Char-Broil 12201570-A1 American Gourmet Offset Smoker, Black,Standard review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Char-Broil |
| Model Name | 12201570 |
| Power Source | Charcoal |
| Color | Black |
| Item Weight | 38 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 17.5 x 46.25 x 44.75 inches |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- Combination Offset Smoker, BBQ & Charcoal Grill
- 290 square inch cooking surface in main chamber
- 140 sq. in. cooking surface in firebox chamber
- Adjustable height steel fire grate
- Clean-out door for easy ash removal with adjustable built-in damper
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
Char-Broil Offset BBQ Smoker 430
Since 1948 Char-Broil has been America’s favorite grill brand. Yet somehow, it feels like Char-Broil is still only getting started. Perhaps it’s because we know that making our products better also makes your cookouts better. And as long as that’s true, it’s all the motivation we need to continue innovating and improving what we make.
Char-Broil Offset BBQ Smoker 430
The Offset Smoker from Char-Broil will get you smoking and cooking low and slow. It features a vertical pipe smokestack with adjustable dampers, a temperature gauge and an offset firebox to stoke the fire without losing heat. It also features porcelain-coated cooking grates for easy cleaning. Want to move the your smoker easily? Just use the cool touch handles and wheels.
- Multiple dampers for easy heat and smoke control
- Temperature gauge on lid for monitoring chamber temp
- Porcelain-coated wire cooking grates
- Clean-out door in firebox for easy ash removal
Key Features
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430 sq in Total Cooking SurfaceMain cooking chamber measures 23.75-inches wide x 11.5-inches deep, for 290 sq. in. of cooking surface- ample space for about 18 burgers. Can also grill in the 140 sq in firebox. | Complete Heat and Smoke ControlMultiple dampers can be opened or closed to adjust airflow, which in turn controls heat and temperature within the cooking chamber. | Integrated Temperature GaugeMain chamber lid-mounted temperature gauge is easy to read and can be used to monitor internal temperatures, then adjust as needed. |
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Simple & Easy Clean UpFirebox features a clean-out door for quick and easy ash removal, without the mess. | Convenience FeaturesThe Char-Broil Offset BBQ Smoker 430 features a side shelf for utensils, sauces and rubs, and cool-touch handles to help protect your hands. | Increased MobilityBBQ Smoker sits on two stationary legs and two large wheels, so it's easy to maneuver around your deck, patio or yard. |
product description
The offset smoker from Char-Broil will get you smoking & cooking low & slow. It features a vertical pipe smokestack with adjustable dampers, a temperature Gauge & an offset firebox to stoke the fire without losing heat. It also features porcelain-coated cooking grates for easy cleaning. Want to move the your smoker easily? Just use the cool touch handles & wheels. Assembled dimensions: 48" W x 44.6" H x 17.5" D. Weighs 41 lbs.
product details
important information
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Questions about Char-Broil 12201570-A1 American Gourmet Offset Smoker, Black,Standard
Q:
can you use it as a grill also
Answer: Absolutely, you can use it as a grill. It works great as a grill! We do more grilling than smoking. Furthermore, it works well as a grill with very few coals.
Answer: Not sure what you mean as a grill also?.?? It is a BBQ grillyou can BBQ, smoke, and if you had a griddle you could griddle pancakes and eggsnon it..
Answer: Yes I use it more as a grill then a smoker.
Answer: Yes you can use it as grill and smoker. It works great on both.
Answer: Yes the grill is the larger part of it and the smoker is the small one off on the side.
Answer: No, but it is a great grill for a smaller family.
Answer: You could, but shouldn't. I tried it once, made a big mess. A smoker needs to be seasoned, you rub down the inside with canola oil and get it hot, and a charcoal fire in the cooking area would make the food taste weird when you smoke again. This is a great smoker for the money, I love it
Answer: yea and that's what I do
Answer: Yes and it works well
Q:
can you tell what the cooking area is
Answer: The grills are 11" x 23" in the main cooking area and 11" x 10" in the firebox.
Answer: It's a couple feet wide by a foot deep. The cooker on the side is a decent size.
Answer: About 14X28
Q:
Can I use wood or is this charcoal only?
Answer: I burn Sugar Maple in mine, the only problem is that is DOES NOT burn long with wood or charcoal before the ash which is very small fills up and blokes air flow to fire. I built a removable ash pan for mine that hold ash from an eight hour burn/cook (pork sholder). I've have fire hot enough to pegged out the thermometer without effecting the paint.
Answer: Yes you can! That is my fuel of choice. However, be prepared to cut andor split it into smaller pieces. It is worth it though. Much better flavor!!!
Answer: both just have to watch the heat paint peels easy at high heat
Q:
How easy is this to clean? Is there an easy way to remove charcoal dust?
Answer: I line mine with aluminum foil and pick up the foil. Sometimes, when it gets bad, I lay it on its side and spray it down with a hose. Either way charcoal removes pretty quickly.
Answer: I found it pretty easy to clean , charcoal dust is problem with charcoal itself, better brands of charcoal seam to have less.
Answer: I leave the charcoal dust in the bag the charcoal comes in, the charcoal ash I clean up with a ash safe vacuum cleaner or if outdoor a leave blower.
Answer: Not easy to clean. It very messy! Wouldn't recommend
Answer: Okay. I see this question all the time when it comes to BBQ grills. Grill racks can be scrubbed with steel bristle brushes. Stick to hot water, steam, and pressure. Don't use chemicals like oven cleaners. If the carbon buildup is such that you don't want it anymore, simply replace the grill rack. That is why replacement parts are sold. As for the charcoal dust, all that you need is a shop vac. Be sure that coals are no longer hot, lit, or smoldering. Suck it all up with your wet/dry vacuum.
Answer: I use a fireplace small shovel and broom set. The small flat shovel gets in there perfect. I then scoop the cold embers into a plastic grocery bag for disposal. Makes cleanup a breeze. I Then disperse into my veggie garden soil for breakdown.
Answer: yes use an air hose with a blower nozzle.
Q:
I was hoping to get some advice on using the offset box as a grill for quick grilling on the weeknights - has anyone had any luck using it that way?
Answer: With over fifty years of of experience with outdoor cooking, from an original Japanese hibachi pot to multi function gas grills, an offset smoker is not designed for quick (or any other kind grilling) Gas is quick. Some offset smokers can also grill, but so can a grate over a fire pit.
Answer: I used the offset box for cooking yesterday. If doing burgers 1 or two at a time. Not a lot off room to flip burgers. I did 6 brats and all went well with tongs. Pulling and putting in grill was a inconvenience because of the tight fit. Overall all went well.
Answer: It depends on what you mean by quick? I am finding that I am cooking my food 45 minutes to an hour quicker. The main chamber is a grill and it's design allows it to heat faster than any charcoal grill that I have used so far of its size.
Q:
does it have a temp gauge?
Answer: Yes it has a chamber temp gauge that tells you how hot the fire is but you still need a meat thermometer to monitor the meat's doneness there are some effective inexpensive ones that offer wireless readings for about twentyfive bucks the temp gauge on the lid will not tell if the meat is done trust me.
Answer: It has a crude, basic thermometer on the lid. It gives a decent reading of internal temperature, but adding a thermometer at grate level helps with smoking temperature
Q:
Can you lower and raise the charcoal/wood height on the main grill?
Answer: No you can not move the fire higher or lower, but you can put wood in the small pit and smoke the BBQ and have a direct heat source in the big pit, but a great pit none the less.
Answer: No. It's the basic tube with the grates in the bottom.
Answer: No.
Answer: no
Q:
Does anybody know the shipping dimensions?
Q:
Why don't you have pictures with the doors open & other angles? I want to see the inside. 1 picture does not help me.
Q:
serial number for the warranty?
Answer: This should be located on the leg. Please give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to assist with registering your offset smoker and help with any warranty needs..
