Introduction
Smoking is the process by which meat and fish are flavored, browned, cooked and preserved by exposure to smoke.
The hot smoking process is achieved by cooking equipment called smokers and we are here to discuss the best vertical smokers available in the market and are sure that this will assist people to make a right choice in purchasing the products.
Model | Fired By | Important Features | Warranty | Price |
Pit Barrel Cooker | Charcoal | Porcelain-enameled steel | 1 year | |
KBQ C-60 Smoker Pit | Charcoal and Wood logs | 18 gauge 420 Stainless Steel | 2 years | |
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker | Charcoal | Plated Steel | 10 years | |
Kamado Joe Classic | Charcoal | Glazed Ceramic | Life time | |
Z Grills Premium 700E Pellet Smoker | Wood Pellets | Heavy Duty Stainless Steel | 3 years |
1. Pit Barrel Cooker
This is a highly versatile charcoal-fired cooker designed to shorten cooking times, that can make some exquisitely smoked meats.
It is made from a porcelain-enameled steel drum fitted with all the hooks and racks needed to smoke meat and other eatables.
It is ideal for backyard cooking or for carrying with you for camps, as it is portable.
The cooker does not require you to stand nearby and monitor the temperature and smoke levels as you cook.
It has been compared to some of the most expensive barbecues in the world. At its bargain price, it is a high performing smoker that’s easy to use and is affordable.
Specifications
- Fuel: Charcoal fired
- Barbecue Material: Porcelain-enameled 18 gauge steel
- Grate material: Regular Steel.
- Cooking capacity: This depends on the accessories being used.
- Assembled Size : 21″W x 31″H x 21″D
- Weight-: 57 lbs.
- Warranty: 1 year
The Pit Barrel Cooker is an excellent product and is great value for money.
This versatile smoker can grill or smoke using the racks and hooks that are provided.
The cooker is easy to use and being a vertical cooker, it shortens the cooking time. The small size and decent cooking capability give it a great advantage.
Being Portable it can be used in the backyard and for camp cooking. The product is durable.
The only disadvantage is that getting the meat out is difficult and you may burn yourself during the process. As otherwise, this is a highly recommended product and is top of the list.
This product has been given the top Best Value Gold Medal award by AmazingRibs.com. The product is priced below $200.
KBQ C-60 Smoker Pit
The KBQ C-60 is rated as one of the top smokers because the innovative design cooks up some of the best wood-fired barbecueS.
This is an easy-to-use product that you can set and forget. You can cook a tasty wood-fired barbecue with this equipment.
The product was designed by a US war veteran who decided to solve the problem of confronting charred meat that resulted from other smokers.
The KBQ C60 Smoker Pit is capable of cooking a well-made barbecue. However, it is not a set-and-forget smoker.
You have to regularly feed the logs to achieve your dreams of a beautifully cooked barbecue. You can be assured of a perfect wood-fired barbecue for your efforts.
Specifications
Fuel Type: Charcoal and wood logs
Barbecue Material: 48 gauge 420 Stainless Steel
Grate Material: Stainless Steel
Cooking Capacity: 96 Sq.Inch
Dimension: 41.7″ (H) x 25.6″ (W) x 19.3″ (D)
Weight: 92 lbs
Warranty: 2 years
The KBQ C60 smoker is an innovative product designed to make perfectly smoked tasty meat in your backyard.
It has been rated as one of the best smokers and has won many awards for excellence in design, quality and finished products.
The equipment has a trademarked inverted flame firebox that enables perfect blue smoke that is healthier and helps give the ultimate flavor.
The product can be easily handled by beginners and experts. The fan-driven smoking area does not require your presence to maintain the right temperature as it is thermostatically controlled.
One advantage is that you get consistent results and the removable rack system gives you the flexibility in your cooking.
The product has a large cooking capacity but the actual product has a small footprint. These products are seen in most barbecue competitions.
The disadvantage is that you have to be around to keep feeding the logs every 30 minutes. For this, you also need a steady supply of logs.
This product will not suit windy or rainy conditions and is not suitable for grilling. You need power connection as the thermostat and fans run on electricity. This excellent product is priced below $1650.
Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker
The next smoker on our list is the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker. This is a thoughtfully designed smoker produced by one of the top manufacturers in the industry.
It ensures consistency and very good results. The smoker is made of Porcelain-enameled steel and is very durable.
The smoker can make it easy to control the temperature and can maintain moisture and smokiness.
It is available in three sizes to suit the requirement of an individual, a large family or a large group.
It comes with Weber’s 10-year warranty and is a very sound investment. It has been highly rated by users.
