The genuine taste of delicious barbecue meat is in its smoky flavor. But only your regular gas grill may not give that taste. To get that smoky flavor, you need to invest in the best smoking box for the gas grill.
If you have a gas grill, you probably know it is best for both direct and indirect cooking. Good news for those who like smoky flavors in food. You can turn your gas grill into a smoker. Absolutely!
But you don't need to invest in a full smoker for that. You can add on smoker box into your existing gas grill and enjoy succulent, smoky food in no time. Yes, it is all possible from the convenience of your current gas grill.
But the question remains, among hundreds of options, how to find the best smoker box. Worry not, as in this blog, I've tried to suggest 5 best smoker box for gas grills that are satisfying the customers right now.
Our Top 3 Picks
Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
Best on Budget
Cave Tools Grill Smoker Box
Best Value
Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
Before that, let's know what a smoker box is.
What is a Smoker Box?
A smoker box is basically a metal container used in the gas grill. It looks like a small box. The smoker box is used to create smoke by burning wood chips. The smoke created adds a smoky flavor to foods cooked inside the gas grill.
You can also use a BBQ smoker box in a charcoal grill. No matter where it is used, the purpose is the same. Also, it comes in a range of sizes and shapes. However, Smoker boxes of all sizes and shapes work similarly.
Most people use a smoker grill to get a smoky taste. Cooking smoked food in those can be incredibly satisfying. But, it doesn't make sense either to spend on an expensive standalone smoker.
The good news is a smoker box can do the trick as well. A smoker tray affordably gives that similar barbecue effect. It is easy to use; just fill the wood chip holder with your favorite wood chips.
Then, put it on the top of the grill's greats. A smoker box inside makes it possible to obtain smoky essence on the gas grill. If you are looking for a top-rated BBQ smoker box, this blog will help you.
Best Smoker Box for Gas Grill
Product Name | Image | Latest Price | ||||||||||||
Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box |  Cave Tools Grill Smoker Box  Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box  Napoleon 67013 Double V Shape  Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box  |
Not all the wood chip boxes available in the market are created equal. So there is no assurance that you will find the correct smoker box for your grill. You may have to spend a lot of time and energy researching to find the correct smoker box.
Here I can save your valuable time and energy. If you look to transform your gas grill into a smoker, I've got the best options for you. This article walks you through the best grill smoker box currently on the market.
I've tested the promising wood chip holder available in the market. Then, I broke down our findings with a detailed buyers' guide. All the smoker boxes I listed below are worth buying for many reasons.
Let's explore.
Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
Are you searching for the best smoker box for an Weber gas grill? Stop your search right here, as I've got the perfect match for your Weber gas grill. The Weber 7576 Universal stainless steel smoker box is exceptional, like the Weber gas grill.
This Weber wood chip box is made of stainless steel. The stainless steel body makes it highly durable and resistant to breaking or bending. Besides, its lightweight nature sets it apart from other smoker boxes.
So, you can easily handle it and place it anywhere on top of the grill. Also, you can install it underneath the grilling grates. You can use both coal cubes and wooden pallets inside the box. Inside the box, there is a lot of space.
The smoker box can accommodate loads of coal cubes and wooden pallets. What's more, the box comes with a hinged lid. It makes loading the wooden pallets easier for you.
There are a lot of vents on the top of the lid as well as on the bottom. It helps heat the wooden pallets quickly and adds a smoky flavor to the food. However, the overall construction of the smoker box is first-class.
Product Details
Customer's Feedback
Most customers believe that their barbeque recipe list is incomplete without this Weber smoker box. Again, many have appreciated its lightweight nature. But because of this Lightweight nature, this smoker box gets hot quickly. So, there is likely to get fire in the wooden pallets.
Pros
Cons
What Purposes the Weber 7576 will Serve?
You should consider this if you are looking for a smoker box for your Weber gas grill under 300. Indeed, this Weber smoker box will transform your gas grill into a smoker grill.