Answer: didn't fill it out yet just open and started to season it
Q:
The description says there is a ash clean out door with, but the photos only show the damper. Is there an ash clean out door and where is it located?
Answer: The ash clean out door is located on the offset firebox. This is shown in the third picture from the top on this site.
Answer: Just the damper. I line the box with aluminum foil and take the ashes out like that
Q:
HOW TO MAKE LID FIT?
Answer: my main lid fit fine the one on the smoke box was a little out of square I sat it on end and twisted it a little then it fit ok but after the heat got to it, it evened out perfect.
Answer: I didn't have any trouble with my lid I set it up by instructions and all parts fit fine
Answer: We had no problems with the lid fitting, if your lid isn't fitting it might be bent and needs to be exchanged
Answer: I had the same problem. I loosened the screws on the hinge a little and it fit.
Q:
Can you make beef jerky
Answer: This offset Smoker should be able to make jerky.
Answer: I can't, but my son makes it. It sure does turn out good!
Answer: Yes but the smoker box is so small that you would have to double cut would just to fit
Q:
What are the grates measurements ?
Answer: This offset smoker has two main cooking grates in the smoker chamber. Each one measures 11.25" x 11.25". Give us a call at 1-866-239-6777 and we'll be happy to provide more information on this smoker.
Answer: I haven't measured it but it is about a square foot, I think.
Q:
what shipping company do you use?
Q:
need to know how many degrees can this bbq handle (the top mostly) was going to convert the hood in to a pizza oven.
Answer: Not sure of the exact degrees it can handle, but it does get really hot to the touch. The metal is relatively thin. It's great for basic bbqing and smoking.
Answer: Thermometer reads up to 500°, I've had the cooking temp close and no issues. Grill is narrow, more for ribs and small bbq meals.
Answer: I don't believe you could control the temperature close enough to use this as a pizza oven. Maybe if you filled the lower half of the cook chamber with small rocks you would have enough bio-mass to stabilize the temperature. I've seen wood fired masonry pizza ovens in Italy (& France) and this is to pizza oven what scissors are to lawn mowers.
Answer: Goes to 600 degrees...it should do well for what you are looking for. Good luck!
Answer: This is a terrible product. It is unsafe at any temperature and I would never recommend it to my worst enemy! The Oklahoma Joe's "highlander" is $299 at Lowe's and a far superior product!!
Answer: It doesn't matter, this thing leaks so bad it hard to get 250F out of it
Q:
This is a Christmas gift, does the delivery box have a picture of the product on the outside?
Answer: It is delivered in its original box.... also the first time we used ours all the paint fell off its not even a year old and looks like we have had it 5
Answer: Yes it does. Hopefully yours will arrive in better shape than the one that I ordered. When I took it back to the UPS store, they were appalled at the condition of the box.
Answer: Mine arrived in a plain cardboard box with the grill box inside. Hope that helps;)
Answer: Yes it does and it works great I love the size of it - I even was able to cook a brisket with it good investment
Q:
is the whole thing a smoker or is just the small box on the left a smoker and the one on the right a grill?
Answer: The small box is the fire box that holds the charcoal and wood to smoke food in the main barrel chamber. There is a grill insert for the small box but I have not found that useful. The main barrel chamber also serves as a grill where you can put charcoal or wood directly under the meat.
Answer: You can cook on either side that's why they give u. Grill racks for both but the way you smoke is to place you food in big box. And heat in small box so that it draws smoke threw the food
Answer: The small part is the firebox. You can grill just in it or just heat with it. The big part is called the cook chamber. In most typical use you would build a fire in the firebox and place your item to be cooked in the cook chamber. Cooking your item with an offset heat source allowing the smoke flavor to be absorbed.
Answer: the whole thing is a smoker just put the wood in the little smoke box and open side vents and chimney vent.
Answer: The small size unit is the smoker the other side is the grill
Q:
Does this have a water pan that you have to keep full? Or how do you keep the meat from drying out?
Answer: I don’t have one, but I learned at my last job with something like this or longer without smoke box. You would put the idea of the smoke/wood/coal box on the left side where the coal goes on a grill or on this. Followed by a pan under the meat with water or the meat in a pan with some water
Answer: sometimes we spray with apple cider vinegar, this keeps the meat moiste
Q:
Is this a natural gas grill?
Answer: No ,its a charcoal grill
Answer: No it ls a smoker or charcoal
Answer: No, charcoal only
Q:
I love smoke northern Pike but cannot get that here in Indiana. Can anyone recommend a good whitefish or a fish that taste like pike?
Answer: I've eaten COLD smoked Norther Pike, but never hot smoked Pike. I have never found any fish that comes close to the taste of Northern Pike except Muskie (muskelunge). Suckers from very cold waters cold smoke very good.
Q:
Can the smoker be used without the grill?
Answer: Mine was a piece of junk I never cooked on so it is an expensive flower pot
Answer: No, there is a hole that links both together.
Q:
Hi please tell me how many days deliver when available?
Q:
does it have a thermometer?
Answer: Yes. But it stopped functioning after two weeks
Q:
How much to have someone set it up for me?
Answer: My gradkids set up mine and they really had no problems.
Answer: It should not take very long to setup this offset smoker. Give us a call at 1-866-239-6777 if you ever have questions during setup and we'll be happy to help.
Answer: I had a friend do it for me. Took several hours, butit is a great charcoal grill and smoker for the money. Suggest you by one already put together.
Q:
Does this smoker add-on work with other brands of grills besides char-broil? i.e. weber.
Answer: No. This Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker (model # 12201570) will include the full smoker chamber and the offset smoker box. Please give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 for more information.
Q:
I purchased this on April 26th...when will it be in stock? Should I cancel my order?
Answer: Hello Jennifer,
Q:
does it have temp gauge?
Answer: No temp gauge, however, I found this to be ideal for cold smoking salmon after modifying it with a couple of cookie sheets...you can find instructions for this on line, A very good deal for the price for use as a smoker...I have not used it to grill anything.
Answer: Yes there is a permanent temp gauge that is installed on the lid. The
Answer: no it don't
Answer: Yes it does.
Answer: Yes
Q:
i had this item in my cart last night and went to purchase it ans the price was $66 and had gone up to $199 why did this happen, still out of stock
Q:
Can women use it too? I see it's gendered for men...
Q:
Does anybody have any idea when this will be back IN STOCK?
Answer: now
Q:
HI did send to French Polynesia. Thank's.
Q:
I saw this grill earlier today and the price was around $74.00. I looked later to purchase it and it was $111.15. Was it just a special price?
Q:
Can this handle a full sized brisket?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: I would not recommend this for a full brisket. Difficult to maintain temps. Temps start out high then drop drastically to about 180 degrees. If that's the temp you want to smoke at, it will stay at 180 degrees for about 2-3 hours.
Answer: Hello, yes a full brisket will fit nicely. I have not prepared one on mine yet but know the size from doing one on another smoker with my Son-in-Law some time ago.
Answer: Yes, there is plenty of room for a brisket. If it is not well trimmed of fat you may have to replace the grease cup on the bottom.
Answer: yes it can def. handle it i have cooked several big items like briskets out of the smoker and it always turns out amazing, i have cooked meals to feed 5-6 people easily with just using this smoker alone, def. a great purchase especially for the price you cannot beat that.
Answer: I don't think so is not that wide,and must said, after bab b que a couple time, my will be in my next garage sale
Answer: Yes it can
Q:
what is it made out of.
Answer: Steel not case aluminum
Answer: Steel, Not real heavy, but for $60, it was a great deal
Q:
Can you use the smoke chamber (not the firebox) for grilling?
Answer: Yes you can!i grilled my burgers etc on it already
Answer: You can. It has a small grill grate that fits in there. Maybe big enough for 4-6 hamburgers depending on size or a small chicken or small roast.
