Since most gas grills and standalone smokers are quite the investment for most people, more and more consumers are turning to gas grill smoker combos. These products not only provide the benefits of a gas grill but can also be used as a smoker. That saves the consumer from having to purchase each of these appliances independently from one another. That makes them incredibly economical and versatile. That’s why we’ve decided that we just had to take the time and review some of the best models that are being manufactured nowadays. Below are the three models that we feel are the best gas grill smoker combos that consumers can purchase.
- Editor’s Choice
Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker (Amazon) – Review - Also Recommended
Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/Gas Grill/Smoker (Amazon) – Review - Also Consider
Royal Gourmet Offset Grill/Smoker (Amazon) – Review
Editor’s Choice: Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Over the last few years, Z Grills is a brand that has consistently begun to show up on our radar. This is a company that seems to be putting a lot of thought into their smokers and grills, and this one is no exception to that long track record of progress. This is a grill smoker combo that uses propane and wood pellets to create some of the finest smoked and grilled meats a person could want to eat.
This grill combo is 46-inches by 22-inches by 46-inches and is made out of stainless steel for added durability. It’s a product that can take on the task of doing eight things at one time, and it’s capable of grilling, smoking, baking, braising, roasting, barbecuing, or just about any other way of cooking a person wants to use it for.
Inside of this gas grill, the consumer will find 333 square-inches of main grilling area, and 240-inches of warming rack space. That’s a total of 573 square-inches of cooking area for the consumer to consider. It also features a wood pellet hopper that can hold approximately 10-pounds of wood pellets. That can provide up to 10-hours of grilling/smoking—depending on the temperature the consumer sets it.
This grill is as easy to use as it is powerful, too. It has a digital temperature control that adds pellets as necessary to ensure the temperature is well regulated, and an electronic auto-ignition system for quick start-ups. It’s also equipped with an LED temperature display, so the consumer can keep their eyes on the internal temperature of this grill/smoker.
Another thing we liked about this grill was that the user could set the temperature anywhere from 180-degrees to 450-degrees Fahrenheit, so they can cook their food they want to cook their food. All of these features make this a gas grill smoker combo that a lot of consumers are going to want to take a good hard look at.
– It has 573 square-inches of total cooking space.
– It has a 10-pound capacity hopper for wood pellets.
– It has electronic ignition.
– None.
Also Recommended: Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/Gas Grill/Smoker
The next grill up for review is this one from Oklahoma Joe. This model is one that appears to be trying to do a whole lot considering that it’s not only a product that can use either LP gas or charcoal but is also a device that can be used as a grill or smoker. Let’s examine some of its basic details first before we dig deep into its list of features.
This model is approximately 31.5-inches by 74-inches by 50.6-inches and weighs just a tad over 200-pounds. It’s a model that’s made from black steel and comes equipped with wheels to help make it easier for the consumer to move it into place. It’s a grill smoker combo that has three burners that can each deliver 12,000 BTU of heat—for a grand total of 36,000 total BTU.
Inside of this product, the consumer will find 1,060 square-inches of total cooking space. That’s 750 square-inches for the primary cooking area and another 310 square-inches in the firebox chamber. This model also features six porcelain-coated cast-iron grates that allow the consumer to sear their food without it sticking.
Since this product uses two cooking chambers, the consumer can grill on the gas side and smoke meats on the firebox side. Each side is equipped with thermometers so that the user can keep track of temperature within each chamber and there are multiple dampers throughout the entire grill/smoker. That gives the user plenty of control over their grilling and smoking sessions.
Additional features that can be found on this product include cool-touch handles so the user can easily open them, a firebox access door that allows the user to stoke the fire without having to cook the smoke chamber and a lower storage shelf that allows the consumer to keep fuel for the unit close to where they need it.
– This product has a gas side and a charcoal side.
– This product has 1,060 square-inches total cooking space.
– This product can provide 36,000 BTUs of heat.
– It costs more than some other grill/smoker combos.
Also Consider: Royal Gourmet Offset Grill/Smoker
The last gas grill smoker combo on our list is a little bit smaller than the other ones that we’ve reviewed, but we feel that it delivers an excellent job of not only grilling or smoking meat but also roasting it as well. This is a product that has a small footprint of only 23x23x36-inches and weighs less than 50-pounds but has a temperature control that allows it to operate up to 18,000 BTUs.