Cave Tools Grill Smoker Box
One of the major concerns when buying a smoker box is that it is likely to warp. Luckily, if you buy this Cave Tools grill smoker box, you'll not have that worry. This Cave tools smoker box has 25% thicker stainless steel than its counterparts.
Along with the less likely to warping, the thicker stainless steel declines the chances of discoloring. Cave Tools use 430-grade stainless steel in the making of this smoker box. Still, note that it is designed to withstand around 220-275o.
More is there; the smoker box comes with a capacity to hold over 3 cups of wood chips. You can use a filled box for longer without refilling it frequently. Unlike the Weber smoker box, there are no holes below the box.
So, it will keep the wood chips flaming rather than catching fire. The smoker box comes with a thinner profile. It can easily fit between the grill grates of the most gas grill. Also, you can place it on top of the charcoal.
Not to mention that the box includes a hinged lid. It allows you to add wood chips easily while you cook. The holes included in the lid efficiently add a smoky flavor to the food.
Product Details
Customer's Feedback
Many users find it absolutely long-lasting for their gas grill. One more thing they commended is that it comes with a recipes book including 25 professional-grade recipes. However, some users also claimed that it didn't fit well in their grills.
Pros
Cons
What Purposes the Cave Tools will Serve?
It will work for both charcoal and gas grill. Hence, it d durable and works with both small and larger grills. Though I did not mention that the smoker box comes with a lifetime satisfaction guarantee. If you ever get displeased with it, you can return the box for a refund. But I don't think you have to.
Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
If you are a fan of cast iron, this Char-Broil cast iron smoker box is a must-have. Also, it's an excellent option for those who often have barbecue parties at their home. The best part of this smoker box is that it is incredibly versatile.
You can use the Char-Broil smoker box with gas, electric, and charcoal grills. This cast iron smoker box is heavy-duty, so it will never warp or fall apart. Moreover, it may take longer to heat up and burn wood chips.
However, it retains heat well to remain hot for longer. It also withstands burning grill temperature better than its stainless steel counterparts. The smoker box includes a lid with large holes.
This well-vented lid helps to produce contact smoke while you cook. Besides, it automatically vents smoke to prevent the wood from catching fire. Furthermore, it has a large capacity to fill loads of wood chips.
Product Details
Customer Feedback
This Char-Broil smoker box is popular among users due to its heavy-duty cast-iron body. However, it requires added maintenance to maintain its finish and keep it rust-free. A lot of users are not satisfied with this fact. Also, some users found the lid tough to open.
Pros
Cons
What Purposes the Char-Broil will Serve?
The Char-Broil smoker box is relatively easy to use. It can be an excellent choice for people who don't want to deal with the warping.
It can be paired with most gas grill under 500 from Char-Broil for best results.
Cave Tools Grill Smoker Box
The best thing about the Cave Tools grill smoker box is that it comes with anti-warp features. It is crafted with durable stainless steel, which prevents warping. So you can use a smoker box repeatedly for a more extended period.
Also, the box comes with an excellent smoking potential. The size of the box is just perfect so that it would provide better smoke output. Besides, it fits well into any grilling machine without causing any issues.
However, buy the perfect size smoker box for your grill. The box can hold almost three cups of wood chips. So you can grill food without refilling it for a longer period.
The dimension of the box is wide but shallow. It provides even heat distribution within the grill. This also reduces the risk of hot spots. Above all, the construction is reasonably durable and resistant to rusting and corroding.
Product Details
Customer Feedback
Many users have claimed that it doesn't fit well in their grill. Possibly, they bought a smoker box of larger or smaller sizes. Otherwise, it mostly got positive feedback from many users.
Pros
Cons
What Purposes the Cave Tools Smokebox will Serve?
This Cave Tools grill smoker box would give as much bang for your buck out as possible. If you could buy the right sized smoker box, it will assure the best results indeed. Above all, this smoker box is perfect for cooking a larger food area.
Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box
When you hear about the V-shape box, you may think that it'll not fit in the gas grill. Don't get fooled because it would perfectly fit in the gas grill. This Charcoal Companion V-shape smoker box will fit between the flame deflectors.
