Best Smoker for Cold Weather 2023

When you truly adore barbeque, your craving for some low and slow, falling-off-the-bone meat doesn’t simply go away as the seasons change. But you do need the correct equipment if you want the same outcomes without having to watch over your unit while using four times as much fuel. So which smoker is ideal for cold weather?

We examine the top smokers for chilly climates in this article. There is no particular order in which these “cues” are listed. All of them are fantastic to use when it’s cold outside, it’s been pouring for weeks, there’s a howling wind, or you’re knee-deep in snow. After all, it’s never a bad idea to give the wife a night off from cooking and serve some delicious BBQ to your friends or family.

Kamado Joe Classic II

Heat retention is important for smoking in cold weather because it might reduce your fuel costs. A kamado delivers superior heat retention compared to any non-blanket smoker.

When it’s not unbearably hot outside, the Kamado Joe Classic II’s thick ceramic dome-shaped shell produces 360-degree radiant heat that’s perfect for hassle-free, low-and-slow cooking. Quality lump charcoal should burn for around 8 hours before needing to be replaced since it has a cool-touch exterior, an industry-leading gasket, and a stainless steel lock that keeps the heat where you want it. Even while it is a little less than the 12 hours you’d anticipate from a Kamado Joe in better weather, it is still more than enough for the majority of types of meat. If you want it to cook any longer, you can always simply add more.

Another feature that distinguishes the Kamado Joe Classic II from other kamados on the market for cooking in cold areas is the Kontrol Tower. This cutting-edge cast-aluminum top vent is designed to keep wind and rain out of the cooking chamber while giving you precise temperature control for fantastic results when all you want is a warm and hearty dinner.

However, the Classic II Joe isn’t just fantastic because of its cold weather qualities. Our top pick for an all-around kamado is the Kamado Joe Classic II, thanks to its extreme adaptability and distinctive firebox design.

Specs

• Fuel type: Charcoal
• Barbecue material: Glazed ceramic
• Grate material: 304 stainless steel
• Cooking area: 256 square inches in the simplest configuration, 407 square inches with a grill expander, 508 square inches with two sets of grates, or 660 square inches with two sets of grates and an expander.
• Heat Range: 225°F-750°F
• Model: Classic II
• Assembled size (in): 46.5″ W x 48″ H x 28″ D
• Weight: 188lbs
• Warranty: Lifetime on ceramics, 5 years on metal parts, 3 years on heat deflector and pizza stone, 1 year on thermometer and gasket

Pros

• Thick ceramic shell locks in heat and radiates it from all angles
• Industry leading gasket gives an exceptionally good seal and lasts much longer than that of other kamado’s
• Stainless steel latch ensures a tight fit without heat or smoke leakage
• Kontrol Tower minimizes wind and rain from getting into the cooking chamber
• Allows hands-off cooking for up to 12 hours (less in adverse weather) so you don’t need to open the lid and let the heat escape to add more fuel
• It’s equally as good in warmer weather and doubles as a grill or pizza oven for summertime meals

Cons

• Limited cooking capacity compared to other types of smokers

Traeger Pro Series 34 Pellet Grill

Another excellent option for smoking in cold weather is the Traeger Pro 34 inch pellet grill, which provides a sizable smoking area and hands-free operation.

The Traeger Pro’s Advanced Grilling Logic Digital Pro Controller enables 60 temperature readings per second. Because it will always know exactly how many pellets to release into the fire, you will always be kept within a precise 15°F of your desired temperature. Yes, this implies that you will want more pellets during inclement weather, but if you intend to smoke over the winter, the branded insulation blanket will quickly pay for itself.

The Traeger Pro 34 is a reliable investment that accomplishes what it needs to and not much else for regular use. The smoker lacks glitzy amenities like WiFi connectivity, but given how adept it is at maintaining a constant temperature, what’s not to enjoy about setting it and ignoring it while you go about your day?

This machine, like the majority of pellet smokers, is a dedicated smoker and is not ideal for grilling. You can do it, but we advise against utilizing it unless you just want to grill at low temperatures or are content with having a second grill.

