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April 27, 2020 By Natalie Leave a Comment

Best Offset Smoker Under 1000

It’s hard to find a good offset smoker these days as the cheap ones are very much likely to break after just a short time of use while the high-quality ones can cost you up to several thousand.

Knowing your concerns, we’ve spent hours researching and coming up with a list of the best offset smoker under 1000, with the aim of helping you find a suitable smoker that fits your budget.

Without further ado, let’s jump right into today’s article!

The Best Offset Smoker Under 1000

#1: Dyna-Glo DGO1890BDC-D Offset Smoker: Best Overall

    Buy from Amazon

The DGO1890BDC-D from the brand Dyna-Glo is our top pick of today for the best overall.

This heavy-duty steel coated isn’t like any other wood-burning offset smoker; Its cabinet configuration along with the firebox is designed for charcoal use, yet you can still be flexible on using wood chips.

Thanks to the dual doors built for minimizing heat loss, the smoking time is reduced, and your food gets the distinctive sweetness from burnt wood and charcoal combined.

If you’re a charcoal enthusiast, this charcoal smoker will not let you down.

What we like best about this smoker is the electronic pulse ignition system supporting quick and easy ignition, so you don’t have to spend much time watching over the smoker.

The DGO1890BDC-D is easy to set up; it doesn’t require you to be a technical expert to assemble the pieces and it takes minor effort to maintain.

This offset smoker offers 1890 square inches of cooking space with adjustable grates, creating even heat distribution. The DGO1890DC-D is said to be the best smoker Dyna-Glo has ever made, if not the best on the market.

However, some customers reported that they experienced heat leak after a time of use. Also, its steel construction is relatively thin, giving a weak feel. We suggest you buy high heat silicone and a smoker gasket to help with this.

Pros
  • Wide cooking surface of 1890 square inches
  • 6 adjustable grates
  • Easy-to-clean sliding charcoal tray
  • Heavy-duty feature
Cons
  • Too heavy to move around
  • Unstable thermometer
  • Heat leak after a time of use

#2: Royal Gourmet CC1830S Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker: Best Design

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This 2-in-1 gadget from Royal Gourmet is just what you need for a BBQ day out with friends and family.

Thanks to the positive feedback from customers regarding their previous model – the CC1830F (mentioned below), Royal Gourmet decided to invest in more time and effort to bring you the CC1830S with a handful of improved features. Check them out!

The smoker box is attached to the side of the grill with independent damper control. It can be used to start a small fire without having to use the big grill, resulting in saving you time and a lot of charcoal as well.

The grilling grates are coated with non-stick porcelain, contributing to retaining the heat longer with more even heat distribution. There is also a warming rack to hold the prepared food.

The charcoal pan does a great job of providing restaurant-quality food when you choose the proper setting. Chops, steaks, burgers, chicken, or seafood, all will be cooked to perfection.

However, if you’re buying this grill because of the smoker, you’ll be disappointed to know that it is not big enough to handle a big fire.

And even though many customers reported this problem with the previous CC1830F, Royal Gourmet still failed to fix the problem. This is something that will make potential buyers think twice before buying this product.

All-in-all, this grill works great if you don’t count too much on the smoker box.

Pros
  • Non-stick porcelain-coated grates
  • Large grilling surface of 483 square inches
  • Easy to assemble and clean
  • 2-in-1 grill
Cons
  • Small smoker box
  • Unstable thermometer
  • The smoker box is hard to clean thoroughly

#3: Royal Gourmet CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker: Best Versatility

    Buy from Amazon

Next in our list today, it is another 2-in-1 product from the brand Royal Gourmet – the CC1830F Charcoal Grill with Offset Smoker.

This conventional smoker is attached with a left side smoker box and a 2-wheel system at the bottom for more portability. The product is quite lightweight, around 57 pounds, making it easy to move around.

It features a large cooking surface of 800 square inches, which is enough to handle a great amount of food at a time.

There is also a sturdy cart with an extended metal bottom shelf to make the construction more sound, unlike other grills that tend to be shaky sometimes.

The only significant problem with this grill-and-smoker is the quality and size of the side smoker. It is made from thin metal and quite small compared with the rest of the grill, and this can be quite an inconvenience.

