Who could say “NO” to the temptation of cool breezy nights and sunny summer afternoons, plus some delicious snacks to enjoy!?
Erm, if you are those creepy pale-skin dudes fancy playing hide-and-seek in the dark with garlic and silver being your two biggest enemies, then you desperately need some sunlight to feel human again!
And what could be the better way to cherish these little wonderful moments of summer than cooking your favorite dishes to perfection! It does taste better than blood, doesn’t it?! *wink wink*
A best vertical pellet smoker is the definition of the best backyard BBQ party all over the world!
Unfortunately, since we are no techies and often faint when looking at numbers, getting a suitable smoker is no easy task.
You don’t really think all you need for your party is only some woods, charcoal, and lighters, do you?!
So, let’s spare 10 minutes of your life and get down to serious business with our exclusive guide to the best vertical pellet smokers of 2022!
What Is A Vertical Pellet Smoker?
A vertical pellet smoker is a type of outdoor cooker designed for smoking, roasting, and grilling food. Many attractive functions in just one compact machine!
This smoker makes use of fuel pellets to automatically feed the fire, adjust the flow of air, and maintain stable cooking temperature.
As you can see, there is no hard work contained in operating a smoker. That’s why it is a must-have item in any homemade outdoor parties.
Best Vertical Pellet Smoker For Your Backyard BBQs
#1: Pit Boss Grills 77550 5.5 Pellet Smoker – Best for Durability
Thanks to its porcelain-coated cooking grates “born” for removing the hassle of scraping the beds after heavy use, this Pit Boss model brings a fierce competition against traditional smokers and grills on the market.
So why on earth are people falling head over hills with this smoker?
A 1830-square-inch cooking space, hopper capacity of 40+ lb, and an excellent controlled temperature range of 150 – 450 F, a well-designed big viewing window and seal for withstanding extreme heat, to name but a few!
If volume cooking is your cup of tea, this is the cleanest and most hassle-free choice for your outdoor BBQs.
So, is it the best vertical pellet smoker of 2022?
To answer that question, our job is to dive deeper as we are only scratching the surface!
First of all, the temperature range is just perfect for any type of meat you have in mind!
Well, we assume there is no need for higher temperature than 450F, unless you want to burn your house to the ground!
Besides, feel free to regulate your favorite cooking heat with a built-in LED-screen for reading internal temperature.
Also, we are impressed with the five grilling plates provided in the 1830-square-inch cooking space, allowing a considerable amount of food to be smoked at the same time.
Imagine the huge number of guests you can serve without letting them starve to death!
A remarkable improvement of this Pit Boss Smoker over its previous versions is the double-walled construction and the internal blanket installation.
What does this mean?
It means bitterly cold winter days and freezing temperature are the things of the past!
Moreover, don’t forget to give a round of applause to the automatic ignition and auto-shut off technology.
Get ready to feast your guests’ taste buds with a perfect combination of meat and marinade sauce in the 24-hour slow cooking mode.
Not to mention the porcelain coatings turn the scraping and washing process into a child’s play!
Unfortunately, there is a downside in terms of the device’s operation. The water trays receive poor customization to fit the grill.
Under the slow cooking mode, water tends to moisten the interior, making the pellets wetter and heavier after extensive use.
- Spacious cooking area
- A wide range of temperature
- Auto-ignition and shut off technology
- 5-year warranty (So “delicious”, isn’t it?!)
- Need some alterations with the water trays
#2: Kinger Home 18 Inch Vertical BBQ Smoker Wood Charcoal Meat Smoker and Grill – Best For Design
Cooking is an art, and the pellet smoker is a true “artist”! This 18-inch Kinger Home dude carries in itself extraordinary power that can make use of different fuels such as pellet, wood, and charcoal.
Thinking cooking is cumbersome?
Look at this smoker’s compact design! We assure you that holding a BBQ party amidst gorgeous natural sceneries is just a piece of cake!
What about cooking in style?
This is the most good-looking vertical pellet smoker on our list! With its modern black coat and elegant shape, Kinger Home product will be a noticeable highlight in your backyard decoration.
Let’s learn how to put the smiles on your loved ones’ faces with these mouth-watering smoked dishes!
Equipped with several cool features along with a generous cooking area, this smoker allows the future-to-be Masterchef to create their own “masterpieces” with dual dishes at the same time, reducing the waiting time considerably.
Doesn’t feel confident enough with the meat’s seasoning and temperature?
Let’s the smoker perform its magic by adding a large water bowl under the meat to retain its flavorful juice and moisture!
Besides, Kinger Home products are ideal for outdoor parties without any electric sockets in sight. Long gone have the days of worrying about your kids tripping over scary-looking electric wires!
Last but not least, the in-built heat sensor can ease your pain a great deal in controlling the temperature effectively.
