A Smoker is a simple kitchen tool to use to prepare delectable foods. We always appreciate a nice smoker, whether outside or inside, no matter what season.
There’s nothing like a dedicated smoker for succulent brisket and slow-cooked ribs for a real Smokes experience.
Yet, several smokers on the market are expensive and have unique features. Using a smoker with other cooking methods like grilling or BBQs is also possible with some models.
The smoker’s features can have escaped the attention of some. People on a tight budget do not want to spend as much money on a smoker as they prefer.
Let me introduce some of the best smokers under 500 for them. Take a peek at the article.
Is smoking better than grilling?
The significant difference between smoking and grilling is the time required for each process.
It can take all day and continual temperature monitoring during smoking to ensure that the meat cooks uniformly throughout the procedure.
Even though grilling is more convenient and faster, smoking delivers a delicate and delicious finish that is nearly impossible to reproduce.
Top 10 Best Smokers Under 500
On the market, there are many different sorts of smokers. They all are not appropriate for you.
Because, to make things easier and more enjoyable, you must be certain of your requirements in terms of size, features, and building materials.
I’ve come up with a list of the 10 Best Smokers under 500 and its key features. Let’s check our list without further ado.
- User Choice- Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker
- Our recommendations- Pit Boss Grills 2 Series Gas Vertical Smoker
- Budget-Friendly- Royal Gourmet SE2801 Electric Smoker
01. Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt MB20071117 electric smoker is a great choice for professional smoking meats. It can fit six whole chickens, two whole turkeys, 68 sausages, pig butts, and eight racks of ribs.
To set it on, raise the temperature to 200 degrees F; soon, your smoke will start to flow correctly. The single door and side-wood chip loading system allow you to load the smoker without opening the main door.
Also, the big cooking space gives excellent cooking outcomes while keeping the same temperature throughout the cooking process.
This smoker’s built-in thermostat provides for more precise temperature control during smoking.
The rectangular form of this Masterbuilt 30-inch electric smoker comprises powder-coated black and stainless steel. It includes four chrome-coated smoking racks.
These racks can remove for adjusting the height for more extensive cuts. These racks covered 730 square inches of cooking surface, making it one of the most spacious models on this list for the money.
Key Features
- This smoker made with high stainless steel
- There are four chrome-coated smoking racks with this smoker
- A digital control panel is included with this smoker.
- This smoker comes with a side-wood chip loading system
- It is easy to assemble
02. Royal Gourmet CC1830SC Charcoal Offset Smoker
The Royal Gourmet is one of the better alternatives available for under $500 if you want a professional smoker with loads of extra features.
This casual meat smoker has a huge 811-inch cooking space for large meals. This offset smoker is firmly mounted to the grill to ensure adequate smoke and heat.
Thanks to its side door features, you can easily remove charcoal from the grill or add charcoal throughout the cooking process.
However, this grill offset smoker includes a lid-mounted thermometer gauge, allowing you to keep track of the cooking temperature.
This smoker also comes with two adjustable charcoal pans for optimum heat control. These coal pans have a capacity of 4.4 lbs. of coal.
Again, bottom shelves can store up to 20 pounds for additional storage. This offset smoker also comes with a 184 square inch chrome-plated warming rack. It’ll be a great pick for a backyard cookout.
Key Features
- It is easy to assemble
- This smoker has a lid-mounted thermometer gauge
- This smoker includes two adjustable charcoal pans
- This has an 822-inch square large cooking space
- It has side door features
03. Pit Boss Grills 2 Series Gas Vertical Smoker
With this vertical smoker from pit boss grills, you’ll have no problem grilling at night. Its brilliant, glare-free lighting makes it excellent for nighttime grilling.
Pit Boss Grill’s vertical smoker has a 676-square-inch cooking area and a large high-temperature viewing window.
It is possible to cook food at temperatures ranging from 100 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit with this smoker.
The LED screen on this smoker displays an exact temperature in 5 seconds, saving you time when cooking.
Moreover, the high frame also makes carrying food from the smoker to the table a breeze, eliminating the need for peek-a-boo cooking.
