Best Offset Smoker Under $2,000 – Enjoy Smoky Flavor At Home!
Tired of side burning while cooking thick meats? Or, Want to add tasty smoky flavor to food at home?
Offset smoker is an absolute solution as it offers a lower temperature that helps in cooking thick meat without burning the sides and adds tasty smoky flavor to foods.
The traditional grill uses direct heat to cook the food which changes the original taste a little bit. Besides, they are not suitable to cook thick meat due to the high cooking temperature. Also, you have to open the cooking chamber to add more fuel.
Now, in the offset smoker, they cook food at a much lower temperature to retain the original juice and add a smoky flavor to it. In fact, the temperature helps to cook thick meat without burning the sides. That’s why we are here with the best offset smoker under $2,000 for you.
Best Offset Smoker Under $2,000: Enjoy Smo ky Flavor At Home!
As the offset smoker offers a lower temperature that retains natural juices of the meat and tasty smoky flavor on foods, they are on-demand here. So, let’s have a look at some best offset smokers.
Best Offset Smoker Under $2,000 in Video Review
Best Offset Smoker Under $2,000 in Product Reviews
1. Best Overall: Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Grill Offset Smoker
The first product in our pouch is a Dual Style CC1830SC Charcoal grill manufactured by the Royal Gourmet family. As the grill includes an offset smoker, you can add wood chips, or wood pellets without opening the lid. As a result, this charcoal grill can offer good circulation of heat & smoke that add a tasty smoky flavor. Below are some of its specifications that can impress you to make a quicker decision.
Key Features
- Comes with a huge 811 sq in double split cooking grates
- Two levels of height-adjustable charcoal pan
- Includes an offset smoker to stoke the fire easily
- Lid-mounted thermometer gauge to monitor temperature
- Ample space on front and side tables for work and grilling tools.
Let’s talk about the cooking grates of the charcoal grill. As it comes with a total of 811 sq inches of cooking space including a 443 sq in cooking grates, 184 sq in warming rack, and 184 sq in an offset smoker.
With such double split cooking grates, this grill can lock the juices that make meat more tender than others. Besides, the swing-away chrome-plated warming rack keeps food warm for hours.
On top of that, this charcoal grill includes a two-level of height-adjustable charcoal pan. Due to the height adjustment, the distance between the food and pan creates better heat control and holds up more coals. Moreover, the lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps to monitor the temperature without opening the lid.
Further, this grill comes with front and side tables that offer ample space for seasoning and tools. Also, it includes two durable wheels that make the grill stable and mobile.
As a result, you can easily transport it to the backyard or garden. Hence, if you’re looking for an easy-to-use offset smoker to get flavorful food, it is the best offset smoker for beginners.
- Porcelain cooking grates locks meat juices to make it tender
- Adjustable charcoal pan creates better heat control
- Chrome-plated warming rack keeps food warm for hours
- Front and side tables offer ample space for seasoning and tools
- Offset smoker offers good circulation of heat and adds a tasty smoky flavor.
- The cover of the grill is not suitable to use
- This charcoal grill is a little bit hard to assemble.
2. Best For Large Cooking: Dyna-Glo DGO1890BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
Imagine having an offset charcoal smoker which offers a classy smokehouse flavor on anything you cook. Actually, we are talking about our next Dyna-Glo DGO1890BDC-D Vertical Offset charcoal smoker that comes with a vertical design that naturally raises heat, and offers improved and classy smokehouse flavor on everything. Also, as the offset design keeps food away from direct heat, it allows food for slow cooking. Let’s take a look at some cool features of it.
Key Features
- Comes with 6 height-adjustable cooking grates
- Porcelain-enameled steel charcoal chamber
- Easy-to-use steel smoke stack’s adjustable flue
- Includes a charcoal and ash management system
- Stainless steel temperature gauge with a smoke zone.
