If you need to cook a lot of food, this smoker is perfect. It is 36” wide which is a lot wider than a lot of smokers out there. It has 4 adjustable steel racks. If you want to cook a large bird like a turkey, just take out a couple of the racks.
It has a double door design. The larger door is for the cooking space and the lower small door is for the water pan and wood chip box. It’s always better to have these two separate as if you need to top up the water and wood chips you won’t have to open the cooking area and let out heat. Both the water bowl and wood chip pan are made from porcelain-enameled steel, so they are strong and durable.
To control airflow there are air dampers on the top and sides. There is a temperature gauge on the front door which has a feature that tells you if the smoker is working at its’ best for smoking.
- A total of 784-square inch of cooking space for smoked flavored foods. 4 adjustable steel wire racks
- A 15,000 btu cast iron burner with an electronic push button ignition, and a large control dial
- Porcelain enameled steel wood chip box with handles and lid for choice of wood chips and porcelain enameled steel water bowl
- An easy to use double-door design (upper/lower) for greater heating/smoking, cooking control, sliding air dampers on top and sides for the choice of smoked/cooking heat control options, and a nice decorative temperature gauge with decor ring
- Csa certified. warranty 1 year limited. assembly dimensions length 27-inch by depth 19.20-inch by height 46.46-inch weight 54 lbs
- 36” wide and with 784 square inches of cooking space
- 15,000 BTU cast iron burner
- Electronic push-button ignition
- Double-door design
- A couple of customers complained that it wouldn’t reach the desired temperature when it was cold outside
This gas smoker gives 12,500 BTU in total which is enough for a smoker. It also provides a temperature range of 100F – 350F which is also adequate for a smoker. It has 4 porcelain cooking grids and there is a total of 884 square inches of cooking space. You could cook for a crowd in this smoker.
There are 2 doors with the cooking space being accessed from a front window. With the window you can see your food cooking without opening the door and letting heat out. The main door is fully sealed, so you won’t lose any smoke or heat through it. The second door takes you to the wood chip pan and the water pan. You can refill these without affecting your cooking.
- Dual valve/dual burner system provides 100-350 temperature range
- Three porcelain coated cooking grids, 800 sq in
- Stainless Steel burners - 12, 500 BTU total
- External access to wood chip drawer and grease tray
- Large viewing window with high temperature door seal
- 12,500 BTUs in total
- A large 884 square inches of cooking space
- 2 doors, 1 for the cooking space and the other for the water and wood chip pans
- Fully sealed main door
- A couple of customers complained that it wouldn’t reach a high enough temperature
This smoker has 2 adjustable smoking racks. You can even take 1 out if you want to smoke a whole turkey. It also has a jerky smoking rack. At the bottom of the smoker, there is a removable porcelain base tray that holds a heavy-gauge wood chip pan and water container. Choose the flavor of the wood chips you like best to infuse your meat. Perhaps you like the taste of hickory or mesquite or a subtle cherry or apple?
There are adjustable heat-control dials and a door thermometer so you can see the internal temperature. This smoker has a temperature range between 160F and 350F. The ignition for lighting the burner is electronic and you don’t need matches.
- Custom fit cover
- Weather-resistant liner
- Protects Smoke Vault from the elements
- Patio Cover Fits Smoke Vault Models: SMV24S, SMV24B
- 30.5"x24.25"x17.5"
- 2 adjustable racks and a jerky rack
- 3 damper valves
- Door thermometer
- A couple of customers claimed that it wasn’t insulated and was made of thin metal
Best Gas Smokers – Buyers Guide
What do Gas Smokers Look Like?
Most propane gas smokers are cabinet shaped. The burner is at the bottom. Above this is the wood chip tray. The wood chips are what produce the smoke and you can have some fun here, adding different flavored woods for a completely different taste each time. Why not try a blend of woods? Above or next to the wood chip tray there is a water pan. Water adds moisture which makes your meat juicy and tender. Above these are the shelves for placing your food on. There could be any number of shelves depending on the size of the unit. There are usually dampers both top and bottom or a chimney. Remember to leave the top vent open otherwise you’ll get soot all over your food.
Some gas smokers have 2 doors which are a great idea. The small door at the bottom takes you to the water and wood chip pans and the bigger door above, to the food chamber. The good thing about having 2 doors is that you don’t need to open the cooking chamber to add water and wood chips. In this way you won’t be letting out smoke and heat.
Gas smokers don’t come with propane gas tanks. You have to buy them separately and it’s a good idea to have at least 2 if one runs out in the middle of smoking. It’s a good idea to keep checking your smoker when your gas tank is running low.
Pros and Cons of Gas Smokers
Pros
- It is much easier to control a gas smoker than a charcoal or wood smoker.
- Both wood and electric smokers need to be connected to electricity, while gas doesn’t. This makes them more portable, even if you wanted to take them camping with you. Yes, the tanks are heavy, but if you are driving to a campsite you should have enough room.
- Gas smokers fire up quickly unlike charcoal and wood.
- If you compare gas smokers to electric, they are cheaper to run. Propane is more economical than electricity.
Cons
- Generally, they are too narrow to fit a full slab of ribs or a whole brisket on a shelf. You will have to cut the meat in half which wouldn’t be too much of a hardship. Alternatively, if you are good at DIY, you could find a way of making hangers for the meat.
- A gas smoker won’t give you quite the same taste as a charcoal smoker.
- Some hardened charcoal smoker users consider it cheating to use a gas smoker as you don’t have to tend to the fire.
- If you run out of propane, your whole meal could be ruined. This is easily rectified if you remember to check the weight of the tank each time you come to use your gas smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
We hope that we have given you enough information about gas smokers, but you may still have a few questions. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. We have tried to answer a couple of the most popular questions here.
What will the flavor of meat be like when cooked in a gas smoker?
You may think that gas smokers won’t give that barbecue smell you get with charcoal and wood pellet smokers, but you’d be wrong. The mixture of the combustion gases, water, and wood pellets gives a taste a little like bacon and there’s nothing wrong with that. Most meat-eaters love bacon.
What do I do if the temperature gets too high in the smoker?
Gas smokers can run a little hot at times, perhaps between 250F and 275F. The idea temperature is 225F. If you want to adjust the temperature a little, put some ice in the water pan or leave the door slightly ajar. Make sure that you have a good temperature probe.
Final Thoughts
We hope that you have enjoyed reading about gas smokers and have perhaps found that one of our picks is a good choice for you. We stand by our choice of the Cuisinart COS – 244 Vertical 36″ Propane Smoker. It is a good size and has 4 removable and durable stainless steel shelves that can be washed in the dishwasher. It has 2 doors, one to the cooking cabinet and the other to the water and wood chip pans. You don’t need to let out heat when refilling the water or wood chips.
We hope that you have a good summer smoking your meat and vegetables in a gas smoker which will give you excellent results.
And if you need to grill and smoke we’ve got you covered with our articles even the ones in which we help you make a smoker.
