Editor’s Choice: Cast Elegance 16-Inch Round Pizza Stone

One of the first pizza stones that we’re going to review, and arguably the best, is this one from Cast Elegance. This is a 16-inch pizza stone that is durable, food-safe, and can withstand high temperatures. In fact, these stones are fired at over 2,000-degrees Fahrenheit during the manufacturing process to ensure that they perform well and don’t produce foul odors when they’re used—regardless of whether they’re being used for the first time or the thousandth time.

This is also a stone that is approved for use by health and safety agencies all over the world. This stone has passed stringent FDA standards, is approved for sale in the European Union, and has passed the LFBG German Food Code. It also passed as a RoHS compliant stone that’s free of hazardous substances. In other words, multiple agencies have certified that these stones are safe to use. Now, let’s find out just how effective they are to use.

These stones are made out of Thermarite—a material that can withstand extreme temperatures. It’s a product that can also withstand thermal shocks quite well and is engineered to be extremely durable. Thermarite is basically cordierite that’s been fired at high temperatures to make it extremely dense. And it’s that density that creates the perfect pizza crust.

Thermarite pulls just the right amount of moisture from the crust to allow it to crisp-up but do it without burning the bottom of the pizza. It’s available in a 16-inch size that’s perfect for serving large pizzas, and this product can be used in both gas grills and gas ovens.

If there’s any foreseeable problem that we think people are going to have with this stone is that it will eventually stain over time. This is a very common problem with pizza stones. However, this staining will never affect the stone’s performance, it will only affect how it looks, so consumers shouldn’t be concerned about it. This is the pizza stone that people are going to want to buy for making pizzas.

Also Recommended: Cast Elegance 14-Inch Rectangular Pizza Stone

The next pizza stone on our list is this one from Cast Elegance. That’s the same company that made the number one stone on our list, and we feel that this stone is equal in quality and performance to the first one. Why you might ask, is this product in the number two position and not the number one position. Well, we have two reasons for that fact. One, we can only put one pizza stone into the number one position, and two, this product is rectangular rather than round. Therefore, it has fewer uses than our number one pick.

Just because this product is going to be suitable for a smaller group of people, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a fantastic stone because it is. This product is made out of the same Thermarite as the 16-inch round stone so that it can withstand high-temperatures and always offers the best pizza cooking performance. This is a stone that can be used in both gas grills or ovens, and simply works every single time it’s used.

Like other Cast Elegance pizza stones, this model has not only been approved by various global agencies to ensure that it’s safe to use, but it’s also been fired up to 2,000-degrees Fahrenheit before it leaves the factory to ensure that it won’t produce any foul odors when it’s used for the first time. That’s not something that other pizza stones can always say.

Another thing worth mentioning about this stone is that it is 5/8th of an inch thick, which allows it to retain heat quite well. Although this product is only 14-inches long, it’s still 16-inches wide, and that allows it to hold a good size pizza. This product also comes with a bonus scrapper that can be used around the kitchen. All in all, we think that it’s a quality pizza stone that people are going to want to check out and maybe even buy.

Also Consider: Hanz Grill 15×12-Inch Pizza Baking Stone

The last pizza stone that we’d like to review is this one from Hans Grill. This model is approximately 14.96-inches by 11.81-inches and is 0.59-inch thick. We’re not sure what is used to make this product, but we’re pretty sure that it’s some sort of unglazed ceramic instead of Thermarite. However, with that being said, it still feels like a product that’s going to hold up quite well.

Like all pizza stones, this one is going to stain over time, but that’s perfectly acceptable because it won’t change the performance of this stone or impact how the pizzas taste after using it. It’s also a product that’s not going to have a chemical smell to it or have to be “cured” before use to ensure that it doesn’t smell. And that’s always a good thing as far as pizza stones are concerned.

Because of this stone’s size, it’s perfect for holding a large family size pizza. Unfortunately, we can’t say the same thing about the bonus pizza peel that came with this set. The pizza peel was a bit small and was quite a bit smaller than the stone itself. That didn’t impact how we rated this stone because we wanted the stone and not necessarily the peel, but it is something worth mentioning.

All things considered, we think that this is a pretty good pizza stone that’s perfect for gas grills or ovens. It’s not the biggest nor the best stone out there, but it is reasonably priced and seems to work very well. It’s definitely one that people should consider when they’re searching for their next pizza stone.

Editor’s Choice: Camp Chef 24-Inch Propane Smoke Vault

This smoker is approximately 24-inches wide, 16-inches deep, and 30-inches high. Those measurements are without its legs equipped, however. When this smoker has its legs on it, it has a total height of 44-inches. This product also has cooking rack dimensions of 21.5-inches by 14-inches, and its door measures 22.5-inches wide by 28-inches high. This size smoker is capable of smoking everything from briskets to whole turkeys and it does it very efficiently.Even though some people consider the Camp Chef Smoke Vault to be an introductory-level smoker, we found that it wasn’t just a good model for beginners. We felt that it was a gas smoker that was capable of delivering excellent results for everyone from beginners to experts. Sure, it is easy to use, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be used in a variety of different ways to produce professional results. Let’s examine some of its features and see where it excels and where it might fall short.

This product is also easy to move into place, even though it doesn’t have any wheels or casters equipped on it. It weighs around 75-pounds, so one or two people should be able to move it from one location to the next—if needed. Once it’s set up in position, the consumer merely has to hook it up to a 20-pound propane tank and it’s ready to smoke their favorite foods.

