In the world of meat lovers and barbeque lovers, having your own smoker is essential. Even if you simply love smoked meat sooner or later, you will want to start smoking your own meat. And with the desire to smoke your own meat will come the need for an ideal smoker.
In this article, we will talk about the best vertical smokers in the market and why we think you should consider buying one of them. But before that, you need to know that there are two main types of smokers: Vertical Smokers and Horizontal Smokers. We've covered both types in this article, so make sure to check that out if you want to know more.
What is a vertical smoker?
Vertical smokers are smokers with an upright design; these smokers can run on different fuels, such as charcoal, gas, and wood pellets. Some vertical smoker options power themselves by using electricity. We call this type of smokers electric vertical smokers.
You might also be wondering, what are the benefits of having a vertical smoker? The first and most useful benefit is that vertical smokers are easy to use, and even beginners will not have trouble operating them. Their upright and compact design saves a lot of space, and they are also much more pocket-friendly than the other type of smokers.
Although there are many advantages to these types of smokers, there are some drawbacks that can become significant deal breakers for many potential buyers. So while their small size is a pro, it is because of this reason that you cannot smoke as much meat as the offset smoker. With that said, here are the top products we recommend.
10 Best Vertical Smokers
- Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker
- Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker
- Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
- Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker
- Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 990216 Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker
- Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D
- Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow SH19079518
- Dyna Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Off-set Charcoal Smoker
- Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36" Propane Smoker
- Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24"
Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is a 30-inch digital smoker that has features to make your smoking sessions easy to manage. The capacity of this vertical smoker is very impressive. You can fit up to six chickens or two turkeys on this smoker.
It has a digital panel on which you can control the power as well as keep an eye on the temperature and time. There are four chrome-coated smoking racks where the meat will rest and smoke for as long as you want. Plus, with this grill, you will not need to worry about it sticking on the racks' surface.
Additionally, if you want to add a little more wood smoke flavor, you can easily do so by putting in some wood chips on the loader. It comes out easily without needing to opening the whole smoking chamber.
Moreover, the Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker comes with a water bowl to make sure that moisture remains. The insulated body traps heat, and you can adjust the air dampers to control the smoke.
Pros
Cons
Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker
This smoker from Weber is one of the most loved smokers out there for many reasons. One of the top reasons buyers love this one is that the paintwork on the Smokey Mountain Cooker 711001 will not rust or peel off because all the parts, including the lid, the body, and the bowl, all have porcelain enamel.
It comes with two large cooking grates that can fit two big pieces of meat at one go. There will not be any problem with smoking two turkeys at once. Moreover, it has an extra-large water pan that can keep your meat moist and juicy for the whole day.
The unreliable heat and temperature will be nonexistent with the included inbuilt lid thermometer. With this feature, you can easily keep a constant eye on the internal temperature.
Pros
Cons
Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill
If there was one smoker that would be able to smoke, grill, and roast meat, would you consider it? What if we told you that you could do all these three with one product?
That's right!
With The Char-Broil Big Easy Tru-Infrared Smoker, you can smoke, grill, and even roast your meat without buying three separate devices for each activity.
The inside of the smoker grill has a basket on which you can fit a 21-pound turkey. Placing other pieces of meat is also not a problem because it comes with a 180 square inch grill grate.
One distinct feature of this product is the TRU-Infrared cooking surface. It makes sure that you do not expose your meat to random flare-ups of the fire and temperature spikes. There are two handles on both sides of the smoker to make transportation easier.
Moreover, this smoker runs on propane gas that you will need to buy separately. The smoker box is stainless steel, and you will only need to pull it out to add more wood chips.
Pros
Cons
Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker
The MES 35B is another excellent smoker by Masterbuilt. It is a 230-inch analog smoker that runs on electric power, and the model has three smoking racks on which you can place three chickens or two turkeys.
Grease trays are an important part of any smoker because it collects the dripping juice from the meat. With the MES 35B, you can easily remove the grease tray from the front.
As for the temperature control, this smoker takes it to the next level with a built-in temperature gauge. Controlling the heat inside the smoker is also simple thanks to the analog dial. If you want to release some smoke, you can do that by adjusting the air dampers.
Pros
Cons
Bradley Smoker BTDS76P 990216 Bradley Digital 4 Rack Smoker
If you are concerned about the quality that manufacturers use to produce their smokers, the Bradley BTDS76P will ve perfect for you. It has a very high-quality powder epoxy steel body and has rust-free interiors thanks to the stainless steel surface.
The smoker comes with full digital control over the temperature, the time, and the smoke. This way, all you have to do is set it once while turning it on and let the smoker do the rest of the work. It can control the smoker for up to 8 hours at a time.
It has dimensions of 17 inches x 14 inches x 31 inches without the generator. If you add the generator, it is 24 inches wide. This outdoor cooker has fixtures for four cooking racks. It is easy to set up and even easier to clean thanks to its simple design.
Pros
Cons
Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D
With the Dyna-Glo Signature Series, you can cook meals for a whole barbeque party, even with just a vertical smoker. It is one of the few verticals smokers with huge capacity. The total cooking surface on it is 1382 square inches. You can smoke or grill with this product.
Some smokers find it very difficult to maintain a low temperature. The heat starts to fluctuate and spoils the whole meal. However, with this Dyna-Glo Signature Series smoker, smoking, grilling, and low and slow cooking will not be a problem.
Cleaning the ashes after use is also a piece of cake as the only thing you need to do is pull out the ashtray from the side and dump it. There is an inbuilt temperature gauge that indicates the perfect amount of heat for smoking and grilling.
