Nothing beats a mouthwatering hunk of meat, slowly smoked for hours on end until it reaches juicy, melt in the mouth perfection.
Wait… there is one thing that beats that delicious smoked meat. And that’s eating that delicious smoked meat wherever you want: in the parking lot just before your team kick off, out in the woods with the family, on the beach with a few beers, or around at your mate’s house for the grand final.
This is where the gas smoker is your new best bud! No need to mess around with extension leads, just a canister of propane and you’re good to go.
And by that, we mean good to go smoke yourself and your family into a food coma in the gorgeous surroundings of your choice. You can thank us later!
Our pick of the best propane smokers on the market will ensure your smoking hits the spot every single time.
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Table of Contents
Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker - Best All-Round
Our choice for the all-round best gas smoker is this baby from Cuisinart. The COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker was designed with convenience in mind. Let’s start with the vertical smoker shape, making it space-efficient on your patio or in your garage. What’s more, with extra table space in mind, they’ve moved the vent from the top to the back of the smoker, leaving the top free to hold your utensils, seasonings and maybe even a cheeky beer. The 40-inch hose that is supplied gives you plenty of maneuverability and can be used with a standard propane tank.
Heating up takes only a few minutes, and for a controlled cook, you can adjust the gas supply to manage the heat, plus, the vent allows you to manage the amount of smoke in your oven. A handy thermometer will help you make those adjustments during your cook. It’s good to see that the wood chips are kept separate from the flames, which allows for an even smoke and level temperature throughout. No annoying flare-ups or heat spikes.
There are two doors for better access to the smoker. Both of these seal tightly with a twist of the handle to lock in all the flavor you’re brewing. Inside, you’ve got four 14 x 14-inch stainless steel shelves to stack with juicy goodness. They’re easy to remove too, for when you’re smoking up a large bird or cut of meat.
Thanks to a porcelain enamel steel tray for the wood chips and the water, you won’t spend hours cleaning up. The Cuisinart COS-244 gives you all the essentials you need to create a delicious smoked meal with a very reasonable price tag.
Specs for the Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker
Fuel type: Propane Gas
Barbecue material: Powder-coated steel
Grate material: Stainless steel
Cooking capacity: 784 square inches
Model: COS-244
Dimensions: 20″ W x 46″ H x 20″ D
Weight: 69.5lbs
Warranty: 3 years
Pros of the Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker:
- Quality build from a reputable manufacturer
- Two door design so you can add water and wood-chips without having to open the main cooking cabinet and disrupt the temperature and smoke
- Tight door seal to minimize smoke and heat loss
- Effective at smoking in cooler climates
- Removable racks give great flexibility
- Rear venting means you can leave utensils on top of the unit
- Reputation for excellent customer service
Cons of the Cuisinart COS-244 Propane Smoker:
- Combined wood and water tray means that when you add extra water, it drops the temperature and you lose smoke production for a while. Could be fixed by using a separate water tray
Char Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Gas Smoker - Best Budget
For those of you looking to make those hard-earned dollars go a bit further, the Char Broil Gas Smoker will deliver. Are you getting the same high quality make and build as the other models on this list? No, but it is a vast improvement on other gas smokers of a similar price.
With change from $200, you’ll have all the benefits of a gas-powered smoker, consistent heat and precise temperature control. You’ll receive 595 square inches of cooking surface to experiment with, as well as a warming rack that makes handy use of the top of the smoking chamber. The double drawer design means you still have access to the water and wood without losing heat in the main chamber. The wood chip and water pan are porcelain to take the hard work out of cleaning.
A couple of easy mods will improve the results of this budget smoker. Fit a quality gasket around the door to improve the seal, and use the lowest shelf inside the oven for the water, ignoring the built-in water tray, to reach those top temperatures. Now you can use that change to treat you and the family to a prime rack of the finest ribs you can get your hands on.
Specs for the Char-Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Gas Smoker
Fuel type: Liquid propane
Barbecue material: Painted steel
Grate material: Chrome-plated wire
Cooking capacity: 595 sq. in.
Model: 12701705
Dimensions: 19.5″ W x 45.5″ H x 21.5″ D
Weight: 67lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the Char-Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Smoker:
- Attractive price on an entry-level gas smoker
- Large enough capacity to cook a decent amount of food in one go
- Two door design so you can add wood chips and water without disturbing the temperature and smoke levels of the cooking chamber
- Built-in temperature gauge for ease of use
- Cool-touch handles
- Warming rack on top of the smoker which is convenient for keeping sides warm
- Porcelain-coated water and wood tray making it easy to clean
Cons of the Char-Broil Vertical Liquid Propane Smoker:
- Leaks smoke which can be fixed by installing gasket tape around the door the improve the seal
- Position of the built-in water tray makes it hard to reach higher temperatures
- Combined water and wood chip tray makes it easy for wood chips to get wet and more difficult to get them to smoke nicely. Suggest getting your own separate water and wood trays instead
Dyna Glo Wide Body LP Gas Smoker - Best Extra Wide
This Dyna-Glo LP Smoker stands out from the crowd for its extra-wide body, perfect for if you’re cooking ribs for a crowd or if like your cuts of meat jumbo-sized. You’ve got four height-adjustable cooking grates, which amount to a whopping 1,235 square inches of cooking real estate. But, that’s not all. With the sausage hooks and removable rib rack that come as standard, this baby will adapt to whatever delicious cut you next want to treat your family to.
