Last Updated on: 8th November 2023, 06:27 am
Did you know that there are over 50 different offset smoker models available on the market today, all priced under $1000?
That’s right, a wide range of options to suit every budget and preference.
As a true aficionado of barbecue, it’s crucial to choose the most suitable smoker that not only fits your budget but also delivers exceptional flavor and performance.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the top contenders, and their unique features, and help you make an informed decision that will take your backyard cookouts to the next level.
we will go into a lot of detail, but in short Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker is the best offset smoker under $1000.
More about it later!
so we have put together a whole list of best-offset Smokers under 1000 in which we tried to provide pure value to our readers.
so I have conducted an in-depth analysis of the brands I have used in the past and the ones that I currently own.
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker
in addition to that, I have engaged in several pitmaster communities to give you the black-and-white answer to what the right smoker is in your budget.
By the end of this article, you will be able to choose the ideal offset Smokers while remaining within your reach.
what are the best offset smokers under $1000?
Our top pick from the best offset smokers under $1000 that we selected is the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker due to its durability and efficiency.
Let’s have a look at the list of best smokers available for the budget.
Best overall:
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker
Best runner-up:
best charcoal smoker:
Dyna-Glo vertical offset smoker
best for bigger families:
best versatile:
Best Budget:
Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset Smoker
| Oklahoma Joe Longhorn | Dyna-Glo vertical offset | Dyna-Glo Wide Body | Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro | Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FUEL TYPE | Charcoal | Charcoal | Charcoal | Charcoal | Charcoal |
| SIZE | 35.5 x 64.25 x 55.5 | 45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8 | 21 x 43.3 x 50.2 | 31”L x 60”W x 50”H | 53.39 x 27.2 x 48.82 in |
| COOKING capacity | 751-sq-in. main chamber 309-sq-in. secondary | 1382 sq in | 1890 sq in | 830 sq in | 811 Sq In |
| WEIGHT | 226 Pounds | 124.3 Pounds | 83 Pounds | 120 lbs | 54.2 Pounds |
| BUILD MATERIAL | high-quality Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Alloy Steel | Alloy Steel |
1. Best overall: Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker
it has topped this list because is an easy-to-use smoker that can make the cooking procedure more fun.
It is the most famous smoker nowadays due to the features it provides at such low prices.
stats of Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker
- Dimensions :35.5 x 64.25 x 55.5
- capacity: 1060 sq. in.
- Fuel type: charcoal
It is the beast of a smoker with a cooking area of 1060 sq. in. Its main chamber has enough space that you can cook a brisket in it without any hustling.
It has 4 cooking grates which make cooking easier. these cooking grates can be used to retain heat and smoke meat with more than one technique at the same time.
moreover, these grates are porcelain coated to make them easier to clean.
it is a charcoal smoker and comes with a large firebox which Makes it easier to clean the ash produced by the burning of charcoal.
Moreover, the firebox also has a door, which makes it easier to add more charcoal or check the remaining charcoal amount without lifting the grill door.
It’s an awesome feature because if the firebox door is opened too often then the heat leaks out and becomes difficult to heat up again.
It’s also a combo of smoker and charcoal grill which means you can control the heat and smoke and grill with the same equipment at a reasonable cost.
it can be easily converted from Reverse to a conventional or charcoal grill so it can provide you with unmatched versatility with a single design.
It comes with a charcoal basket that can hold a large amount of charcoal at once.it is very useful for cooking for a longer time.
It’s a common problem for experts that the charcoal usually runs out during the procedure due to which the flavor of smoked meat is affected.
it tackles it by using a large basket to hold more charcoal to make sure it can run for a longer time without any problem.
It also has a warming area on the firebox for indirect heating. which means if you want to warm up cold meat or hotdogs while the brisket is being smoked inside the smoker, then you can use a warming area for the task.
it is one of those unique features of it is that makes it stand out from the competition.
Moreover, it has a high-quality build which makes it resistant and long-lasting. It can last for ages if handled carefully.
Moreover, usually, it also comes with a 2-year warranty which provides further protection to you.
The warranty is only provided by manufacturers who are confident in their product and so is the Oklahoma Joe’s brand.
It also has a gauge mounted on the chamber lid to stay informed of the internal temperature at any time during the grilling procedure.
This helps in maintaining the ideal temperature and adjusting it according to your needs.
It also has two large wheels which help in moving it around the backyard or for outdoor usage. It makes it portable to some extent despite its size.
In addition, it also has a unique design that ensures the even distribution of heat throughout the smoker due to which meat is cooked evenly while retaining its taste and texture.