This smoker is equipped with a dual valve system, where both valves are associated with a single control knob, allowing for temperature adjustment ranging from 100 to 3450 degrees.
This twin-valve burner system’s stainless steel burner generates 3500 BTUs. There is a secondary propane burner with 10,000 BTUs as an additional feature.
A removable food dripping container is situated beneath the wood chips at the smoker’s base. It’s dishwasher safe and easy to clean.
Key Features
- This smoker has a dual valve system
- It has a glare-free bright light
- It has a large viewing window
- There is a temperature control knob
- It has 676 cooking area
04. Royal Gourmet SE2801 Electric Smoker
To acquire the most effective smoke your food, the Royal Gourmet SE2801 Electric Smoker is one of the most affordable smokers and one of the best smokers under 500.
This smoker includes an inbuilt thermometer for rapidly checking the interior temperature. It has a huge cooking surface of roughly 57.86 square inches so that you can cook a turkey, pie, and ribs on it.
However, t includes three order coated racks to adjust to the proper height to accommodate your meal. The double-walled design of this smoker also helps to keep the heat of the food smoke inside the firebox.
The door of this smoker includes a latch system that provides excellent sealing. Again, this cool-touch door handle will keep you safe from scorching.
The smoker’s covered chip box and stainless steel water pan enhance the taste of the meal, and the independent grease cup under a smoker absorbs oil residue in a convertible aluminum oil pan.
Key Features
- It comes with a thermometer to control the temperature
- It has cool touch door handles
- This smoker is easy to operate
- It has a large 57.86 square inches cooking surface
- It is easy to assemble
05. Bradley Smoker Digital Electric Smoker
Purchase for less than $500, Bradley Smoker is an excellent addition to any kitchen, particularly for outdoor use. It’s high-quality, double-walled carbon steel and features a unique wood smoking hopper.
This hopper can generate both hot and cold smoke. Additionally, this clean smoke technology will extinguish the flames before converting to ash.
There are control options that allow you to control it on your own. Moreover, you don’t need to use a monitor; simply plug it in, add water and food, and cook it at the desired temperature.
It can smoke for up to 9 hours, and its heated 572-square-inch smoking real estate housing, the BS611, takes advantage of electric smoking and makes it even easier.
This Bradley smoker uses a separate smokebox with its own heating source without wood chips, making it perform differently.
Key Features
- This can use for a cold smoker
- This has stainless steel racks
- These features with insulated for better heat retention
- It has independent temperature control
- It can smoke for 9 hours
06. Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker
The Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker is well worth the money with a large cooking area.
The propane smoker’s 961 square cooking surface can accommodate eight pork butts, six turkeys, 16 chickens, or eight racks of ribs. This smoker does not require charcoal or a propane tank to function.
This dish is suitable for a large gathering or a family meal. Thanks to the four movable racks in this portable smoker, you can simultaneously cook a range of foods.
Because there is no fear of overheating, you can smoke your food in little amounts until you’ve eaten all of it. You can customize the temperature with the onboard temperature control system.
A safety valve shuts off the burners if the flame goes out. It has a seating capacity of 15750 BTU, ensuring that all of your food is heated to the same temperature.
Key Features
- This has four chrome coated removable racks
- It is easy to operate
- This smoker temperature sensor control burner
- This has a large 961 square cooking space
- There are safety valves to shut off burners
07. PIT BOSS PBV3P1 Vertical Pellet Smoker
The PIT BOSS PBV3P1 Vertical Pellet Smoker is heavy-gauge steel with double-wall insulation and a long-lasting powder-coated finish.
This PIT BOSS smoker will be the finest choice if you want a huge vertical pellet smoker. With 901 square feet of cooking area and five cooking racks, you can prepare a huge dinner all at once.
The completely programmable digital controller gives you complete control over the 150 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range.
This smoker’s double-walled construction and blanket insulation keep indoor temperatures warm even on cold nights.
This smoker’s 40+ lb Hopper function also lets you smoke low and slow for 24 hours. Also, this is one of the cheapest options for those who are seeking a smoker at a reasonable price.
