Barbecue aficionados relish the mouthwatering taster of smoke flavored barbecue. If you are looking for exceptional smokers and pellet grills then you are in luck because Char-Broil makes some of the best performing models available on the market. This review covers in-demand Char-Broil pellet grill models including an innovative Char-Broil infrared smoker.
Comparison Chart
3 Best Char-Broil Pellet Grills and Smokers
Char-Broil Big Easy Smoker
This Char-Broil Big Easy Smoker, Roaster and Grill infrared smoker is one of the most versatile grilling models you will ever see. Not only is the design highly innovative, it also performs extremely well as can be seen in enthusiastic customer reviews at Amazon.
The grill grate has a relatively small surface area at 180 square inches. However, it makes up for its small grilling area with the enormous grilling barrel underneath which can accommodate a massive 21 pounds of meat. The grill is equally capable of cooking all kinds of foods including whole chickens, sausages, burgers, steaks, briskets, ribs and sides as well.
The grill utilizes a state-of-the-art infrared heating system for consistent temperature. Whether you are cooking jacket spuds, whole roasted chicken, vegetables or just burgers you will get impressive results using this model.
The grill is basically a 3-in-1 unit that works with the precision of an outdoor gas oven. Not only can it cook in several different styles, the model has a built-in smoker box which you can load with hardwood pellets for irresistible smoke flavor. The grill is powered by a built-in liquid propane cylinder that is very simple to use.
This massive roaster is big enough to hold up 11 kg meat and vegetables in its voluminous drop-in basket. The stainless steel basket is lined with hooks at its rims so that you can hang ribs and steaks and smoke them to your heart’s content. The grilling surface on top lets you cook classic barbecue food like bangers, burgers and briskets.
The Char-Broil Big Easy Smoker, Roaster and Grill also has an infrared cooking capability. The porcelain coated grilling grates radiate heat evenly across the entire cooking area.
The design of the grill does not allow flames to directly come into contact with the food. However, there are perforations that can pass smoke to infuse a rich smoky flavor in the meal. Since the surface has no gaps, it can support and cook smaller items like asparagus and shrimps without problems.
The grill is designed to facilitate uniform heat distribution. Forced convection currents of pellet smoke permeate the meat while retaining its juiciness and tenderness. Since this grill does not use charcoal, there is no danger of a flare-up.
The grill covers a wide range of temperature so that you can easily deploy grilling styles of your choice in this unit. The lower threshold of 200 degrees Fahrenheit enables slow smoking at low temperature. You can also fire up the grill to a hot and furious 750 degrees Fahrenheit to quick sear the meat so that the exterior is crispy while the interior remains succulent and moist. There is hardly anything you can’t do with this Char-Broil infrared smoker.
Using the food probe, you can follow the temperature of the meat with a high level of precision. You can insert the probe into the meat to find out when it has reached the right temperature.
One of the great things about the Big Easy is that there isn’t a lot of installation work involved since it comes largely preassembled. Construction quality is exceptional and the cylindrical grill body feels solid, strong and rigid. Although it is possible for one person to move it around, it is best to enlist the help of another person.
Results from the infrared grill surface are very good since the unit heats the food uniformly. There are no hot spots over the grilling surface that can quick faster than other areas. You can flip over the items at the same time and remove them all at once.
You can also load pellets into the smoker box to permeate smoke flavor into your food. Once heated, the smoke box smolders wood pellets efficiently while giving off a delightful smoke aroma. The smoker box is cleverly mounted at the side of the unit so that you can add wood pellets without opening the lid.
Using this arrangement you can impart wonderful smoke taste to your grilled food without too much trouble. The meat comes out with a crisp surface and moist interior.
You should consider buying this grill if you are interested in a versatile grilling platform with strong smoking capabilities. You can easily control the flavor and get consistently good results with this grill. The Charbroil infrared smoker is worth considering if you are seeking innovative design that combines versatility, durability and all-in-one functionality
Char-Broil Vertical Gas Smoker
The Char-Broil Vertical Gas Smoker is an ideal solution for those who want to cook large quantities of delicious smoke flavored food.
The model is easy to use thanks to several user-friendly features like removable pans and adjustable dampers. The large cooking chamber has multiple racks so that you can cook enough food for a small gathering in one go. The double door design minimizes the loss of heat so that you can reduce pellet consumption.
The Char-Broil Vertical Gas Smoker has a number of useful accessories including 1 rib rack, 5 chrome plated steel grates, 2 jerky racks as well as standard racks. These are key accessories that come along with the unit so that you don’t have to buy them separately.
The cooking surface area amounts 600 square inches. However, due to the height of the vertical smoker, the volume is a massive 7,560 cubic inches. This immense interior is subdivided into 3 regions due to the arrangement of 3 cooking grates within the compartment. There are slots along the interior so that you can side grilling grates over them for proper placement and support. There are multiple slots so that you can place several racks or adjust their height.
Temperature control is as easy as turning a dial. Just by turning the knob, you can set up a full fledged gas fire almost instantly. The smoker is powered by a propane gas tank which heats up the water-filled pan and wood pellets besides the interior. You can light up the grill easily since you just have to turn the rotary ignition knob to activate the 16,500 BTU burners that are placed under the pull-out door at the bottom.
A damper is installed on the top of the grill to allow easy temperature control. You can open up the damper to increase heat level and you can close it partially to allow the grill to cool down.
Another very thoughtful feature is the grate on top which can be used to cook sauces and marinades. By placing it on top, the designers have made good use of the top surface of the grill. This feature is not present in most grills. It can make food preparation even more convenient.