Another feature of Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Smoker is that the handle of the chamber lid is made in such a way as to remain cold without being influenced by internal temperature.
It is normally used as a reverse flow smoker but it can be converted into a traditional offset smoker for traditional smoking.
It has an accurate gauge that shows the exact temperature at which the flesh is being smoked.
this gauge is accurate and can correct the reading for lower heat at which the meat is being smoked or high heat used for grilling.
It saves you from the effort of opening the lid and measuring temperature manually.
It’s mainly used with charcoal as a power source but you can also use wood pellets for grilling in it. But make sure to only use the right wood for the specific meat.
Charcoal can give better Flavor to your food than wood pellets and can work with different kinds of foods awesomely.
Coming to its drawbacks, its heat coating is immune to heat to some extent but it can peel off if exposed to water or high heat.
So it’s better to be careful about its heat coating while using it to make it last longer.
Pro’s of Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Offset Smoker
- It is a versatile smoker which can be used both as a reverse and traditional offset smoker
- It has an awesome build
- It has a large firebox with a door to maintain the fuel for long hours
- It has an accurate heat control gauge which makes it easier to control the heat
- It has wheels which make it portable
- It is easy to assemble
- Its price is justified by the features it has
Cons of Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker
- Its heat coating can peel off if not handled carefully
2. Runner up: Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker is the runner-up in our list of best offset smokers under $1000.
it has the same features as the Longhorn smoker, except it has a smaller cooking area.
although it has a smaller cooking area compared to Longhorn, it has 619 sq. in. primary and 281 sq. in. secondary cooking surface which is enough to cook for crowds.
Stats of Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
- Dimensions : 53(H) x 57(W) x 33.5(D)
- capacity:619 sq. in. primary, 281 sq. in. secondary cooking area
- Fuel type: Charcoal
Pros of Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
- affordable
- enough space to cook for crowds
- high quality durable build
- built-in thermometer to provide accurate temperature
Cons of Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
- a bit of a gap in the lid
3. best charcoal: Dyna-Glo vertical offset smoker
It is a barrel smoker that can also be used as a traditional one. It’s popular for its amazing build and flavor that it produces.
related: are offset smokers better than vertical
It comes with different unique features. let’s have a look at them one by one.
As mentioned before, it is a barrel smoker and usually Barrel smokers are not used for searing because high heat can damage their build.
stats for Dyna-Glo offset smoker
- Dimensions : 45.5 x 24.9 x 58.8
- capacity: 1300 square in.
- Fuel type: charcoal
Searing meat requires heat higher than that required for grilling. But it comes with a cooking chamber two different styled cooking surfaces and can be used for searing.
Everyone has their taste due to their taste buds but according to most of the users, it smokes meat with amazing flavor.
the reason behind it is its build that can maintain heat for a longer time without fluctuating which results in an ideally smoked product.
Often offset smoker has a bad reputation when it comes to being immune to heat because searing and grilling are done at a higher temperature which first damages the build and removes any heat coating or paint and the rest is done by rust.
But it comes with a thick steel build that can handle the heat to a large extent without damaging its build.
These can be adjusted keeping in mind the purpose that want to achieve, if you want to smoke then it’s better to close the vents and dampers to minimize airflow and avoid the leakage of smoke.
while if we are smoking then it’s better to unlock the vents to increase the airflow to help the meat retain its tenderness while being grilled at a high temp.
It also comes with big steel wheels which make it easy to move it in the backyard or take it for outdoor usage.
These wheels are not flimsy and are made of steel which makes them work efficiently for a longer time without any issues.
It also comes with 5 chrome plated grates which are immune to heat and help in maintaining the heat efficiently.
these cooking grates are Removable and can be cleaned easily. Often the smoked meat leaves behind some leftovers that need to be cleaned to avoid damage to the build.
it is because of the heavy-duty steel used in their construction. Moreover, their cooking grates are chrome plated which makes them durable to heat and rust.
in addition, the barrel design also makes them less complex and provides more durability to their structure.
In addition, it comes with a large cooking space of 1300 sq. in. which can take ifs and buts out of your life and smoke for more numbers of persons at once.
It also negates the hustle of trimming the meat into smaller pieces. Undoubtedly it provides more space than its competitors within the price.
Moreover, it also comes with hanging hooks to hang the meat or sausages vertically. It makes sure that mean is cooked evenly because it’s exposed to heat and smoke equally.
Moreover, the meat juices are also smoked to produce an even better flavor.in addition to enhancing flavor, these hooks also provide more space for smoking
It also comes with a removable firebox tray that can be removed to clean waste.
It makes cleaning the firebox easier than ever. In addition to the Removable ashtray, it also has side drawers that make it easier to add fuel during the process without opening the lid.