This smoker can produce up to 18,000 BTUs of heat, which is more than enough to meet the needs of most people. It has a temperature dial that consumers can use to set the unit’s smoking temperature and it has three damper valves to control heat and smoke levels. This product can produce smoking temperatures from 160 to 400-degrees Fahrenheit as well. If there was one thing that we didn’t like about this smoker, it was the fact that it’s built-in thermometer is a little bit off. Not a big deal, but definitely worth mentioning.

Also Recommended: Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow Propane Smoker

Next up for our reader’s consideration is this model from Masterbuilt. This gas smoker is called the Smoke Hollow and it’s a decent-sized product that we feel will help all of our readers get the smoking done that they need to get done. Inside of this model, there are four chrome-plated racks that are large enough to smoke sixteen pork butts, eight racks of ribs, four turkeys, or even twenty chickens. This is a model that’s approximately 21.26-inches by 29.13-inches by 43.50-inches in size and is made out of high-quality stainless steel.

This product also has several features that make it a worthwhile model for people to consider. As we mentioned earlier, this model has four chrome-coated smoking racks that can be removed as needed, a push-button ignition system that lights the smoker quickly, and an adjustable air damper that allows the consumer to control moisture and smoke withing the main smoking chamber. This product also has a hose that makes hooking it up to a propane tank easy and allows the consumer to keep the tank a safe distance from the smoker itself.

If there was one thing that we didn’t like about this smoker was that the paint inside of the unit has a tendency to peel over time. This can be particularly troublesome to most people, although other people have taken the time to repaint the interior of this smoker with high-temperature paint to avoid potential paint peel. This is definitely something that consumers should keep in mind before purchasing this smoker.

Keeping all of these points in mind, we do still feel that this is a quality smoker—especially if Masterbuilt takes the time to address the internal paint issue. We feel that this smoker holds its temperature well, doesn’t leak smoke and is easy for most people to use. It’s a quality product that seems to work very well.

Also Consider: Char-Broil Vertical LP Smoker

The last gas smoker on our list is this one from Char-Broil. This is a smoker that’s approximately 19.5-inches by 21.5-inches by 45.5-inches and is powered by liquid propane. It’s a model that’s made out of steel and doesn’t weigh a whole lot, but is durable enough to last through many, many smoking sessions. And it’s for all of these reasons, and for others, we’ll mention below why this model was put in our number three position on our list of the best gas smokers available.

Inside of this smoker, the consumer will find 595 square-inches of cooking space on three chrome-plated cooking grates. This is large enough for the consumer to smoke several chickens, briskets, or other foods that they may need to smoke. This model also has a door-mounted temperature gauge, an air damper to control smoke and temperature, and a long propane hose that keeps the consumer’s propane tank a safe distance away from it while they’re using it.

This unit also has a porcelain-coated wood chip and a water pan that can provide the smoke and moisture that the meats encased need to get that nice smoky flavor but get it without drying out. Because this feature is basically a double drawer that can be opened without heat loss to the main smoking chamber, the consumer can tend to it as necessary throughout the entire smoking process. This smoker also has stay-cool handles and a temperature dial that’s extremely easy to operate.

If there was one thing that we didn’t like about this smoker it’s the fact that it didn’t hold smoke as well as we thought it should. It had the unfortunate tendency to leak a little bit around the door. It didn’t leak very badly, but we felt that there should’ve been less smoke escaping than there was. Other than that small flaw, we felt that this was a quality gas smoker.

Editor’s Choice: Weber Universal Stainless-Steel Smoker Box

For people who are looking to add the best smoker box to their gas grill, we’ve decided to bring up this product for everyone’s consideration. This is a box that’s made by Weber and is designed to help people bring delicious smoke flavor to their gas grilled foods. This is a box that can be used with wood pellets or wood chips and does an amazing job of providing smoke. All the consumer has to decide is what type of wood chips/pellets they want to use with it.

This product is made out of durable stainless steel and is approximately 9.7-inches by 4.7-inches by 2-inches in size. This is just the right size for this box to be listed as a universal smoke box—meaning that it will fit just about any grill. And for the most part, that is the case, but there are exceptions that consumers might want to note. For example, this product will fit Weber Q 200/2000 Series or larger grills, but won’t fit their smaller grills. That’s something consumers should think about before purchasing one of these new smoke boxes.

It should also be mentioned that once the consumer has used this smokebox, it’s going to quickly lose its shiny stainless-steel look. It’s going to darken, but that is what happens with just about any stainless steel smoke box and is to be expected. It also should be mentioned that the price of this unit is a little bit more than some of the other smoke boxes that we’ve reviewed—not by a whole lot, but enough for the consumer to notice.

Keeping all of this firmly in our minds, we have to say that we think that this is a great steel smoke box. We like its hinged lid that has a large tab that allows the consumer to easily add wood chips to the unit when it’s being used.

Also Recommended: Cave Tools BBQ Grilling Wood Chip Box

The next smoker box for gas grills that we’d like to take a look at is this one from Cave Tools. At first glance, this model looks like just about any other smoker box, but on closer inspection, consumers should see pretty quickly the quality of this box and the features it has. We think that this is a grill that a lot of our readers going to appreciate and one that is going to provide many years of faithful service. Let’s examine this box a little bit closer so that all of our readers have a chance to determine if it’s right for them.

This product is approximately 9-inches by 3-inches by 1.5-inches, which is a little smaller than we would’ve liked but is still large enough to provide a good amount of smoke to any grill. Because it has a more compact size, it’s capable of fitting better than some other models and should fit just about any of the major grill brands—except for maybe extremely small grills. This product is also made out of high-quality stainless steel that is 25% thicker than previous versions of this model. That makes it more durable and prevents it from warping in the heat.

