Who doesn’t like delicious smoked fish, whether it’s smoked salmon or any other fish? You simply cannot ignore smoked fish. Most smokers can smoke any type of meat and fish. But it is better to have a fish smoker that keeps a constant temperature and gives you more temperature control.
So, where to find a perfect smoker for fish? Well, no need to worry because today in this guide, we will run down and review the 6 best Smoker for fish.
The contemporary fish smoker is essentially a regular BBQ smoker used for cooking food with the added advantage of excellent smoked tastes, as it was traditionally done in a smokehouse.
Nowadays, a wide range of home smokers is available for purchase, including specialized charcoal, electric, and gas models, as we will see below.
Common Types of Fish Smokers
Before rushing down to the list of the best Smoker for fish, lets us see different types of fish smokers. Commonly there are four types of fish smokers.
1. Gas Smokers
Gas smokers are fuelled by both propane and natural gas. In many ways, a propane or natural gas smoker is similar to an electric smoker in that it is simple to use and smokes much faster than other fuel sources.
Furthermore, they are quite simple to use. After connecting the gas, simply toss the fish on and adjust the heat to the desired level, and the fish will gently smoke.
2. Charcoal smoker
The most common type of available Smoker for fish in the market is Charcoal smoker. These types of smokers are used widely and are famous for slow smoking.
Once you’ve mastered the finest charcoal grill smokers, you can fine-tune the smoke flavor density you desire from mild to intense.
As a consequence, the smoked fish tastes the most genuine. Interestingly smoking mackerel and other oily/fatty fish is a breeze with them. Another significant advantage of charcoal smokers is the ease with which they can be found at a reasonable price without sacrificing any of their Smokey flavors.
3. Electric Smoker
In case using gas and charcoal to smoke fish feels bothersome or painful, then the electric Smoker is the best option to go for. Temperature control options for electric smokers include analog (rheostatic controller) and digital (thermostatic controller).
Insert the fish in the Smoker, change the settings as needed, and walk away. Many individuals who want a simple way to smoke their fish will like this hands-off technique, albeit the flavor isn’t nearly as genuine as when using charcoal or wood.
4. Wood Pellet smoker
Wood pellet smoker or commonly known as a pellet smoker, is another alternative way to smoke fish. Pellet smokers are ideal for smoking fish because of the low and constant heat they produce.
Additionally, they retain temperature effectively, and while they are not as “set and forget” as electric smokers, they are one of the easiest to operate and maintain.
A wood smoker is the best technique to obtain authentic, smoky-flavored results when smoking fish and poultry. In fact, the flavor that various woods provide to smoked meals is so appealing that you can buy kiln-dried wood chips, chunks, and pellets to use in combination with smoker boxes and smoker tubes to transfer the seductive scent and flavor of wood to charcoal, gas, and electric smokers.
Top 6 Smokers for Fish
1. Z GRILLS ZPG-450A 2020 Upgrade Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker
Weight and dimension
The Z GRILLS ZPG-450A comes at a dimension of 45 x 28 x 49 inches with a weight of 45 x 28 x 49 inches with a weight of 84 pounds.
Description
The Z GRILLS ZPG-450A is one of the best wood pellet smokers out there. For over 30 years, Z Grills has been producing high-quality pellet smokers, and this model exemplifies the attention to detail that goes into each pellet grill.
This pellet smoker from the Z Grills can immerse fish with a profound smokey taste. That’s not only it, this pellet smoker has a temperature controlling system along with controls which are really easy-to-use. The most notable feature about this Smoker is the flavor profile it adds to your fish.
Pellet grills employ all-natural hardwood as a fuel source, resulting in an unrivaled flavor. In addition, unlike gas or charcoal grills, pellet grills offer a temperature range that can be adjusted, providing for 8-in-1 flexibility. That means you can use the same grill to smoke a rack of ribs slowly, grill a wood-fired pizza quickly, and even bake a berry cobbler.
