If you live in the US, especially in some of the Southern States, nothing beats a good old BBQ. It adds a little bit of char to your meal, and basically, everything can be done on your grill without you needing to set up too much or have a lot of cleaning work.
However, nothing beats the smoked flavor on a steak, and many people have troubles finding the best smoker box for gas grills they own.
I love a good barbecue just as much as the next person, but the problem is that smoker boxes are so abundantly available that finding the right one is not always that easy.
To create the perfect smoked meal with your gas grill, you need a spectacular smoker, and that is what we have set out to find.
We have gone through a couple of steaks to find the perfect smoker box that promises to deliver. Having had my fair share of great meals, it is now your turn to have one of the best-prepared meals you can make on your own.
In this article, we explore some of the best smoker boxes that will work on virtually any gas grill.
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Round-up of the Best Smoker Box for Gas Grills on the Market Today
There are a couple of technicalities you need to know about before you buy a smoker box. However, we have focused on the top smoker boxes that will add another level of flavor to your meals when you own a gas grill.
Before we dive into some of the key features, you need to keep in mind, let’s have a look at a few of these smoker boxes.
The leading brand in the smoker box business is Cave Tools. Not only have they focused on durability, but the design of their smoker boxes are refined.
The Cave Tools Maximum Smoker Box is one of the larger smoking boxes they have. According to the manufacturer, the 25% added thickness of the stainless steel makes it durable enough to prevent warping.
It can fit up to 3 cups of wooden chips, more than most of the others, allowing you to cook for hours on end without having to refill the box continually. With dimensions of 9 x 5.1 x 1.3-inches, it is spread out evenly to allow the wood chips to burn equally.
A slim surface might be the only weakness that could be prone to warping but will allow more smoke to pass through.
It fits nearly every gas grill that I have tried it on, giving you versatility when you need to travel around. The smoker box includes access to an Android and IOS app, with over 25 different grilling recipes.
Additionally, the bottom does not have any holes; this is one safety feature that prevents the wood chips from catching fire.
Cave Tools has so much confidence in this smoker box; it comes with a limited lifetime warranty. It is an affordable option as well and will be great for all sorts of meats.
Once you have the app, you can set your timers and use the recipes, with clear instructions on how to cook specific dishes if needed. It even gives you advice on the wood chips.
- Even surface with no holes prevents wood chips from catching fire
- Wood chips will be spread out more evenly
- It includes 25 smoking recipes
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Affordable
- It is a little thick, taking longer to warm up
If you have a deeper rack, the Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box will be one of your best options for an even smoke experience.
It has a V-Shape, allowing the heat to come from either side and warming up the wood chips on the inside evenly. It is made from durable stainless steel, but since it includes a non-stick surface, you can wipe it once done.
One of the best ways to use this smoker is to place it in between the bars of your grills flames deflectors. It will save you a ton of space when you are grilling.
The ashes are kept inside the smoker box, making it an easy clean for your grill when you are done. It only features holes at the top, preventing burning of your wood chips.
With a length of almost 14-inches, it might be a little oversized for some of the smaller grills. It is ideal for large barbecues with bars that allow it to fit in between.
The other downside is that the smoking box cannot stand on its own. However, it has the best even heat distribution and smoking capabilities due to the V-Shape design.
While the wood chips are not included, you can still pick up this stainless steel smoker box for a real bargain. I do recommend adding some rust protection to ensure it does not rust if you leave it outside.
I have seen a couple of complaints that it could be prone to rust when left in conditions with a lot of moisture.
- The v-shape design allows for even smoking
- Fits between flame deflector bars of most grills
- Easy to clean once done
- Durable construction
- Can be prone to rust
- It is a little large for smaller racks
Weber is probably the most well-known of all the brands on this list. Not only do they design some top of the range grills, but they have come up with the Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box.
It features a brushed stainless steel design with a flat bottom and no holes. The box is around 9.7 x 4.7 x 2-inches, and Weber claims that it will fit most grills.
It features unique patterns when you look at the holes. These patterns can quickly look like they will add too much smoke, but when you have a slow-burning grill, they are almost perfect.
The top unhinges easily for users to add their wood chips, and all the ashes will remain in the box. You should not have troubles cleaning it or dealing with rust.