Answer: I have used charcoal in the main chamber to cook steaks with no issue. It comes with a grate and a pan to catch ash. Just make sure it does not get to hot or the paint will peel off.
Answer: Yes you can. There is a coal grate included that will fit inside the smoker chamber to lay the coals on.
Q:
How does the smoke box get assembled with just those tiny screws? There are no nuts to hold it together??
Answer: The nuts/threads are welded inside the smoke box already. Assembly of the smoker is time consuming, but quite simple. Mine came with ALL the hardware that was necessary.
Answer: As best we can tell by the manufacture info, correct. I'm sure bolts can replace the screws.
Q:
Is assembly required and if so is it hard to put together
Answer: Yes assembly is required but is not too hard if you follow the manual. Took me the better part of 2 1/2 hours to finish and so far no problems with it.
Answer: Assembly is required. It's not hard at all. Make sure you tighten everything really well and then tighten it some more.
Answer: Assembly is required but it was easy to put together.
Answer: Yes assembly is required. I bought this for my father and he didn't have a problem putting it together other than the missing pieces. But then again, he enjoys putting things together! Hope this helps!!
Answer: Yes u have to assemble n it was alittle difficult
Answer: Yes it does, it wasn't difficult but took about 2 hrs.
Q:
im looking for the smallest working charcoal smoker for 2 people. is this the best one? pit barrel smoker uses way too much charcoal
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: This is a great little smoker. It's the perfect size for the 2 of us. Great price too.
Answer: this is the best purchased so far.there is no other smaller than this and it could fit a whole brisquet 11 lbs. enough for our family of 6.
Answer: Stay clear away from this, just buy you one of the cylinder shaped ones... This is cheaply made and waste of your time. I sent my back after it failed my expectations...
Q:
could you smoke a 12lb turkey on it. or whats the biggest turkey you could do.
Answer: I haven't had it but a month or so but I can tell you I did a 7 lb pork butt and a couple of slabs of country style ribs more than once.
Answer: I smoked a 12.5 pound turkey with excellent results. I can send you a picture if you send me an e-mail at clifford_f@yahoo.com. Cliff
Answer: No, this is a "gourmet" cooker/smoker so Turkeys, burgers, etc would not work.
Answer: I would say for sure for a12 pounder. Not sure about a 20 pounder. It was a gift for my daughter and she is still very much in love with it.
Q:
what is the boxed dimension of this grill?
Answer: Approximately 3 ft long by 1.5 ft high give or take a few inches.
Answer: I guess it was about 3'x2'x2'
Q:
Does this grill come with a firebox to put your wood chips in or do You need to purchase one seperate??
Answer: This smoker has the main smoker chamber and an offset firebox. However, it does not have an internal firebox just for wood chips. Wood chips can be placed directly on the cooking grates.
Answer: As you see, to the left of the grill, there is a fire box. Last year I smoked a chicken. Just put your meat under the chimney. It works well for a small grill, If you smoke a lot of meat, get s bigger grill. All I needed was a small grill. a lot of parts to put together. Good luck.
Answer: The firebox is located on the end...the smaller enclosure
Answer: Yes, it’s come with one
Q:
Can I start the fire in the bottom of the fire box without the grate?
Answer: If you're talking about the fire grate, I'd say you can...but I wouldnt advise it. The grate allows air flow underneath so the fire won't smother itself out. If you're talking about the cooking grate then yes you can. It's really small so I had trouble even finding room to put it in there when I had it full of wood and charcoal for a pork butt anyway.
Answer: Yes you can
Q:
how long do they last
Answer: Well that is up to the person who uses it .as long as you get the cover for it or have it in the garage after you use it and empty it after it cools down it should last a year or more
Answer: Should last a long time, all depends on how well one maintains and cares for it.
Answer: I'd give mine an easy ten years and that is even in Alabama
Q:
What's the thickness on the metal?
Answer: I would guess about 1/16 Not really thick but its been good . I put a baffle on the hole from the firebox and made a removable smoke plate to even out temperatures.
Answer: Its not the thickest ive seen on a grill. But its not to shabby/cheap either.
Answer: Not very thick. Maybe 1/8 inch
Q:
how many days Temporarily out of stock?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in the Char-Broil Offset Smoker 300 Series. We have it in stock, and it can be prepared for shipment by May 10th.
Q:
What are the dimensions of the firebox?
Answer: The firebox measures 11.77"L x 11.73"W and the smoker chamber measures 23.98"L x 12.32"W.
Answer: It’s 16 inches in diameter and 18 inches long
Answer: Measurement answers are way different... Users: which is more accurate?
Q:
What series is the deluxe?
Answer: Smoker only ribs , brisket , roast etc not a burger and brat grille
Answer: The worst
Q:
is the big part the grill or the smoker?
Answer: The big part is the grill. Although I don't think it's intended for grilling, I have grilled a hot dog and burger on the smoker side for the impatient kids.
Answer: The large part is the smoker & grill. The small part is the smoke box where you add the coals and wood chips for smoking. To grill you add your hot coals to the bottom of the large box.
Answer: The big part is where you will put the food you want to smoke. The charcoal and or wood will go in the small section. The heat and smoke flow around your food for indirect cooking. Low and slow is the motto for smoking food.
Answer: It's both... You can put coals/wood in the large side and grill your food directly over the coals, you can put coals/wood in the small side and cook/smoke your food indirectly by placing in in the larger side or you can do a combination. Keep in mind that this is a VERY INEXPENSIVE smoker and it's far from top quality and a good amount of heat/smoke are lost because of this, so indirect smoking (coals/wood in the small side, food in the large side) will be slow and require a lot of coal tending to keep temps up, but all-in-all it does a pretty good job for the price.
Answer: The grill.
Q:
there's no pictures for the inside. is there a double rack?
Answer: There is a double rack inside and there is a rack for the smoker as well this is a great smoker I love it and I am being honest I use it more than 3 times or more a week
Answer: Hubby said NO.... It's a single rack w/ 2 grates..... one for the charcoal and then one for the food
Answer: no, just a single rack one on each side
Answer: No just a single rack. Only enough room for two racks of short ribs. I would suggest you get the next size larger at the very least. It's a great starter smoker to learn on but I"m already considering getting a larger one now that I know what I'm doing. Takes some practice.
Answer: No. It's a single rack of 2 grates. the smoker has a rack as well
Product reviews of Char-Broil 12201570-A1 American Gourmet Offset Smoker, Black,Standard
Maryb : Junior grill
We do like our junior grill. It works for us. The lid seems fragile so we are gentle with opening and closing. The metal is thin but we wanted it to b easy to move. The cooking surface is fine but when the coals start to die down, the grill looses temp fast.
Maryb : Junior grill
We do like our junior grill. It works for us. The lid seems fragile so we are gentle with opening and closing. The metal is thin but we wanted it to b easy to move. The cooking surface is fine but when the coals start to die down, the grill looses temp fast.
Brianna : DO NOT PURCHASE!
You get what you pay for. I was very disappointed with this product as it is a name brand. After the first use, the whole bottom started to get heat warped and bubbling up! Then it started flaking and now rusting! I called the manufacturer and I argued with them for the longest. It was under warranty and instead of sending me a whole new one, they sent me every single piece but the legs. So, I had to take it all apart to put it all back together. They sent me a bent piece so I had to call them again and wait for that. Then again after the first use! Same issue! They then did not want to help me. They told they will send me some heat spray and I would have to sand the whole entire product and spray it all down. Why would I need to do that when I had it less than 6 months!
Rob Doe : Its ok, but I would not buy again
It’s very shallow as far as bbq for the distance between the coals and the cooking grill, and there is no adjustment to raise the grill. Also after only a few uses the side vent on the small smoker is stuck wide open,and that part was factory installed. Also when you use the smoker the smoke rolls out of the main lid quite a bit, so the lid is either to lite or there is just poor workmanship. Finally the photos make it look larger than what you get as far as my expectations were.
