Smoking food is the to-go cooking method for most culinary art lovers. When you expose food to smoke, you improve its taste and preserve it. A look at the history of smoking, you realize it is a cooking method that has been around for ages.
Smoking used to be a straightforward procedure where food was placed on a rack and covered with smoke. We now have smokers, which are better at preparing meals thanks to improvements.
Choosing the appropriate smoker might be difficult because there are many factors to take into account. One of the most important factors is cost. To choose an appliance that offers you excellent value, you must stick to your spending limit.
In this article, we look for the top inexpensive smoker. Continue reading as we examine the best products available at reasonable prices.
Weber Charcoal Smoker
(Best Overall Pick)
Weber charcoal smoker is the best overall pick. It has an excellent mash-up of features that include:
Durable Construction
Weber charcoal smoker is a steel build, which is very robust, a guarantee of long life. The steel has a porcelain coat, further boosting its longevity. It gives it an excellent look. It is also easy to clean. The cooking grills sport a nickel plate which acts against corrosive agents like rust.
Lightweight
The smoker is light, weighing 39.1-pounds. The lightness translates to effortless translocation. This attribute makes general maintenance of the Weber utility to be hassle-free, for example, cleaning.
Spaciousness
A small appearance from the outside should not mislead you to think that the same applies inside. It has much room on the interior, which can accommodate a full-sized turkey and ham at the same time. There are two grilling grates, where you can have different foods smoking simultaneously.
Back to the outside, it has a compact form that does not take up much space in your kitchen. It contributes to ease of maintenance, more so cleaning.
Convenience
Convenience is another attribute of this cooking appliance that you will appreciate. Starting from assembly to use and maintenance, you will have a stress-free moment.
You have temperature control on a check, courtesy of the in-built temperature gauge. Here, you keep tabs on the heat level, and you can raise or lower it, if necessary, through adjustable dampers.
Safety
You do not have to worry about burns when handling the Weber charcoal smoker. It has nylon handles that prevent heat transfer. The enamel coat on the steel frame also gives an edge of insulation against excess heat.
Highlighted Features
- Item dimensions: 21*19*41-inches.
- Product weight: 39.1 pounds.
- Power source: charcoal.
- Material: steel.
- Nickel-plated grills.
Pros
- Easy to assemble, use and maintain.
- Light in weight.
- Safe to use with insulated handles.
- Economical on space.
- A roomy interior.
- A durable build.
Con
- There is the risk of nickel exposure, which can cause some health problems.
Dyna-Glo Signature Series Offset Smoker
(Durable Pick)
Durability is a critical factor to consider when getting a smoker. Dyna-Glo Signature series offset smoker is a great pick majoring on this attribute. Below are the features of this cooking appliance.
Quality
A standout feature of this utility is its quality. It is a heavy-gauge steel body build, which is very sturdy and less prone to wear. This Dyna-Glo smoker will serve you for a decent amount of time without signs of deterioration.
Its coating acts against rust and other corrosion agents.
Usability
When focusing on usability, you will appreciate its beginner-friendliness. If you are new to using smokers, you will have an easy time learning from the Dyna-Glo Signature model. Additionally, it is easy to assemble, with its manual coming to your aid.
A temperature gauge allows you to check on the heat level, which you can tweak to the desired limits. Its five chrome-plated grills are easy to clean and can go into the dishwasher.
Portability
Portability is a smoker attribute you should never overlook. The Dyna-Glo Signature Series offset smoker is portable, which works for its bulkiness. It has two large and robust wheels for easy movement, even in the rough terrain of many backyards.
Safety
Safety is a crucial component to pay attention to when handling kitchen equipment. This smoker is safe to use, and spots feature a spring grip handle. The design of the handle prevents you from getting burnt when opening the door.
The body does not absorb heat quickly, courtesy of its coating. As such, if you accidentally touch it when cooking, there are minimal chances of injury.