Key Features
- This comes with a huge cooking space
- It is to operate
- It built with double-walled construction
- This smoker comes with 5 cooking racks
- There is a control panel
08. Country Smokers CSPEL015010497 Smoker
Country Smokers will be another good kitchen gadget with an expansive 256 square inch cooking area for those seeking the Best Smokers under 500.
With 3.5 pounds of hardwood pellets stored in the grill hopper, a big meal is always within reach, no matter where you are.
Also, this grill smoker is well-known for its ability to offer wood-fired, rich taste in a compact package.
This grill smoker produces temperatures ranging from 180 to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and is capable of smoking, grilling, searing, and much more.
This wood pellet grill smoker packs a powerful grilling punch with a sleek black sand finish. This smoker’s grill grates are easy to clean, and the upper grate can be quickly removed, making it even more convenient.
This pellet grill smoker is a must-have when you’re going camping or on any other outdoor adventure.
Key Features
- It features a huge cooking area
- This grill is easy to assemble
- It features with searing zone
- It is easy to move anywhere
- This is easy to clean
09. Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker
The big glass doors of this Char-Broil Electric Smoker stand out among the crowd of electric smokers. The glass on the entrance door is an excellent design for the most part.
It is possible to see the entire smoker because of the glass construction, which prevents smoke and heat from escaping through the door.
The seal on the lid is firm, ensuring that no smoke escapes when it is fastened into place. However, this electric smoker’s 725-square-inch cooking surface is significantly larger than many competing models.
With its big size, you can effortlessly prepare for different sorts of gathering. A detachable food thermometer is an advanced feature to help you cook your meat to the perfect temperature every time.
The quick, red, blue control panel is more exact for smoke. There are four adjustable racks on the Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker.
Each of the four racks can accommodate up to ten pounds of meat. When you want to smoke meat quickly, you can easily take the water pan out of the way.
Key Features
- It has four racks
- This comes with a thermometer
- It is easy to assemble
- This comes with large 725 square inches of cooking space
- There is an easy control panel
10. Masterbuilt MB20060321 Digital Charcoal Smoker
This 40-inch Masterbuilt Digital Charcoal Smoker, designed as a vertical cabinet-style smoker, combines the convenience of thermostatic control with the Smokey taste of charcoal and wood pieces to make a delectable dinner.
This smoker comes with four racks and a wide cooking area of 1320 square feet. This smoker can attain full power in 8 minutes up to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and 400 degrees Fahrenheit in 17 minutes.
With the option of using Wi-Fi for remote monitoring and control, this stove can connect to your smart device. The digital fan control of this smoker maintains your desired cooking temperature.
Using this smoker will provide you with a reasonably nice experience with the actual flavor of much more hands-on cooking than you would normally receive from a conventional restaurant.
Key Features
- It is equipped with a digital control panel for easy handling.
- This smoker provides a huge cooking surface with 4 racks
- It is easy to use
- This features with digital control fan
- This is easy to clean
Buying Guide
After reviewing all of the best smokers under 500, it’s time to decide the qualities to look for when purchasing a smoker.
These qualities will make your cooking easier and win you credit for the delicacies you will prepare. Look closely at the following individual features to pick the best one.
Build Material
A high-quality smoker is constructed of durable, strong, and well-sealed materials to retain heat and air. While most smokers are made of stainless steel, the type of steel utilized differs for each grill.
The enamel or powder-coating option is ideal for the smoker since it protects against extreme heat, corrosion, and rain.
Temperatures
Temperature regulation is something you should pay close attention to, even more so if you are a novice. The optimum temperature will enable you to cook the meat adequately within the time generally provided.
You should examine the right temperature and attempt to purchase it with an easy-to-control temperature.
Size and Capacity
How much food you can cook at once depends on your smoker’s size. A small or average smoker can cook an entire turkey, but a large smoker can cook two whole turkeys, 12 whole chickens, four massive vegetable casseroles, or four racks of ribs.