Johnny in Texas : great value - with a few modifications it works as good as a high dollar smoker.
had to assemble it with hi-temp sealant, and sprayed it on the outside of the firebox with a better quality hi-temp paint... heat control can be tricky... but once you find a "setting" you like and stick with it, this unit works great. Added a couple of additional analog temp gauges on the outside and in the lid to assure good heat control... and better placement for the meat. For $60 it's a really great value... you just have to make a few upgrades if you plan on using it long term.,,, and DON'T leave it out in the weather or it'll fall apart (this is true for all cheap grills).
Kramirez : Lots of Babysitting required
Functional smoker, but it requires a LOT of babysitting. Definitely not set it and forget it... I bought this as an introductory smoker to try my hand at barbecue. The end result has been pretty good, but have found myself adjusting settings, adding wood or otherwise messing with this thing every 15-30 minutes for the entire cooking process (an all day commitment). Rather small grill area for meat, fits approximately 2 racks of pork ribs maxed completely out (I knew this ahead of time). I bought this because I wanted something entry level with a low price point, but I am wishing I just spent a little more for something nicer. Put your money toward something nicer, you'll thank yourself.
Sean R. : its pretty nice for the money
You get what you pay for. This was my first smoker and my meat came out amazing. As long as you do a little research yours will to. My paint did not peel. Cleaned and lined the inside with Pam. Put down foil. The top leaks a little but I just ordered a seal to fix that. Held temperature nice regardless. Very happy with this smoker. Will be smoking again tomorrow on this baby.
Wisemac : Great starter grill with some mods
Great starter grill with some mods. Added some Sil-Bond RTV 6500 high temperature Silicon to seal up the smoke chamber and added
DozyAnt 2" 550F(2 pack) BBQ Barbecue Temp Gauges. Since it is so small, the temperature can fluctuate so need to keep an eye throughout the cook. But overall great value for the price. Once you find out you like BBQ, you may upgrade over time.
DozyAnt 2" 550F(2 pack) BBQ Barbecue Temp Gauges. Since it is so small, the temperature can fluctuate so need to keep an eye throughout the cook. But overall great value for the price. Once you find out you like BBQ, you may upgrade over time.
Cagla Darveaux : Paint has worn off with just one use
I bought this as a simple smoker so we can upgrade once we decide we like smoking .. but the wear within one week after one use under 400 degrees is a complete peeling of paint.
Sushimoe : Did tons of research on it before purchasing and most of what's been said is true.
I bought this because I didn't want to just grill, I wanted to smoke as well. I spent hours reading reviews from other Amazon users about this off-set smoker and there were mixed reviews, some with strong buyer's remorse. I didn't want to spend money on an item like this if it would end up in the trash in less than a year. I researched it at other online stores too, read their reviews, and kept an eye on the price. When it went on sale on Amazon prime day, I jumped on the deal and bought it.
I've used it 4 times now, three times for smoking and one time for grilling. Contrary to other reviews, I did not have a problem with paint peeling off the firebox. Just follow the directions and try not to build a huge fire the first time when you're seasoning the grill. I wiped down the grill with vegetable oil, built a small fire, and kept it roasting empty for about 3 hours and it was ready to go. Assembly was easy, but what I will say is that mine arrived with a small dent on the lid, which doesn't hurt the cooking, but it's an eyesore to look at.
For grilling, it does a great job. The coals are close to the cooking grate so there's plenty of heat for the food. Not much else to say here other than it works as expected.
I knocked a star off my rating because for smoking, as others have mentioned, it's very difficult to control the temperature. A lot of heat is wasted, and the heat that is trapped does not distribute well. The meat closest to the firebox will char meanwhile the meat on the other end will look untouched. You have to open the lid to shuffle the meat around and when you do that, a lot of heat is lost. Also, you have to add coals about every 30 minutes to keep the heat up because not a lot can fit into the firebox. I used a lot of charcoal just to roast small amounts of food. The food turned out good, but it was a lot of work.
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase, but I see myself using it more as a grill than a smoker.
I've used it 4 times now, three times for smoking and one time for grilling. Contrary to other reviews, I did not have a problem with paint peeling off the firebox. Just follow the directions and try not to build a huge fire the first time when you're seasoning the grill. I wiped down the grill with vegetable oil, built a small fire, and kept it roasting empty for about 3 hours and it was ready to go. Assembly was easy, but what I will say is that mine arrived with a small dent on the lid, which doesn't hurt the cooking, but it's an eyesore to look at.
For grilling, it does a great job. The coals are close to the cooking grate so there's plenty of heat for the food. Not much else to say here other than it works as expected.
I knocked a star off my rating because for smoking, as others have mentioned, it's very difficult to control the temperature. A lot of heat is wasted, and the heat that is trapped does not distribute well. The meat closest to the firebox will char meanwhile the meat on the other end will look untouched. You have to open the lid to shuffle the meat around and when you do that, a lot of heat is lost. Also, you have to add coals about every 30 minutes to keep the heat up because not a lot can fit into the firebox. I used a lot of charcoal just to roast small amounts of food. The food turned out good, but it was a lot of work.
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase, but I see myself using it more as a grill than a smoker.
bobby : Cheaply made
This is definitely a get what you pay for, or less. When assembling it, parts were bent and the material it's made of is very thin and easily bent. I would return, but I don't want to take it back apart. DON'T RECOMMEND BUYING THIS SMOKER! VERY DISAPPOINTED!!!
S. Mc : its an okay smoker.....i would definite recommend something else preferably not char-broil brand.....
I bought this smoker as my first smoker. All of my friends and co-workers smoke meat and they got me into it. I wanted to try it on my own and bought this because it was a fairly inexpensive smoker and I figured if I was not good at it then at least I didn't spend a fortune on it. I ended up loving smoking and this was a good purchase. However, as for product itself: it really isn't that great. it's a great starter smoker because of the size but there are many cons. The biggest being: THE PEELING AND MELTING PAINT. the paint started peeling during the first use and it melted the paint all over the food. from then on out I had to put foil all over the top of the smoker. The second complaint is that the front corners do not make a good sea- smoke just billows out of there instead of staying inside the smoker. another complaint isn't faulty manufacturing it's just due to this style of smoker. it's very hard to clean due to the shape. I wish i would have gotten a cabinet style. friends of mine have cabinet style smokers and they are just all around better. However, the seller was great and it shipped in a timely manner and was in great condition. The only positive of this product is that the smoker was really easy to assemble.
Mallory : Lost a customer of more than a decade
I have been buying Char-Broil grills since 2005. They are all I have owned since then, but this was the last straw. I am no barbecue expert, but I have done competitions, sponsored events and sporting events. I would say I am fairly decent at what I can do on a barbecue. With that said ignore the comments that say these rust and the paint peels. people need to learn to properly care for a barbecue. The thermometer comments are a joke too. The thermometer is for gauging temp. Do not take it as gospel. Learn to read the coals an use a meat thermometer. Your hand also does wonders for gauging temp. This thing is flimsy as they come. now Char-Broil has always used flimsy sheet metal and that doesn't make a product bad, but the reinforcement points suck or are none existent. If you open the lid this thing kinks all over. If you move it by the handle you fear it falling apart. Just very poorly made. The next are the seals. The hinges are junk and bend. The right side of my lid when closed sits flush, but the left side has a fairly big gap. The smoke stack has a major gap and is kinked due to the fact it is only held by 2 screws diagonal of each other. All of these gaps will effect the inside temp. This is also the second one I received as the first one came with broken welds on the main barrel. Now if anyone says I just don't know how to build anything I am a 16 year aircraft sheet metal mechanic writing a review on my wifes account. My last gripe is that all Char-Broil grilles used to come with cast iron grates. Everything is porcelain now. This was the first thing I noticed when I bought my 3rd grille. I am just very disappointed with Char-Broil. They were a great company about a decade ago and did make a great entry level product at a very reasonable price. I believe the owners have watched one to many episodes of shark tank and following that business plan have ruined this companies quality for mass production and profit only. This barbecue is good enough to get me though this summer season and I will use an inferior product to great effect, but this will be my last year with Char-Broil. About 13 years of customer loyalty has died. I will be switching to Oklahoma Joes.