This stainless-steel smoker box is easy to use and it’s extremely portable. Thanks to its handles on its sides and its low weight, this unit can easily be carried to the location where it is to be used and hooked up to a propane tank. It features the 3-in-1 cooker, a cooking chamber, a basket for roasting/smoking, a propane hose with regulator, two half-shelves, a basket lift hook, and a metal thermometer. Just about everything a person needs to grill, roast, or smoke.
This product features a 180 square-inch infrared grilling surface that can be used for grilling burgers, chops, or steaks. When not in use, this grilling surface can easily be removed from the unit. This unit is also easy to use. There’s one knob that’s used to turn it on and another knob to light the unit. It’s as simple as that. Now anyone can roast, grill, or smoke their favorite foods.
This is a unit that can be used to make juicy, smoky food and the user doesn’t have to worry about flare-ups when they’re using it. It works to evenly cook whatever is in it and it’s great for cooking large cuts of meats. It can even be used to cook whole chickens or roasts. It’s a great product that does a good job, even though it is a little smaller than the other gas grill smoker combos we’ve reviewed.
– Can roast, grill, and smoke meat.
– It has a 1,200 square-inch smoking/roasting basket.
– It has a side-mounted smoker box.
– It’s not as large as other grills.
Hopefully, the models that we’ve selected as the best gas grill smoker combos are the ones that our readers will enjoy using. However, for those readers of ours who are looking for a little something more, we’ve decided to write a guide that explains what they should look for when searching for one of these models. This guide is going to go through step-by-step some of the things all prospective buyers need to think about before purchasing a brand new gas grill smoker combo.
Consider The Size Of The Grill/Smoker Cooking Surface
One of the first things that a person is going to have to consider when choosing one of the grill/smoker combos is the size of the cooking surface. The consumer should ask themselves how much grill space they need, and how much smoking space they need. It’s also worth thinking about whether the grill has a warmer rack or not. A warmer rack can give a little bit more room to the user to allow them to move food around as needed.
Consider The Size Of The Grill/Smoker
After considering the size of the grill’s cooking surfaces, it’s time to think about the size of the grill itself and whether it will fit into the area set aside for it. Some of these grills can be quite large and require a good amount of space to be free around them for them to be safely used. Just something a person needs to think about when choosing a grill.
Consider The Temperature Range Of The Grill/Smoker Combo
It’s also worth considering the minimum and maximum temperature range of the grill before buying it. Some models work in the 180-degree to 450-degree Fahrenheit range, and some models are capable of going up to 1,000-degrees Fahrenheit so it can be used to sear meats. Once again, this is going to depend on what the consumer needs to sear, grill, smoke, or roast.
Consider The Secondary Fuel Source
The next thing that the consumer needs to think about is how they need the grill to add smoke. Sure, we know one side of the grill is going to be powered by LP gas, but what of the other side? Does the consumer need it to be powered by wood pellets or charcoal? Grills are made with both of these configurations, and some of them are even made so they can handle LP gas, charcoal, or wood pellets. The consumer should let personal preference guide their decision.
Consider The Construction Of The Grill
While all of the above features are important, there probably is no feature more important than how the grill is constructed. If the grill is made from thin steel, it’s not only going to fall apart more quickly than a well-built grill, but it’s also not going to radiate the heat in the same way. Well-built models not only will last the consumer for years, but it’s also going to hold onto and distribute heat a lot better than cheaper models. That’s why it’s always worth it to spend a little more and purchase the best gas grill smoker combo that the consumer can afford.
Consider The Grill’s Grates
Even though not everyone will give much thought to a grill’s grates—it’s actually a very important consideration. A quality grill will usually have porcelain-coated cast-iron grates. Cast iron is a material that will hold onto heat and is less likely to stick than steel, so naturally, it’s the most desirable metal for a grill grate.
If the consumer can’t get a grill with cast-iron grates, then they should at least get one that’s made out of stainless steel. That’s a material that will last longer than chrome-plated cooking grates. Chrome grates tend to be flimsy and they absolutely begin to rust over time, so they should be avoided if possible.
What the grate is made from isn’t the only important consideration, however. The consumer should also think about how many grates the grill has. The larger the number of grates, the more they can spread out their cooking and the more cooking they can get done at one time.
Consider These Few Additional Features
As we work our way towards the end of In this guide, we wanted to list some of the other features that consumers might want to think about before purchasing their next gas grill smoker combo. Even though not all of the following features will be needed by everyone, some of them are quite useful and should at least be considered before the consumer finalizes their purchase.
- The Number & Location Of Air Dampers
- Cool-Touch Handles
- Lid-Mounted Temperature Gauges
- Firebox Access Door