You see, since the smoker box is small, if you try to make a large fire with it, it will overheat and surpass the heat rating on the firebox paint. Also, the attached thermometer is not quite accurate; it can be 10-15℉ strayed away.

Pros
  • Wide cooking space
  • Sound base with extended metal bottom
  • Additional ash removal tray
  • Easy to assemble and clean
  • Porcelain-coated grates
Cons
  • Limited space smoker box
  • Inaccurate analog thermometer
  • Short time warranty
The A to Z About Smoking Deer Meat

#4: Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Offset Smoker and Grill: Best Performance

    Buy from Amazon

If you’re looking for something more heavy-duty, the Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D Offset Smoker and Grill is definitely your go-to option.

You might not be impressed with the bulky design, but the features it offers will make you think twice.

There are 5 chrome-plated cooking grates to help you make different dishes at a time, saving up to hours of cooking, and of course, fuels as well.

The heavy-duty stainless steel body allows you to cook all cuts of meat with stable heat distribution.

The side grilling chamber can really come in handy as you can grill sausages or side vegetables while waiting for the main course to be smoked in the other chamber.

The cool-touch lid keeps your hand from being burnt as you open the chamber and check your food. There is also an analog thermometer to tell you when the smoker has reached the ‘Smoke Zone,’ meaning it is ready to be used.

However, you may find the thin steel construction to be a problem. Yet, with such a price, you can’t really ask for more, considering the quality it offers.

What is more, you will need some time to get used to adjusting the amount of wood to put in without causing heat loss.

It might get a little tricky to maintain a steady temperature, but once you’ve chosen the right size and amount of wood, everything will work out just fine.

Pros
  • Heavy-duty durable stainless steel material
  • 5 easy-to-clean grates
  • Vertical offset smoker
Cons
  • Time-consuming assembly
  • Thin steel construction
  • Hard to maintain a steady temperature

#5: Char-Broil Offset Smoker: Best Value

    Buy from Amazon

Last but not least in today’s list, it is the Char-Broil Offset Smoker.

This is a conventional horizontal offset smoker that offers 477 square inches primary cooking surface for you to smoke meat of any cuts.

It is one of the finest traditional smokers on the market with a grayish-black color to fit into any surrounding. This smoker is not so lightweight, around 70 lbs. But it features a 2-wheel system on the bottom for better portability.

The shelf underneath the smoker comes in handy when you need a place to store cookware or spices. You can find a firebox on the left side of the chamber, with an ash-removal for easy cleaning.

However, you should know that the thermometer doesn’t give quite accurate numbers; yet, it is not a big deal once you’ve got the hang of it.

Also, some customers reported that the door leaked quite a bunch when smoking so we recommend you buy some high heat gasket tape for the best experience with this product.

Pros
  • Great value for the money
  • Large cooking space
  • 2-wheel system for more portability
  • Easy-to-clean
Cons
  • Relatively complicated assembly
  • Quite heavy compared with other smokers
  • Smoke leak

My Final Verdict

best offset smoker for 1000

Enjoy preparing the restaurant-quality smoked ribs or any other food at the comfort of your own house with the best offset smoker under 1000.

It’s hard to say which smoker in this list is the best as each has its own unique features. But if we have to choose, we would go with the Dyna-Glo Signature Series DGSS1382VCS-D.

Why?

It ticks all boxes for value, versatility, and design. The 5 easy-to-clean chrome-plated cooking grates and a convenient thermometer to tell you when the smoker is ready are two main reasons for our pick.

Good luck with finding the most suitable smoker for yourself, and thank you for reading.

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Natalie

Filed Under: BBQ

September 18, 2019 By Natalie Leave a Comment

Smoker Box for Gas Grill

If you have a smoker box for the gas grill, you need to know that for grilling meat, the product is perfect but it is not that good when it comes to smoking. Smoking can be a natural seasoning of your meat and it gives it a unique and handsome taste.

There are different steps that you can take to convert your gas grill into a good smoker that you can use often at home. You need the right tools and equipment to be able to upgrade your gas grill so that you can also enjoy the smoking function.

How to Use the Smoker Box Method

smoker box for gas grill

If your gas grill has a smoker box, there is no reason to worry since you can use it for smoking your meat. You need wood chips and in a few steps, you can smoke your meat to give it a nice flavor. Smoking with a gas grill is convenient and easier since you only need to place the smoker box directly above the burner.