It also has a 284 square inches charcoal grilling grate which makes grilling easier.
it means you can grill meat in this grate without any effort while smoking meat in another chamber at the same time.
Another feature that makes it unique is that it has latched on the lid to avoid the leakage of smoke. These latches make it completely sealed.
Due to this, it can maintain the heat for a longer time without any fluctuating which makes it an ideal choice for smoking.
It also comes with a thermometer probe which provides you with an accurate reading of internal temp to help you make decisions for any adjustments.
Moreover, this thermometer is heat resistant which makes it easier to work even at higher heat.
It also has a smoke zone displayed on display.
which makes it easier for beginners to understand if the temperature is within the smoke range or not and make tweaks to maintain it within the smoke range to get meat smoked with perfection.
It is an ideal smoker for beginners who want to learn to smoke. It has an awesome build which means it will not be damaged if you make mistakes while using it a couple of Times.
Moreover, it is easy to use with several helpful features like a smoke zone which makes it easier to smoke meat with a good aroma after a couple of tries.
Moreover, it is designed to cover less space while providing more cooking space.
Pros of Dyna-Glo offset Smoker
- It can be used for searing
- The food cooked in it has a better essence
- It has a large cooking chamber with enough cooking capacity
- Its hanging hooks help in smoking sausages evenly
- Smoke ranges help beginners maintain the ideal heat for smoking
- It is versatile
Cons of Dyna-Glo offset Smoker
- It can be a bit complex to assemble especially for beginners
4. best value: Dyna-Glo Wide Body offset Smoker
Dyna GLO wide body smoker is also the perfect offset smoker for people who can’t afford expensive ones.
it has around 1890 square inches of cooking capacity.
stats of Dyna-Glo offset Smoker
- Dimensions:21 x 43.3 x 50.2 inches
- Capacity:1890 square inches of cooking space
- Fuel type: charcoal
It is a beast which can give tough time to its competitors only on the basis of cooking area, let aside its other features.
It has a Vertical design which provides the best taste. It is due to the fact that the fire source is at the bottom and chunks are placed vertically above the fire.
the smoke rises up and smokes each and every bit of brisket evenly which gives the flesh the best flavor and tenderness.
The cooking area of this smoker is further spread into 6 adjustable cooking grates. These grates are placed at different heights from the fire so these can be used to cook food with different techniques at the same time.
However, if you want to smoke brisket or larger chunks of flesh then you may need to remove some grates to make space for food.
It also consists of a charcoal chamber which can be used to check or add some charcoal during the process.
this chamber is separate from the smoking chamber so you don’t have to unfold the lid of the smoking chamber to check charcoal which results in leakage of smoke.
The charcoal chamber also has a removable pan which makes it easier to clean. it has an efficient mechanism for burning fuel.
it doesn’t burn all the fuel at once. rather it works on the minions method which means you Will place a small amount of lit charcoal on the pile of unlit charcoal which then burns slowly.
It also has a display that reads the internal heat without opening the lid.
It helps in deciding the further smoking process of whether we have to increase or decrease the heat to smoke properly. It is made up of stainless steel which makes it resistant to heat.
The main fuel used is charcoal but you can also use wood pellets to smoke with it.
However, the food smoked with charcoal has a better taste than that smoked on wood.
It has a thick build which makes it last longer. It has a heavy-duty steel construction that is resistant to heat and water. This makes the smoker work efficiently for longer periods of time.
Pros of Dyna-Glo offset Smoker
- It provides a larger cooking surface
- It’s easy to clean
- It is heat is easy to control
- It provides better taste due to vertical design.
- It has a durable build
Cons of Dyna-Glo offset Smoker
- It doesn’t heat up quickly
5. best combo: Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro
Char Griller Smoking Pro has an awesome design which makes it a treat to the eyes.
Instead of having metal shelves and handles like most other smokers, it comes with wooden handles and shelves which enhance the beauty of this smoker.
in addition to its beauty, it also has many other characteristics that helped it make it to this list. Let’s have a look at them.
It comes with cast iron grates that are resistant to heat and corrosion. It makes them durable and can be used for searing.
stats of Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro
- Dimensions :62 x 29 x 50 inches
- capacity:830 square inches
- Fuel type: charcoal
Moreover, these grates help in even heat distribution throughout the smoker for better taste.
It also has wheels to make it easy to move around the backyard without any effort. these wheels are often required when you want to go for outdoor smoking.
it makes the smoker portable. These are large enough to bear the weight.
