Best Natural Gas Propane Smokers

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By

James

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Do you want to find the Best Natural Gas Propane Smoker to satisfy your smoked food cravings? After reviewing several products, we have just curated a list of the best propane smokers, plus we answer:

  • Does a propane smoker work with natural gas?
  • How much propane does a gas smoker consume?
  • Which is better, a gas or electric smoker?
  • How often should you add wood chips to a propane smoker?

Our Top Picks


Below is a summary of the top picks from our SummerBaron.com team. To help you understand where each pick ranked, we have included “badges” next to each pick’s key findings. “Best Overall” is a combination of price and value. “Best Budget” is great for summer lovers who want a top-quality product but are on a tighter budget. “High End” is for people who just want the best, and price is no object.

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Product

How did we pick these products?

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Our Top Pick

Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

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Best Budget and Value

Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

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Best High-End

Dyna-Glo DGY784BDP 36

Folds compactly for storage and offers three different height adjustments

Easy to clean with a cup holder for baby

Reviews of Each Pick


Below are our detailed reviews of each product. Each product included in this review is reviewed by our team ⎯ with 1,000s of hours testing and working with products to help you pick the best one for your specific situation.

Our Top Pick

Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker

Pros

Easy temperature control

Solid bamboo shelves

Reach as high as 700 degrees Fahrenheit

Cons

Kind of thin. On cold, windy days, a barricade is needed to allow the unit to stay up to temp without burning through fuel.

Our top pick is from one of the trusted brands for kitchen appliances. At the top of our list is the Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker. This affordable, compact yet spacious smoker is built to make your barbeque family lunch a hassle-free and convenient one.

Here are some of its key features:

  • The product is small but does not compromise the interior space. The structure is vertical, with 5.45sq ft of interior space, which gives you ample space to smoke a variety of food.
  • The smoker comes with four 14×14 inch steel racks that can be used in one go for smoking.
  • Built-in thermometer helps keep the internal temperature of the smoker in check. The twist-lock door seals the heat inside the smoker.
  • Heat is regulated with an adjustable gas supply design of the smoker. Smoke can also be regulated by the vent on the back of the smoker. 
  • The smoker comes with a porcelain enameled steel tray that stores water and wood chips.

Can a propane smoker use natural gas?

The answer to the question is both a yes and a no. Not all propane smokers can use natural gas. Some propane smokers do not come with the dual-fuel use feature, and some do with the dual fuel use feature. 

Several propane smokers are in the market, so make sure you verify whether the propane smoker can also use natural gas. 

There is also the possibility to convert your propane smoker into a natural gas smoker. However, you will need to make specific alterations to achieve it. Converting so will reduce the portable feature of your smoker and will have to be stationed in one place.

How much propane does a gas smoker use?

The amount of gas a propane smoker uses can vary in terms of the size of the smoker, the time used for cooking, the smoking method used, and the smoker’s heat. On a standard for an average smoker, one can use anywhere between 1-2 pounds of fuel for a smoking session. 

According to Simply Meat Smoking, once you have reached the desired temperature, you will be using 15 to 25% fuel from the tank. That can also determine the amount of fuel used. 

The fuel use can increase as the size of the gas smoker increases, and if the cooking session is more extended, it can affect the amount of fuel used.

If you are a beginner or first-timer using the propane gas smoker outdoors away from home or refill shops, it is best to keep an extra gas tank for an emergency. You wouldn’t want to run out of gas while smoking your delicious lunch or dinner. 

Can you convert a Napoleon BBQ from propane to natural gas?

Yes, you can do so with a bit of help and alterations. 

All you need to do is purchase the conversion kit, which is readily available in the market and fix it up for natural gas. Attach the adapter kit from your smoker to the natural gas outlet, and you can start using it. 

Can I convert my Weber propane grill to natural gas?

It is not always possible to convert a propane grill or smoker into a natural gas-fueled grill or smoker. Concerning the Weber propane grill, you can convert it into a natural gas-fueled grill.

However, the company does not advise or allow conversion into natural gas due to safety restrictions, the complex technology involved, and the risk involved in the process. 

Some grills and smokers come with an adapter or conversion kit. However, the Weber propane grill does not have a conversion kit as the company kit does not advise such conversion. Any such conversion should be done under the professional provision to avoid accidents. 

Can you smoke meat in a Weber gas grill?

Your Weber gas grill can do more than just grill meat. You can grill your meat and smoke by using some simple aids. 

To do so, you will require a metal smoker box which is readily available. Some of the newer grill models come with metal smoker boxes too. Add the desired wood chips for smoking onto the smoker box and place them on the side or inner areas of the grill. Light the grill and the chips and wait for smoking. When it starts smoking, place your meat on the crate and start smoking. 

Regulate the heat of the grill while smoking. Traditionally grills are not built for smoking, but some aids can convert them into smokers. You might need to be cautious and ready to assist the smoking process when you smoke in a griller.

Is gas or electric smokers better?

There are several pros and cons to electric and gas smokers. It is hard to pick one for which is better, gas or electric smoker. Here are some of the differences between the two that can simplify the choice. 