Specifications
- Fuel Type: Charcoal fired
- Barbecue Material: Porcelain-enameled stainless steel
- Grate Material: Plated Steel
- Cooking capacity: 726 sq.inch
- Dimensions: 48.5″(H) x 23″(W) x 24″(D)
- Weight: 68 lbs
- Warranty: 10 years for the lid and bowl, 5 years for the cleaning system and plastics, 2 years for the remaining parts.
One of the biggest advantages of this smoker is the company’s 10-year warranty for a quality product.
This smoker is a favorite among a huge group of people who barbecue. Depending on the needs, the product is available in 3 sizes.
The product leaves a small footprint. The removable fuel door makes it easy to add charcoal/and or wood chips, as you are cooking.
The double dampers make it easy to control the temperature. As it is compatible with Weber’s Grill 2 internal meat thermometer, it gives a hands-free temperature monitoring ability.
This is a portable smoker and has often being used in barbecue competitions, with good results.
The only disadvantage is that the product does not come with a hook to hang the lid when you are moving the meat around.
The product is prone to Smoke leakage sometimes around the door, but this is not a major issue. Overall, this a very sound purchase. The price for the three sizes is below $500, $350 and $250.
Kamado Joe Classic II
This is an impressively reviewed smoker and is among the top-rated product in the industry.
The smoker provides consistent results and is very versatile. You will enjoy the innovative features and be surprised by the special bargain price that you get for such a quality product.
The product is made of the heavyweight ceramic shell. This locks in heat and moisture for efficient cooking.
It is sealed with industry-leading wire mesh fiberglass gasket to avoid leaking smoke. This has a10 year warranty.
To give you greater control over your cooking, the piece is provided with a stainless steel latch to secure the lid and also rustproof and weatherproof aluminum vents.
To eliminate damage the smoker is also fitted with a six-piece design that can expand on the rise in temperature.
The airlift hinge provided makes it possible to lift this heavy product quite easily.
The space constraint of an egg-shaped smoker is solved by the Divide and Conquer cooking system using different half plates and racks.
It lets you take the ultimate control over where you place different foods based on the cooking surface you want and how hot you want it.
Specifications
- Fuel Type: Charcoal
- Barbecue material: Glazed Ceramic
- Grate material: stainless steel
- Cooking Capacity: The Basic setup accommodates 250 sq.in. The Grill expander is 407 sq.in. Two sets of grates are 508 sq.in. 2 sets of grate and expander is 660 sq.in.
The smoker has many advantages. This is a versatile charcoal grill and smoker with unbeatable quality.
The Air Lift Hinge enables easy opening of the heavy lid. The temperature can be precisely lit and it is weatherproof and rust-resistant.
Industry-leading gasket with stainless steel latch seals the unit so tight for efficient cooking. The sliding ash drawer provides for easy cleaning.
The limited cooking capacity is the only disadvantage with this product. The product is priced under $200.
Z Grills Premium 700E Pellet Smoker
This is a smoker with a large number of positive reviews. The Z Grills Premium 700E Pellet Smoker is a solid, heavy-duty, set-and-forget smoker and costs only a fraction of what similar models cost.
The product is made from rust-resistant stainless steel and is provided with a waterproof cover to protect it when you leave it outside.
The model runs on wood pellets that are fed from a 20-pound hopper. The cooking space is quite ample at 700 sq.in.
The automatic feeding system helps maintain the temperature without your active intervention. This is an easy, efficient and simple model that has won acclaim in the industry.
Specifications
- Fuel Type: Wood Pellets
- Barbecue Material: Heavy-duty Stainless Steel
- Grate Material: Stainless Steel
- Cooking capacity: 513 sq.in on the main rack, and 187 sq.in on the warming rack
- Pellet Hopper capacity: 18 lbs
- Dimensions: 51.2″ W x 48.4″ H x 22.5″ D
- Weight: 112 lbs
- Warranty: 3 years
The advantage of the smoker includes the rust-resistant steel body. The waterproof cover and the large cooking capacity and pellet hopper make it work for long hours.
The temperature can be accurately maintained.
The model is versatile in that it can smoke, bake, roast, and braise.
The entire model comes with a strong and sturdy cart with enough storage space.
The disadvantage is that it may be difficult to remove the pellets. This model comes with a 3-year warranty and is priced under $550.
The smokers described here are among the best in the market. These have been reviewed by hundreds of people and are just not subjective opinions. All the products mentioned here have very high star ratings.
It is up to you to decide on what to buy and that decision should fully rest on the kind of smoker you wish to buy, the fuel you wish to use, and the capacity of the model that you are looking for.
We hope this article has provided you with enough inputs to make a decision.