You then add dry wood chips in the burner so that they can produce smoke. Prior to providing wood chips in the best smoker box for a gas grill, you must soak them in water for about half an hour so that they do not catch fire. The method also helps to generate smoke.

A smoker box does not have holes at the bottom which entails that the chips would not catch fire. Wet wood chips give you a lot of smoke but the issue with them is that they take time to produce smoke. Dry wood chips can be the best alternative if you are in a hurry.

https://savvysavingbytes.com/2019/07/how-long-to-smoke-ribs/

When you place the wood chips inside the smoker box to start producing smoke, you can close its lid. Setting the burner to the maximum can speed up the process but you need to lower it to your desired level once the burner begins to produce smoke.

When smoking meat, you should always remember that the process needs time and use a fixed low temperature. Place your meat on the grates but make sure that it is not directly above the burner. Using low temperature, you can keep an eye on your meat as it readies.

The smoker box consists of metal which conducts heat from the burner and it heats the wood chips to produce smoke. The upper part of the box has holes that enable the smoke to come through and it helps to improve the flavor of your meat. When the wood chips run out, you can open the box and add some more until your meat is ready.

The Tinfoil Method

smoker box for gas grill lowes

You can also use the tinfoil method to smoke your meat using a smoker box gas grill. A tin foil method can replace a smoker box in the event that you do not have that equipment. The tinfoil acts as a bag that will keep the wood chips in and it should be strong. Make sure the bag is properly sealed to prevent smoke from escaping.

You then put the sealed bag containing wood chips above the burner and make a tiny hole on its top. You can start the smoking process using this method with high temperature but you should subsequently lower it when the volume of smoke produced is high. You can control the amount of smoke to the desired level while at the same time monitoring your meat.  

A tin foil method is simple and easy to use but you need to make sure you have the right bag. The bag, however, can be time-consuming to make since it takes about 30 minutes. A gas grill smoker box will be ideal for smoking your meat on a regular basis since it is affordable. However, some gas grill comes without smoker boxes and this is when you can turn to this alternative method.

If you want to enjoy smoked meat using a gas grill, you only need to have the right equipment. Wood chips and a smoker box are the major tools that you should have. When smoking your meat, make sure that you lower your temperature once the wood in the smoker box begins to produce sufficient heat and smoke.

smoker box attachment for gas grill

Apart from using the wood chips for smoking your meat, you can also use cedar plank since it gives your meat good flavor. You should always remember the aspect of maintaining moderate heat so that your meat will not burn. Low heat also enables slow cooking of the meat so that it can retain its softness and juices.

While these methods of using a gas grill to smoke your meat are effective, one thing that you should know is that they can never produce the same results like meat smoked directly from a charcoal smoker. A wood smoker also produces perfect flavor for your meat. 

https://savvysavingbytes.com/2019/07/smoking-deer-meat/
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Natalie

Filed Under: BBQ

July 4, 2019 By Natalie Leave a Comment

The A to Z About Smoking Deer Meat

Did you know that you can smoke deer meat and that it is going to taste really great? There are so many people that don’t really know how to prepare venison meat correctly. Especially, when it comes to deer meat.

When you are smoking deer meat, you are taking the wild taste out of the meat, and ensure that it tastes as great as any other smoked meat. Tender and full of flavor. However, there are a couple of secrets to smoking deer meat and other venison meat in order to have the tastiest meat ever. This is everything you need to know about smoking deer meat and other venison meat.

https://savvysavingbytes.com/2019/07/how-long-to-smoke-ribs/

Can Deer Meat Really Be Smoked?

If you never have tried smoked deer meat before, then you are going to love your first taste of smoked venison. Especially, if you have prepared it correctly.

We all know that deer and other venison meat can be tough and dry to eat if you don’t prepare it correctly. And, that most people prefer cooking it for hours before it will taste delicious. However, smoked deer has a completely different taste, and it is an easy way to ensure that all your venison meat is enjoyable.

Tips That You Should Consider When Smoking Venison Meat Like Deer

smoking deer meat temperatures

There are a couple of things that you should make sure about before you can start smoking your deer and other venison meat. This is essential tips that you should not leave out and that might end up ruin your deer smoked meat.