Gas smokers can achieve a higher degree of heat temperature than electric smokers. Some cooking and smoking require higher heat, which the electric smoker fails to achieve. 

However, electric smokers are easier to control in terms of heat control. The gas smoker needs to be closely monitored because the heat control can become tricky. 

The portability element is achieved if you have a gas-fueled smoker. Electric smokers restrict the movement of the smokers, as they need to be plugged or attached to cook.

Electric smokers also will not be the best choice for you if you have a power outage most of the time. It needs the power to run, and your cooking can be a disaster if the power goes off. In a gas-fueled smoker, you can be assured that you can have stress-free cooking as long as the tank is filled to attach. 

While the difference cited above is mostly convenience, that makes all the difference. If convenience is a deciding factor, then a gas-fueled smoker will be a better choice for you. The ease of use also comes with an electric smoker. 

How often should you put wood chips into a propane smoker?

One used different wood chips to smoke meat according to your desired flavor. The number of times wood chips needed to be added to the propane smoker depends on the degree of flavor that one desires in their meat. The more intense the flavor, the more often you add the wood chips.

Professional meat smokers might have a different regime regarding how often one add wood chips. For a general thumb rule, one needs to add fresh wood chips every 30-45 min for flavoring. Some might prefer to keep a longer interval to add the wood chips. 

What to consider when buying a smoker?

There are a few tips to consider before buying a smoker. They are the following-

The budget- make sure you do not break your bank to buy a smoker. You can get a good smoker at a reasonable price. Not all expensive smokers are good either.

The size- make sure you know your crowd to determine the size of your smoker. You wouldn’t want to buy an undersized or an oversized smoker. 

Type of fuel- smokers are all fueled differently. It can range from gas, natural gas, electric to even charcoal-based smokers. According to a study, in 1994 gas fueled smokers surpassed charcoal smoker grills. Almost 60% of smoker grills sold are gas-fueled. 

Is a smoker better than a grill?

Both smoker and a grill have different functions and, as such, serve a different purpose. Some smokers come with the grill feature. You can also smoke your meat in a grill with some changes and aids. 

Smoker and grills are both great outdoor cooking appliances. When deciding which is better, a smoker or a grill comes to preference. 

Best Budget and Value

Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill

Pros

Versatile 3 in 1 feature

Lightweight and portable

Can hold up to 25lb of food

Cons

Since there is no compartment, you can cook only one food item at a time.

The Char-Broil The Big Easy TRU-Infrared Smoker Roaster & Grill is another of our top picks. This 3 in 1 smoker monster can get your food smoked, roasted, and grilled. The versatile smoker is compact, lightweight, made of stainless steel, and portable.

What do we love?

Versatile feature: the 3 in 1 feature gives a versatile cooking option such as smoking, roasting, and grilling your meat and vegetables.

Light and portable: it is comparatively lightweight and can be quickly taken to an outdoor beach party or camping.

Best High-End

Dyna-Glo DGY784BDP 36

Pros

Temperature gauge with an indicator for smoke infusion

Spacious interior with four adjustable steel racks

Available in 3 sizes, standard, large, and extra-large

Cons

The heat does not go very high as one would desire for cooking.

Our Dyna-Glo DGY784BDP 36″ Vertical LP Gas Smoker is another of our top picks, and it will not disappoint you. Spacious interior, heat gauge, and size range make this smoker a good investment. 

What do we love?

Huge cooking space: The smoker is as spacious as a portable smoker can get. With 4 adjustable steel racks, you can cook a lot in one go. 

Size variation: Depending on the size of your family, you can choose the size of the smoker from standard to large to extra large.

Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker

Pros

Thermostat heat control feature

Fuel indicator

See-through door to see how the food is being cooked

Cons

The price is on the expensive end.

The Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with thermostat control is an excellent investment for a smoker. This top pick smoker is spacious with four racks of cooking space and a safety valve feature. Along with that is the fuel indicator that can make your cooking experience an easy task.

What do we love?

Thermostat heat control feature: The heat control feature helps maintain the correct temperature while cooking.

Fuel indicator: The fuel level gauge shows the fuel left in the tank.

Pit Boss Grills 2 Series Gas Vertical Smoker

Pros

Affordably priced

Large viewing window

Dual burner feature

Cons

The customer service is relatively slow for this brand.

Also on our list is Pit Boss Grills 2 Series Gas Vertical Smoker, which is an absolute bargain for the features and performance. The smoker is compact and spacious for its size. The lightweight feature makes it portable and convenient.

What do we love?

Large viewing window: The see-through viewing window features allow you to look at the food as it cooks.

Dual burner: The dual burner features allow you to attain higher heat while cooking. 

Conclusion 

With our top pick Cuisinart COS-244 Vertical Propane Smoker, smoking meat will be an easy task. It can be tedious and time-consuming to cook meat traditionally. With a natural gas propane smoker, you can smoke meat and other food without the hassle.

About The Author


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Reviewed by

James

James is a writer who is a self-confessed kitchenware and coffee nerd and a strong advocate of Sundays, good butter, and warm sourdough.