If you’re looking for combination grill-smokers, chances are you already like what grills and smokers do, which is not surprising. The smell, flavor, sizzle, and sear marks associated with grilling and smoking are hard not to like.
The only thing better than a grill and a smoker is a grill-smoker combo. You’re saving time, money, and space by having a 2-in-1 appliance.
However, combining appliances can be risky, which is why a lot of research went into finding the high-quality ones.
So, without further ado, let’s review the best combination grill-smokers on the market.
Top Picks Summury:
|
Grill |
Fuel |
Main Cooking Surface (sq. in.) |
Temperature Range (°F) |
|
PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Original PK Grill and Smoker |
Charcoal |
310 |
180-750 |
|
Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D |
Wood pellets |
504 |
180-450 |
|
Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo |
Charcoal/Liquid propane |
750 |
Adjustable dampers |
The 3 Best Combination Grill-Smokers in 2020
1. PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Original PK Grill and Smoker – Best Overall
Looking for the best grill, let alone the best grill-smoker combo can be tiring. There are many things to balance, and no grill-smoker is perfect. However, some combos managed to come pretty close to perfect, and the PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Original PK Grill and Smoker is on top.
Why? It is portable, compact, durable, and backed by a 10-year warranty. Furthermore, it is easy to use and assemble, which makes it loved by beginners and pros alike.
The award-winning grill prides itself on its thick cast aluminum construction, which is the right choice because aluminum is rust-resistant, durable, lightweight, and 4 times better at conducting heat than its steel counterparts.
This construction maintains an airtight seal, which maximizes maintaining a steady temperature, anywhere from 180 to 750 °F, and cooking evenly.
Thanks to its rectangular design and patented 4-point venting system, you can cook hot and fast, or low and slow because of the exceptional airflow of the 2 heat zones. In addition, the grill’s hinge is heavy-duty, indestructible, and rust-resistant.
This charcoal grill-smoker has a primary cooking surface of 310 square inches, which is the smallest on our list but big enough for something delicious on your next Thanksgiving. In addition to the main cooking surface, you have the dual-shelf system for additional prep space.
Our top choice is 14.5″ high, 26.3″ wide, and 19.5″ deep. These small dimensions make it one of the most compact options among grill-smokers, especially ones that perform that well.
Moreover, it’s highly portable, as the grill box can be removed from the stand, so you can just put it inside your vehicle if you want to travel with the grill. You’ll move the stand around easily thanks to the large wheels.
Of course, there is something that we wish we could change about this grill; it has no tray to pick up the ashes, which is a downside for charcoal grills, and that means you should probably get one.
Pros
- 10-year warranty
- Thick cast aluminum construction and heavy-duty hinge
- Excellent heat retention
- Easy to use
- Dual-shelf system
- Patented 4-point venting system (rectangular design)
- Portable
Cons
- No ashtray
Bottom Line
The PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Original PK Grill and Smoker offers excellent and consistent heat retention, durable construction, compact dimensions, and portable design. Without a doubt, it deserves the top spot among the best combination grill-smokers.
2. Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D – Best Pellet Grill-Smoker
Wood pellet grills-smokers have something that many gas grills are competing with: flavor and convenience. The woody, smoky flavor combined with the set-it-and-forget-it kind of operation is a killer combo.
The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D is spacious, versatile, automated, stylish, and backed by a 3-year warranty.
What’s the first thing you’ll notice about this grill-smoker? Its looks. Grill-smokers usually have a matte black finish that is mostly intended to hide any future smoke residue. However, this grill has a stand-out bronzy look that you can show off to your friends.
Our second pick has a rack surface area of 513 square inches, and it has a smoking and warming rack surface area of 187 square inches, which means it has a total grilling area of 700 square inches. It has a capacity for 20 burgers, 5 whole chickens, or 6 racks of ribs at once.
This grill-smoker has a height of 51.2”, length of 22.5”, and width of 48.4”, which makes sense with such great capacity. In addition, it has a 20-pound hopper capacity, which can last you at least 15 hours.
If there’s something that this combo excels at, it’s using its size to its benefit. Below the grill-smoker, there is an enclosed cabinet with magnetically secured doors to enable you to store and protect any equipment or pellets from the elements.
One thing we love about this grill-smoker is how convenient it is, thanks to its automated electric feed system, which maintains temperature from 180 to 450 ºF, so you can just set it and forget it. Moreover, the smart digital controller makes setting the temperature a breeze.
We included this-grill-smoker combo on the list because it’s a versatile 8-in-1 wonder that can grill, smoke, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbeque, or char-grill. There isn’t much left to do elsewhere.
As a grill-smoker meant for alfresco cooking, the waterproof grill cover it comes with does come in handy. Also, we love the convenient grease bucket holder.
If we could change something about the Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D, it would be its wheels. They are incompetent and unsuitable for its size; they are too small and flimsy.
Pros
- Automated electric feed system
- Smart digital controller
- 3-year warranty
- 8 cooking functions
- Enclosed cabinets
- 20 lb hopper capacity
Cons
- Incompetent wheels
Bottom Line
The Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D is a valuable addition to the best combination grill-smokers, thanks to its style, versatility, spaciousness, and convenience.
3. Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo – Most Versatile
What’s better than having a charcoal grill, gas grill, and smoker? All three in one combo. The Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo has the best of 3 different worlds, along with having a huge cooking surface and practical design.
The porcelain-coated, cast-iron cooking grates are rust-resistant, which is what you expect from a quality grill. In addition, the burners are stainless steel, so they’re made to last.
How does such a well-built grill-smoker perform? The lid-mounted temperature gauges help you monitor the temperature inside the smoker and gas grill chambers. Also, it has multiple dampers across the smoking chamber and firebox to control the smoke and heat.
This versatile combo has 2 separate cooking chambers, one for smoking and one for gas grilling, plus an offset firebox and a gas side burner. The firebox has a convenient access door that spares you from opening the main chamber to let air flow freely.
A total of 48000 BTUs, or British thermal units, is produced by this grill-smoker. It’s divided into 12000 BTUs provided by each of the 3 main burners in the gas grill chamber, and 12000 BTUs produced by the side burner.
These chambers, firebox, and side burner add up to a mindblowing total cooking surface area of 1060 square inches, which consists of a primary cooking area of 750 square inches and a secondary cooking area of 310. You can fit 8-pound pork shoulders, 4.5-pound whole chickens, 1.25-pound sirloin strip steaks, 8-pound briskets.
Our hybrid combo of choice is 74” wide, 50.6” high, and 31.5” deep. It is big, and we’re not surprised. It capitalizes on its size by having a metal storage shelf where you can keep your utensils and extra fuel close by. Furthermore, the side burner can be used as a side prep space when it’s not in use.
Since nothing is perfect, this grill-smoker has its flaws. First, the wagon-style wheels don’t make sense because they don’t even roll enough to move the appliance. Second, as expected, the Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo is heavy at 204.60 pounds.
Pros
- Total cooking surface of 1060 sq. in.
- Uses both charcoal and propane as fuel
- Porcelain-coated cast-iron grates and stainless steel burners
- Metal storage shelf
Cons
- Incompetent wheels
- Heavy
Bottom Line
The Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo grills by charcoal or gas, and smokes, with a total cooking surface of 1060 square inches. It doesn’t get better than this.
How to Pick a Combination Grill-Smoker
1. Materials and Durability
The materials of your grill-smoker affect how long it lasts.
The majority of grills and smokers are made of coated carbon steel, which makes sense because it’s sturdy yet lightweight. However, it is prone to rust.
Some materials are known to be rust-resistant such as aluminum, stainless steel, or enamel-coated materials.
To be on the safe side, invest in a grill-smoker made of thick materials so that it takes much longer to rust, and don’t forget to get a cover as well.
2. Type of Grill
Every type of grill has its own devoted fans, so it’s a matter of personal preference.
Charcoal and pellet grills are the best at leaving the classic smoky flavor. However, charcoal grills are a pain to clean, and pellet grills aren’t budget-friendly.
Gas grills are user-friendly and provide you with better temperature control. Nonetheless, the additional cost of gas can be a nuisance, especially if you have to use the grill a lot and need to change the gas often.
Finally, there are hybrid grills that can use different types of fuel.
Every type has its pros and cons, as you can see. There’s no right or wrong answer here.
3. Size and Capacity
How much space do you have for a grill-smoker? Will you store it indoors or outdoors?
If you’re limited on space, look for grill-smokers with small footprints. Wheels and handles also make it easy to transport and store your grill; don’t underestimate these features if you’re low on storage space.
Are you looking for a combo to cook for a family of 4 or frequent large gatherings? How much food do you need to cook at once? The cooking space a grill has is usually measured in square inches or how many burgers it cooks at the same time.
Furthermore, you can benefit from a grill’s size and capacity if it has tool hooks for your cooking equipment or side tables for extra storage and food preparation space. Finally, nothing can beat enclosed cabinets for storage that is protected from the elements.
4. Ease of Use and Cleanup
If you’re a beginner to grilling or grill-smoker combos, don’t waste your time among over-complicated models. Sometimes, the more basic, the better. On the other hand, if you’re an experienced BBQ lover looking for upgrades, additional features may make things better.
Consider combos that are easy to assemble and set up. Electronic ignitions and digital controls can make grilling and smoking a breeze. Smart features that let you monitor the temperature through your phone are a godsend. Dual LED temperature readouts are also a plus.
Look for a grill-smoker that knows how to make cleanup easier with removable ash and grease trays, porcelain and nonstick coatings, ash removal tools, and accessible doors.
Final thoughts 💭
There is a lot to consider when buying a grill-smoker combo and many products to choose from. So, here is a summary of the best combination of grill-smokers.
The PK Grills PKO-SCAX-X Original PK Grill and Smoker is our top choice because it’s durable, compact, portable, and a beast at heat retention.
If you’re into the woody, smoky flavor of pellet grills, check out the Z Grills Wood Pellet Grill Smoker 700D.
Hybrid combos can be a risk, but it’s a risk the Oklahoma Joe’s Charcoal/LP Gas/Smoker Combo could take with its impressive versatility and capacity.
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