HippieFlowerChild : Could have gotten bigger and pre-assembled one for same price at Home Depot
Not easy to clean, no trays or anything unlike one I saw at Home Depot for much better and only $120, pre-assembled. Assembly on this one was not too bad, but time-consuming. Would have been worth $60 to $80 for first time smokers, not what I paid.
Ashley Clark : Melted
Melted after first use. Temp never got above 400 and it still melted and is now rusted.
ACJ : At your own risk!
Looks great. Good instructions.
Poor machining of the metal. When following the instructions exactly, the lid on the smoking portion is canted by approximately an inch (lid won't close unless I put a brick on it!). The chimney on the smoking section sticks up approximately 1/2" above the lid. Overall poor quality control. If this was my only bbq pit, I'd be in real trouble.
Poor machining of the metal. When following the instructions exactly, the lid on the smoking portion is canted by approximately an inch (lid won't close unless I put a brick on it!). The chimney on the smoking section sticks up approximately 1/2" above the lid. Overall poor quality control. If this was my only bbq pit, I'd be in real trouble.
Wisemac : Great starter grill with some mods
Great starter grill with some mods. Added some Sil-Bond RTV 6500 high temperature Silicon to seal up the smoke chamber and added
DozyAnt 2" 550F(2 pack) BBQ Barbecue Temp Gauges. Since it is so small, the temperature can fluctuate so need to keep an eye throughout the cook. But overall great value for the price. Once you find out you like BBQ, you may upgrade over time.
DozyAnt 2" 550F(2 pack) BBQ Barbecue Temp Gauges. Since it is so small, the temperature can fluctuate so need to keep an eye throughout the cook. But overall great value for the price. Once you find out you like BBQ, you may upgrade over time.
Brittany : LONG TO COOK
I love to grill and my recent grill had started to get worn out so I purchased this one. It took 3 hours to cook hamburgers!! It has never taken that long to cook hamburgers! and even when my daughter bit into her hamburger it wasn't done all the way in the middle! So technically it would have taken longer than 3 hours! It didn't hold up to the temperature to even cook a meal correctly! Not worth $100. The last grill I bought that got worn out I bought from Walmart and it was $100 and lasted me at least 2 years. I should have just gotten another one of those instead of trying something new that i thought would work.
Brianna : DO NOT PURCHASE!
You get what you pay for. I was very disappointed with this product as it is a name brand. After the first use, the whole bottom started to get heat warped and bubbling up! Then it started flaking and now rusting! I called the manufacturer and I argued with them for the longest. It was under warranty and instead of sending me a whole new one, they sent me every single piece but the legs. So, I had to take it all apart to put it all back together. They sent me a bent piece so I had to call them again and wait for that. Then again after the first use! Same issue! They then did not want to help me. They told they will send me some heat spray and I would have to sand the whole entire product and spray it all down. Why would I need to do that when I had it less than 6 months!
Dee Kay : Easy install, beautiful look!
I assembled it myself with no one to help and it was a breeze. I bought this as a gift for my brother therefore I don’t know how it’ll work during grilling. I will ask him to let me know but if you’re worried about look, sturdy material, and size: look no more! It’s awesome! It’s bigger than I expected and it’s heavy, great material. Would totally recommend this grill. Now let’s see how well it works! ????
Bacchus808 : The thermometer read 250 degrees pretty much the whole time as I did my best ...
I had high hopes for this smoker but I just can't seem to get the knack of it. After receiving it, I tried smoking a rack of ribs. I looked up tutorials on how to use an offset smoker and made sure I read the instructions that came with the smoker. The thermometer read 250 degrees pretty much the whole time as I did my best to maintain the heat but after 6hrs the ribs were still raw and not even to temp. I ended up taking it inside and finishing them off in the oven. I thought that maybe I was losing heat because I didn't have a tight seal so I bought some high temp sealant and insulation tape and went over the problem spots. Again, I tried to smoke about 30 chicken wings and even meticulously managing the fire per the thermometer the wings weren't fully cooked even after 4hrs. If anyone has tips please pass them along because I'm thinking of just buying an electric smoker. The only thing I was able to successfully smoke was some mackerel but it took almost 12hrs. It works well as a grill but I didn't but it for that purpose.
Mike M. : Great for Beginner
First of all I have to say I am a beginner to smoking. I have a couple of friends who showed me how to go about it and decided to purchase this one. For the money it really can't be beat. It does what it is supposed to do. It was easy to put together, took about 30-45 minutes. I did do a Pork shoulder on it. My only issue is that I do need to get some high heat gasket seal....$15 investment. It worked without it but it will help keep the temperature up and make it easier to control. The final product turned out great. I can't wait to do the next one. For the money I thought if i hated it I could always make this into a flower pot. Down the road that may happen but only because I got a bigger smoker. If you are thinking about getting one do not hesitate to get this one. You will be happy with your choice.
Douglas L. Hudson : Nice product for price!
If you've never used a smoker or don't know how to use it you know it's learn by trial-and-error. I had advice from a friend who's used one for years this one works fine it's a budget smoker you get what you pay for but it works great
Ben M. : Paint sucks but the meat turned out great!
The paint burned and flaked off on my first smoke. I went through the initial burn steps to cure the paint. I added red hot briquettes to both chambers and kept it going for several hours. Everything seemed fine afterwards. Fast-forward to yesterday and the first smoke and the paint burned off. It happened after I threw in some apple wood chunks. The flames from the wood got it hot enough to burn the paint. Seems like they used the wrong paint or maybe they did it on purpose to save money, doesn't really matter. However, it smoked the meat very well. It is functional.
Phillip L. Dodge : Hunk of Junk
This smoker has so many problems. We started putting it together and notices a good 1/8 inch gap between the top lid metal and the end piece of the lid. For a smoker it is suppose to be sealed.. The welding done by Charbroil is garbage.. Not only was the lid not totally welded properly but the smoke stack also has gaps around the mounting flange and the pipe itself.. The stack also did not fit properly into the area it was to go into. It was a good 1/4 inch higher on one side than the other... You pay for what you get.. I had one of these previously and it was great... This one... should have been recycled before it ever left Charbroil.
Johnny in Texas : great value - with a few modifications it works as good as a high dollar smoker.
had to assemble it with hi-temp sealant, and sprayed it on the outside of the firebox with a better quality hi-temp paint... heat control can be tricky... but once you find a "setting" you like and stick with it, this unit works great. Added a couple of additional analog temp gauges on the outside and in the lid to assure good heat control... and better placement for the meat. For $60 it's a really great value... you just have to make a few upgrades if you plan on using it long term.,,, and DON'T leave it out in the weather or it'll fall apart (this is true for all cheap grills).
WindigoTW : Love my little grill!
I love this grill! All the negative reviews are complaints that its not large enough. I can easily cook 8+ burger patties on this at a time, or 2 racks of ribs, multiple steaks, whatever we need for 1-6 people. This thing is darn near a miniature version of what youll find in stores, stand about belly button height (im 5'10") but its perfect for me.
The paint did bubble off on the bottom side, but no one sees it except for me, because I bend over to clean up drippings, so I'm not concerned with it. It smokes excellent, and the flavor of the meat is always amazing.