The good news is that there is plenty of room to smoke nearly anything you can imagine. Eight chickens, forty hamburgers, seven racks of ribs, or a combination of all of those will be plenty to feed your family and friends for the rest of the week.

Specs

• Barbecue material: Powder-coated stainless steel
• Grate material: Porcelain
• Cooking capacity: 884 square inches
• Pellet hopper capacity: 18 lbs
• Temperature range: 160°F – 475°F
• Fuel type: Wood pellets
• Model: TFB88PZB
• Dimensions: 53″ W x 49″ H x 27″ D
• Weight: 136lbs
• Warranty: 3 years

Pros

• Automatic temperature control means you don’t need to babysit the unit, trying to get the amount of fuel just right for whatever the weather is doing
• Works with the Traeger 34 Series insulation blanket to minimize fuel usage in cold climates
• Comes with two meat probes so you can tell exactly when the meat is safe to eat and perfectly cooked
• Large pellet hopper capacity for hands-off smoking
• Large cooking capacity to satisfy that wintry appetite
• Also suitable for slow roasting and baking

Cons

• Temperature doesn’t get much hotter than 400 degrees so it’s not great for grilling

Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker

It’s not recommended to smoke outside in the cold with just this best-selling, highest-rated smoker. Its thin metal casing will simply lose heat, so even if you use a ton of fuel, you’ll probably be going hungry if it’s extremely cold outside.

But when you combine it with a specially designed thermal blanket, presto! You have a powerful cold weather smoker that meets all of your needs in terms of capacity, quality, and adaptability.

It’s also quite simple to transfer the Weber Smokey Mountain to the most protected position in your yard (before you ignite it, of course) because of its low weight and space-saving vertical design, which naturally reduces the impact of bad wind and rain on your cook.

To reach your desired temperature, add more charcoal to the mixture. However, the Weber Smokey Mountain’s high-quality dampers make it simple to maintain low and gradual temperatures. Additionally, there is a detachable fuel door so that you won’t have to remove the lid and relocate the meat when it’s time to add more charcoal, losing the heat you are attempting to produce.

The Weber Smokey Mountain’s porcelain-enameled exterior makes it rust-resistant enough to withstand a small amount of water being thrown at it.

Additionally, it works with Weber’s iGrill 2 meat thermometers for hands-free cooking supervision so you can stay indoors and warm. The Weber Smokey Mountain is a competition-grade smoker that is available in three different sizes to meet your needs. By just wrapping it in a thermal blanket, it can be used all year round.

Specs

• Fuel type: Charocal
• Barbecue material: Porcelain-enameled steel
• Grate material: Plated steel
• Cooking capacity: 726 sq. in.
• Model: 731001
• Dimensions: 48.5(H) x 23(W) x 24(D)
• Weight: 68lbs
• Warranty: 10 years on bowl and lid, 5 years on plastics and cleaning system, 2 years on remaining parts

Pros

• Easy to insulate by simply purchasing a Weber Smokey Mountain Thermo Blanket
• Portable design makes it easy to move into the most sheltered position when the weather is bad (but never smoke indoors!)
• Removable fuel door means you can add fuel without losing valuable heat
• Quality porcelain-enameled shell is rust-resistant for adverse weather conditions
• Compatible with iGrill 2 for remote monitoring of meat temperature so you can stay warm indoors
• Competition-worthy results

Cons

• Smoker design doesn’t seal super tight and might leak some smoke around the door. This isn’t significant enough to affect your results but if you’re bothered by it you’ll want to install a high-heat gasket to prevent this from happening

The Good One Generation 3 Marshall Smoker

The Marshall Smoker from The Good One is unquestionably the best option for all of you offset smoking enthusiasts who want something sturdy and durable enough to handle some weather. Here it comes… a good one!

Unlike the majority of offset smokers on the market, the Marshall is made of 11-gauge steel, which is thick enough to retain the majority of the heat without the need for insulating blankets. More so than in the summer, you must keep an eye on the temperature. However, because to the distinctive construction of this traditional smoker, successful smoking may be accomplished even in below-freezing temperatures.