The sharp cone of the box will make direct contact with the heat. So, you'll get the strongest smoky flavor into the food. Charcoal Companion has not been left out a bit when it comes to the construction.
Its high-quality stainless steel construction offers superior durability. Also, it can withstand the highest grill temperatures. The stainless steel construction ensures that it will not rust or discolor easily.
So, you can get an extended performance out of it. Besides the V-shape design, it comes with a hinged lid. It makes it easier for the users to open the cover and fill wood chips inside.
The best part is the ashes will remain inside the box. So you don't need to clean the bard more often. Most of all, the box is quite large and wide enough that ensures even heat distribution.
Product Details
Customer Feedback
The large size of this V-shaped smoker box has got so many acknowledgments. However, some have claimed that it rusts after a while.
Pros
Cons
What Purposes the Charcoal Companion Smokebox will Serve?
All in all, this Charcoal Companion smoker box is skillfully built and hence, last for longer. Its V-shape allows for a concentrated smoky flavor in the food. Besides, it works for most grills.
However, this smoke box is v shaped. There for make sure that it can be mount or installed into your grill.
How to Choose a Smoker Box for a Gas Grill?
Most smoke boxes in the market look the same. For any newbie, it could be tough to determine which wood chip tray for the gas grill is best. So you need some level of selectivity to make sure you get the right one for your needs.
Don't understand? I mean to say that you need to consider a few things to get the right one. So what are the things to consider while buying a smoker box? Let's check out below.
Build Material
The material used to construct the smoker box differentiate between elite and cheaper models. Generally, smoker boxes are made of two materials such as; stainless steel and cast iron.
Both materials can retain heat well while protecting the wood chips from burning out. Besides, both are incredibly durable. So they will be able to withstand the high cooking temperature without rusting.
Stainless steel is just an excellent choice for a smoker box. However, you need to be careful of the grade of the steel. The higher the steel grade, the better the product is. Cast iron, on the contrary, takes a bit longer to heat up.
But, cast iron does a great job at absorbing and retaining heat. It helps when you refill the box during long cooks. They can quickly transfer heat to wood chips. Besides, cast iron smoker boxes last for longer.
The shape of Smoker Box: V-shaped or flat boxes?
Smoker boxes usually come in two common shapes; flat or square shape and V-shape. Flat-shaped boxes look good and fit into most grills. Still, you need to check if it fits between the grill grates and the burners.
On the other hand, V-shaped ones are more functional than flat-shaped ones. They sit near the heat source. Many gas grills use V-shaped boxes to distribute heat across the grill surface.
But the issue is they are specially designed to fit in the V-shaped burner. Before buying a V-shaped box, measure the grill to ensure it will work for you. Then, consider the depth of the box. It should fit between your grill grates and burners.
Box Size and Capacity
You'll likely want the smoker box to accommodate a reasonable amount of wood chips. So you don't need to refill it frequently and get nonstop smoke. The size of the smoker box will directly impact the amount of smoke that box can create.
The wood chip box capacity decides how long it can effectively produce smoke. However, a small smoker box can only hold a small number of wood chips. It will produce smoke for a shorter timeframe and also requires refilling.
But, the plus side is it heat faster and starts to make smoke faster. You can consider a small cut of meats for a small smoker box. Conversely, a large smoker box can hold more wood chips. It will produce more smoke for a longer period.
The drawback of larger smoker boxes is they take longer to ignite the wood chips. However, you can consider a larger smoker box for cooking larger amounts of food.
Lids of Smoker Box
A smoker box should fit snugly, and at the same time, it should be easy to open. Some smoker box's lids are hinged, and some are not. There are great and inferior sides to both versions. Hinged lids are easy to open. You can flip the lid open and shut it.
So you can easily add more wood chips in between a smoking session. But, hinged lids can be problematic if the smoker box is prone to warping. Conversely, unhinged lids are hard to take on and off. It requires more precision while opening.