Once you’ve selected the temperature, Z Grills pellet grills will take care of the rest. As a result, there is no time-consuming start-up. In addition, for consistent results, the PID technology maintains the lowest temperature possible throughout your cooking. Furthermore, this Smoker offers a temperature range of 180° to 450° F, allowing you to cook any type of fish.
Pros:
- Rich and Smokey flavor
- Very easy to use
- Cost-effective
- Comes with a grill cover
- Has a 8-in-1 function
Cons:
- A bit heavy
Final Verdict
The Z GRILLS ZPG-450A is an excellent pellet smoker. It has a great temperature range which allows you to cook smoked salmon or any other fish of your choice. Despite being a pellet smoker, it is a versatile smoker that has an 8-in-1 feature.
2. Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker, Charcoal Smoker
Weight and dimension
The Weber 14-inch smokey mountain cooker has a dimension of 21 x 19 x 41 inches with a weight of 39 pounds.
Description
The Weber smokey mountain smoker is a must to have for all those campers and crazy travelers who like to enjoy nature with some delicious smoked fish.
The Weber smokey Mountain Cooker is made of great steel. It also incorporates two smoking racks which are nickel plated and easy to clean.
Additionally, the weber smoker is extremely lightweight, weighing only 39 pounds, and is equipped with a front thermometer to check the inside temperature and maintain a stable temperature.
What we like the most is that it maintains a consistent temperature and is perfect for smoking fish at lower temperatures. It maintains a consistent temperature and is perfect for smoking slow smoking fish at lower temperatures.
This charcoal smoker allows you to recreate the taste of a real smokehouse at home. Along with fish smoking, It can also hold a full turkey and a whole ham simultaneously.
The additional taste of the charcoal smoke is a plus and one of the main reasons we think this is one of the best fish smokers. In addition, it has a sturdy base and can adapt to damp surfaces like wet grass because of its robust construction and rust-resistant metal legs.
Pros:
- Compact design hence easy to carry
- The cooking racks are nickel plated
- Comes in different size options
- This Smoker comes with a thermometer for easy temperature control
- Includes an easy user manual guide
Cons:
- Complete closed design, so you cannot see the food while cooking
Final verdict
This Smoker is a camper’s dream come true! With a weight of fewer than 40 pounds, you can take this tiny gentleman on all of your outdoor adventures. Fill the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker with coals or rocks, then sit back and relax.
This charcoal smoker is for crazy adventurous individuals who always like to go outside camping or even smoke fish inside the flat.
3. Masterbuilt 20077515 Front Controller Electric Smoker
Weight and dimension
The Masterbuilt 20077515 has a dimension of 18.1 x 19.3 x 33.7 inches with a weight of 63 pounds.
Description
The Masterbuilt Smoker belongs to our list of best Smoker for fish because this is undoubtedly one of the best electric smokers out there. Slow-cooked food has long been a go-to for outdoor cookouts because of its rich, full taste.
The Masterbuilt 30-inch electric digital smokehouse makes the grilling smokehouse flavor a breeze. This electric digital Smoker not only features a blue led display for easy reading in bright sunlight, but it also has four chrome cooking racks with approximately 700 square inches of total cooking area.
A new drip deflector and front-access drip pan are also included with this smokehouse.
A most innovative feature of this electric Smoker is the radio frequency remote allows you to turn the smokehouse on or off with the touch of a button. Hence, you can easily control this Smoker even from a distance.
This model not only monitors the Smoker’s internal temperature but also allows you to monitor the temperature of the meal using a meat probe thermometer to determine when the fish is done. This is an excellent smoker for freshwater fishes as well as sea fishes.
It includes a grilling or finishing rod in addition to a smoker, so you can smoke your fish, slather on some wonderful sauce, and broil it. Without having to open the smoker door while cooking, you may load the wood chips from the side.
Pros:
- It has a large cooking capacity.
- It comes with RF technology and Bluetooth connectivity
- Has a window; hence you can check the food while it
- is cooking
- The inside light allows you to watch your food smoke when you wish to check on the cooking process.