This Dyna-Glo offset smoker comes with 6 height-adjustable cooking grates. Compared to the previous Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Grill Offset Smoker, this one offers a total of 1890 square inches of cooking space. Besides, every cooking grate can take up to 25 pounds of meat, making the grill perfect for house parties or commercial use.
In addition, the porcelain-enameled steel charcoal chamber keeps the briquettes stacked tightly and maintains a consistent temperature.
As a result, the burn efficiency improved to another level, and cooked food quicker than others. Moreover, the smock stack of the grill comes with an adjustable flue. So, this smoker can achieve greater efficiency and control flavor and temperature additionally.
When it comes to the charcoal and ash management system, this vertical offset charcoal smoker includes a charcoal chamber with a removable steel ash pan. As the pan can handle large amounts of ash, you can cook for hours without having cleaning issues.
Further, the 1/4 inch steel offset smoker includes a stainless steel temperature gauge with a Smoke Zone indicator. Now, the zone indicator always indicates the ideal temperature for infusing smoke flavor, you can get perfectly smoked food every time.
- Vertical design naturally raises the heat and offers classy smokehouse flavor
- Huge cooking space is perfect for house parties or commercial use
- Smoke Zone indicator indicates the ideal temperature for infusing smoke flavor
- Porcelain-enameled charcoal chamber keeps the briquettes stacked tightly
- Ash management systems can handle ash to ensure hours of non-stop cooking.
- This charcoal smoker does not have a heat shield
- The offset smoker’s charcoal basket doesn’t have a handle.
3. Best Design: Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Vertical Offset Smoker
At the 3rd spot, we have another Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker designed by the Dyna-Glo family. As this signature series offset smoker includes 5 chrome-plated Steel cooking grates with 284 sq in offset grill space, it can offer a total of 1,382 total sq in cooking space. Much like the previous Dyna Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker, this one is also ideal for house parties or commercial use. Let’s see what kind of features it offers.
Key Features
- Removable 5 chrome-plated Steel cooking grates
- Comes with a 284 sq in offset grill space
- Includes slide-out charcoal tray or ash drawer
- Sliding dampers for quick temperature controls
- Lightweight and portable design with heavy wheels.
Due to the weight of an offset smoker, it becomes hard to move it to the backyard or garden. But, this Dyna-Glo signature series vertical offset smoker is an absolute solution to such issues as it weighs only 125 lbs. In fact, this smoker includes large and middle positioned wheels. Besides, it has a metal handle on the side of the smoker. As a result, it becomes easy to balance the smoker while moving to the backyard.
On top of that, the vertical design of the combo smoker helps to naturally raise the heat and improves the classy smokehouse flavor of the foods. As the design keeps food away from direct heat, the smoker allows food for slow and juicy cooking. Moreover, this offset includes a slide-out charcoal tray or ash drawer that stores large amounts of ash and offers hours of cooking.
Moreover, the light gauge metal of the smoker makes it lightweight. But, as the steel is thick, it is a little bit hard to maintain the temperature in cool weather. If you seal the smoker door perfectly, it won’t face any issues in other seasons. Further, the adjustable and removable racks offer enough space for the whole turkey and offer versatile cooking.
- Adjustable cooking grates offer cooking versatility
- The smoker allows food for slow and juicy cooking
- Vertical design ensures efficient charcoal or fuel usages
- Lightweight design is easy to move the smoker to the backyard
- Ash drawer stores large amounts of ash and offers hours of cooking.
- The door may leak smoke and need proper sealing
- Little bit hard to maintain the temperature in cool weather.
4. Best For Fuel Usage: Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker
Here comes Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker that comes with a total of 290 square inch cooking surface in main chamber. As the cooking space includes140 sq. in. cooking surface in firebox chamber, Adjustable height steel fire grate, Clean-out door for easy ash removal with adjustable built-in damper, you will have a variety of cooking options for your food. Besides, the double split cooking grates lock the juices to make the meat tender and the chrome-plated warming rack keeps food warm. Let’s see some of the best features of this offset smoker.