It should also be mentioned that this product also has quite a few nice features. For one, it has a hinged lid that makes it easier to load wood chips into and helps keep the consumer from having to fumble around with it too much when it’s hot, and two, wood chips don’t burn in this smoker box but instead smoke. No more flame-ups when using this product. It doesn’t catch fire because the bottom of this smoker box doesn’t have holes, so it can’t combust without direct flame access. The only way the chips would combust is if the grill is over 600-degrees. All of these points make this a great smoker box for just about anyone to consider.

Also Consider: Char-Broil Cast-Iron Smoker Box

The last smoker box for gas grills on our list is this one from Char-Broil. This model is made from cast-iron, so the consumer knows that it’s going to last a long time. However, it also means that the consumer is going to have to take special care of it to prevent it from rusting. That means that it’s going to have to be properly cured and it’s going to have to be treated like one would treat a cast-iron skillet. And this level of care might be more than what some people want to put into a smoker box.

Another thing that concerned us was the size of this product. It was only 8.12-inches by 5.13-inches by 1.38-inches, which is smaller than some other boxes. Sure, that means that it will fit in a larger variety of different grills, but it also means that it doesn’t hold as many wood chips like some other models. It’s also worth noting that because this box is made of cast-iron, it’s a little heavier than some other comparable models.

As far as how this box works, we have no complaints. This product doesn’t have holes in the bottom of it and is made of thicker metal than most smoke boxes, so the wood chips aren’t going to combust. In fact, this product does an amazing job of providing an even supply of smoke.

It’s also amazing that this product costs as little as it does. At the time of this review, it was several dollars cheaper than some of the other models we’ve reviewed. That means that we can add great value to this product as well. This is a product that we know some of our readers are going to get love using.

Editor’s Choice: Lanney 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Tube Smoker

Pellet tube smokers are a great way of adding smoke to the consumer’s grilling efforts—especially in an electric grill—but these pieces of equipment don’t operate in a vacuum. What we mean is that consumers need more than just the tube itself, they also need a tube brush that makes it easier to clean. Fortunately, this model does come with a tube brush that can be used for efficient cleaning.

But that isn’t the only extra equipment that came with the tube. It also came with a bonus silicone brush for applying sauces to food, two S-hooks for hanging up the smoker tube, and even an instruction manual that lets the consumer know how the tube smoker is to be used. That’s quite a lot of accessories for a piece of equipment that doesn’t cost that much in the first place.

The extra accessories that come with this pellet tube smoker aren’t what makes this a great product, however. It’s such a great product because of the way that it’s designed and the materials used to manufacture it. This is a product that can be used with wood pellets or wood chips—depending on the needs of the consumer. Let’s take a closer look at its features to see what else sets it apart from lesser quality tube smokers.

The first thing that we’d like to say is that this product is made out of 304 stainless-steel. In this stainless-steel tube are tons of holes that are small enough to keep the wood pellets or chips from escaping it, but large enough to allow smoke to escape it. On one end, the tube is closed, and on the other end is an open cap that’s 2-inches high and is easy to fill with pellets.

This tube is approximately 12-inches long and is dishwasher-safe so that it can be easily cleaned up after use. This is also a model that’s capable of being used in wood, charcoal, electric smokers, or grills. It’s for all of these reasons why we’ve selected this model as the best pellet tube smoker currently available.

Also Recommended: Lizzq Premium 12-Inch Pellet Smoker

The next product didn’t make it to the top of our best pellet smoker tube list, but it did come in at a reasonable number two position on our list. We suppose that means that it’s a silver medal finalist that’s reasonably priced and is ready for handling the smoking needs of any consumer.

This is a product that can be used in just about any smoker or grill—it doesn’t matter if it’s charcoal or electric, and it can be used in both hot and cold smokers. Let’s take a closer look at some of this product’s features to see why we’ve placed it in the number two position on our list.

Let’s start with the shape and dimensions of this product. This smoker tub has a hexagonal shape to it and it’s approximately 12×2.16×2-inches in size. This is a product that’s made out of high-quality 304 stainless-steel for added durability and is filled with small holes that allow the smoke to escape it, all while holding the wood pellets securely.

As is the case with most smoker tubes of this type, this model has one closed end and one open end. That makes it easy to fill, but also means that some people might have problems with it when using with some grills. However, we’ve found that it worked quite well with a variety of different grills or smokers and we don’t think too many people will have problems with its open end.

This smoker tube is capable of providing the consumer with up to 5-hours of smoking at a time. This is a great way for people to add flavor to their barbecue. And because it’s made out of stainless steel it’s also a product that’s dishwasher safe—although we should say that most people just dump them out and add pellets to them without worrying about cleaning them.

Also Consider: Alsisk 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Wood Pellet Tube

The last pellet tube smoker on our list is from Alsisk and is another hexagonal pellet smoker tube. This is a model that we liked because it was not only manufactured using high-quality components but because it had a nice design and even came with a few accessories that made it easier to use. It’s also a reasonably priced model that isn’t the cheapest priced model we’ve seen but is certainly isn’t the most expensive one either.

Let’s start with the size of this smoker tube and work from there. This tube is approximately 12-inches by 2-inches by 2-inches and is made from 304 stainless-steel. It has a hexagonal shape with one closed end and one open end, like most smoker tubes, and is covered in a ton of holes that allow smoke to easily escape from it. This model feels a little bit lighter than some other stainless-steel pellet smoker tubes that we’ve reviewed, but we don’t think that it’s flimsy or otherwise poorly made.

