More and more people are looking to use a home smoker to prepare their food, the smell of smoky foods wafting through the air can be tantalising and the taste of smoky food delicious. Using a home smoker, your favourite foods can be smoked during the week and enjoyed with the whole family. There are variety of different smokers out there be it a water smoker, electric smoker, propane box smoker or offset barrel style smoker.
Each have there own merits… a water smoker is small and cylindrical in shape and is convenient for the average barbecuer. The electric smoker is a box like smoker that has a heating element inside with racks above it to hold the food. With an offset barrel Smoker is designed so that the food being smoked downs not come in contact with any flames, smoking the food indirectly.
Top 5 Best Home Smokers
| Model | Type | Size (in inches) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber | Charcoal | 31.4 x 14.8 x 14.8 | ||
| Smoke Hollow | Propane | 28 x 19 x 47 | ||
| Masterbuilt | Electric | 20.9 x 20.1 x 31.9 | ||
| Smoke Hollow | Electric | 37.5 x 22 x 19 | ||
| Masterbuilt | Electric | 19.9 x 20.5 x 33.3 |
5. Weber 711001 Smokey Mountain Cooker 14-Inch Charcoal Smoker, Black
Company: Weber
At 14 inches the Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker (SMC), is a great home smoker is perfect for that small gathering whether it be in the company of your family or friends. If you’re looking for something bigger there is an 18 inch model and a 22 inch model but for a home smoker the 14 inch might be sufficient enough for most.
There is no need to open the door to check the internal temperature as the smoker is fitted with an external temperature grommet, therefore the temperature can be kept constant which this model does do well.
The 14 inch model can handle two pork butts easily or even a 5 pound brisket. Both the water pan and charcoal chamber are porcelain enamelled. This is a great water smoker for those on the first rung of smoking meats.
One point to note is that some users have noticed that after they are done cooking the lid can get stuck to the middle section, be careful when removing this as you don’t want to damage your home smoker.
- It can hold temperature for a good couple of hours
- Great capacity (turkey sized)
- Simple to clean
- The door/handle
- Great in sunshine not so much on a rainy/snowy day.
- Not so easy to move
- Door- doesn’t always align properly
4. Smoke Hollow 38202G 38-Inch 2-Door Propane Gas Smoker
Company: Smoke Hollow
The sizeable smoke box on the Smoke Hollow 38202G, allows you to load up both large and small chips of wood. Water and wood chip can be filled without open up the top door. Inside the smoking area there are 4 Chrome Plated Cooking shelves sitting on adjustable levels.
This is the only propane powered smoker on this list. The temperature is managed via a cast brass gas control system and it is ignited using a push button ignition system. The two sealed doors on the smoker help to control the internal levels of moisture and heat .
With 3.4 Cubic Feet Cabinet Cooking Capacity, you have plenty of space for whatever you want to smoke. This is a great all round home smoker for the price.
- Really pleased with the effectiveness and ease of results with this smoker.
- Very easy to use and generate really good results.
- Sausage hanger included
- Can be a bit tricky to put together
- In calm weather, the temperature is rock steady – with a bit of wind, you may need to build a wind block.
3. Masterbuilt 20072115 Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker, 30-Inch
Company: Masterbuilt
If you do not wish to hang around and babysit your smoker, this is for you. Once paired with the app you can keep an eye on whats going on with your smoker. Sharp looking with a clear front door so you can look in on what you are smoking.
For ease of clean up there is a removable drip pan, water pan, wood chip tray and front access to the grease pan. The wheels and rear mounted handle make this smoker portable so you can move your home smoker into the best location for you with minimal difficulty.
The adjustable door latch on the smoker, helps to retain heat and smoke. This is a great smoker with modern touch to help you get the best out of home smoking.
- Bluetooth controller is very convenient.
- Consistent smoke for salmon probably requires the cold smoke attachment
- Bluetooth range on controller could be better.
2. Smoke Hollow 30162EW 30-Inch Electric Smoker with Window, Black
Company: Smoke Hollow
The double wall construction for this home smoker helps to keep the heat generated from the 1,500-Watt element inside this unit consistent. Visually little smoker is appealing with the glass door which has been nely designed to improve the latcj.
The smoker comes with a high temperature painted lidded wood chip box and like most on this is a porcelain coated water pan. As can be seen in the photo there are three cooking shelves for all your smoking needs.
A sizeable and effective smoker, useful and decently priced.
- Easy to maintain a consistent temperature.
- Easy to access shelves which can easily fit 4 chickens in one smoke.
- Difficult to build smoke with hard wood
- No where to really thread a temp gauge and meat thermometer.
1. Masterbuilt 20071117 30″ Digital Electric Smoker
Company: Masterbuilt
Claiming in the top spot on our list for the best home smoker is an electric smoker, yes no charcoal or propane to be seen here. The Masterbuilt 30″ digital electric smoker has been designed to make smoking easy, whether your a makes smoking easy whether you’re a seasoned pro, or you’re still scratching your head thinking ‘what is smoking?’
This smart smoker comes with a digital controller allows you to monitor and adjust the temperature, and time, and smoke can be controlled via its adjustable air damper. It all goes towards freeing you up to tend to other tasks whilst the Masterbuilt gets in with smoking that Cornish game hen or mac & cheese or pollock fillets.
You are greeted with chrome-coated smoking racks on opening the smoker. Wood chips cab be added without opening the smoker door, allowing you to add all the smoker flavor you could want. You can also keep an eye on the temperature with the integrated thermostat temperature control.
- Can use as a smoker or slow cook without wood.
- The digital controller makes this simple to use
- Fully insulated body
- Is a bit hard to clean
