People often associate high prices with high quality. However, it’s not always the case, especially when it comes to smokers for smoking trout. You will find quality smokers at an affordable price with convenient features such as portability and producing less smoke.
Yes, it is possible to get that authentic southern BBQ test on your trout. Smokers are available in various types, such as a gas smoker and electric smoker, a barrel smoker a vertical gas smoker, or a pellet tube smoker. This guide will help you know how to choose and the various affordable options of the smoker for smoking trout.
Our top picks for the best smoker for smoking trout include:
1. Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker
2. Nordic Ware Indoor/Outdoor Kettle Smoker
3. Char-Griller Side Fire Box and Table Top Charcoal Grill
4. Grill Pro 16-Inch Smoker
5. Char-Griller Patio Pro
6. Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker and Charcoal Grill
7. Americana Electric Water Smoker and Grill
8. Weber’s Jumbo Joe Grill
9. Smokehouse Little Chief Smoker
10. Pingji Oven Block Furnace
Best Smoker for Smoking Trout for Under $100
1. Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker
Masterbuilt Charcoal Buller Smoker offers a cooking space of 395.4sq inches. This is an ideal size for many users, especially the ones who may go camping by the lakeside or hunting trips. It is a little bullet smoker that uses charcoal, which is loaded through the front access door.
You can read the smoker’s temperature with the help of the built-in lid thermometer.Masterbuilt Charcoal Buller Smoker comes with two smoking racks, a water bowl, and a charcoal pan, which are coated with porcelain. You do not have to season the pan due to this coating. It is easy to assemble and fire up.
Key Features
- The cooker has a porcelain-coated water bowl, charcoal pan, and two smoking racks.
- It has a front access door for loading charcoal
- It offers a small unit print, which makes it easily portable.
- There is a built-in lid thermometer to help measure and regulate the temperature.
Best Fit For
- Someone looking to save on space and cost
- An angler out on fishing expeditions. Hunters as well can use it to smoke game
- A small family of about four people. The smoker will be able to provide ample servings for them
- A beginner smoker could also use it to develop their skill.
2. Nordic Ware Indoor/Outdoor Kettle Smoker
The Nordic Ware Kettle Smoker is efficient for use in an outdoor fishing expedition and indoor grilling. It is easy to use and portable to facilitate use in different locations. The smoker has a high dome cover to provide ample space for larger trout.
Nordic Ware Kettle Smoker has a smoking rack, base pan, and water pan, which enhances the smoky taste on your trout. The package comes with wood chips, a thermometer, and a recipe booklet to help you explore various dishes. You are advised not to cook the kettle on high heat. The temperature limit should be around 190 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit.
Key Features
- Has a high dome cover to facilitate maximum capacity
- There is a temperature limit of 190 to 210 degrees Fahrenheit
- It comes with a thermometer to read the temperature
- The smoker has a medium footprint to offer portability and flexibility for indoor/outdoor use
- The package comes with a recipe booklet.
Best Fit For
- A family looking for an indoor smoker that doesn’t fill your house with smoke
- Someone looking for a medium-sized smoker. Not too large and not too small
- Beginner and intermediate user as it is easy to use.
3. Char-Griller Side Fire Box and Table Top Charcoal Grill
This Char-Griller features a horizontal smoker designed for Texas-style smoking and a tabletop grill. It is easy to switch back and forth between the grill and the smoker. You can quickly load charcoal and clean it up, thanks to the presence of a sliding drawer. This drawer has a removable ash pan to help dump the coal ash and a handle that is heat resistant.
The unit is made of heavy steel and cooking grates cast with iron for durability. You can control the heat thanks to the two adjustable dampers available. It is not heavy and has a small unit space to facilitate easy movements. Its main cooking surface measures 250 square inches.
Key Features
- Presence of two adjustable dampers for heat control
- It is built with heavy steel and iron cooking grates for durability
- Sliding drawer that contains a removable ash pan to clean out the ash and a heat resistant handle to load coals
- The unit consists of a tabletop grill and a Texas-style smoker. You can easily switch between these two
- The unit is light and portable
Best Fit For
- Someone looking for portable outdoor grilling and smoking, for example, smoking trout
- Use it as a side firebox
4. Grill Pro 16-Inch Smoker
The Grill Pro 16-Inch Smoker is a vertical smoker that is known as the traditional smoker model or smoking style. This style helps your trout to achieve a perfect barbeque. It has a diameter of 16 inches on its two cooking grids. It also has a heat indicator mounted on the lead, which makes it convenient for you to monitor and regulate the smoker’s temperature.
