A smoke box for charcoal grill is easy to find. However, today we’re talking about smoking food using your gas grill.
The best smoker box for gas grill will add that extra authenticity to your BBQ as it allows you to get the full flavours you’d find if you were using a traditional grill with coals.
Yes, your food will taste delicious cooked on a gas grill, but that extra smoked flavor attained from wood chips will take your cooking to a whole other level.
Today, we’ll take a look at boxes that would provide an excellent smoke and last a long time. So have a read on.
List Of SMOKER BOX FOR GAS GRILL
- Cave Tools Stainless Steel Smoker Box
- Grillaholics Smoker Box
- Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box
- Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
- Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
COMPARISON CHART FOR BEST SMOKER BOX FOR GAS GRILLS
| IMAGE | PRODUCT | price |
|---|---|---|
  | our Top Pick Cave Tools Stainless Steel Smoker Box
| |
  | Grillaholics Smoker Box
| |
  | Charcoal Companion Stainless Steel V-Shape Smoker Box
| |
  | Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
| |
  | Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
|
5 Best Smoker Boxes for Gas Grills Reviews
1. Cave Tools Stainless Steel Smoker Box
Cave Tools have made a big play on their smoker box having superior strength and greater durability than their competitors. The words are emblazoned in large letters across the packaging.
It is certainly true that out of the packaging, the smoker box looks thicker than any others we have seen and is up to a couple of hundred grams heavier (excluding cast-iron products). What does this mean, though, in grilling terms?
The thickness will not improve the smoke you get, but the Cave Tools smoker box will warp less quickly than its other stainless-steel rivals.
This box comes with 10 holes on the top – fewer holes in total than any other box we will look at. A few more would allow better air circulation and more smoke.
However, if you tend to find your chips catching fire, the lack of extra holes around the side will help prevent this.
Pros
- Made from thick, sturdy stainless steel
- Wood chips lit in 10 minutes
- Single hinge pin runs across the whole box
- Can get an hour of good smoke per refill
Cons
- Better with smaller wood chips, not large chunks
- Flat bottomed works less well with some Weber grills.
2. Grillaholics Smoker Box
We will be honest from the outset – this is a good smoker box so long as you aren’t using a Weber grill with flavorizer bars. With the holes around the side of this box, you are more prone to setting fire to wood chips on a Weber than you are on Grills from other brands.
This box is most comparable to the Cave Tools box. As we said, it comes with extra holes for better smoke distribution. However, while it is a sturdy box, it is less durable than the Cave Tools option.
The advantage it has over the Cave Tools box is that it is cheaper. If you look after it and don’t use it under the most intense temperatures, you may get value for money. But given the option, we’d spend a few extra dollars on the Cave Tools smoker because of its durability.
Pros
- Well built, heavy-duty stainless steel box
- Smoking fully within 10 to 12 minutes
- 12 holes on top with more around sides
- Works equally well with gas and electric grills
Cons
- Warps faster than Cave Tools box
- The lid becomes difficult to open after a few months
- Works poorly with Weber grills
3. Charcoal Companion StainlessSteel V-Shape Smoker Box
Finally, a product that works well with Weber grills! Best of all, it acts as a Weber Genesis smoker box but doesn’t come at Weber prices.
Yes, this V-Shape smoker box will sit perfectly under a grill grate, nestling between flavorizer bars (Weber) or the flame deflector bars other brands use. However, at 13.2 inches, it may be too big to suit certain Char-Broil models.
As with the Cave Tools box, this one has holes solely on top. Unlike the Cave Tools box, it has holes in abundance. That makes this box great at distributing smoke evenly, and, as there are no holes on the bottom, you stand less chance of chips catching fire.
An additional benefit of no holes other than the top is that it will keep your grill cleaner. Ashes have nowhere to fall out from.
Overall, this is our favorite of the stainless steel smoker boxes.
