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Smoking meat is definitely one of the best things about being able to cook in your backyard. It’s an enjoyable experience, and it creates meat that tastes unlike anything else. However, it’s quite hard to make smoked meat without an appropriate grill or smoker.
So how do you find the right grill or smoker for smoking meat? Especially if it’s your first time, it can be hard to choose. This is why we’ve narrowed it down to these four great options:
Invalid table id.Best Grill And Smoker Combo
Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
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The Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill is definitely one of the most versatile grilling units you can get for your backyard. As the name of the product suggests, you can use the Big Easy by Char-Broil to grill, roast, and smoke – in short, you can make literally any cut of any type of meat just the way you like it! It can be used for smoking, but also to grill kabobs, or to make a grilled pizza. It is really versatile!
There are essentially two ways you can use this awesome grill. First of all, there is the large roasting basket. This is what you want to use for long, slow roasts and also for smoking.
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The basket is really great, and there is a lot of space inside – a 21-pound turkey fits without any issues! And if you want to impart a smoky flavor, you just need to use the smoker box on the side and your grill immediately turns into a smoker.
Since the smoker box is side-mounted, you can add chips without opening the lid which is also really great because you don’t lose any heat this way (making it a solid option for Korean barbecue).
Easy to set up and use
Can be used as a smoker, a roaster, or a grill
Holds up to 25 pounds of meat for smoking and roasting
The side-mounted smoker box is easy to access
Thanks to the TRU-Infrared technology, even the largest cuts of meat will cook through really evenly
It can be a little tricky to achieve the right temperature
Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill
When it comes to smoking meat, a good pellet grill is another great option. The Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill from Green Mountain Girls is definitely among our favorite pellet girls that are available today. It is just so easy to use, functional, and perfect for smoking meat!
Even though this grill might look a little small from the outside, it actually offers a decent amount of room for your meat, and it’s highly unlikely that you will need more space, unless you are trying to feed an army.
In fact, you get 219 square inches of grilling space which is enough for 4 to 6 steaks, for example, or a whole bunch of burgers. Moreover, thanks to the peaked hood, there is no problem with fitting in larger cuts of meat, such as a tri-tip r a rack of ribs.
Being a pellet grill, the Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill does need to be connected to a power outlet. It needs electricity to power the motor that feeds the pellets to the grill.
- Features Sense-Mate, a thermal sensor which constantly monitors grill temperature
- Includes a meat probe, peaked lid for rib racks, convenience tray
- Weighs 68 lbs. and folds to fits in nearly any trunk, making it the ultimate Tailgating Grill
- 110V or 12V with adapters for 3 power options
However, there is one great benefit that comes from this – you can actually control your grill remotely which is just perfect when smoking meat or doing a long, slow roast (maybe even when searing steaks).
There is a thermal sensor inside that monitors the temperature inside the grill at all times, and you also get a meat probe with this grill. Thanks to the WiFi feature, you can even see the temperature right on your phone. Amazing!
Can be controlled remotely through the GMG app
Lets you monitor the temperature constantly
A meat probe is included
Great customer service
Not really a con, but this grill does need to be connected to a power outlet
Best Dedicated Smokers
Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker
If you are looking for a dedicated unit that you will use only for smoking meat (and a whole lot of it), than the Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker might just be the right choice. This vertical smoker gives you an amazing total of 784 square inches of cooking space across the six “shelves” that you can arrange any way you like.
That this means is that you can combine different kinds of food, and that you can fit as much as 100 pounds of food into this smoker at a time.
As the name suggests, the Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker runs on charcoal, so you can smoke your meat the old-fashioned way. The smoker box is located on the side of the main smoking chamber, which minimizes heat loss.
- Vertical design lends itself to naturally rising heat, achieving greater efficiency and improved smoke flavor. Offset design keeps direct heat away from the food, allowing for slow cooking.
- Six height-adjustable cooking grates accommodate various sizes of food. 784 square Inch of total smoking area; 1176 square inches of total cooking space with 25-pounds capacity per grate.
- Porcelain-enameled steel charcoal chamber is designed to keep briquettes stacked tightly for improved burn efficiency.
- Charcoal & ash management system with the charcoal chamber, grate, and sliding, removable steel ash pan. Designed to handle large amounts of ash for hours of maintenance-free cooking.
- Smoke stack features an adjustable flue for additional flavor and temperature control.
Moreover, you can easily control the temperature inside the smoker by using the vents on the top. A built-in thermometer is also included. Overall, a great and easy-to-use charcoal smoker, perfect for beginners and seasoned chefs alike.
Sturdy and durable construction
Six adjustable cooking grates give you a lot of space and flexibility
The offset charcoal chamber improves the efficiency of this smoker
A large ash catcher tray is included
Prone to leaks
Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker 14-Inch Charcoal Smoker
The Smokey Mountain cookers and smokers from Weber have arguably achieved celebrity status in the world of smokers. These cookers are simple but functional and they perform their job really well. They are also very durable since they are made with high-quality materials.
Today we have chosen the Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker 14-Inch Charcoal Smoker because we think it is the right size for the needs of most people, but keep in mind that it also comes in two large sizes – 18 and 22 inches, in case you want something bigger.
Inside the Smokey Mountains’s porcelain-enameled body, you’ll find there are two cooking grates on top of each other.
- Your purchase includes: One Weber 14.5 inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker + Cover
- Item overall dimensions: 14.7" W x 14.7" D x 31.4" H. Item weight: 24 lbs
- Cooking Grid Dimensions 13 1/2 X 13 1/2". Main Grilling Area 143 Sq. Inches. Total Grilling Area 286 Sq. Inches
- Easy assembly required, instructions avaialable in User Guide attachment. Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker reaches approximadetely 190°F inside temperature
- 3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app.
Of course, you can only use one if you want, but you can also use both, and combine two types of meat, for example. In this way, the drippings from the top grate will fall down and flavorize whatever is on the bottom rack.
Finally, there are as many as three vents on the bottom plus one on the lid, to let you control the temperature precisely. Thanks to the built-in lid thermometer, you can also see what the temperature is at any time.
The two cooking grates provide room for smoking two different items at once
Three vents on the sides for superior temperature control
The fuel door lets you add charcoal effortlessly
Functional and durable
It takes a bit of practice to learn how to control the temperature
Final Thoughts
What is the best grill for smoking meat? Honestly, we don’t think you can go wrong with any of the four models we have shown you today. One thing to keep in mind is that some units are made strictly for smoking meat and it’s hard to do anything else with them (the Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Charcoal Offset Smoker is an example),
while others can be used both as a smoker and a grill (not at the same time, though, as different temperatures are required). If this is what you are looking for, the Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill might be a good choice.
Find out what is the best indoor grill for steaks and which is our pick for the best grill for chicken breast in our other articles.