The most common issue with this Smoker is that their paint peels off when exposed to higher temperatures.
the char griller tackles this situation by using powder coating which makes the build more resistant to heat or water.
if the smoke is not peeled off, the corrosion can’t attack the build of the smoker. Which makes it durable.
Another problem that is faced during the smoking process is that when cold food is placed on the grate, the chicken sticks to the grate which affects the texture of the food.
but the grates of char griller smokers are made of cast iron and are non-sticky, so they don’t affect the texture of meat at any cost.
It also comes with Removable charcoal drawers which make it easy to remove them for cleaning or adding more fuel without any hassles.
These drawers are double-bottomed to make them resistant to heat and durable. These drawers make it possible to check the fuel without opening the firebox door.
It has a cooking area of 830 square inches which is further divided into two surfaces. The primary cooking surface has an area of 580 square inches while the secondary cooking surface has an area of 250 square inches.
the primary cooking surface is used for smoking while the secondary cooking surface is in the firebox.
Its grates are also adjustable at different heights to cook meals differently.
These can be adjusted at three levels; the first level is called low, which is used for the searing of meat at high heat, after that the level is called medium which is used for grilling, and the last one is called high which is used for smoking.
It also has a built-in temperature thermometer which tells you the internal temperature without opening the lid.
This thermometer read temperature is accurate and you will have to adjust the fuel and airflow to increase or decrease the temperature.
It is versatile and can be used as a smoker and grill.
It is usually used as a charcoal grill but if you want to convert it to a smoker then you have to close the air vents to make sure the smoke doesn’t leak out.
also sometimes, it comes with some parts missing from the package. It can be frustrating but most of the parts are available in markets which you can buy to assemble it.
The downside is that it has some gaps in the chamber and firebox which causes the smoke to leak out. It can be modified by using various to do the trick.
Pros of Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro
- Its paint lasts longer because powder coating
- It is easy to assemble
- Its grates can be adjusted at different heights for cooking meals with different techniques.
- It is a combo of grill and smoker
- It’s easier to control temperature and airflow
Cons of Char-Griller E1224 Smokin Pro
- It has some gaps in the firebox which can result in warmth leaking out
6. Best Budget: Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset Smoker
Royal gourmet offset smoker is an easy-to-use and affordable smoker that produces good results whether you are a beginner or a pro.
it comes with different awesome qualities that convinced us to add it to this list. let’s have a look at those one by one
stats of Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset Smoker
- Dimensions :53.39 x 27.2 x 48.82 inches
- capacity:782 square inches
- Fuel type: charcoal
It is a versatile smoker that can perform different functions with ease.so you don’t have to purchase different equipment for different cooking techniques.
rather you can get this one and enjoy both smoking and grilling in the same place
It has a cooking area of 782 square inches which is enough to cook a huge amount of burgers in one go.
so now you don’t have to worry about cutting down your chunks into smaller pieces or embracement of not being able to cook enough edibles to serve your guests.
it comes with an easy temperature control that helps you to smoke or grill your food at the exact temperature you want.
In addition to the temperature, the other thing that affects the taste of smoked meat is the airflow.
if there is no mechanism for airflow then it can decrease the humidity of the internal environment and ribs can lose their tenderness.
it comes with various air dampers and vents to control the airflow. because of this, you can cook the food at its best whether you are a beginner or a pro.
These can be easily adjusted According to the requirement, if you are grilling and require more airflow then you can open the air vents to retain the tenderness of meat.
while if you are smoking and want to avoid the heat from getting out, then you can close the air vents and dampers. In this way, you can convert it from a grill to a smoker easily.
It is also easy to clean the charcoal waste because it comes with a removable charcoal smoker pan which you can remove and clean easily without any frustration.
Cleaning is important for durability. If the ash and waste are not cleaned after use, then it can damage the charcoal pan and it can start to corrode.
Another important characteristic is that it comes with hanging hooks which are excellent to hang different accessories and take out when you want to use them.
It is an awesome feature of a royal gourmet smoker because some of the accessories are small and can get lost if not stored properly.
Finally, it is an excellent performer keeping in mind its cost. It can perform most of the cooking functions and provide a good bite at a reasonable price.
While it has several good features, it also comes with some downsides. which are given below.
Firstly, the paint of the firebox can peel off when exposed to a searing temperature. During grilling, we have to heat up the grill to a high temperature which causes the paint to peel off.
If the smoke is removed from the firebox then it becomes exposed to water and other things and starts to rust.
Secondly, the lid of the firebox has some gaps which can cause the smoke to leak out.
so, it becomes difficult to maintain the temperature and once the temperature drops it can be challenging to heat up again. Although it can be fixed with some modifications to close these gaps easily.