What's more, the box's lid also contributes to the smoke output. A box with more holes can have more smoke output. However, a box with a bit of hole might retain heat better. The lid also should create a good seal around the box.
If the box doesn't fit snugly, there will be too many oxygen flows. So the wood chips can quickly ignite into flames, and the wood chips won't last long. The lid also has an impact on the smoke flow. Too much smoke flow can change the flavor of the food.
Ease of Clean
Smoker boxes are designed to place under the food you are cooking. Naturally, all the fats and grease from the food will drop on the smoker's box. Your smoker box will be likely to grab all these and look dirty.
So you need to buy a smoker box that is easy to clean. Stainless steel is a good option in this case. In the case of cast iron boxes, you need to do some maintenance to keep them rust-free. Clean the smoker box while you clean a gas grill.
How to use a Smoker Box?
Smoker boxes are usually included in any kind of smoker grill, whether charcoal, propane, or electric. These are purposely built to produce smoke. However, gas grills are not intended for a smoker.
But you can turn it into a smoker grill using a propane smoker box in a gas grill. Smoker boxes are simple to use but give a unique smoky flavor to the food. Here I add a step-by-step smoker box using a guide in case you need it.
- Place the smoker box into the grill and allow it to preheat with your gas grill.
- Open the lid carefully and fill it with wood chips. Spread the wood chips evenly. Make sure to fill the two-thirds of the smoker box.
- Place the smoker box right over the heat source or the gas burner.
- Wait a few minutes for the smoke to start coming out of the box.
- While heating the grill, continually monitor the temperature. Make sure it doesn't get too hot. Fix the temperature if it needs more.
- After you set the temperature, open the grill and place the food you want to cook. Start cooking and enjoy the authentic smoky flavor.
How do I Keep my Wood from Catching Fire in my Smoker?
The main reasons why smoker catches fire include pellet fires and grease fires. In case of fire, you need to be calm, turn off Gas Grill, keep the lids closed and move away from the smoker box.
However, you can prevent the wood from catching fire by keeping a few things in mind. Below I've included a few ways to avoid smoking chunks from burning.
- Quality makes a difference. Always use the best-quality smoking woods inside the box. Take a bigger size wood with more density. Using seasoned firewood to add a bitter flavor and uncleaned smoke is not good.
- Add the wood chips to the smoker right before placing the food inside the grill.
- Place the wood chips next to charcoal.
- It is better to use a cast-iron smoker box to avoid fire hazards. Cast iron will reduce the heat to which wood chips are exposed.
Common Questions About Gas Grill Smoker Box
1. Do smoker boxes work?
Of course. Smoker boxes are intended to sit inside the grill. A fancy gas grill may work well for direct grilling without a smoker grill but cannot provide smokes. Here a smoker box comes in handy to add smoky flavor to the food.
2. What do you smoke in a smoker box?
A smoker box can hold the wood chips to create smoke effectively. You need to fill the smoker box with high-quality smoking chips or smoking chunks.
3. Can you use wood pellets in a smoker box?
Absolutely, you can use wood pellets in a smoker box. If the pallets are made for making smokes and are not treated with unnatural substances, you can use them.
4. Where do you put the smoker box on a gas grill?
Where to place the box depends on the type of grill you have and the shape of the smoker box. It is advisable to place the smoker box near the heat source. If you have a gas grill, place it on the top of the burners. In the case of charcoal burners, place them directly over the charcoal.
Final Verdict
I bet your tongue gets watery whenever you hear about smoked barbecue or smoked meats. Not everyone can afford those expensive smoker grills. The smoker box can be a lifesaver.
If you have a gas grill, smoker box offers a convenient way to add smoky flavor to the food. The best smoker boxes I listed above are all inexpensive. So, turn your gas grill into a smoker with any of these smoker boxes.
The flavor you'll get is definitely better than a regular grill. Whichever you choose, make sure to go for a durable smoker box that works well. So, what are you waiting for! Improve your grilling experience with a suitable smoker box NOW!