Pros
- Works brilliantly with Weber grills
- Fully smoking within 5 to 10 minutes
- Soaked chips last between 30-45 minutes at 225F
- Hinged lid for easy refills during long smokes
Cons
- Can sit too low under the grate in some grills
- Smoke flow can get too high at 250F+
- Best on a grill with flame deflector bars
4. Weber 7576 Universal Stainless Steel Smoker Box
The battle for the best stainless steel smoker box is a close race between this one and the offering from Charcoal Companion.
So how do we determine which is best?
Well, let’s say they are equally good, and it comes more down to your own personal cooking preferences as to which one you choose.
If you prefer a smoker box to sit under the grill grate, go with the Charcoal Companion option. If you want one that sits above the grill grate, go with this smoker box from Weber.
Additionally, for lower temperature, slower smoked cooks, you will do well with the Charcoal Companion box. But if you want to use heat above 250F, we encourage you to opt for the Weber.
Just be sure to keep an eye on this Weber box, and some water handy, because your chips can easily light, and you’ll want to extinguish those flames quickly.
Pros
- Made from durable, thick stainless steel
- Hinge lid can be flipped open with tongs
- Perfect amount of ventilation and smoke production
- Works well with hot and low temperatures
Cons
- Designed to sit above the grate only
- Chips catch fire more frequently
5. Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box
We’ve been very specific about the Charcoal Companion and Weber smoker boxes being the best stainless steel options available. That’s because the best smoker box available is not made from stainless steel at all – it is this cast iron smoker box for gas grill from Char-Broil.
This box does everything better than the others being more durable, better at withstanding high temperatures, and producing a steadier smoke to ensure the flavors produced are perfect.
Best of all, this box is comparatively better value for money than the other boxes as it is both cheaper and has the potential to outlast even your grill in terms of longevity. You’ve just got to treat it right.
That, right there, is the key point. To treat cast iron right, you need to know what to do with cast iron. You will hear tails of cast iron pots being passed down from generation to generation – but you’ll also see reviews of cast iron rusting in double-quick time.
Yes, cast iron rusts if you don’t know how to season it or don’t have the time for seasoning.
Therefore, while this is the best smoker box you can buy, you shouldn’t buy it if you are not confident you will be able to season it properly and take good care of it.
Pros
- Cast iron will warp less and last longer if properly seasoned
- Produces a beautiful, steady smoke
- Works well even at high heats
- Lid design reduced the number of chip fires
Cons
- Cast iron rusts quickly if improperly seasoned
- Very heavy compared to stainless steel
What Is A Smoker Box?
If you want to get that wonderful smoked flavor into your cooked foods, you need a smoker box for your gas grill.
Smoker boxes are small metal containers with holes in them that you place either under the grill grates and above the burners or on top of the grates, depending on the brand being used. This box turns the grill into a smoker.
Inside the smoker box, you will place wood chips and anything else you wish to flavor the smoke with. The smoke escapes through the holes in the box and flavors the food.
The smoking process can usually start around ten minutes of having the burners up high under the smoker box.
How To Choose A Smoker Box?
To get that perfect smokeyflavor, a few factors are considered when buying the best smoker box for gas grill.
Cast Iron versus Stainless steel
The first decision to make is about the material of your smoker. Both cast iron and stainless steel have their benefits. From a pure flavor and cooking perspective, we’d opt for cast iron for all our cookware, and that includes smoker boxes.
Cast iron always increases the flavor in cooking and offers greater heat retention. That should lead to tastier food and a smoker box that stays hotter and smokier for longer.
However, stainless steel also has the advantage of convenience. Stainless steel will heat much more quickly than cast iron, which means you’ll be smoking faster and is also much easier to clean.
There is also the issue of what you will be placing in the smoker. If you are just using wood chips and not doing anything fancy, then cast iron is the best option.