- The locking door keeps the smoky flavor inside the Smoker
Cons:
- Low-temperature range
Final Verdict
In search for one of the best electric fish smokers, our search came into the Masterbuilt 20077515. With this Masterbuilt Bluetooth-ready Smoker, you can smoke into the future.
This model also includes a patented side-loader for loading wood chips, which means no one other has this feature. This Smoker’s window design is not only lovely to look at, but it also functions as an air-tight insulator, keeping the heat in.
4. Camp Chef XXL Vertical Pellet Grill and Smoker (PGVXXL)
Weight and dimension
The Camp Chef XXL has a dimension of 24 x 55 x 15.5 inches with a weight of 136 pounds.
Description
The Camp Chef XXL Pellet Smoker combines a pellet grill and a smoke vault into one single wood pellet smoke. Featuring four meat racks and three jerky racks, you’ll never be hungry for your favorite dishes.
It has Smart Smoke Technology, which assures the right quantity of smoke and a consistent temperature while smoking fish, and a digital display with a controller and a folding tray. It also adds heat, so if sausage is on the menu, it’ll have hooks ready for them.
The most likable feature of this Smoker is the amount of technology it has in it. It has digital temperature controls with two gauges that accurately sense the temperature.
Moreover, digital controls assist and manage heat and have a temperature range of 150 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Smart smoke technology, an ash cleanout system, and a grease management system are among its other notable features.
Pros:
- Comes with digital temperature control
- Large temperature range
- Ash cleaning system
- Huge cooking capacity
- It has wheels to move it around.
Cons:
- Is quite expensive
Final verdict
For those who are searching for the perfect Smoker for fish for the family, the Camp Chef XXL is the one. The total cooking area in this smoker is 1,950 square inches. Consequently, there is no need to monitor the Smoker to retain the heat and create the right amount of smoke thanks to Camp Chef’s digital temperature control and Smart Smoke Technology. It is easier to keep a careful eye on the fish or meat with a dual meat temperature probe.
5. Dyna-Glo DGO1176BDC-D Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker
Weight and dimension
The Dyna-Glo offset charcoal smoker has a dimension of 20.2 x 34.52 x 47.03 inches with a weight of 57 pounds.
Description
The Dyna-Glo Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker produces a genuinely unique flavor and offers a variety of personalized cooking choices. In addition, you will get a large cooking area of 1,175 square inches in this smoker, allowing you to prepare a wide array of foods at once.
Furthermore, this model has an offset smoker box that keeps direct heat away from your food, resulting in consistent heat.
Simultaneously, the adjustable smokestack and side dampers work together to enhance airflow and heat transfer in the central cooking chamber. Hence, you can have delicious smoked fish in no time.
What we enjoy best about this Smoker is how long it lasts and how simple it is to use. Some of the greatest offset smoker models on the market are their vertical charcoal smokers. This is one of the greatest charcoal smokers we’ve tested, with a smoking capacity of 25 lbs per smoking rack.
The adjustable flue in the smokestack allows for more flavor and temperature control. A stainless steel thermometer is built-in with an adjustable flue. The ‘Smoke Zone’ shows the optimal temperature for infusing smoke flavor and easy-to-read gauge aid in the preparation of properly smoked meats.
Pros:
- Large cooking space of 1,175 square inches
- The cooking grates have a 6-height adjustable system
- Works with charcoal to give the bets smoky flavor
- A smoke zone indicator is included
- The build is solid and robust
Cons:
- Very bulky
Final verdict
Without going to a very expensive restaurant, this Dyna-Glo smoker may help get that professional smokehouse flavor. With such a high-performance backyard smoking just feet away, crack the door of your Dyna-Glo anytime you want, whether it’s rain, shine, or snow.
6. Char-Broil Standard Digital Electric Smoker
Weight and dimension
The Char-Broil electric smoker has a dimension of 16.5 x 18.1 x 32.5 inches with a weight of 46.3 pounds.