If size really does matter (and when it comes to smoking, we believe it definitely does), size up from the 36-inch standard size to the 43-inch model. With 1,904 square inches to cook with, you’ll be smoking for the whole neighborhood.
But, whichever size you opt for, the Dyna-Glo Wide Body LP Gas Smoker can be commended for its dual cast iron burners. This extra power does use a bit more fuel but will also keep your meat smoking whatever the weather is doing outside. The doors come pre-installed with a gasket, leaving nothing up to chance when it comes to locking that smoke right where it belongs. The temperature gauge has a “smoke zone” feature that indicates the best temperature for imparting smoky goodness to your meats. Ideal for newbies to the smoking scene who want a bit of guidance.
The unit also boasts a sturdy make, with both water bowl and wood chip box crafted from a heavy gauge porcelain-enameled steel. Their size means you won’t be popping back to check up on everything every ten minutes, which means more time for relaxing with friends, watching the game or working on perfecting your hush puppies.
Specs for the Dyna-Glo Wide Body 36" LP Gas Smoker
Fuel type: Propane gas
Barbecue material: Powder-coated steel
Grate material: Chrome-plated wire
Cooking capacity: 1,235 sq. in.
Number of burners: 2
Total burner BTU-per-hour-input: 20,000
Model: DGW1235BDP-D
Assembled size (in): 49.71 (H) x 31.28 (W) x 20.35 (D)
Weight: 74lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the Dyna-Glo Wide Body LP Gas Smoker:
- Extra large cooking capacity in a wide body design that’s perfect for whole racks of ribs and other larger cuts
- Height-adjustable cooking grates for ultimate flexibility
- Comes standard with sausage hooks and a removable rib rack
- Available in an even larger, 43 inch model
- Dual cast iron burners to provide plenty of heat to this larger model and make smoking in cooler climates possible
- Door comes pre-installed with a gasket for an extra tight fit, minimizing smoke and heat leakage
- Large, porcelain-enameled heavy gauge water bowl and wood chip box for durability and easy cleaning
Cons of the Dyna-Glo Wide Body LP Gas Smoker:
- Double burners do use more gas than a smaller smoker but that’s necessary when running a larger unit like this
Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker - Best Temperature Regulating
It’ll come as no surprise to learn that Masterbuilt has the last word in temperature regulation when it comes to gas smokers. If you’re a control-freak who values the details, you’ll be in your element cooking on the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker.
Thanks to the patent-pending ThermoTemp technology, the temperature sensor controls the burner. So, once you’ve set it, you can let the unit do all the hard work, while you take all the credit. A heat diffuser allows the warmth to distribute evenly, so you won’t end up with both under-cooked and overcooked parts of your brisket.
Four chrome-coated smoking racks give you lots of room to fill with your latest experiments. The standard model offers 700 square inches of cooking space, or if you’re feeling hungry, fire up the 40-inch model and you’ll be enjoying 12 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 racks of ribs or 4 pork butts in no time. Your wood chip tray is built into a second door, giving you the chance to experiment with different flavors and not worry about heat loss.
Masterbuilt have your safety in mind, with features such as the safety valve which will shut off the gas if the burner flame goes out. There’s also a type 1 regulator and fuel level gauge so that gas management is easy and safe. Most importantly there’s no danger you’ll run out of gas unexpectedly with a half-cooked piece of meat and a hungry crowd.
To summarize, the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker is the complete package when it comes to gas smoking made easy.
Specs for the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker 30"
Fuel type: Propane gas
Barbecue material: Powder-coated steel
Grate material: Chrome-plated wire
Cooking capacity: 713 sq. in.