However, if you intend to add unique flavors to your smoke, you would be better off with stainless steel. That’s because stainless steel can be washed and scrubbed so that flavors can be removed. On the other hand, cast iron tends to retain old smells and flavors as it isn’t meant to be put through a rigorous cleaning process.
Size
There are many reasons to check the size.
The first reason is that you need to make sure the smoker box fits the gas grill you are using.
Some smoker boxes are designed to sit between grill grate and burners, and therefore you will need to ensure the box you buy isn’t greater than the space we just mentioned.
Other smoker boxes can sit on the grates, so you need to check the size is enough that the grill lid can close.
Finally, you want to try and get as big a smoker box as you can so that you can smoke for longer. If you need to keep opening the lid to replace wood chips, you are losing both heat and flavor.
Shape
If you want a smoker box to sit under the grate between burner protectors, you should opt for a V-shape box like the Charcoal Companion option.
Flat-bottomed boxes are better for sitting above the grate.
Ventilation
Ventilation is important when getting the smokebox started.
However, boxes with holes that are too large, or holes around the side, can lead to too much oxygen circulation, leading to chip fires.
Check the reviews to see how prone a box is to catching light. If you aren’t someone who keeps full attention on the grill, you may want to opt for a less fire-prone box.
FAQ
How to Use a Smoker Box?
Step 1: Preheat the gas grill
Ramp up the burners to maximum and get the grill as hot as possible. This should take about 10 to 15 minutes.
If you are worried about the grill is hotter than you want, you can do this on a lower flame. However, you will have to wait longer for your wood chips to ignite.
You may not need all your burners on while cooking. You will be able to turn off the burners you don’t need to use once the grill is hot enough and the smoking has started.
Step 2: Prepare the smoker box
Load your smoker box up with wood chips and close it up.
Step 3: Place your smoker box
With the grill preheated, place your smoker box over one of the lit burners (either below the grate or above the grate, depending on the instructions given for your brand of smoker box. Depending on the cooking method being used, you can turn the other burners off.
Step 4: Close the lid
Close the lid and adjust the burner, so you achieve a temperature between 225 to 250F (red meat) or 250 to 300F (poultry) within the grill. As the temperature gets to requirement, the woodchips should ignite and start smoking. If it doesn’t, wait a while longer until the smoke begins.
Can You Add A Smoker Box To Any Grill?
If the smoker box fits in the grill, and you can create enough heat to ignite the woodchips and keep the box smoking, you can add the smoker box to the grill.
Another key factor in determining if a smoker box can be used is lid quality on your grill. It should be good enough to keep the smoke and heat within the grill to maximize the amount of smokeyflavor.
Is Cast Iron Or Stainless Steel Better For A Smoker Box?
You can use either type of material for a smoker box.
Stainless steel will heat faster and be easier to clean than a cast-iron box.
Cast iron will retain heat longer and maximize the amount of flavor in your cooking compared to stainless steel.
Therefore, it can be said that each type of material has its own set of positives, and it is down to your preference and which one is more suitable for your needs, rather than one being better than the other.
How Do You Build A Smoker Box On A Gas Grill?
You can make a DIY smoker box using a foil pan. Add wood chips to the pan, and cover this with aluminum foil. Ensure to poke holes in the aluminum foil so that smoke can be released.
Once ready, place the pan over an unlit burner, and put the grates over it. Put your burners on high, and then close the lid. Once you see smoke, get the grill to temperature, and add your food.
The drawback of this method is you won’t be able to top up the wood chips. You will need to add a new foil pan of fresh chips and get them smoking if needed.
Final Verdict
The best smoker box for gas grill is the Char-Broil Cast Iron Smoker Box.
It reigns supreme because cast iron is, quite simply, the best material you can find for cooking with.
However, if you have issues maintaining cast iron (yes, it can be complicated), opt for the stainless steel options from either Weber or Charcoal Companion. Both are outstanding options that stand head and shoulders above the other stainless steel competitors.