Pros
Cons
Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow SH19079518
The Smoke Hollow does not disappoint with its ease of use and convenient design. The digital panel controls everything from the temperature to the power to the time. What you will need to do is set the desired temperature and time. After that, the smoker will take care of everything else.
The capacity of this vertical smoker is quite large. You can place nine chickens or two turkeys on the three chrome-coated grilling and smoking grates. Moreover, this grill has a fully insulated body that is great at keeping the heat inside the smoking chamber.
To increase or decrease the smoke, you can adjust the air dampers to suit your style. With that, you won't end up with dried-out meat as this smoker has fixtures for a water bowl to keep your meat juicy and the insides of the chamber moist. You can also collect the meat drippings on the drip pan and clean it quickly after use.
Pros
Cons
Dyna Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Off-set Charcoal Smoker
Sometimes you might want to smoke a piece of meat or keep smoking meat for an extended period. For this purpose, you will need a heavy-duty smoker, and the Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D is the ideal choice for you.
Both the wood chip box as well as the smoker body has a heavy-duty steel construction. Also, the wood chip box has a porcelain enamel. It features a 15000 BTU cast iron burner and a total of 784 square inches cooking surface.
The Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D has a dual-door design to ensure there is no loss of heat when you open it to put in more fuel. The temperature within the smoking chamber will remain even throughout the whole smoking session.
The Smoke Zone indicator helps you to know the perfect temperature to add that smokey flavor to your meat. The adjustable smokestacks will control the temperature precisely.
Pros
Cons
Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical 36" Propane Smoker
The size of the COS-244 Vertical propane smoker is compact and will not take up much space on your patio. Regardless of the small size, it has enough space inside the smoker so that you can place multiple pieces of meat at one go.
It has an inbuilt thermometer that keeps the temperature in check. You can also control the internal heat with this thermometer. And to make sure that no heat escapes the smoking chamber while in use, there is a seal-tight door with a twist lock.
Pros
Cons
Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24"
The Camp Chef Smoke Vault can smoke eat, roast ribs and turkeys, and even bake pies. There are two adjustable cooking grates on which you can place your meat. The package also includes cooking tips and recipes for the perfect meal.
To light up this smoker, you will not need a match. All you have to do is work the snap-ignition. The range in temperature goes from 160-degree to the 350-degree Fahrenheit, and you can choose any from there.
It also features a door thermometer so you can keep an eye on the internal temperature.
Pros
Cons
What to look for to get the best vertical smoker for you and your home?
The products given above will give you an idea of the best vertical smokers available in the market, along with their advantages and disadvantages. But if you still feel unconvinced about which one to buy, we have come up with a list that you should keep in mind before settling on one smoker.
After all, what you need will be different from what your friends need. So, even if a smoker fits them perfectly, it might not be the best choice for you. Here are the points you should look out for while searching for the best vertical smoker for you and your home:
Size of the smoker
Here, by size, we mean the footprint of the smoker. Vertical smokers are more compact, and hence, you can choose this if you do not have a big space to spare. Both vertical and horizontal smokers can come in different sizes. Still, it is the first choice that is usually smaller than the second.
Price of the smoker
Keeping your smoker purchases within your price range is the most important thing to look out for. Vertical smokers are more affordable than offset smokers. So you do not have to worry about buying a costly smoker and not reaching your expectations with its features and performance.
If you do not plan on using your smoker very often, the best choice for you is to go for a vertical smoker instead of a horizontal smoker.
Fuel type of the smoker
Even within the world of vertical smokers, different types run on different fuels. You can get a vertical smoker that can run on charcoal, on gas, on wood pellets, and even on electricity.
Charcoal smokers will give you the authentic smoked flavor with every result, while the vertical gas smoker will heat up faster and is easy to use. The electric smokers take ease of use to the next level with fully automated features. On the other hand, the wood pellet smokers give you excellent smokey flavor along with easy operation.
The capacity of the smoker
Some people like to hold barbeque parties very often, and they will need a smoker that can prepare enough food for the whole party. The capacity of the smoker greatly depends on the size of the smoker.
The vertical smoker is the ideal choice for you if you do not need a large capacity smoker. It can prepare just enough for a family activity. However, you can always search for a large capacity vertical smoker if the need arises.
Versatility and flexibility of the smoker
As the name suggests, a smoker is a device you can use to smoke your meat or food. But some options in the market allows you to smoke as well as a grill. We call these devices smoker grills because they can do both. If you can get your hands on a smoker grill, you will not need to buy a separate grill and smoker.
Features of the smoker
Some smokers come with added features like automatic temperature control and burner feeder. These features will make your life so much easier. All you have to do is place the meat on the cooking grate or hook and start it once. The smoker will do the rest of the work.
Although these smokers are very convenient and do not need a lot of work from your side, if one of the parts breaks, you will need to fix it first. The smoker may remain nonfunctional until you fix it.
The brand of the smoker
There are many smoker brands out there. Getting a branded smoker is the best option for you because it will ensure quality parts, repair and maintenance, and customer service.
Reviews of the smoker
The best information on if a smoker actually does its job is from the reviews of the buyers. Before you settle on one smoker, make sure that you check out the reviews. See if they would recommend the product and if they like it. You might even find some drawbacks of the smoker that the manufacturers do not mention.
Conclusion
Vertical smokers can satisfy all your meat smoking needs with the added benefit of space-saving ability. They are usually very affordable and hence, are ideal even for beginners who do not have any experience in the smoking world.
Getting the best vertical smoker will not be a problem if you check out the products we have mentioned above. If you think the ideal product is not on the list, all you have to do is keep the points in the buyer's guide in mind, and you will be good to go.