The first thing that you should remember is that removing fat from venison is essential. Unlike other meat, the fat on venison isn’t tasting great. It has a taste that will ruin your meat. Even, if you enjoy eating meat with a bit of fat on. Not if you are preparing venison and deer meat. Then, you should remove all the small pieces of fat.

The second thing that you should always remember is to brine your meat for 24 to 48 hours. There are many different methods and recipes available for brining. The brining is going to tenderize your meat, and ensuring that the meat is moisturized and full of flavor. Something that is essential in smoking venison. And, the one secret that many people don’t know about.

What Wood Do You Need for Smoking Your Venison Meat?

Experienced smokers will know that different wood is giving different smoking flavors. And, that certain meat does require different wood for the best tasting smoked meat.

This is the same when it comes to venison meat. Most experienced smokers prefer to make use of a variety of different wood. This is the great thing about venison meat. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what type of wood you are using. However, this is the wood that is recommended:

  • Oak
  • Cherry
  • Apple
  • Maple
  • Hickory

Step by Step Guide in Smoking Your Deer Meat

smoking deer meat recipes

With this step by step guide is smoking your deer meat, you will not make any mistakes in smoking your deer meat or any other venison meat for that matter.

  • The first thing that you should do, is to brine your meat beforehand. As said before 24-48 hours before smoking your meat, you should brine your meat in your favorite brine.
  • Then, you should prepare your smoker. By adding the wood chips that you want, and reheating the smoker to the required temperature. If possible, you should set your heating to indirect heat or medium heat.
  • Adding the deer meat to the smoker and make sure that the heat of the smoker stays between 250°F and 300°F.
  • Depending on the size of the meat, you will need at least an hour and a half smoking time per lb. until the meat is smoked through. The temperature of the meat should be at least 140°F.
  • You should rest the meat for 20 minutes before you cut the meat. This is to make sure that the meat is staying as moist as possible.

Safety Issues That You Need to Remember When Smoking Venison Meat

Remember that it is really important that the inside of the meat should reach a temperature of 140°F before you can say that the meat is smoked through. With meat and poultry, this temperature is essential to know for sure that the meat and poultry are safe to eat. This is especially important when it comes to venison meat like deer.

Yes, you can smoke deer meat, and you will be surprised about how great it will taste. This is if you know how to smoke it correctly. With this A to Z guide, you will know everything there is to know to smoke the best tasting deer and venison meat. Enjoying your venison meat completely for the first time.

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Natalie

Filed Under: BBQ

July 4, 2019 By Natalie Leave a Comment

How Long to Smoke Ribs?

There is nothing better than eating smoke ribs. Especially, if you have smoked it yourself. This is if you have smoked it correctly, and for the right time. There are a couple of things that you need to know when you are smoking ribs. One of these things is the time that you should smoke your ribs for. For most ribs, the recommended smoking times are between 3 to 5 hours.

With this complete guide for the time needed for smoking ribs and some other tips to ensure that your ribs are going to be as tasty as possible. It is easy to smoke ribs for the first time, but only if you know all the tips and secrets to smokey ribs.

Will All Types of Ribs Need the Same Smoking Time?

People are smoking venison ribs, beef ribs, and pork ribs. Should the ribs need the same amount of time, or does the different types of ribs need different smoking times?

At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter what type of ribs you are going to smoke. It can be venison, beef or even pork. The smoking time will not depend on the type of rib you have. There are other things that will depend on how long the ribs should be smoked. People like to say that they are smoking their venison ribs an hour longer than with their pork ribs. However, this isn’t really how things work with smoking.

Things That Will Influence the Time That Ribs Need to Be Smoked

how long to smoke ribs at 250

There are a couple of things that are influencing the time that ribs need to be smoked. And, if you don’t know these things that will influence these things, you will not be able to enjoy your smokey ribs.

The first thing that will influence the time that your ribs need, is how big your ribs are. The larger the ribs, the longer it will take to be smoked. It might also be a great idea to cut the ribs in two if this is one large piece of rib that you want to smoke.

The other thing that will influence the time that your ribs need to be smoked, is the thickness of the ribs. Especially the thickness of the bones. The thicker the bones, the longer it will take to get the right temperature within the meat.