Description
The Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker is ideal for smokers who need plenty of areas to cook for big gatherings. Furthermore, this Smoker provides the outdoor cook total control over their smoked cuisine thanks to fire access doors, air dampers, and four smoking racks.
What we enjoy best is that it has a massive 725 sq. in. of cooking surface spread across three distinct cooking grates, allowing you to cook for up to 8 people at once. This Smoker is definitely the best because of the insulated double-wall structure. Thanks to the hassle-free design, the Char-Broil electric smoker is ten times more efficient with wood chips to obtain the ultimate smoky taste on your fish.
With its washable and detachable integrated meat probe, the Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker eliminates the guesswork from smoking.
Simply place the probe into the meat or fish, and the Smoker will notify you when it has reached the predetermined internal temperature. As a consequence, you’ll have perfectly smoked salmon or any other seafood you choose.
Pros:
- Easier to use compared to a charcoal smoker
- Large cooking space
- Comes with a meat probe
- It has an 8.5-Cup High-Capacity Grease Tray
- Large locking Latch
Cons:
- The Smoker becomes quite hot while using.
Final Verdict
The Char-Broil basic digital electric Smoker is the best choice for a fish smoker that’s both easy to operate and affordable.
Moreover, it meets all of the essential criteria of a decent fish smoker, such as low-temperature smoking, steady heat supply, and precise temperature indicator, without breaking the bank.
Buying Guide for the best Smoker for fish
While choosing the best Smoker for fish, it is important to keep few points in the head which will distinguish between the best fish smoker and a regular smoker for fish.
Build Quality
Build quality and the materials used in the construction of a fish smoker are really important. Fish smokers are not that cheap. Hence, it is important that the Smoker is durable and long-lasting.
The exterior shell and grates should be made of insulative but durable material in terms of materials. Therefore, stainless steel and cast iron are two of the most important elements to search for. Stainless steel, in particular, is a superb choice because of its resistance to corrosion and rust.
Cooking Space
Commercial units are available for high-volume production, but keep the family size in mind when choosing a smoker for home. Additionally, it’s a good idea to choose a unit that’s somewhat larger than what you’ll need for home.
A 400 to 600 square inches cooking surface is plenty for a family smoker sometimes to prepare a few filets for a family gathering. For big parties, however, a minimum of 700 square inches is advised.
Temperature and heat control
As filets are so quickly burned, the Smoker should be able to regulate the temperature range easily. Fish smoking, unlike grilling, necessitates low, constant, and well-controlled temperatures. The smoke, on the other hand, should be more intense.
Additionally, everyone loves hot smoking fish. So, for the smokiness to be effectively infused in the fish and for it to be cooked through evenly, both heat and smoke must be carefully managed. In such a scenario, use a unit that can be adjusted to as low as 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
Hence, it’s great if the Smoker has numerical heat control levels.
Maintenance
To make sure that the fish smoker stays well and is durable over long years of usage, there is a need for proper maintenance. Cleaning your fish smoker on a regular basis, oiling it as needed, and protecting it from the elements by not leaving it out in the sun or rain can help extend its life and ensure that your fish smoker lasts for years.
Ease of use
Not all fish smokers are easy to use, and some require additional hard work compared to other models. For example, gas and electric smokers are much easier to use than traditional gas smokers.
Smoking fish at home may appear to be a difficult process, but with the appropriate equipment, it should be simple. You shouldn’t need assistance, and you shouldn’t have to be an expert while smoking a fish.
Conclusion
The temptation of having a delicious smoked fish can be luring to anyone. But to make the perfect hot smoked fish, a fish smoker is very much important. So whether it’s smoked salmon or tilapia, the most important step is finding a perfect smoker.
Hence, today in this guide, there is a rundown of the best six smokers for fish which our experts handpick among many other available choices in the market.
Make sure to pick the best Smoker which matches the requirements and preferences you have.1