This is a product that can use both wood pellet and chips, and it will provide up to 5-hours of smoke when filled. It’s a product that can be used for both cold smoking and hot smoking and can be used in either charcoal or electric grills. Keeping all of this firmly in mind, we think that this is a quality product that’s ready to be pressed into service as soon as a person receives it. And because it’s made out of stainless steel, it’s a product that’s easy to clean and even comes with a cleaning brush to help clean it out, and some S-Hooks for hanging it up.

Editor’s Choice: Weber Genesis II S-435 Stainless Steel Grill

Anyone who has a first look at this natural gas grill is going to be impressed with it. This is a beautiful grill that’s made out of stainless steel and looks very much like a professional model. Upon closer inspection, however, the consumer is sure to notice that this grill isn’t just another pretty face, but is instead a model that’s packed with some serious power and features. We’re going to examine some of its features next.

This product is approximately 65-inches by 29-inches by 47-inches in size and weighs under 180-pounds. It’s a grill that’s made by Weber, so consumers can expect a quality product, and is backed by a significant 10-year warranty. This polished grill looks like it’s made for professional BBQ chefs, but is designed to be easy enough to be used by just about anyone.

When the lid on this exceptional grill is lifted, the consumer will find a formidable cook station that’s ready to be put to work. It has a porcelain-enameled cooking grate that provides up to 646 square inches of cooking space. That’s enough space to fit 28 burgers that have been formed with the Weber Burger Press. It also has a tuck-away warming rack that delivers an additional 198 square inches of space for keeping already cooked food warm to free up cooking space.

This grill also features a side burner that can be used to saute veggies or to keep sauces on a low simmer. Another thing we liked was that this grill gave the user a wide variety of options for controlling it—including a sear station that can be used to create an intense zone of heat for searing meats. It’s also equipped with a built-in thermometer so the user can keep an eye on their grilling temperature at all times and do it without having to open the grill’s lid. This is definitely a grill that will get the cooking done and we highly recommend it.

Also Recommended: Weber Spirit II E-310 3-Burner Grill

The next natural gas grill on our list is the Weber Spirit II E-310. It’s a grill that has quite a few great features but isn’t as expensive as the model at our number one spot. This is a grill that’s approximately 52-inches by 26-inches by 57-inches and weighs around 110-pounds. It’s a model that’s also equipped with two wheels, but let’s face facts here. Once this grill is attached to a natural gas line, it’s not going to be moved, so we don’t feel that the wheels are that much of a big deal.

This grill has an open cart design that gives the consumer plenty of storage underneath it and little tables on the side of it that can be used to hold utensils or other essentials. Inside the grill, the consumer can expect to see porcelain-enameled cast-iron cooking grates that provide 529 square-inches of cooking space over three gas burners. It’s also has a lid that seals well and has a built-in thermometer that allows the user to monitor grill temperatures all of the time.

Under the grates, the user will find something that Weber calls “Flavorizer Bars.” These bars are angled in a way that allows them to catch drippings as they fall through the grate. The drippings are then sizzled and vaporized. This allows the food to be imbued with flavor and moisture. Any of the drippings that aren’t vaporized, however, don’t build up in the grill. Instead, it travels along with the grease management system where the user can deal with it at a later time. This minimizes grill cleanup for the user.

Additional features that can be found on this great natural gas grill include integrated utensil hooks on its side-table, side-tables that fold down for storage, burner tubes that provide consistent gas flow throughout the grilling process, and a warming rack for storing already cooked food. And all of this is available for a price that’s quite reasonable.

Also Consider: Napoleon Prestige 665 Stainless Steel Grill

Even though Napoleon is a grill brand that makes several different grills in its Prestige line, we decided to review the Prestige P665NSS to see what it could do. This is a large and very nice looking grill that has plenty of features and is well worth a look by most people—although we do have to say straight away that it’s on the higher end of the grill price range among comparable natural gas grills.

This product is approximately 26.5-inches by 75-inches by 50.25-inches and weighs around 225 pounds. This is a product that has a distinctive wave cooking grid that creates excellent grill marks on the food and provides the consumer with 1,000 square-inches of cooking space. This model also has a jet-fire ignition that allows the user to start the grill up quickly and easily every single time they want to use it.

This product provides 60,000 BTUs of cooking power that’s divided over five stainless steel burners. It also has knobs that can be lit up, so the consumer can grill during the evening hours. The lid of this unit has a roll-top that allows for smooth opening, and the entire lid helps to provide the inside cooking area with superior heat retention.

It also has adequate cabinet space below the grill, and like the knobs found on the front of the unit, this cabinet space is illuminated so the consumer can use it at night. Taking all of these features into consideration, along with its cooking power, and it’s easy to see how this model made it on our list. It might not be the best natural gas grill, but it does come close to being one.

Editor’s Choice: Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Smoke Generator

The Big Kahuna is a cold smoke generator that’s designed to provide the consumer with everything they need to smoke their favorite meats or cheeses—except for the smoker, of course. This model comes with a cold smoker body, a top cap, a threaded outlet tube, an adjustable air pump, a 3-foot silicone hose, a spring baffle, and a stainless-steel cleaning brush. Now that we know what’s in this cold smoker set, let’s examine the pieces and see how the parts are made and how they work together.