The grilling grates are chrome plated for easy cleaning and high resistance to corrosion. cleaning up after the cooking session wont be such a hassle. The chrome plating will prevent the buildup of rust so that the grill lasts a long time.
The handles are designed so that they always remain cool even if the grill is blazing away at full temperature.
Char-Broil has taken feedback from hundreds of customers to design its water and wood chip pan in the best possible way. You can place the wood chips and water either separately or together depending on your cooking style. You can slide it easily inside compartment over the heating element which provides heat to the pan.
The smoker package also includes a propane regulator so that you won’t need to purchase it from other sources. The regulator is durable and will provide reliable operation for a long time if is kept from impact and damage.
The dual door is designed to serve a number of important purposes. The door shuts tight to seal the smoke inside effectively. Smoke loss is minimized and you will have to burn less wood pellets as a result. There is also another door at the bottom of the compartment which you can open to gain access to the water pan.
The double door configuration works well since it minimizes the loss of smoke and heat each time that you open the door to inspect progress.
The wood pellet pan and the grill inside is designed to maintain the right level of smoke for your meal. The grill can generate heat at a consistent temperature since it is gas powered and therefore accurate. The smoker therefore gives a steady stream of rich smoke to infuse your food with an authentic barbecue flavor.
The interior of the grill is made from powder-coated steel sheets. The powder coating imparts a high level of corrosion resistance as well as aesthetic appeal to the grill. The grill is made from high quality thick gauge steel for extra durability and sturdiness. Hence, you can clean the surfaces easily using mild detergent or grill cleaner. Cleaning up after a grilling session is less painful thanks to powder coated surface that can be cleaned easily.
One of the primary advantages of this gas powered smoker is that it is user friendly. You can master this grill even if you are using a gas powered smoker for the first time. You can light up the grill easily since it is equipped with propane burners that light up quickly with just a press of the ignition switch. There is a hole on the side that you can peer inside to see if the flame is burning or not.
Those who are new to pellet smoking will be pleased to discover that this smoker is economical in addition to being user friendly. Besides the initial investment, the operating costs are also low since it primarily uses propane which is cheaper than wood pellets. The wood pellets are burned at a rate such that the right level of heat is generated. This model is a cost effective solution to pellet smokers which have a higher initial cost and higher operating cost due to heavy reliance on wood pellets for heating.
Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker
There are many reasons for smoked barbecue connoisseurs to love the Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker. As the name suggest, this unit has everything that beginners will need to start making gourmet barbecue recipes. The Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker is a feasible solution for those who want a medium sized smoker at a bargain price.
The grill has several features worth considering.
Temperature control is imperative for consistently good taste. The smoker is equipped with a lid-mounted thermometer so that you can monitor the interior temperature at your own convenience. It will also let you know when the grill is sufficiently preheated for good cooking results. As can be seen easily on the temperature gauge, the grill is designed for an upper temperature limit of 650 degrees Fahrenheit.
The barrel encloses a large amount of space so that you can large quantities of meat inside. You can smoke enough food for a medium sized family in one cooking session.
The door is well-designed to facilitate easy cleanup and easy ash removal from the pellet hopper when you are done with smoking. The door also has openings so that enough air can circulate within the pellet hopper to generate the right level of smoke.
The handle design allows for good grip and low temperature so that you can grasp it without burning your hand. The design will allow the handles to remain cool even after several hours of roasting.
Grilling grates have porcelain coating for corrosion resistance and easy cleaning. The porcelain coating gives a classic texture to the grates for visual appeal. The grill grates will not gather rust even at high temperatures thanks to the coating. The surface is smooth and shiny. As a result, you can clean it easily. You will have less work to do after grilling is over.
The porcelain coating of the grilling grates is also tough so that it won’t chip off easily.
There is also a side shelf and storage rack so that you can keep important utensils, sauces, condiments and ingredients at hand. You can keep important accessories like grilling tools and other utensils within easy reach thanks to the side shelf. You will find plenty of work space with the rack and side shelf. The designers carefully included extra surfaces for storage to make the grill more convenient and user-friendly.
The smokestack is built in the form of a slender vertical pipe topped with dampers placed on the top for temperature control. Besides controlling heat levels, the dampers can also be opened or closed to regulate smoke levels. The smokestack has porcelain coated surface to withstand the harshest conditions involving high temperature and smoke levels.
The wheels are made from a combination of steel and plastic parts. They have been added to the grill to lessen the burden of moving the grill to the right place for cooking.
There are several advantages to the Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker. It is very affordable due to its bargain price tag. The grill is therefore a prime choice for shoppers who want to purchase the grill on a tight budget. Thanks to its very low price tag, the grill is ideal as an entry level grill for barbecue enthusiasts who have just started grilling in their backyards. There is hardly any other grill which provides so much functionality and reliability at such a small cost.
This economical grill is also the perfect buy since it is an all-in-one heavy-duty smoker. The model is a complete barbecue package since it can be used as a charcoal grill and offset smoker.
Beginners will like this grill even more since it is so simple to use. Anyone new to grilling can learn the basic functions of the grill right away and start using it immediately. Easy assembly also makes the grill even more user-friendly. If you are working alone you will be able to set up the grill in under an hour. You should then let the grill burn to season it so that the grease and oils are burned off prior to use. After this process, the grill is ready to use for all kinds of barbecue recipes. You can then use it to make enough food in one go to feed a medium sized family.
In case you need replacement parts, you can purchase them from the manufacturer website or from Amazon.