In this scenario, I recommend considering your smoking requirements while selecting the size of your smoker. Choose a bigger model with a higher capacity if you want to smoke a lot of food.
Furthermore, most smokers include movable racks that allow you to move them around to make room for a whole turkey or more significant portions of meat.
Some models have a hanging rack for sausage that enables space on your rack for other meals.
Thermostats
The smoker’s thermostats will assure and indicate the grill’s temperature at any given time. Some smokers include thermostats with settings for what temperature it should depend on the meat you’re cooking. If you’re a newbie, you should consider these things.
Fuel Box
The place where your wood chips, charcoal, or pellets are stored is called the firebox. You can easily add water or wood to the water pan without opening the cooking number and risk losing heat.
Most of the greatest smokers are like this. These smokers have two-door designs, and if you’re looking for this sort of feature, this will be the ideal option.
Water Pan
Water generally fills the water pan between the cooking chamber and the heat source. It can absorb excess heat and maintain an ideal heat level when the heat from the source is reduced.
When purchasing a smoker, bear in mind that the better the water pan, the more effective the smoker will be.
Weight
The majority of smokers designed for home use are small and portable. Check the product’s weight before purchasing to provide an easy smoking experience. Therefore, you do not want to end up with a smoker that cannot relocate.
Vents
Vents are required in the smoker to regulate the amount of air that enters and exits the smoker at any one time. All smokers have at least three vents on each side and one vent on the top.
The lowest vents allow fresh air into the smoker. A smoker’s top vent can assist manage temperature by releasing trapped heat when it becomes too hot.
Warranty
Buying a smoker with a warranty is the most incredible way to ensure its long-term viability.
When something like the heating element fails or the racks warp, these guarantees can be a lifeline. Despite their brief duration, these warranties can be invaluable.
FAQs
Q: Are pellet smokers as good as wood smokers?
Ans: Wood pellets are a fantastic alternative if you already have a pellet smoker and want to keep things simple and consistent.
In a pellet smoker, there is less of a need to keep an eye on a brisket than there is in a typical offset smoker.
When using a pellet smoker instead of a regular smoker, the results are a little Smokey and a little moister, but they require an electricity adaptor.
Q: Do electric smokers actually smoke?
Ans: Like a barbeque grill, an electric smoker is an outdoor cooking device that smokes food using hot electric rods.
These smokers are easier to use and provide more design possibilities than charcoal-burning models. Electric smokers emit the least amount of smoke compared to any other type of smoker fuel.
In contrast to other heating sources such as pellet smokers, charcoal, or gas, the sole heating source does not employ a flame or combustion.
Q: How often should I add wood chips to my smoker?
Ans: To obtain the most excellent flavor from your smoked meat, replace the wood chips in the smoker every 30 to 45 minutes with fresh ones.
A couple of handfuls of wood chips will keep the smoke going and ensure that you receive the best possible flavor every hour.
When your meat reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit, keep adding wood chips to your smoker for the rest of the cooking time. Steep wood chips for 30-60 minutes before utilizing can slow the rate they will burn.
Q: Are gas smokers good?
Ans: Most gas-powered smokers cost less than $200 and are virtually as easy to use as electric smokers.
Smokers with a lot of pure heat, like large gassers, are the most typical restaurants serving BBQ. Burning wood chips, bits, or pellets, creates a smoky flavor in a gas smoker.
Q: Can I use an electric smoker as an oven without wood chips?
Ans: Yes, and you may achieve excellent outcomes by doing so. It can use as a warming oven or a second oven. Wood chips are not required.
You won’t have to be concerned about smoke getting on your meals. Your food won’t be ruined by smoking, either.
Final Verdict
Food smoking is a popular fun activity that can connect people. In addition to making your job easier, using a smoker will also amaze your guests with those distinctive hot, smoky offers that are remarkable in terms of flavor, texture, and comfort of preparation at home.
Hopefully, you will be able to utilize our list of the best smokers under 500 to select the one that best suits your cooking style and demands. You’ll be able to cook excellent delicacies in no time with the right smoker.