Key Features
- Combination Offset Smoker, BBQ & Charcoal Grill
- 290 square inch cooking surface in main chamber
- 140 sq. in. cooking surface in firebox chamber
- Adjustable height steel fire grate
- Clean-out door for easy ash removal with adjustable built-in damper
Well, the thing that makes this offset smoker different from other smokers is the two levels of height-adjustable charcoal pan. With such a high-end offset smoker, the distance between the food and pan creates better heat control.
In fact, it can hold up more coals compared to other smokers. Besides, the lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps to monitor the temperature without opening the lid.
In addition, the offset smoker makes it easy to add wood chips, or wood pellets without opening the lid. Now, this grill offers good circulation of heat & smoke that helps to add a tasty smoky flavor. Moreover, this BBQ charcoal grill includes two durable wheels that make the grill stable and mobile. So, you can easily transport it to the backyard or garden at weekend parties.
Whereas the Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Vertical Offset Smoker has no ample space, this one comes with two tables and integrated hooks that offer ample space for seasoning and hang tools. Further, this offset smoker includes a 2-in-1 control including a slide air vent. As a result, you can easily stroke fire or control the airflow.
- Huge cooking space offer variety of cooking options
- Adjustable charcoal pan creates better heat control
- Provides good circulation of heat and adds a tasty smoky flavor
- A lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps to monitor the temperature.
- Easy ash removal with adjustable built-in damper
- The assembling is a little hard and takes time
- The metal walls of the smoker are quite thin.
5. Best Heat Control: Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker
Finally, we have a Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker that comes with two levels of height-adjustable charcoal pan. With the simple lifting of a handle, you can easily adjust the distance between the food and the pan. As the adjustment creates better heat control, it will provide any temperature you desire to cook the food. Let’s have a look at the specifications of it.
Key Features
- Built-in easy-to-read thermometer
- Comes with a total of 823 sq in cooking surface
- Anti-scalding spring handles allow for safe access
- Includes 2 level heat control system
- Two wagon-style wheels make this grill easy to move.
This Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill includes a large cooking space of a total of 823 sq in, including 443 sq in main cooking grates, 191 sq in warming rack, and 189 sq in an offset smoker. Now, as the main cooking grate is made with porcelain-coated steel wire, it can lock the juices to make the meat tender. Besides, the swing-away chrome-plated warming rack keeps food warm for hours.
In addition, the offset smoker makes adding wood chips, or wood pellets easy and quick, and you don’t even need to open the lid. In fact, this offset smoker offers good circulation of heat & smoke which results in adding a tasty smoky flavor to the food.
Moreover, this charcoal grill includes two shelves where the front one is for seasoning meats and the button one is for storing grilling accessories.
Same as the Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30″ BBQ Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker, this one also includes a built-in easy-to-read thermometer that helps to monitor the temperature without opening the lid. Further, this smoker includes cool touch spring handles in both the lid and the smoker.
As the handles allow safe access for opening the lid or adding charcoal, you don’t need to face finger burning issues while using the grill.
- Offset smoker offers smoke circulation results a tasty smoky flavor
- Adjustable charcoal pan provide any desired cooking temperature
- Two shelves for seasoning meats and storing grilling accessory
- Spring handles allow safe access for opening the lid or adding charcoal
- Thermometer helps to monitor the temperature without opening the lid.
- Cleaning of the ashtray is little bit hard
- The metal of this charcoal grill is thin.
Advantages of Using an Offset Smoker
Offset smoker comes with multiple advantages including larger cooking grate, easy to add fuel, infusing food with flavor and large ash management system. Let’s dig into the details.
As the offset smoker is comparatively bigger than grills, they come with larger primary cooking grates. As a result, you can cook double the amount of food at the same time, making them suitable for house parties, family reunions or commercial use.
In addition, some offset smokers come with adjustable and removable cooking grates that you can remove while cooking a big cut or full turkey. Next, you can add wood chips, or wood pellets on the offset smoker without opening the lid.
