If you’ve never tasted smoke flavored foods, then you are definitely missing out on an exquisite taste. You may not have the cash to spend on an expensive smoker, but you can now convert your gas or charcoal grill into a smoker with the use of a smoker box. Do I have your attention now?
Smoker Box Reviews
The appeal of smoked meats is that you can experiment with various types of wood chips to add to the taste of the meat you are grilling. We have reviewed our favorite smoker boxes that will fit your Weber gas or charcoal grill. Look at these reviews and decide for yourself which smoker box will give you the most flavor for your money.
1. Stainless Steel Smoker Box With Maximum Wood Chip Capacity
This smoker box from Cave Tools uses 25% thicker stainless steel than most other smoker boxes. This reduces warping and the wide and slim profile increase the “wood to metal” surface area. This means you will get more chips smoking at the same time.
This smoker box has a hinged lid for easy opening and closing. It is a large capacity box that will fit over 3-cups of wood chips so you can smoke your foods longer without needing to refill the box.
This box is designed so chips will smolder instead of burn. There are no holes in the bottom of the box which prevents the chips from lighting on fire. Cave Tools offers an incredible lifetime satisfaction guarantee on this smoker box. If at any time you are unhappy with the results of this smoker box, you can return it for a full refund of your money. This is almost unheard of in today’s consumer marketplace!
Pros:
- 25% thicker stainless steel reduces warping
- Wide and slim profile
- Hinged lid
- 3-cup wood chip capacity
- Lifetime satisfaction guarantee
Cons:
- Does not fit in all grills
2. Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box (Long)
This uniquely shaped smoker box is designed to fit between the flame deflector bars on gas grills. This helps provide the most intense smoke flavor to your food as it is grilling.
The sturdy stainless steel construction withstands extremely high grilling temperatures. It has a hinged lid which allows for easy access to add additional wood chips when needed.
This smoker box is designed to capture the ashes in the box so your grill remains clean and ready to use. This V-shaped box measures 13¾-inches long. Be sure to measure the space between your flame deflectors under your grate to ensure it will fit your grill appropriately!
Pros:
- V-shaped design
- Fits between the flame detector bars under the grilling grate
- Stainless steel
- Hinged lid
- Captures ashes in the box
Cons:
- Holes in smoker are large which may allow smoke to escape too quickly
3. Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
This universal stainless steel smoker box is designed to infuse your grilled foods with smoky flavors. It is made of durable stainless steel with holes in the lid of the box to allow smoke vapors to escape.
The easy-to-life hinged lid allows you to add additional wood chips while it is in use. To use the box, simply place it on top of your cooking grates and immediately transform your grill into a smoke cooker. Although this smoker box will fit most grills, be sure to measure your grill first to be sure you will have a perfect fit.
Pros:
- Rectangular shape
- Stainless steel
- Hinged lid
- Fits on top of your cooking grates
Cons:
- Steel may warp after extensive use
- Holes in the bottom of the box may cause chips to catch on fire
4. Grillaholics Stainless Steel Smoker Box
This smoker box from Grillaholics allows you to turn your gas or charcoal grill into a smoker. Simply add wood chips to the heavy duty smoker box and place it directly over the flame. You will be smoking your favorite meats in no time at all.
This smoker box is made of extra thick stamped stainless steel which will reduce the warping that is typically seen with smoker boxes. It has a hinged lid for easy access when you need to add more wood chips.
Grillaholics is a family-owned business and they promise you can return the smoker box for a full money-back refund or replacement with no questions asked. This makes the smoker box a risk-free option to consider.
Pros:
- Made of extra thick stamped stainless steel
- Hinged lid
- Full money-back guarantee
- Does not have holes in the bottom so chips do not catch on fire
Cons:
- Box dimensions are fairly small measuring 8.8-inches by 3.8-inches
5. Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
This Char-Broil smoker box is made out of cast iron which makes the box more durable for extensive use. It is vented to ensure that smoke is directed towards the food. It weighs 4.2-pounds which is definitely more than most smoker boxes.
Since this is made of cast iron, it is highly recommended to treat the box as you would any other cast iron skillet. This will ensure your cast iron smoker box will last you a lifetime.
It can hold approximately 2-cups of wood chips and measures about 8-inches by 5-inches. It is only 1.4-inches deep which allows it to retain a minimal sleek profile.
If you take care of this smoker box as you would any other cast iron product, it will very likely outlive your gas or charcoal grill!
Pros:
- Made of cast iron
- Vented on the top
- No bottom vents therefore chips do not burn
- Holds 2-cups of wood chips
- Measures 8-inches by 5-inches
Cons:
- Does not work well with electric grills as it doesn’t heat enough
6. Outset QS77 Stainless Steel Wood Chip Smoking Box
This smoker box from Outset is constructed of durable stainless steel with a brushed surface. It has an easy-to-lift lid so you can easily access the box to add more wood chips.
This smoker box has ventilation holes in the lid and in the bottom of the box. If you have a high flame, you need to be careful as the wood chips may catch on fire. This box measures 9.2-inches by 4.2-inches which gives your wood chips plenty of surface area to smolder and add flavorful smoke to your grilled foods.
If you are looking for a new accessory to add to your grilling activities, consider adding a smoky flavor to your meat with this stainless steel smoker box. You will love tasting the results!
Pros:
- Stainless steel with a brushed surface
- Ventilation holes in the top and bottom
- Slim profile to provide a large surface area for the wood chips to smolder
Cons:
- Does not have a hinged lid
FAQs About Smoker Boxes
If you have never used a smoker box before, then you may be wondering how they work. We have answered this question and a few others below so you have all the information necessary before picking the smoker box that meets your needs.
How Does A Smoker Box Work?
A smoker box uses wood chips to enhance the flavor of the food you are grilling. As the wood chips heat up over your grill flames, they start producing smoke which then filters through the food on your grill. This essentially infuses the food with the wood chip smoke resulting in an amazing flavorful taste.
Dry Wood Chips Versus Wet Wood Chips
Some people swear they get better smoky flavor when they soak their wood chips. There are some smoker box products that explicitly encourage you to use dry wood chips instead. The risk is that if you get the heat too high while heating up the chips, they may actually catch on fire and burn away too quickly.
To soak or not to soak is the question, but the answer is a personal preference. You need to do what works best for you based on your experiences.
How Many Wood Chips Do I Need?
You want to be sure your smoker box produces as much smoke as possible for as long as possible. Therefore you should just fill up the box with as many wood chips as you can so you avoid having to refill the box part way through your grilling cycle.
What’s The Best Flavor Of Wood Chips To Use?
There are many flavors of wood chips available that you can use in your smoker box. You can choose from fruit flavors to wood flavors. This gives you a wide range of flavors from sweet to earthy. It all really depends on the types of flavors that you enjoy. Wood chips are inexpensive enough so you can experiment with a variety of flavors and choose the ones you like the best.
Conclusion
If you don’t have a smoker, you can easily turn your charcoal or gas grill into a smoker by using a smoker box. Smoker boxes can really enhance the flavor of your grilled foods and give you more versatility in how you grill. Once you start to infuse your meat with smoke flavors, it will forever change how you view your grilled foods!