The smoker body is made from heavy-gauge SCH40 6061 aluminum that’s precisely machined so that it will maintain a proper seal. This product is approximately 16-inches by 4.5-inches after it’s been assembled—which is large enough to hold about 6-cups of fuel. It’s designed for smokers that are 6 cubic-feet or larger and is also designed so that it can be used for overnight or unattended smoking.

The manufacturer of this product recommends that wood chips or chunks be used as the primary fuel for this smoker and that smoker pellets shouldn’t be used. This is a product that will work on any smoker or grill where it can be mounted to a vertical wall. It does require the consumer to drill a 1-1/8-inch hole into their grill or smoker, but once that’s done, the consumer can install this quickly and easily.

All of these features come together to make one of the best cold smokers that we’ve seen. However, the versatility of this product does not only make it good for cold smoking applications but also makes it suitable for hot smoking as well. That means that this product can be easily used by the consumer to smoke briskets, pork chops, steaks, ribs, pork shoulder, or just about anything else the consumer needs to smoke. And because it’s so well made, it should last the consumer for quite some time.

Also Recommended: Smokemiester BBQ All-In-One Stainless Steel Smoker

Another cold smoker that we liked is this one from Smokemiester. This is a model that costs less than other cold smoke generators but otherwise does a good job of smoking. It doesn’t feel quite as durable as some of the other units we’ve reviewed, but that’s reasonable considering that this is a model that has a significantly lower price tag than other models. In this review, we’re going to go over its main features and construction to see where it excels and where it falls short.

As is the case with most smoke generators, this is a model that’s going to require the consumer to do a little bit of prep work before they can install it. They will have to drill a 1-1/8-inch hole into their BBQ grill below the burners so they can install the insert outlet tube and secure everything down with nuts. That’s not a lot to do, but it is more than some people might be willing to do to get it installed.

This product holds approximately 4-cups of pellets, which is enough to create 8-hours of smoke at a time. It has a 4-inch diameter that makes filling it easy and it’s powered by either wood chunks or wood chips—not pellets. It’s also a product that doesn’t weigh a whole lot and can easily be cleaned.

This product is made out of 304 stainless-steel and is coated with heat-resistant paint that can stand up to 1,200-degree Fahrenheit without peeling or flaking off. This is also a product that’s manufactured in the U.S.

One of the things that we especially liked about this product was that it was easy to use. Once the consumer has it installed and loaded with wood chips, it’s very easy to start up. It can be up and running in just a few minutes. That alone makes it worth including on this list.

Also Consider: Smokehouse Products Smoke Chief Smoke Generator

The last cold smoker unit on our list is this one from Smokehouse. This is a product that costs a little more than some of the other units that we’ve reviewed, which is why we didn’t place this model at the top of our list. However, we still feel that it’s a good unit for those consumers who don’t mind paying a little bit extra for a quality product. Let’s examine this set a little bit more closely to see where it excels and where it potentially fails at its job.

Unlike some of the other models we’ve reviewed, this model doesn’t require the consumer to drill a specialized hole—if their smoker has a rotisserie hole. The smoker can use the rotisserie hole to pipe smoke into the smoker. Of course, if the consumer doesn’t have this hole on their smoker or grill, they are going to have to drill one that’s large enough for them to insert the cold smoker’s tube.

To sue this unit, all the consumer has to do is to pour pellets into it, place the cap on the tube, align the cap with studs, push the cap down and then twist to seal. Once all of that’s been done, the unit can then be connected to a power supply and switched on. In no time flat, it will then generate the smoke that the consumer needs. This product can turn 1 cup of wood pellets into 3-hours of smoke. The smoke can be used for smoking chops, steaks, chicken, or just about anything else.

This product comes with the actual unit, a hanger mount, a cleanout tool, a measuring cup, an instruction manual, a plunger to push pellets down, and a 110AC to 12VDC power adapter. That’s everything the consumer needs (except for wood pellets) to introduce smoke into their favorite meats.

Editor’s Choice: Traeger 100% All-Natural Hickory Hardwood Pellets

Let’s preface this review by saying that we’ve reviewed a ton of different smoker pellets of just about every flavor and brand. We’ve seen some pellets that are pretty good at what they do and other pellets that are simply garbage. Fortunately, we were able to also find this brand—a brand that is doing a great job providing the consumer with some of the best smoker pellets available. These are the pellets that consumers are going to want to use for their smoker or grill/smoker combo.

What makes these pellets so great? Well, the first thing that makes them great is that they’re made with 100% all-natural hardwood. That means that there aren’t any additives or fillers added to them. They just use 100% virgin hardwood that’s sourced from quality woods.

The next thing that we liked about these smoker pellets is that they’re manufactured in the United States. Since Traeger has its own mills, it’s able to oversee the manufacture of these pellets from start to finish. They use a special pellet production process that many people have now called the “gold standard” of pellet production. These are all things that will make a big difference when these pellets are added to a pellet hopper or smoker tube.

Each bag of these pellets is consistent from start to finish. They have just the right amount of moisture to create blue smoke and do it without burning up in the process. And although we highly recommend their hickory smoker pellets, the truth is all of their pellets are great. It doesn’t matter if the consumer purchases their alder, apple, cherry, maple, mesquite, oak, pecan, or signature blend pellets. They will provide the flavor and smoke that modern BBQ cooks and smokers want.

It’s for all of these reasons that we’ve decided to give this product two thumbs up and recommend it to all of our readers. This is a product that’s designed for anyone who is looking for smoker pellets that will burn smoothly and slowly, and provide them with high-quality smoke.