Tips for Smoking the Best Tasting Ribs

how long to smoke ribs at 200

Now that you know what will influence the length that your ribs will need to be smoked, you might want to know other tips that will make your ribs even tastier. Sometimes, the time that your smoking your ribs, isn’t the only thing you need to know to enjoy your ribs. These are some tips that you should remember as well.

  • You should keep an eye on your ribs and baste it with your marinade or even beer every 45 minutes to an hour. This is to make sure that the ribs don’t dry out. This is essential with beef and pork ribs.
  • The higher the quality rib, the better the rib is going to taste. Grade A rib is always the best one to purchase if you are going to smoke it. If the rib has a small layer of fat on, it is so much better.
  • The seasoning and marinade for the rib are also essential. This is going to influence the taste of the rib. So, testing different flavors until you find a combination that you like, is recommended.
  • You can over-smoke your ribs. And, then it is going to have a burning taste. Then, your ribs will be ruined. This is why you should make sure that you are checking your ribs frequently.
  • It is sometimes better to lower the heat of your smoker and smoke the ribs for longer. Then, it will not burn or dry out.

Conclusion. How Long Should You Smoke Your Ribs

The general rule for smoking ribs is that you should smoke the rib at medium heat for at least three hours to five hours. It depends on how thick and large the ribs are. However, you don’t want to just know how long you should smoke ribs. You also want to know other tips to ensure that your ribs are tasting as great as possible. The type of ribs and the marinade and spices of the ribs are just as important.

Many people are asking experienced smokers how long should they smoke ribs. The thing is that you can’t just say three hour or four hours. There are things that you should take in consideration before you can decide how long it will take to smoke your ribs.

With this guide, you will get to know how long it is going to take to smoke ribs, and you will get some other tips to ensure that your ribs are going to taste great.

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Natalie

Filed Under: BBQ

November 18, 2011 By Natalie Leave a Comment

Hair, Beetles and Beaver Anal Glands in our Food

Hair, Beetles and Beaver Anal Glands in our Food

Doesn’t sound like very tasty eating, right? Well, according to Bruce Bradley, a former food executive, these questionable ingredients have been given more pleasant-sounding names and added to processed foods labeled “all natural”. So all those “natural” foods you’ve been eating lately under the assumption they’re purer and healthier can easily contain any of these three additives without you knowing they’re there.

  • Ever noticed any yogurts or beverages SO vibrantly red, they looked as though a scarlet neon wand had colored them. Their labels usually list Carmine, Crimson Lake or Natural Red #4 coloring. Which happen to be industry synonyms for a red food dye made of crushed cochineal beetles.
  • Speaking of beetles, the critters also make an appearance in sweets on ultra shiny candies and sprinkles. Produced from secretions of the female Lac bug, they can be spotted on food labels under the far homier-sounding “Confectioner’s Glaze”.
  • How could anyone, you wonder, intentionally add human hair and/or duck feathers (called Cystine in Process Food-land) to the food we eat. Especially considering how one little hair in food can freak us out. I give you the bread and baked foods industry that uses the ground up stuff to “improve” the texture of their products and because Cystine is considered a natural ingredient by the FDA, no one who buys baked foods will suspect it’s full of hair and feathers.  (This unsettling info is added to the equally unsettling recent news about wood pulp being added to bread, the long  respected staff of life that’s looking less respectable by the minute)
  • Last and certainly not least we get to those beaver anal glands, an odiferous combo of glands and urine that beavers use to mark their territory. The process food people instead use this charmer called Castoreum to spike up vanilla and raspberry flavoring in food and beverages. Surprise –you’ll never find those glands listed on any food label in any store. You will however find it legally buried under that familiar disguise called “Natural Flavoring”.

If you attempt to contact any food companies to inquire if Castoreum is present in a specific food, you will be informed — as Bradley was — that food processors don’t explicitly use Castoreum.  Because All their flavors are vendor supplied and proprietary information, the companies oh so conveniently can’t speak for their vendors.

If you sense food manufacturers in their quest for richer profits are putting up ever-higher barriers between the public and the truth about the foods they produce, Bradley would agree with you. And as a former food-marketing insider at multinational corporations, he should know.

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Natalie

Filed Under: Food

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