When it comes to cooking results, an offset smoker offers good circulation of heat & smoke that adds a tasty smoky flavor to the food. Finally, this type of smoker includes a slide-out charcoal tray or ash drawer for storing large amounts of ash. So, it can offer hours of cooking without any cleaning maintenance.
Difference Between Offset Smoker and Grill
Grills used direct heat to cook the food whereas the offset smoker uses smoke to cook food. Though both the grill and offset smoker uses charcoal, wood, gas, or electricity as the fuel or power source, the difference in the working principle, cooking temperature, or cooking time is different.
When it comes to the working principle, smokers use indirect heat or smoke to cook the food. Now, as the offset smoker uses indirect heat, it is suitable for slow cooking. As a result, it becomes easy to cook thick cuts of meat on the smoker without burning the outside.
On the other hand, grills offer direct heat to cook food which results in faster cooking compared to the smoker. But, the grill can also cook by indirect heat but the results won’t be as juicy as the offset smoker.
Whereas the offset smoker offers only 150° to 320° F, some grills can go up to 450-480° F. So, an offset smoker takes a longer time to cook food. Due to low temperature and longer cooking time, it is suitable to cook thick cuts of meat. Further, if you want flavorful and juicy meat, the offset smoker is multiple times better than the grill.
How To Choose The Best Offset Smoker
Before choosing an offset smoker, you have to consider different factors like the build quality, design, air ventilation and firebox position, built-in thermometer and wheels. Let’s have a look at these factors in detail.
Build Quality
The build quality is the most important factor as it decides how long the smoker will offer you proper cooking results. To get top-notch performance, the offset smoker must be built with high-quality materials.
Now, as the proper heat retention needs thick material build-up, keep sure the smoker is mate of thick metal. Besides, the quality materials can provide years of durability.
Design
The design has an impact on the temperature, cooking space and cooking results, including vertical or horizontal offset smoker. Whereas the vertical smoker includes a heat source from the bottom of the stack, the horizontal one gets heat from the side heat source.
On top of that, vertical design naturally raises the heat and offers improved and classy smokehouse flavor on the food. Also, vertical ones offer more cooking space than horizontal ones.
Air Ventilation
It is also important as the ventilation results in better temperature control. In the offset smoker, air vents are known as dampers, keeping the flow of the oxygen which is a key ingredient for proper firing.
Now, if the ventilator is small, it won’t provide proper airflow. As a result, it becomes hard to maintain the temperature. So, it is better to go for an offset smoker with large dampers.
Firebox Position
The heat rises depending on the firebox chamber position. If the firebox position is at the same height, the smoke flow won’t be efficient.
On the other hand, if the firebox position is a little lower than the smoker’s, the smoke flow will be efficient and offer a better cooking position. So, it is better to pick an offset smoker with a slightly lower firebox position.
Built-In Thermometer
As it is not possible to open the lid to see the cooking results on an offset smoker, the smoker must have a built-in thermometer. Besides, maintaining the temperature is also important to get proper cooking results.
Now, as the lid-mounted thermometer gauge helps to monitor the temperature without opening the lid, an offset smoker must have a built-in thermometer. So, choose a smoker with a high-quality built-in thermometer.
Wheels
Due to the weight of an offset smoker, it becomes hard to move it to the backyard or garden. Besides, if the smoker doesn’t have wheels, you can not use them at a weekend party.
On top of that, a smoker needs to have large or middle positioned wheels. Moreover, it must have a metal handle on the side of the smoker.
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
Finally, we are at the last step of our detailed article. As we tried to cover both the positive and negative sides of the best offset smoker under $2,000 in detail, you can pick any of these smokers right now! If you’re looking for an easy-to-use offset smoker to get flavorful food, we recommend the Royal Gourmet Charcoal Grill Offset Smoker.
The Dyna Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker would be the best pick for house parties or commercial use as it includes 6 adjustable cooking grates where a single grate can up to 25 pounds of meat. So, get any of these offset smokers to get smokey and juicy meat in every bite!