Spaciousness
The Dyna-Glo smoker has a total cooking area of 1382-square inches. It is a space big enough to accommodate five cooking grates. It is ample for preparing large meal servings like poultry or steak cuts. The area makes cleaning a stress-free process.
When it comes to storage, the smoker appears to be quite bulky. The good thing is that there is a solution in the form of disassembling it. If you want to use it, reassembly is an effortless engagement.
Highlighted Features
- A cooking area of 1382-square inches.
- Item weight: 124.3-pounds.
- Power source: charcoal.
- Smoker dimensions: 45.5*24.9*58.8-inches.
- Accessories: five chrome-plated grills, cool-touch spring handle, sausage hooks.
Pros
- Beginner friendly.
- Wheels for easy movement.
- Easy to clean.
- A spacious cooking area.
- A durable build.
- The smoker comes with plenty of accessories.
Con
- At around 124 pounds, this appliance is quite bulky.
Smokehouse Little Chief Electric Smoker
(Portable Selection)
A portable smoker comes in handy for outdoor settings like camping. They are light in weight: hence, handling is a straightforward affair. An excellent example of a portable smoker is the Smokehouse Little Chief electric smoker. Highlighted are more of its attributes.
Light in Weight
The selling factor of this smoker is its lightness. It weighs only 12.2-pounds, a manageable mass if you were to carry it. This translates to effortless handling during maintenance.
Usability
This smoking appliance is excellent for beginners who want to get into the art of smoking food. It does not require assembling, and in case of any issue, you can use the provided manual. Its parts like the grill and drip pan are dishwasher-friendly. As such, you do not have any stress when cleaning.
Temperature Control
With the Smokehouse Little Chief electric smoker, you have temperature control on your hands. Its 120V, 250W heating element provides consistent low heat. The low heat is ideal for smoking food, mainly meat dishes.
Spaciousness
This smoking utility has a small frame suitable for a small cooking area. With it in your kitchen, decluttering is a no-stress engagement when need be. While it has a diminutive build, it is pretty spacious on the inside. You can smoke up to 25-pounds of food in this cooker.
High-Quality Build
Another great thing about the Little Chief electric smoker is its top-grade material. It is an aluminum build, which is very sturdy and also contributes to its lightness. The material is resistant to rust and other wear agents and gives the implement a nice shiny look.
Provided Accessories
When you order this smoker, you receive some accessories for enhanced use. The add-ons include a user manual, a recipe, an instruction book, and a 1.75-pound bag of hickory wood pellets.
Highlighted Features
- Product weight: 12.2-pounds.
- Product dimensions: 11.5*11.5*24.5-inches.
- Fuel type: electric.
- Material: aluminum.
- Chrome-plated grills.
- Provided accessories: a 1.75-pound bag of hickory wood pellets, instruction book, and user manual.
- UL and CUL are certified to show its safety standards.
Pros
- Effortless use and maintenance.
- No need for assembly.
- It is light in weight, contributing to its portability.
- The smoker is long-lasting.
- It does not consume a lot of space.
- Awesome looks.
- Accommodates up to 25-pounds of food.
Con
- Temperature controls may occasionally get out of hand.
ASMOKE Tabletop Electric Smoker
(Versatile Selection)
Versatility is a comprehensive term that looks at the smoker’s functionality. ASMOKE tabletop electric grill is the true definition of flexibility, as we are going to see.
Versatility
As earlier mentioned, the ASMOKE electric grill is very adaptable. This attribute comes to sight when you look at the various cooking functions it can perform. It is an 8-in-1 appliance, which you can use to smoke, grill, braise, bake, and roast.
With all these functions, you save on getting appliances like a grill. The smoker allows you to try out several culinary options as you prefer.
Aesthetic Factor
The ASMOKE smoker is a looker. It has a compact shape with incredible colors. It can be a conversation starter among fellow cookers. If you have it in your kitchen, it will enhance its overall décor, especially if you are into minimalist art.