The paint did bubble off on the bottom side, but no one sees it except for me, because I bend over to clean up drippings, so I'm not concerned with it. It smokes excellent, and the flavor of the meat is always amazing.
Amazon Customer : Not what I expected.
It’s ok for entry level smokers, but not what I expected. It has way to many gaps in the grill to really control air flow and keep keep at a constant temperature. I’m a fan of charbroil products but this one is not that great.
Joshua Harless : Not good.
Growing up I remember Char-Broil being top of the line and among the best grills that you could buy. I'm not sure what happened here. I bought this thing because I really wanted an offset smoker to cook briskets with. The one and only time that I used this thing it became painfully obvious that this thing was not going to live up to the reputation that Char-Broil had in my mind. After starting the fire in the lower chamber (never letting the temp go over 300) the paint started to bubble on the outside of the barrel. By the time that I was finished cooking the brisket, over 1/4 of the paint on the lower barrel had bubbled and burned off. I am so disappointed with this product. I guess that the saying that "if it looks too good to be true it most likely is" holds here.
Nicho : The Grill is simple cheap, light, works well enough. Used it for brisket, worked as intended.
A quick little description as to what I purchased this smoker for. I bought it so I would have a light grill that was big enough for a 12lb Beef Brisket. I wanted to take it camping with tons of family and friends. We spent about 5 days out at Sutton in Alaska, camping, riding, shooting, and watching people swim in a lake that resembles sewage... Off track, any how it worked pretty good. Because its small I was able to keep the temp at 260 for about 11 hours. Either the Brisket or the Grill were made for the other as the Brisket fit perfectly on the grill. The brisket came great.
Its a very simple set up. It comes with about 50 screws and may feel intimidating when trying to set up, but it is relatively simple. Took myself about 40 minutes to assemble it. But I recommend grabbing a sponge, a little dish soap, and olive oil. Mine came with a thick goopy grease on the lid and a few other parts. Mainly found on the inside of the smoker and the inside of the lid. I recommend cleaning out the grease as it smelled like spoiled oil on a cast iron pan. And then with just a dab of oil on a cloth or paper towel and just rub all the metal parts. Go over again with a clean dry cloth to soak up excess. Same procedure to cleaning & seasoning a cast iron pan. Then just do a good burn in the grill for about an hour at about 350. The Grill says it will go to 400, but the paint will start to burn off the grill if you reach the top temp. So watch your heat, smoking food is good, painting it is not.
The temp gauge maxes to 400 and it heats up pretty quick. The grates are a very simple teflon coated steel. I would personally prefer a cast iron grate, or even stainless. I am worried at scarring the coating and then having it release little by little into foods. I am working on finding a suitable replacement grates.
The Grill is simple cheap, light, works well enough. Defiantly not a commercial grade grill, but simple for a small family, or a practicing chef looking to work on their grill skills or smoking flavors. I would recommend this to a beginning smoker, or someone looking for a cheap grill. I prefer the old cast iron barrel grills, but they are much heavier and sturdier. They also hold their heat much better than this thin metal one. But for under 75 bucks, you can't complain. Especially with a small smoke box.
I gave this three stars because of the goop I found in the grill, the paint burning off at 400* but it was easy to set up, light, portable, and half the legs are removable with 4 bolts and it sits in the back of my f150 and its about 5 inches taller than on its legs on the ground. Its perfect height for me(Im 5'8")
Pros
easy assembly
light, portable
under $75.00
Comes with grease catch (uses old soup cans)
Cons
Paint peels easily and burns off
Has gaps in lid and base where smoke escapes
Non-removable insert to remove ashes
Smoke box side opening doesn't stay open unless open fully.
I wil post photos later this afternoon
Its a very simple set up. It comes with about 50 screws and may feel intimidating when trying to set up, but it is relatively simple. Took myself about 40 minutes to assemble it. But I recommend grabbing a sponge, a little dish soap, and olive oil. Mine came with a thick goopy grease on the lid and a few other parts. Mainly found on the inside of the smoker and the inside of the lid. I recommend cleaning out the grease as it smelled like spoiled oil on a cast iron pan. And then with just a dab of oil on a cloth or paper towel and just rub all the metal parts. Go over again with a clean dry cloth to soak up excess. Same procedure to cleaning & seasoning a cast iron pan. Then just do a good burn in the grill for about an hour at about 350. The Grill says it will go to 400, but the paint will start to burn off the grill if you reach the top temp. So watch your heat, smoking food is good, painting it is not.
The temp gauge maxes to 400 and it heats up pretty quick. The grates are a very simple teflon coated steel. I would personally prefer a cast iron grate, or even stainless. I am worried at scarring the coating and then having it release little by little into foods. I am working on finding a suitable replacement grates.
The Grill is simple cheap, light, works well enough. Defiantly not a commercial grade grill, but simple for a small family, or a practicing chef looking to work on their grill skills or smoking flavors. I would recommend this to a beginning smoker, or someone looking for a cheap grill. I prefer the old cast iron barrel grills, but they are much heavier and sturdier. They also hold their heat much better than this thin metal one. But for under 75 bucks, you can't complain. Especially with a small smoke box.
I gave this three stars because of the goop I found in the grill, the paint burning off at 400* but it was easy to set up, light, portable, and half the legs are removable with 4 bolts and it sits in the back of my f150 and its about 5 inches taller than on its legs on the ground. Its perfect height for me(Im 5'8")
Pros
easy assembly
light, portable
under $75.00
Comes with grease catch (uses old soup cans)
Cons
Paint peels easily and burns off
Has gaps in lid and base where smoke escapes
Non-removable insert to remove ashes
Smoke box side opening doesn't stay open unless open fully.
I wil post photos later this afternoon
Bacchus808 : The thermometer read 250 degrees pretty much the whole time as I did my best ...
I had high hopes for this smoker but I just can't seem to get the knack of it. After receiving it, I tried smoking a rack of ribs. I looked up tutorials on how to use an offset smoker and made sure I read the instructions that came with the smoker. The thermometer read 250 degrees pretty much the whole time as I did my best to maintain the heat but after 6hrs the ribs were still raw and not even to temp. I ended up taking it inside and finishing them off in the oven. I thought that maybe I was losing heat because I didn't have a tight seal so I bought some high temp sealant and insulation tape and went over the problem spots. Again, I tried to smoke about 30 chicken wings and even meticulously managing the fire per the thermometer the wings weren't fully cooked even after 4hrs. If anyone has tips please pass them along because I'm thinking of just buying an electric smoker. The only thing I was able to successfully smoke was some mackerel but it took almost 12hrs. It works well as a grill but I didn't but it for that purpose.
Benjamin Moore : it works pretty well. It's not perfect
This is my first smoker. I've used it five times so far. All in all, it works pretty well.It's not perfect, but if you're just getting into smoking, you can't beat it for the price. It's not as heavy duty as more expensive smokers, but I'm really enjoying learning with it. There are a lot of great videos on YouTube for tips on smoking. It's a fun hobby, and you get to eat great food! :D
WinterArcher : This little smoker/grill is a really great addition. We have turned out some of the ...
This little smoker/grill is a really great addition. We have turned out some of the best ribs and chicken ever using it and last week I did braised short ribs that could be award winners.
The side fire box allows you to have more control over the heat and smoke. It is like building a two level fire in a regular grill, but with even more control over the heat and the smoke. The design gives tons of smoke to your food and it is even possible to over smoke so we have learned not to use wood chips until about the last hour of cooking.
PROS:
- Turns out great food
- Cooks ribs for 6-8 easily
- Fantastic ability to control heat and smoke
- Reasonably easy clean up clean out
- Works best with briquettes rather than solid wood charcoal
- Price from Amazon was much better than the local Big Box or Hardware Store
CONS:
- You do have to keep adding charcoal over a 4-6 hour session
- Learning heat control is a bit of trial and error process
- Different fuels burn at different rates
- Assembly was a little tedious, but ALL the parts were there.