Pros of Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset Smoker
- It comes with a large cooking capacity
- It’s easy to clean
- It is inexpensive
- It has hanging hooks for storing the accessories easily
- The temperature and airflow control is pretty easy
Cons of Royal Gourmet CC1830S 30 Offset Smoker
- Its paint can peel off
- It is not sealed completely
Why I Swear By Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker: A User’s Perspective
Ah man, I am a retiree myself and I know how difficult it can be to find your dream smoker while being on a tight budget because have been there.
when I first got into this realm I made all the mistakes that a person can make and ironically my budget often roams around $1000 due to being calculative about my spending in retirement.
I have tested most of the famous smokers available under $1000 and I recall above 6 to be the best ones.
here are a few of my reasons for keeping Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker at the top of my list.
- As obvious by the topic, being reasonable was the first thing that would come to my mind when thinking about buying a new smoker, so personally, I found this one in the right range.
- secondly, it has a bigger cooking area which is enough for my family. personally, I never experienced any size issues with it.
- lastly, the temperature range has been a dream come true for me, from grilling veggies to smoking brisket, it has been an allrounder for me.
Things to consider when choosing the best offset smoker under $1000
There is a wide range of best offset smokers under 1000 dollars, but you need to prospect carefully and select one that fits your needs perfectly.
Here is our complete buying the right offset smoker according to our requirements.
Build
The first and foremost thing to consider when choosing your offset smoker is the build quality.
It is a common misconception that an affordable smoker has a flimsy build, but in reality, there are various good options available if you prospect properly.
Build quality has a huge impact on heat retention and low-quality build is often affected more easily by rust.
When choosing your offset smoker, make sure that it has a good build with at least ¼ inch thick metal.
Capacity
Another factor to consider when deciding the best offset smoker under 1000 is the capacity.
It is quite obvious because if you are going to select a smoker it should surely have the capacity you need.
There is no right or wrong range when it comes to capacity and it depends on how much capacity you will need.
so if you have a small family then a smaller offset smoker will be better, while for holding family dinners, it would be better to select a larger one.
Temperature range
Smoking is the finest of arts because it needs a variety of temperatures at various stages to cook the meat effectively.
The temperature range of the offset smoker should be low enough to cook meat while hot enough to pass through the stall.
It also depends on whether you want to use it as a grill or searing or you just plan to use it for smoking.
In either case, the smoker should be able to operate in the 200 to 400 Fahrenheit range for optimal performance.
another factor to keep in mind is that the temperature should be controllable, because otherwise it can to accidents.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), on average 22,155 patients are taken to emergency each year due to accidents involving grills,
Mobility
Mobility is yet another factor to consider especially if you are purchasing a bigger one.
The smoker should come in along with a set of wheels to make it easy to move around In addition, these wheels need to be sturdy to bear the weight of the smoker.
Size
Finally, size is also crucial when selecting the best offset smoker under 1000. you need to check the size available in your backyard and select the smoker accordingly.
The smoker should fit in your backyard and still leave some space behind for ventilation.
Frequently asked questions
now that we have discussed our choices, let’s have a look at some of the most common faqs and try to help you clear these misconceptions that are common in this space like the common one that you might have heard of grilling causing cancer.
Are budget smokers durable?
Most people believe that inexpensive smokers have a thin build and are not durable.
but in fact, there are multiple options available that an inexpensive and durable at the same time.
You just need to research carefully and make the best choice possible in your budget.
Although budget smokers are durable and can perform their function efficiently, they can’t be compared to expensive ones.
The price is the indicator of the quality of the smoker, despite performing the same function as the expensive smokers, these can’t provide the comfort that expensive smokers provide.
How Cheap Can You Go?
Although We have done complete research to make this list of best offset Smokers under $1000, you may need to keep in mind the build quality and durability before making your final choice.
You might get confused by other cheap smokers that are cheaper than these but it’s better to spend some bucks at once that lasts for years rather than upgrading them every few months.
Cheaper smokers often have the worst build quality due to using thin metal.
when they are exposed to temperatures for grilling are searing, their build gets damaged and warmth leaks out of the smoker which makes it difficult to maintain the temperature within the smoker.
So you have to stay away from those smokers to avoid frequent maintenance costs.
Conclusion
So now that we have compared all of the best offset smokers under 1000, we hope that you have Selected your final choice.
In our opinion, the Oklahoma Joe Longhorn Smoker will be our choice due to its versatility and features that provide us with this price tag.
In addition to that Dyna GLO signature series is a better choice when it comes to ease of use and providing good flavor at less cost.
We hope that this guide will help you make decisions based on facts that will save you from the problems cheaper smokers have.
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