Also Recommended: Bear Mountain BBQ All-Natural Gourmet Blend Pellets

Bear Mountain BBQ is a company that makes a variety of all-natural hardwood pellets. They make alder, apple, cherry, hickory, mesquite, and pecan smoker pellets. As a quick disclaimer, we should probably say that we haven’t reviewed all of their quality pellets—we just didn’t have the time to do so. However, we did get a chance to review their Gourmet Blend and we do have to say that these are some incredible hardwood pellets.

This is a product that’s designed to be used for smoking poultry, seafood, pork, beef, veggies, and lamb. This is a product that seems to be the perfect combination of oak, hickory, cherry, and maple hardwoods. These are woods that contain no additives or fillers and have just the right moisture content for the smoker. This combination of woods is sure to add a unique flavor to whatever the consumer is smoking.

These wood pellets come in 20-pound bags that are easy to store, and even easier to open and use. The pellets inside each of these bags are designed to work with some of the best grill and smoker brands on the market—including, but not limited to Traeger Grills, Green Mountain Grills, Louisiana Grills, Mastercraft, and more. These are very versatile pellets.

Now that we’ve tried this gourmet blend of pellets, we do have to wonder about some of the other pellets that this company produces. If those pellets have the same level of quality that these pellets do, we’re sure that they will be loved by the people who need them.

Now before we move on to the next review, let’s make one more observation about this product. We’ve found out that this product is made entirely in the U.S., so consumers can rest assured that they’re making quality smoker pellets that haven’t been adulterated in any way. That’s just another reason why we think people should take a closer look at this product.

Also Consider: Ol’ Hick Genuine Jim Beam Bourbon Cooking Pellets

The next smoker pellets that we reviewed and loved were these pellets from Ol’ Hick. This company makes several different types of smoker pellets, but it’s these that caught our attention the most. These are pellets made from 100% natural oak, and includes some Jim Beam barrels in its formula. We found that to be fascinating and prompt us to wonder about several different things.

Although we know that they don’t use anything but whiskey barrels for these pellets, we do wonder if they use new or old barrels, what percentage of barrels they use to the percentage of oak pellets, and if all of this truly makes a difference. While we found these pellets to be high-quality oak pellets, we’re not sure if the fact that they’re made using whiskey barrels is a game-changer. They do cost more than other pellets, but that’s about it.

Now don’t get us wrong. These pellets are on our list because we think that they’re high-quality pellets, we’re just not entirely sure if the hooch soaked barrels make a difference is all we’re saying. However, we do feel that these pellets are made from high-quality hardwood and impart a great flavor to just about any meat, seafood, or veggies it’s used for.

All things considered, these pellets are some of the finest pellets we’ve used, although we do feel that they’re sort of gimmicky in how they’re marketed. With that said, we don’t think our readers would be disappointed by these pellets. The quality oak pellets and do create a nice smoke. A smoke that imparts a strong but tasty taste profile to food.

Editor’s Choice: Pit Bit Grills 77550 Pellet Smoker

The first smoker on our list and the one that we feel is the absolute best vertical pellet smoker currently being made is this one from Pit Bit Grills. This model not only looks good and has a front door that the consumer can look through to keep an eye on their meats, but also has a design that allows the consumer to smoke more meats than ever before. Let’s tear into the meat and bones of this smoker and find out what makes it an exceptional buy for so many people.

This product is approximately 53-inches by 28-inches by 29-inches and weighs around 132-pounds. It’s a smoker that seems to be well built and has legs with locking casters on them that allows it to be stable but also easily moved around a patio or a deck. This smoker is equipped with a digital LED readout and meat probe that makes keeping track of smoked meats a lot easier, and it has a control dial that can be set from “Smoke” through 450-degrees Fahrenheit.

Inside the smoker, the consumer will find 1,548 square-inches of smoking space. This unit has five porcelain-coated cooking grids and has a porcelain-coated water pan. It also has a heat deflector that protects foods on the bottom shelves from getting too much direct heat during the smoking process.

Other features found on this model include a hopper that has a 40-pound capacity, an air damper that controls heat and smoke, an auto-start ignition system, and an automatic shut-off system. These features come together to make this a quality smoker that only has one flaw—it’s a little bit more than other types of vertical smokers. However, if the consumer doesn’t mind the extra cost of this unit, we’re sure that they will love it and get good use out of it for many years to come.

Also Recommended: Pit Boss PBV3P1 Vertical Copper Smoker

The next vertical pellet smoker that’s on our list is the Pit Boss PBV3P1. This model also has a nice copper look to it and it’s approximately 26-inches by 22-inches by 53-inches in size. This unit also weighs under 100-pounds and has legs with casters that make it easy for the consumer to move from one smoking location to the next.

Of course, it’s size and portability aren’t the only great things about this smoker. It also has a decent amount of smoking space inside of it. Although it doesn’t quite have the amount of smoking space as a comparable model—the Pit Boss 77550—it does have enough space for most people. Inside there are 901 square-inches of smoking space and four porcelain-coated cooking grids.

Inside of this unit, there is also a porcelain-coated water and heat deflector. On top of this unit, the consumer will find an air damper that controls heat and smoke, and one the front of this unit is a digital LED readout that allows the consumer to keep track of temperature, and a temperature dial that can be set from 150-degrees to 450-degrees Fahrenheit.

Another thing that’s worth mentioning is that this product holds up to 40-pounds of wood pellets. That’s a lot considering that it will probably consume about 1/2-pound of pellets per hour on the “smoke” setting, and about 2.5-pounds an hour on higher settings. That still means that the consumer will get anywhere from 16-80-hours per smoking session.