Number of burners: 1
Total burner BTU-per-hour-input: 15,750
Model: MPS 340|G
Assembled size (in): 43.11 (H) x 23.42 (W) x 20.03 (D)
Weight: 75lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker:
- Features a unique self-regulating temperature control so you don’t need to adjust the gas to maintain the temperature
- Heat diffuser creates even heat distribution to avoid hot spots
- Available in a large or extra large size
- Fuel level gauge so you can see how much gas you’ve got left in the bottle
- Propane cut off safety valve which automatically turns off the gas if the flame goes out
- Two door design so you can add wood chips and water without disrupting the heat and smoke in the cooking chamber
Cons of the Masterbuilt ThermoTemp Propane Smoker:
- The glass door design looks nice but does fog up with condensation while you’re cooking so is not that practical for seeing how the food is going
Masterbuilt MB20051316 ThermoTemp 40" Propane Smoker - Best Extra Large
Maybe you’re a big family, or perhaps you have more friends than you know what to do with.
Or, maybe you just really love smoked meat. We sympathise.
And, so do Masterbuilt, who have brought out the MB20051316 ThermoTemp 40″ Propane Smoker for exactly those first world problems.
You’re looking at an absolute beast of a smoker, with 961 square inches of cooking space spread over four chrome smoking racks.
You’ve a heat distributer that makes sure the temperature is stable throughout. Plus, the awesome ThermoTemp temperature sensor that controls the propane burner to automatically maintain your set temperature.
The double door design lets you add wood chips and water without letting all the heat out. And, there’s a side mounted grease tray for easy cleanup.
For anyone who likes to go big and do it easily, the 40 inch ThermoTemp XL Propane Smoker is an awesome choice.
Specs for the Masterbuilt 40 inch ThermoTemp XL Propane Smoker
Fuel type: Propane gas
Barbecue material: Powder-coated steel
Grate material: Chrome-plated wire
Cooking capacity: 961 sq. in.
Number of burners: 1
Total burner BTU-per-hour-input: 7,500
Model: MB20051316
Assembled size (in): 52.95(H) x 28.74(W) x 22.83(D)
Weight: 92 lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the MB20051316 ThermoTemp 40″ Propane Smoker:
- Automatic temperature control from a propane smoker
- Extra large capacity gas smoker
- Heat diffuser evenly distributes heat
- Dual door design so you can add water and wood chips without having to open the main door, disturbing your cooking
- Side access grease tray for easy clean up
- Three dampers giving you greater control over your temperature, smoke and moisture levels
- Hidden wheels and a rear handle to make this unit easy to move
Cons of the Masterbuilt MB20051316 ThermoTemp 40″ Propane Smoker:
- Not the best quality out there… but, it’s cheap for what you get
Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24” - Best Natural Gas
If you’re looking to use your natural gas supply to fuel your smoking habit, look no further than the Camp Chef Smoke Vault. Once you’re hooked up to the supply (via the optional Natural Gas Conversion Kit), there’s no need to worry about running out of juice at a crucial moment. Whilst natural gas doesn’t produce as much heat as propane, that’s no matter for your low and slow smoking needs, and you’ll save a few bucks as well. That said, this unit works great with propane straight out of the box if you need your smoker to be portable.
As soon as you’re fired up, and that’s soon thanks to the matchless snap ignition, temperature is taken care of by using the heat-control dials and an awesome three damper valves. You have a thermometer in the door which monitors the oven temperature to make sure you’re smoking is on target.
With two adjustable smoking racks plus a jerky rack, you’ve got plenty to play with. Plus, the heavy-gauge steel wood chip tray and water pan demonstrate the excellent make on this affordable unit.
Specs for the Camp Chef Smoke Vault 24" Gas Smoker
Fuel type: Propane gas or natural gas (with optional conversion kit)
Barbecue material: Steel
Grate material: Nickel-plated wire
Cooking capacity: 600 sq. in. regular racks, 300 sq. in. jerky tray
Number of burners: 1
Total burner BTU-per-hour-input: 18,000
Model: SMV24S
Assembled size (in): 30(H) x 24(W) x 16(D)
Weight: 75lbs
Warranty: 1 year
Pros of the Camp Chef Smoke Vault Propane and Natural Gas Smoker:
- Can be converted with a kit to use natural gas
- Also works with propane gas as standard
- Snap ignition for easy start-up
- Triple damper design for precise control of smoke and heat levels
- Two adjustable smoking racks plus one jerky rack to give flexibility to your cooking
- Space to add two extra racks if desired
- Heavy-gauge wood chip tray and water pan for durability
Cons of the Camp Chef Smoke Vault Propane and Natural Gas Smoker:
- Expect some smoke leakage through the door which you can seal with a gasket if you want to
Kate Brown, the founder and voice behind Burning Brisket, is not your typical pitmaster or restaurateur. Her expertise in barbecue grew from a humble desire to cook exceptional meals for her family. From overcoming burnt brisket mishaps to establishing her boutique cattle ranch, Kate shares her passion to help 'ordinary' individuals cook extraordinary barbecue, believing that simplicity often yields the best flavors. Kate is commited to making great barbecue accessible to all with the right resources and some tasty practice.