One of the troubles I did encounter is that it is mostly designed for Weber grills. It will fit most of the other grills, but if you have a Weber grill, this will be one of the best options if you need perfect sizing.
Some people have complained about the durability it offers when you look at the bottom, and over the long run, you might find that it could warp a bit.
It has been included as one of the best high-end smoking boxes on this list. The price is a little higher than some of the others.
However, it has yielded some of the best flavors as well. If you want something spectacular for your Weber grill, this will be the top option to choose.
- Effective hole design
- Easy to clean and keeps ashes inside
- Protected against rust
- Works with most grills
- A little expensive
As the name would suggest, if you love the smell of grilling, you will love the Grillaholics Smoker Box.
It has the primary form of the standard smoker box, but with an added layer of durability. The stamped stainless steel construction is almost guaranteed never to warp or bend. The versatility gives you access to your charcoal or gas grill.
It should fit most common grills, and with dimensions that are 8.8 x 3.8 x 1.8-inches, you might even pop it into a few of the smaller grills.
Much like the Cave Tools Maximum, it can hold almost 2 cups of wood chips, allowing you some freedom to do something else. Nothing is more frustrating than always having to refill the smoker.
One of the downsides is the bottom does get charred eventually. It will still retain the same shape and form, but with a black color.
You might need work on washing it often to keep this from happening, but it might leave the box open to potential rust build-up.
In terms of the price, you get what you pay for, and while this is one of the smaller wood chip boxes, it does offer you a lot. It is easy to clean on the inside and will hold all of the ash. A non-stick coating allows you to wipe it clean.
However, we do recommend taking some time to clean the outside after each cooking expedition.
- It is small and compact
- Stamped stainless steel will resist warping
- Non-stick inner coating to keep it clean
- Holds a decent amount of wood chips
- The outside is prone to charring and might turn black
Made from cast iron, you will not find many more durable smoker boxes on the market today. The Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box is one of the ideal smoking boxes for any beginner, especially with the smaller size and the limited effort needed to use it. The box itself measures only 8.12 x 5.13 x 1.38-inches in size, perfect for any sized grill.
Instead of using the standard holes you find in most smoking boxes, this one has vents. The vents offer up a lot more smoke that can escape.
Since the durability of cast iron is the primary material used in the construction, you also have the versatility of using it on your charcoal grill. It should not give you any issues that could lead to warping.
The biggest that I had was the size. Yes, it is slightly smaller than most of the others, but also does not hold as many wooden chips. You might need to refill it with wood chips continually. This can be frustrating when you are cooking up a dinner for a large group of people.
The cast iron also stays hot for a long time, forcing you to leave it to cool down.
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Fortunately, all of this is affordable, and you can pick up this smoker box for an affordable price. When you take into account how versatile and durable it is, it is an excellent addition to your grill.
Most people would recommend it to beginners.
- It is cheap
- Durable cast iron construction
- Small sizes fit almost any grill
- Not prone to rust or warping
- Might be too small for cooking larger meals
If you don’t feel like using your gas grill all the time, you might be interested in something a little different. The Outset QS77 Wood Chip Smoking Box is one of the perfect alternatives to use on your charcoal grill and still prevent burning.
It is made from stainless steel, with a brushed surface, keeping the heat evenly distributed.
It is one of the smaller smoking boxes I have used, but what makes it great is the ability to fit into almost any grill.
The dimensions are roughly 8.73 x 3.75 x 1.5-inches, slightly smaller than the Cave Tools Maximum, but still with the ability to carry a lot of wood chips. The unit also works with wood pucks, if you need something more comfortable to transport your wood chips.
With no holes at the bottom, you won’t have to fear the bottom of the wood chips catching fire. The bottom of the smoking box might be a little thin, leading many people to soak some of the wood chips before burning them.
I have also noticed that charcoal could warp the steel a little after prolonged use. However, this does not happen with your gas grill.
If you are in the market for some great flavor and you want to smoke your meals with something useful, the Outset QS77 Wood Chip Smoking Box is perfect for all types of grills. I prefer to keep it for traveling, having a smaller size help me when I have to use a smaller grill.