Additional features we’d like to talk about before concluding this review include an auto-ignition system, an auto-shutoff system, an included meat probe, a see-through door, and a hatch where pellets can be quickly dumped out of the smoker.

These features and its ability to efficiently burn wood pellets and turn them into high-quality smoke are the reasons why this vertical pellet smoker made it on our list. We think it’s definitely a model worth checking out when the consumer is considering a new smoker.

Also Consider: Pit Boss 5-Series Vertical BBQ Smoker

The last vertical pellet smoker on our list is surprise, surprise—another Pit Boss smoker. This is the Series 5 and it’s designed to give the consumer the smoking space they need but do it at a cost that consumers can afford. Let’s sort through some of its features and find out where it excels and where it fails.

Let’s start this review by stating the one technical flaw we found with this smoker—its inability to hold a temperature. This model just doesn’t seem to stay true to a temperature setting very well and tends to fluctuate 20-26 degrees. We were able to work around it and it didn’t seem to harm the cooking experience, but we do feel like it needs to be mentioned.

With that said, let’s move on to the features we like. Assembled, this product is approximately 52.75-inches high, 28-inches wide, and 29-inches deep. It’s a product that weighs approximately 130 pounds and is set on four rolling casters.

Inside of this pellet smoker, the consumer is going to find 1,513 square inches of cooking space—or about 4.6 cubic-feet. It has five porcelain-coated cooking racks, and it has a large viewing window that allows the cook to keep a close eye on their smoking meats, veggies, or seafood.

This product also has a 150 to 450-degree Fahrenheit temperature range, a digital temperature display, and it can hold up to 50-pounds of wood pellets. With that amount of wood pellets, the consumer should be able to smoke anywhere from 20-hours on higher settings to 100-hours on the “smoke” setting.

Keeping all of its pros and cons in mind, we have no problem recommending this quality vertical pellet smoker. It’s not the best one that we’ve reviewed, but it does have a place on our list and we think it will also have a place in many of our readers’ homes.

Editor’s Choice: Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Smoker

This reverse flow smoker has so many features, it’s a bit difficult for us to know where to begin, so we guess we’ll just start with the dimensions of this smoker and work our way out from there. This smoker is approximately 35.5-inches by 64.24-inches by 55.5-inches. It’s a product that’s made from heavy-gauge steel and as a result of this fact, this smoker weighs approximately 226-pounds. Fortunately, it’s equipped with two wheels on it that help a little bit to move it into position.

Inside of this smoker, the consumer is going to notice a total of 1,060 square inches of cooking surfaces. 751-inches of that total is located in the main smoking chamber and the other 309 square-inches in located in the firebox chamber. On the firebox, the consumer will also notice a swing-open door that allows the consumer to stoke the fire and do it without opening the firebox chamber’s lid. That’s a very convenient feature for any smoker to have.

Another thing that we liked about this smoker was that it allowed the consumer to change smokestack locations. That allows the consumer to not only use this product as a reverse flow smoker but also allows them to use it as a traditional offset smoker. This allows the consumer to smoke their foods the way they see fit.

Additional features that can be found on this smoker include cool-touch handles, front and bottom shelves, a lid-mounted temperature gauge, four baffles, a large charcoal basket, and porcelain-coated wire grates. There’s even a warming area on top of the firebox that the consumer can use to keep plates warm.

Although this product costs a little bit more than other smokers in this category, it’s easy to see where the extra money is going. This is an extremely well-built reverse flow smoker and one that we think consumers are going to love using year in and year out.

Also Recommended: Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Smoker

The next reverse flow smoker on our list is also made by Oklahoma Joe. This model is called the Highland and it is a less expensive and slightly smaller version of the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn smoker. This model is approximately 57-inches wide, 33.5-inches deep, and 53-inches high. It’s a smoker that’s made out of heavy-gauge steel so the smoker weighs just under 200-pounds.

Inside of this smoker, the consumer will find 900 square-inches of total cooking space. This cooking space is divided between 619 square-inches in the main smoking area and another 281 square-inches located in the firebox chamber. Inside of the firebox, the consumer will find a large stainless steel basket that’s used to hold the fuel for the smoker and a clean-out door that makes removing ash from the firebox quick and relatively painless.

What makes this product such a good reverse flow smoker is that it has a series of four baffles located inside of it. These baffles guide the smoke and heat through the main chamber. This prevents hot spots and allows for more even cooking across the entire smoking chamber. As was the case with the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn smoker, this model can be used as either a traditional offset smoker or a reverse flow smoker. All the consumer has to do is to move the smokestack to switch from one type of smoking to another.

If there was a problem that we had with this smoker, it’s the fact that the thermometer seems to be a little bit off. It wasn’t as accurate as we thought it was. This isn’t a big problem and is easily rectifiable, but it is worth mentioning. The features we liked, however, were quite numerous. We loved the front and bottom shelves, the stay-cool handles, the wheels underneath the side of the main smoker chamber, and the warming area on top of the firebox for keeping plates warm. Taking all of this into consideration, we have no problem recommending this product to anyone searching for a reverse flow smoker.

Also Consider: Char-Griller Smokin Pro 50-Inch Grill/Smoker

The last reverse flow smoker that we’d like to talk about is actually a smoker/grill combo. It’s a model that’s made from powder-coated steel and is approximately 62-inches by 29-inches by 50-inches and weighs just under 150-pounds. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other features.