Because of the cooking chamber’s long, inclined firebox, the smoke covers the meat uniformly, obviating the need to move items about halfway through. Ingenious spinner vents are also present, which can be closed down to reduce fuel use and temperature rises in windy conditions.

Because of its design, the Gen 3 Marshall Smoker is among the most fuel-effective offset smokers available. Additionally, even though you will need more charcoal to run it in the colder months, you won’t need to use a ridiculous amount of fuel to make yourself a smoky, toasty meal.

Specs

• Fuel type: Charcoal and wood
• Barbecue material: Painted 11-gauge steel
• Grate material: Expanded steel
• Cooking capacity: 2,849 sq in
• Model: The Marshall Generation III
• Assembled size (in): 55(H) x 38(W) x 46(D)
• Weight: 497lbs
• Warranty: 10 years

Pros

• Truly heavy-gauge steel construction to minimize heat loss in cooler climates
• Angled, full-length firebox distributes heat and smoke evenly for an effortless cook
• Spinner air vents are easy to use allowing for precise temperature control, even in windy conditions
• Internal damper gives more control of heat and smoke control than regular dampers
• Wheels and castors make it easy to move and/or turn the unit depending on the wind direction
• Very large cooking capacity to make it worth your while to do a big, winter cook-up
• Efficient fuel usage
• Doubles as a grill if you want to whip up a quick lunch or a snack mid-cook
• Removable racks, drip and ash pans for easy clean-up inside in the warm

Cons

• Manual-style smoker does require regular monitoring to make sure the temperature stays within your target zone – it is NOT a set and forget!

Smokin-It Model #2

A heavy-duty electric model is the last but certainly not the least in the cold weather smoking game. Electric smoking is fantastic in cold weather because it’s so simple to keep your desired temperature.

But any old electric smoker won’t do when the weather is really miserable. Most have thin metal sides that aren’t insulated, and you can’t possibly reach a temperature that is safe for cooking without a powerful enough heating element.

That leads us to, the Smokin-It Model #2!

We are aware of this smoker’s lack of beauty. But keep in mind that a delicious dinner, not a lovely face, is what you’re after! And this child will accomplish that.

The Smokin-It electric smokers do a terrific job of keeping the heat where you want it because they are composed of 100% heavy-gauge stainless steel, have fiberglass insulation, and have a double-latch door mechanism. Due to the whole stainless steel construction’s resistance to rust, you can be sure that even if it encounters some sideways rain, it will still hold up just fine.

But it also comes with heavy-duty casters, side handles, and a long 12-foot power wire to make it simple to transfer to the optimum smoking area for chilly weather.

Simply turn on the Smokin-It Model #2 and move the dial to the desired setting to control the temperature. For consistently good outcomes, regardless of the weather, it should remain within a 25 degree window until it reaches your goal temperature.

Furthermore, the external and removable drip pan and dishwasher-safe racks eliminate the need for you to clean the barbeque after you’ve already finished your dinner, which is one of the worst things you can do.

The Smokin-It Model #2 is a smoker that offers exceptional value for the money and performs well in chilly areas.

Specs

• Barbecue material: 18 gauge, 201 stainless steel double walls with fiberglass insulation
• Grate material: Stainless steel
• Cooking capacity: 1,247 sq. in.
• Fuel type: Electric
• Wattage: 800 watts
• Model: Model #2
• Assembled size (in): 28.25”H x 17”W x 20.5”D
• Weight: 114lbs
• Warranty: 3 years

Pros

• Insulated stainless steel smoker reduces heat loss in cold climates
• Double latch on the door creates an excellent seal against the elements
• Set and forget temperature control
• Using electricity as your fuel source means you never need to stock up on extra fuel during the winter
• 201 stainless steel is rust-resistant allowing it to handle a bit of adverse weather
• Castor wheels and long power cord make it easy to move the smoker to the best location to shelter it from the wind and rain
• Removable cooking grates and drip pan mean less time spent outside cleaning in the cold
• Available in three different sizes to minimize electricity consumption or max out cooking capacity depending on your needs

Cons

• You will need to add wood chips every now and then which means a trip outside into the cold
• There’s no side loading port to add wood chips so you do need to open the door to do this which will lose you some heat

Last update on 2023-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API