- You do have to keep watch on the temperature, this is NOT an automatic process.
The side fire box allows you to have more control over the heat and smoke. It is like building a two level fire in a regular grill, but with even more control over the heat and the smoke. The design gives tons of smoke to your food and it is even possible to over smoke so we have learned not to use wood chips until about the last hour of cooking.
PROS:
- Turns out great food
- Cooks ribs for 6-8 easily
- Fantastic ability to control heat and smoke
- Reasonably easy clean up clean out
- Works best with briquettes rather than solid wood charcoal
- Price from Amazon was much better than the local Big Box or Hardware Store
CONS:
- You do have to keep adding charcoal over a 4-6 hour session
- Learning heat control is a bit of trial and error process
- Different fuels burn at different rates
- Assembly was a little tedious, but ALL the parts were there.
- You do have to keep watch on the temperature, this is NOT an automatic process.
Kelly Hott : Girl Power! Good for the price-a few little glips I found
Nice smoker for the price! Set up was ok, not many detailed instructions so I had to REALLY squint to see diagram when attaching the lid. I had smoke coming out around the fire box and lid, but not enough to be concerned with. I can fix that up with a seal. The screw for the fire box had stripped or was too small, or I used the wrong one when putting it together, so I couldn't keep the fire box vent open for airflow, but a folded piece of aluminum foil, positioned it, and it held it open as much as I needed. The temperature probe only got above the peg (under the 150 degree mark) when I first started the fire. After that, it didn't budge. I just watched my smoke output and figured I could move my brisket to the oven to finish cooking if I had to. My findings could be an isolated issue as you never know how it gets roughed up during shipping and as I said, for the money this smoker cost me, they are not items I am concerned with. I used charcoal, apple wood & pecan wood chunks (also sold here) and my brisket turned out GREAT! My man & parents were highly impressed and pleased how it turned out.
CHARLES WASHINGTON : Best 75 bucks i ever spent
Best 75 bucks i ever spent. Had a much larger pit i stopped using 13 years ago because too much work.
Ive done 4 slabs a few times. Sometimes finish in oven about 45 mins(325) with a couple teaspoons of water to steam and moisten depending on temp maintained. Pour off renderings and water. Sauce and about 20 more minutes in oven . Yummy yum yum. Also switched to electric starter in the firebox vs messy dangerous chimneys.
LOVE IT. would buy again over and over.
Ive done 4 slabs a few times. Sometimes finish in oven about 45 mins(325) with a couple teaspoons of water to steam and moisten depending on temp maintained. Pour off renderings and water. Sauce and about 20 more minutes in oven . Yummy yum yum. Also switched to electric starter in the firebox vs messy dangerous chimneys.
LOVE IT. would buy again over and over.
Cagla Darveaux : Paint has worn off with just one use
I bought this as a simple smoker so we can upgrade once we decide we like smoking .. but the wear within one week after one use under 400 degrees is a complete peeling of paint.
Windy Gutierrez : Teeny tiny
Sooooo...I decided on this grill because I was comparing the cooking surfaces of it and other grills and cooking surface was largest.....I didn’t look at the overall dimensions.
It’s comically small. Like looks like it belongs in a kid’s play set. I’m not kidding, it’s an appropriate height for my 7 yr old. It’s so short and the main cooking compartment the bottom portion is very shallow, you can only fit enough charcoal in there to cook something quick like burgers or hot dogs. We bought if for a family vacation home and were counting on using it the day it got delivered since we had no other cookware, or else I would have boxed it back up and returned it.
At least we all got a laugh out of the child’s sized grill. I have included pictures of my father in law wondering who brought a playhouse grill out for your viewing pleasure.
It’s comically small. Like looks like it belongs in a kid’s play set. I’m not kidding, it’s an appropriate height for my 7 yr old. It’s so short and the main cooking compartment the bottom portion is very shallow, you can only fit enough charcoal in there to cook something quick like burgers or hot dogs. We bought if for a family vacation home and were counting on using it the day it got delivered since we had no other cookware, or else I would have boxed it back up and returned it.
At least we all got a laugh out of the child’s sized grill. I have included pictures of my father in law wondering who brought a playhouse grill out for your viewing pleasure.
Krystal B : Put the work in
Honestly, I didn’t know what to expect. If and only if you plan on assembling correctly, and I mean, using high heat silicone on EVERY connecting part, and using a bbq gasket on ALL opening doors you have a heck of a smoker at almost no cost. If you don’t take the time and small Investment in doing it right, don’t waste your money.
Perfect, of course not but I’ve done ribs, roasts, chicken, You name it, from 215 degrees all the way to a stable 350 degrees. If you know how to manage a fire this is a killer little grill for the price. The temp spikes fast and cools down faster, so don’t expect a set it and forget it grill, but a great way to learn fire management and how to smoke on a offset without investing to much.
Perfect, of course not but I’ve done ribs, roasts, chicken, You name it, from 215 degrees all the way to a stable 350 degrees. If you know how to manage a fire this is a killer little grill for the price. The temp spikes fast and cools down faster, so don’t expect a set it and forget it grill, but a great way to learn fire management and how to smoke on a offset without investing to much.
Sushimoe : Did tons of research on it before purchasing and most of what's been said is true.
I bought this because I didn't want to just grill, I wanted to smoke as well. I spent hours reading reviews from other Amazon users about this off-set smoker and there were mixed reviews, some with strong buyer's remorse. I didn't want to spend money on an item like this if it would end up in the trash in less than a year. I researched it at other online stores too, read their reviews, and kept an eye on the price. When it went on sale on Amazon prime day, I jumped on the deal and bought it.
I've used it 4 times now, three times for smoking and one time for grilling. Contrary to other reviews, I did not have a problem with paint peeling off the firebox. Just follow the directions and try not to build a huge fire the first time when you're seasoning the grill. I wiped down the grill with vegetable oil, built a small fire, and kept it roasting empty for about 3 hours and it was ready to go. Assembly was easy, but what I will say is that mine arrived with a small dent on the lid, which doesn't hurt the cooking, but it's an eyesore to look at.
For grilling, it does a great job. The coals are close to the cooking grate so there's plenty of heat for the food. Not much else to say here other than it works as expected.
I knocked a star off my rating because for smoking, as others have mentioned, it's very difficult to control the temperature. A lot of heat is wasted, and the heat that is trapped does not distribute well. The meat closest to the firebox will char meanwhile the meat on the other end will look untouched. You have to open the lid to shuffle the meat around and when you do that, a lot of heat is lost. Also, you have to add coals about every 30 minutes to keep the heat up because not a lot can fit into the firebox. I used a lot of charcoal just to roast small amounts of food. The food turned out good, but it was a lot of work.
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase, but I see myself using it more as a grill than a smoker.
I've used it 4 times now, three times for smoking and one time for grilling. Contrary to other reviews, I did not have a problem with paint peeling off the firebox. Just follow the directions and try not to build a huge fire the first time when you're seasoning the grill. I wiped down the grill with vegetable oil, built a small fire, and kept it roasting empty for about 3 hours and it was ready to go. Assembly was easy, but what I will say is that mine arrived with a small dent on the lid, which doesn't hurt the cooking, but it's an eyesore to look at.
For grilling, it does a great job. The coals are close to the cooking grate so there's plenty of heat for the food. Not much else to say here other than it works as expected.
I knocked a star off my rating because for smoking, as others have mentioned, it's very difficult to control the temperature. A lot of heat is wasted, and the heat that is trapped does not distribute well. The meat closest to the firebox will char meanwhile the meat on the other end will look untouched. You have to open the lid to shuffle the meat around and when you do that, a lot of heat is lost. Also, you have to add coals about every 30 minutes to keep the heat up because not a lot can fit into the firebox. I used a lot of charcoal just to roast small amounts of food. The food turned out good, but it was a lot of work.