Space-Friendly
An appealing factor of the smoker in question is its space-friendliness. Exterior-wise, it has a compact form, which is economical in space. It has small dimensions that occupy a small area. This utility can comfortably rest atop your table or countertop.
The dimensions make cleaning an effortless process. Focusing on the interior, you realize that while it is small in size, the inside is very accommodating.
ASMOKE’s smoker has two porcelain-coated grills. They offer 256-square inches of cooking area. This is a large area, ideal for smoking large meal servings.
Quality
Quality-wise, the ASMOKE tabletop electric grill will hardly disappoint you. Its primary materials include steel, cast iron, and a porcelain coating. The combination of these materials assures you of a long-lasting cooker.
Convenience
ASMOKE’s tabletop grill is very convenient, supported by several features. They include the LED digital temperature controller with a meat probe. This component lets you check the internal temperature and that of your food.
A heating fan aids in the consistent spread of heat in the smoking chamber. The heat distribution in this smoker is very efficient and will save up to 20% of wood pellets. Furthermore, there is auto pellet reloading when the smoke source diminishes.
Cleaning and the overall use is a hassle-free process, even if you are a novice in this mode of food preparation.
Safety
The most prominent safety component is the handles. They prevent accidents such as burns when in use. The latches are also less prone to excess heat, and when closed, they prevent smoke from escaping.
Highlighted Features
- Smoker weight: 48.4-pounds.
- Smoker dimensions: 24.8*17.5*14.5-inches.
- Material: steel, cast iron, and porcelain.
- A heating fan for even heat distribution.
- Provided accessories: a meat probe and waterproof grill cover.
- Cooking area: 256-square inches.
- Power source: electricity.
Pros
- Easy and safe to use.
- Even heat and smoke distribution.
- High-quality construction.
- It comes with a meat probe and grill cover.
- Economical on wood pellet use.
- The smoker is space-friendly.
Con
- The smoker has an overheating problem due to temperature surges.
Buying Guide for the Best Cheap Smoker
From the listing for the finest smokers in the market, you notice some attributes stick out. We will look at some of them to help you narrow down to the cream of the pick.
Price
Considering we have been focusing on affordability, the first point is on price. When getting this kitchen appliance, you have to pay attention to its cost. While the typical move is to go for a cheaper model, you have to weigh the value.
In this discussion, you go for an affordable appliance that offers a lot; to give you a great bargain. A point to note is that cheap does not always translate to an excellent smoker. Some may lack critical features like temperature gauges.
Size
Size is dependent on many factors like kitchen space and the food servings you want to prepare. If you have a big kitchen or want to prepare large food servings, go for large smokers. Conversely, if you want to minimize space use, go for smaller models.
Safety
Safety is very crucial in the kitchen as accidents can get fatal. Be keen with the smoker handles to prevent burns when using the cooker. Opt for those with an insulator like plastic or rubber on the handles.
You can further uphold safety by getting the GEEKHOM heat-resistant grilling gloves. They are comfy and non-slip gloves that will prevent burns when using the smoker.
Accessories
Some smokers come with several accessories for a smooth smoking session. The accessories include additional grills, cookbooks, mittens, and a user manual. The more add-ons, the better the utility.
Durability
The other factor to look at is its durability. From the review, you can see that most smokers are very durable, an assurance of a lengthy service. When you get a high-quality cooker, you are sure that you won’t have to spend a lot on repairs and replacements.
Conclusion
A smoker is a must-have appliance in your kitchen if you are into the culinary arts. In the process of getting a befitting smoker, you should work with your budget. In this vein, we bring you the best cheap smoker review.
We look at some of the prime budget smoking utilities in the market. Price is a primary essence, though do not overlook other aspects like quality, size, and functionality. In this article, we only look at four models, but you can expand your horizon and look at more.
As a parting shot, uphold safety in the kitchen, ensuring that your appliances are in great shape. Maintain them regularly and if there is a problem, attend to it promptly.