Also, the porcelain coating on the lid, bowl, and mid part prevents rusting and the paint peeling off.
Unlike its rivals in the smoking business that offer the automatic feature of adding fuel pellets to the fire, this model requires you to customize the heat manually.
- Dual cooking grates for bigger amount of food cooked
- Stylish and “fashionista” design
- No electric connection required
- Built-in heat sensor for regulating temperature efficiently
- Porcelain-coated parts for durability
- Add fuels manually
#3: SUNLIFER Vertical Charcoal Smoker and Grill Combo – Best For Heavy Cooking
As its name already suggests, Sunlifer products are designed to withstand long cooking hours with exceptional performance.
Don’t underestimate its fragile exterior as this unit is actually made from heavy steel, with an excellent heat-resistant black finish.
Sunlifer smokers, released out into the market at an affordable price, are a perfect match for long-term camping trips. What could be better than enjoying some smoked deliciousness with your friends under the sky full of stars?!
You are getting fed up with all those smoking and grilling!
How about changing your taste a little bit? Steaming, baking, roasting, braising, you name it and this smoker satisfies all! How multi-functional it is!
We are also completely blown away by its unique shape with 3-tier construction, letting those amateur chefs use all of the parts for a 1-tier simple camp grill, a 2-tier smoker grill, or dual grills.
For transport, the smoker can be divided into four separate pieces for easy storage, and assembled effortlessly thanks to the latch locking system.
The total cooking area of 969 square inches, along with the three chrome-plated cooking grates, is suitable for both meat smoking and vegetable grilling at the same time.
Moreover, the two access doors prove to be more flexible when compared to one-door design for checking food status.
Since Sunlifer doesn’t equip this smoking unit with an auto-ignition technology, you can’t get away with starting this smoker to work by hand.
- 3-tier construction for better overall control
- Compact, lightweight, and easy to transport
- High-quality materials for longer lifespan
- Reasonable price
- No electric ignition
How To Select A Vertical Pellet Smoker?
Investing your time in an in-depth research of the best vertical pellet smoker is never redundant when it comes to preparing tasty dishes in the blink of an eye.
Now, it is about time to take these factors into account when shopping for your dream smoker!
1. Material
This factor, without a doubt, has a direct impact on your safety.
Since the steel body is often in close contact with high temperature constantly, low-quality one is prone to rust while the top-notch construction lives up to its long-lasting performance.
2. Capacity
The capacity, as well as the size, of the smoker depends mostly on your cooking purposes.
A smaller size is appropriate for family reunions, whereas a larger one is able to meet your demands of hosting daily get-together parties with a much bigger number of diners to feed.
3. Budget
Of course, all of us are all looking for the best unit on the market to satisfy our needs and show off our cooking skills! But that doesn’t mean you have to go bankrupt only for purchasing a smoker!
Estimate your budget, browse around to widen your selection, and ask for experienced users before jumping into any decisions that may make you regret later.
4. Reviews
It couldn’t hurt to consult some reviews from other consumers before making up your mind. It’s advisable to do some research on the company and its products to determine their credibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
#1: Which is better: vertical pellet smoker vs. horizontal pellet smoker?
Each type comes with its own pros and cons. Personally, we do believe either vertical or horizontal smokers excel at their jobs, providing that you operate them properly.
Basically, it all comes down to how much you are willing to invest in these things, what type of meat you are cooking, how often you use your smoker, and for what purposes.
#2: Are pellet smokers harmful to your health?
Before replying to that question, you need to distinguish heating pellets from BBQ grilling ones.
While the former is often unsafe for cooking and human consumption, the latter contains natural food-grade materials, making it harmless to users’ health.
#3: How to clean a vertical pellet smoker?
Although different kinds of smokers require different cleaning methods, you can refer to these easy-peasy steps to have an overall idea about what the process is like:
- Prepare necessary cleaning equipment: wire brushes, wet-dry vacuum, cleaning spray, plastic knife.
- Scrape the interior walls with a plastic knife and go back getting rid of all the scales with wire brushes to reach nooks and crannies.
- Vacuum to take out all the remaining dust and carbon buildup
- Reassemble the smoker, using the user manual attached to each type.
Final Verdict
To those who are still in doubt, we have already walked you through the top 3 of best vertical pellet smokers of 2022, and your job is to grab the one that suits you most!
From our meticulous observation, the winner of today is SUNLIFER Vertical Charcoal Smoker and Grill Combo.
This smoker has won over our heart due to its cutting-edge and compact design with 3-tier construction, versatile cooking modes, and exceptional durability.
However, rest assured that whatever kind of smokers you choose, these three units promise to bring you appetizing and delicate recipes for a memorable backyard BBQ party!
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