Overall, I'm happy with the purchase, but I see myself using it more as a grill than a smoker.
sue grifin : Well worth the modest price!!
Easy to put together in a couple hours by myself - no missing parts. Tempered the smoker then began smoking - works great with patience and practice - use wisely and you'll be pleased.
It's not a professional model - if you want a greater surface area and thicker steel, break out your wallet but for occasional smoking, this is great. Smoked salmon is delish!!
It's not a professional model - if you want a greater surface area and thicker steel, break out your wallet but for occasional smoking, this is great. Smoked salmon is delish!!
Daniel : Absolute Garbage
Char-broil should be ashamed with this product. Mine arrived with a warped and damaged shell, making it so that smoke does not stay inside the smoker and just leaks out around the hinges.
I ran a test by placing 5 chicken breast in a row across. They smoked for 2 hours. The first that was closest to the vent hole was 170 degrees, the 2nd was 120...down to the 5th which was a mere 104 degrees. It's incredibly inconsistent heat to the point of not being able to actually cook anything. Glad I tested it with something recoverable like chicken and did not wasted a nice cut of meat. I'd suggest throwing in an extra $50 and switching to a more reliable brand.
Also: I did reach out to Char-Broil for parts. Terrible service, inconsistent requests. Very disappointed. Customer lost for life.
I ran a test by placing 5 chicken breast in a row across. They smoked for 2 hours. The first that was closest to the vent hole was 170 degrees, the 2nd was 120...down to the 5th which was a mere 104 degrees. It's incredibly inconsistent heat to the point of not being able to actually cook anything. Glad I tested it with something recoverable like chicken and did not wasted a nice cut of meat. I'd suggest throwing in an extra $50 and switching to a more reliable brand.
Also: I did reach out to Char-Broil for parts. Terrible service, inconsistent requests. Very disappointed. Customer lost for life.
Kramirez : Lots of Babysitting required
Functional smoker, but it requires a LOT of babysitting. Definitely not set it and forget it... I bought this as an introductory smoker to try my hand at barbecue. The end result has been pretty good, but have found myself adjusting settings, adding wood or otherwise messing with this thing every 15-30 minutes for the entire cooking process (an all day commitment). Rather small grill area for meat, fits approximately 2 racks of pork ribs maxed completely out (I knew this ahead of time). I bought this because I wanted something entry level with a low price point, but I am wishing I just spent a little more for something nicer. Put your money toward something nicer, you'll thank yourself.
Mallory : Lost a customer of more than a decade
I have been buying Char-Broil grills since 2005. They are all I have owned since then, but this was the last straw. I am no barbecue expert, but I have done competitions, sponsored events and sporting events. I would say I am fairly decent at what I can do on a barbecue. With that said ignore the comments that say these rust and the paint peels. people need to learn to properly care for a barbecue. The thermometer comments are a joke too. The thermometer is for gauging temp. Do not take it as gospel. Learn to read the coals an use a meat thermometer. Your hand also does wonders for gauging temp. This thing is flimsy as they come. now Char-Broil has always used flimsy sheet metal and that doesn't make a product bad, but the reinforcement points suck or are none existent. If you open the lid this thing kinks all over. If you move it by the handle you fear it falling apart. Just very poorly made. The next are the seals. The hinges are junk and bend. The right side of my lid when closed sits flush, but the left side has a fairly big gap. The smoke stack has a major gap and is kinked due to the fact it is only held by 2 screws diagonal of each other. All of these gaps will effect the inside temp. This is also the second one I received as the first one came with broken welds on the main barrel. Now if anyone says I just don't know how to build anything I am a 16 year aircraft sheet metal mechanic writing a review on my wifes account. My last gripe is that all Char-Broil grilles used to come with cast iron grates. Everything is porcelain now. This was the first thing I noticed when I bought my 3rd grille. I am just very disappointed with Char-Broil. They were a great company about a decade ago and did make a great entry level product at a very reasonable price. I believe the owners have watched one to many episodes of shark tank and following that business plan have ruined this companies quality for mass production and profit only. This barbecue is good enough to get me though this summer season and I will use an inferior product to great effect, but this will be my last year with Char-Broil. About 13 years of customer loyalty has died. I will be switching to Oklahoma Joes.
Kelly Hott : Girl Power! Good for the price-a few little glips I found
Nice smoker for the price! Set up was ok, not many detailed instructions so I had to REALLY squint to see diagram when attaching the lid. I had smoke coming out around the fire box and lid, but not enough to be concerned with. I can fix that up with a seal. The screw for the fire box had stripped or was too small, or I used the wrong one when putting it together, so I couldn't keep the fire box vent open for airflow, but a folded piece of aluminum foil, positioned it, and it held it open as much as I needed. The temperature probe only got above the peg (under the 150 degree mark) when I first started the fire. After that, it didn't budge. I just watched my smoke output and figured I could move my brisket to the oven to finish cooking if I had to. My findings could be an isolated issue as you never know how it gets roughed up during shipping and as I said, for the money this smoker cost me, they are not items I am concerned with. I used charcoal, apple wood & pecan wood chunks (also sold here) and my brisket turned out GREAT! My man & parents were highly impressed and pleased how it turned out.
Tina Edwards : A Toy
Too small looks like a toy and not a lot of room on it I suggest using it for hot dogs, hamburgers or small things it took me all day to grill for the holiday And it did have a charcoal ash tray ????
R. Corbett : better than expected
I don't use this as a smoker grill just steaks and bratwurst so far the grill uses much less charcoal than my old aussie grill. I get enough cooking area using just the left side is enough for two adults and one child. I think I could entertain 4 additional guests by using both grill surfaces, Easier to control air flow and heat which has improved result over past grills.
WindigoTW : Love my little grill!
I love this grill! All the negative reviews are complaints that its not large enough. I can easily cook 8+ burger patties on this at a time, or 2 racks of ribs, multiple steaks, whatever we need for 1-6 people. This thing is darn near a miniature version of what youll find in stores, stand about belly button height (im 5'10") but its perfect for me.
The paint did bubble off on the bottom side, but no one sees it except for me, because I bend over to clean up drippings, so I'm not concerned with it. It smokes excellent, and the flavor of the meat is always amazing.
The paint did bubble off on the bottom side, but no one sees it except for me, because I bend over to clean up drippings, so I'm not concerned with it. It smokes excellent, and the flavor of the meat is always amazing.
DAWN GREENFIELD : there's no how to book included, for anything, especially if your a first time "smoker" and "griller"
This was a Christmas present for my son, I had this early. put this into my garage, when Christmas came around he could not think what was in the box. When he had opened the box, he was ever so excited.!! that very day his father and him had put the grill together and by the week-end he had used his new grill.!! It's the best present my husband and i gave him.Now he smokes, and grills every week-end, oh yeah, no body can touch " his grill." !!! Thank-You so much for making my Christmas happier, by making my son's Christmas a very special one.!!
Kramirez : Lots of Babysitting required
Functional smoker, but it requires a LOT of babysitting. Definitely not set it and forget it... I bought this as an introductory smoker to try my hand at barbecue. The end result has been pretty good, but have found myself adjusting settings, adding wood or otherwise messing with this thing every 15-30 minutes for the entire cooking process (an all day commitment). Rather small grill area for meat, fits approximately 2 racks of pork ribs maxed completely out (I knew this ahead of time). I bought this because I wanted something entry level with a low price point, but I am wishing I just spent a little more for something nicer. Put your money toward something nicer, you'll thank yourself.
Charles reed : Junk
Total piece of junk. Put it together, noticed the thermometer was already stuck at a elevated temp. Did the first fire to season it and burn off all the oil. Well the paint fell off. It was a small fire. About half of what is used to smoke a chicken. Save your money. This is trash.
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