However, it is cheap and affordable for anyone.
- Cheap buy
- Small, compact, and portable
- Brushed stainless steel construction for evenly spread heat distribution
- Works on both charcoal and gas grill
- It lacks some durability on charcoal grills
A Few Important Things to Keep in Mind Before Buying a Smoker Box for Your Gas Grill
The smoker box is pretty straightforward, but there are a few things that we recommend you look for before buying one.
If you are on the lookout for a new smoker box, these will be the essential features to keep in mind.
1. Size
The smoker box should have a size that fits your grill. I cannot recommend a specific size, but you can measure up the size of your grill to ensure that it does fit inside.
However, you might like to choose the V-Shaped option for larger grills to keep the box in between your bars.
2. Non-Stick Coating
If you don’t want to spend hours scrubbing out some of the burnt wooden chips, it is better to find something with a non-stick coating.
The non-stick coating will allow you to wipe out all of the ash and your smoker box will be clean. Non-stick surfaces can also protect the box from potential rust in environments with a lot of moisture.
3. Lid Design
Unless you are buying one of the more extensive options, you might need to consider the lid as well.
The top should be easy to open, allowing you to refill the box with wood chips when needed. It should also close properly to prevent too much smoke from being released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are smoker boxes worth it?
Yes, they DEFINITELY are worth it.
As you might find, those made of cast iron are the best ones as they offer the best performance. However, they’re way more expensive than regular cheaper ones. Hence, they will make the wood smoke for an extended period and won’t permit it to burn out so quickly.
Additionally, the quality, design, durability and sturdiness are also at maximum concerning the cast-iron smoker boxes; therefore, they will provide the ultimate BBQ experience.
Do smoker boxes work on gas grills?
Well, YES, they can; however, it’s not really recommendable.
As you already know, the gas grills can work well with the spit-roasting, direct-grilling, indirect-grilling, but they provide a poor job and quality when it comes to smoking.
The main issue here is the wide venting located at the back of the most gas grills, resulting in gas escaping before it flavors the food. Therefore, the gas grills won’t provide you with the rick smoke flavor, crimson smoke ring, or the crusty bark specific for charcoal-burning or wood-burning smokers.
What is the best smoker box for a gas grill?
The best smoker box is undoubtedly the Smoker Box Maximum Wood Chip Capacity, thanks to its design and refined durability and sturdiness.
You will notice, the construction is solid and reliable enough to endure external and internal pressure and preserve its quality. You will also love it for the size, as you can put three cups of wooden chips, which is a lot more compared with standard smoker boxes.
Moreover, it allows you to install an Android or iOS app for more recipes and a more convenient grilling process.
Is a cast iron or stainless steel better for a smoker box?
Both of the materials are excellent for smoker boxes. You can use the tubes several times without any additional obstacles or issues; the boxes won’t damage and will remain intact. Thus, they will last for ample time and offer you various benefits and great support.
However, the crucial difference between these two models is the air holes. Namely, the cast-iron smoker box contains longer and oblong air holes, while the stainless steel smoker boxes have eight smaller holes on the lid.
In general, stainless steel won’t rust as quickly, and the cast-iron models will endure even higher temperatures. Thus, the right choice is up to you and your personal taste.
Where does the smoker box go on a gas grill?
You can lower the box on top of a burner. If you use charcoal, ensure you put the box on top of the coals. However, it would be the best option if you used the best-rated charcoal for smoking.
Also, make sure you place the smokebox as close to the heat source as possible for a better grilling process.
Which One Do We Recommend?
Depending on your budget, we have two options that we would recommend when it comes to the best options.
While all of these have great features, the Cave Tools Smoker Box Maximum stands out for the durability and the many wood chips you can add in one go.
However, I also find the Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box a great option if you are looking for something more expensive, with a unique design.
Wrap-Up
To sum it all up, if you want to add the perfect smoked flavor to your meal, you will need an excellent smoking box.
The best smoking box for gas grills are not that hard to come by, but these are some of the ones we tested, and they work.
Let us know what you think of the smoking boxes we selected and if we have missed any of your favorites.
Is it best to have a smoker box with just holes in the lid? Or is it best to have holes on the sides also?