Inside of this smoker/grill is 830 square-inches of total cooking space. That cooking space is divided between 580 square inches of primary cooking area and 250 square-inches of cooking space in the firebox. The smokebox also has a warming plate on it that’s good for keeping plates warm while the consumer is using the smoker.

This smoker also has an adjustable fire grate that the consumer can move up and down as needed. Inside of the hood is a thermometer that’s perfect for keeping an eye on the temperature, too. There is also an air damper that helps the consumer control airflow into the firebox and into the main smoking chamber.

Other features include side and front tables that give the BBQ cook a bit of workspace while they’re smoking and/or grilling, two wheels for easy mobility, and nonstick cast-iron cooking grates that allow for even cooking. It also features an easy-to-dump ash pan, a side firebox door for tending to coals, and a lower shelf underneath the grill that can be used for storage.

All of these features come together to make this a smoker that some people might want to consider, even though it does cost a little more than comparable models. We felt it was well-made and did a good job for what it was designed to do.

Editor’s Choice: Masterbuilt Gravity-Series 1050 Digital Grill/Smoker

Even though we have to admit that this model is one of the more expensive models that we’ve reviewed for this article, it also happens to be the most powerful and the best charcoal grill smoker combo available. In fact, this model blows all of the competition away and is one of the easiest models we’ve ever had the pleasure of using. That’s why this is a review that our readers are definitely going to want to pay attention to.

This model is approximately 33x61x52-inches and is over 200-pounds in weight. It’s the kind of heavy-duty grill/smoker combo that people dream about using and one that’s meant to be parked in its spot and left there. However, for those people who need to move it into place, it does have front casters and rear wheels that make it a lot easier to move.

This model allows the consumer to load up to 10-pounds of lump charcoal or up to 16-pounds of charcoal briquettes. This allows the consumer to get a good 8-hours of smoking out of it at a time, and since it has a gravity-fed charcoal hopper, it’s relatively simple to use.

Another thing that we liked about this model was that it had a ton of power. This model can reach up to 225-degrees Fahrenheit in only 10-minutes for low and slow smoking, and its grill can reach up to 700-degrees Fahrenheit for searing meats. And speaking of searing, this model has cast-iron grates that sear the meat perfectly and retain heat very well.

Other features that can be found on this grill/smoker include WiFi Bluetooth capability to allow for smoking and grilling from an App on the consumer’s phone, foldaway warming racks that provide additional cooking space, digital fan control that moves air from the hopper to the cooking chamber, and a stainless-steel front shelf that provides the BBQ cook with plenty of prep space.

Also Recommended: Char-Griller Outlaw Grill/Smoker

Another charcoal grill smoker combo that caught our attention was this one from Char-Griller’s Professional Line of grills. This is a model that’s called the Outlaw, and while we’re unsure of why they chose this name for this product, we do know that it is a powerful smoker/grill combo that we’d like to introduce to all of our readers.

The first thing that the consumer is going to need to do once they’ve acquired this grill is to assemble it and that is not going to be as easy as it probably should be. That’s because the instructions for this model aren’t all that great, so consumers who haven’t assembled a lot of grills might find themselves fumbling around with it. Fortunately, that is the only real problem we’ve found with this product and once the thing is assembled, it works extremely well and is easy to use.

This product is made from heavy-gauge steel, which is surprising considering its low price tag. This product is 49x29x50-inches in size and it weighs under 115-pounds. This model has a side-table that can be used for prep work, and it has a shelf underneath that can be used to hold a bag of charcoal. It also has two wheels, a nice front prep table, and an air damper.

Inside the grill, the consumer will find a cooking area of 725 square-inches and a 338 square-inch warming rack for a total of 1,063 square inches. It has great cast-iron cooking grates that hold onto the heat and puts a great sear on burgers, steaks, or chops.

Some of the other features that consumer will find on this model include an easy to dump ash pan, an adjustable fire grate, and wheels that make the product easy to move into place. Keeping all of this in mind, it’s easy to see why this is a model that we wholeheartedly recommend.

Also Consider: Royal Gourmet 30-Inch BBQ Grill & Offset Smoker

The last charcoal grill smoker combo we’d like to introduce to our readers is this one from Royal Gourmet. The first thing anyone will notice about this product is that it’s only a fraction of the cost of other smoker/grill combos we’ve reviewed for this article. That means that it’s very affordable, but also means that it isn’t as durable as some of the other ones we’ve reviewed. But that shouldn’t be a surprise. We would venture to say that no one thinks a grill in the $100 range is going to be as durable as one in the $150+ range of the $700+ range.

This grill is approximately 55x27x48-inches in size and weighs a mere 55-pounds. This is a 30-inch BBQ grill that has an offset smoker and is one that allows consumers to grill or smoke just about anything. This product has porcelain-coated steel wire grates that provide up to 438 square inches of grilling space, an offset smoker that provides an additional 183 square-inches of smoking space, and a chrome-plated warming rack that provides up to 179 square-inches of warming space. That’s a total of 800 square-inches of total cook space—which isn’t too bad for a product in this price range.

One of the things that we like about this product is that it has an access door on the firebox that makes it easy for the consumer to tend to the coals without having to lift the smoker’s lid. It also has a removable ash pan that makes cleanup quick and efficient.

Other features that can be found on this model include a storage shelf underneath the grill for added storage space, a side table for extra prep space, a temperature gauge mounted in the grill’s lid, and stay-cool handle, and two wheels on the bottom of the unit that makes it easy to move. All of these features make this a product that’s worth looking at by anyone searching for a budget grill/smoker combo.