The charcoal bowl and water bowl are coated with porcelain to prevent getting smoke stains. There is a charcoal access door that you use to load the charcoal and clean out the ash. It weighs 22 pounds, measures 8 inches in width, and its 16-inch diameter and height make it easy to carry around.
Key Features
- It has a charcoal and water bowl coated with porcelain
- There is a heat indicator mounted on the lid
- It is a vertical smoker which is the traditional smoking style
- It has two cooking grids that measure 16 inches in diameter
- There is a charcoal access door to load charcoal and dump out the ash
- It is a light and small unit
Best Fit For
- Anyone who intends to smoke their trout by the lakeside, riverside, or when camping around any water body
- Anyone looking for a smoker with a small/medium unit footprint
5. Char-Griller Patio Pro
The Patio Pro is another durable and reliable smoker unit from reputable manufacturers, Char-Griller. This smoker gets its durability from heavy-duty stainless-steel material used to build it and use of iron cast grills. It offers a cooking space that measures 250 square inches.
Char-Griller Patio Pro has a drawer that holds the ash pan, and all you have to do when cleaning out the ash is to pull it out and dump the ash. You do not have to tip your grill over or go through greasy grills to dump out the ash. The smoker has a wheel, which makes it convenient to move them around. It also offers more storage room thanks to the bottom storage rack and wooden side shelf.
Key Features
- It is built from heavy-duty steel. The grill has been iron cast
- It offers a cooking space of 250 square feet
- There is a removable ash pan, which makes it easy to clean
- It has wheels attached for easier movements
- There is a bottom storage rack and wooden side shelf
- It features a double bottom
- It has adjustable dampers
Best Fit For
- Smoking your trout on a small deck or patio
- Anyone looking for a grill with ample storage room
6. Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker and Charcoal Grill
The Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker and Charcoal Grill is a model that is easy to set up and use for a family or friend barbeque. It will take a short time to heat up, and it will distribute the heat evenly and is good at retaining heat.
This model gets these heat properties from its cooking grates, which are made from porcelain ware. The heat helps to make your trout and other meat juicy, tender and gets a good smoky taste.
You can adjust this heat using the charcoal pan, which has two adjustable levels. The main lid has a thermometer, which lets you measure the temperature within the smoker. It also has two wheels which make it very portable.
Key Features
- Adjustable vent to control airflow
- Thermometer built on the unit’s lid to measure temperature
- It has two racks for storage, one underneath and another at the front
- Two wheels to increase portability
- Porcelain wire cooking grates for heat properties
- There is a charcoal pan with two adjustable levels to control the temperature
Best Fit For
- Someone looking for a smoker with great heat properties
- Outdoor use, for example, on a patio or by the lake
- Multi-purpose use in terms of grilling and smoking
7. Americana Electric Water Smoker and Grill
The Americana Electric Water Smoker and Grill has a chimney-like design. It has tight-fitting doors and a vented lid that fits loosely. The model’s design creates maximum flavor in the trout. The smoke flows constantly, and this exposes the trout to new smoke.
It is possible to regulate the smoke flow within the smoker without having to put out the source. You will need to close all the vents and let the smoke vent around the hood’s perimeter. The slower you cook the trout, the more juicy, tender and flavorful it gets. It’s hood and base interlock to convert the unit into a portable electric grill.
Key Features
- Its cooking space is 351 square inches
- There is a built-in temperature gauge
- It has a chimney design: the tight-fitting doors and the loose-fitting lid help to regulate the smoke flow
- Water pan of 5.5 quarts
- There are sliding access doors on the model to perform various functions, such as adding wood chips and water
- It has heat resistant wooden hood handles
- Interlocking hood and base. This helps to convert it to a portable electric grill
Best Fit For
- Outdoor use. Please avoid using this smoker indoors as it could be dangerous.
8. Weber’s Jumbo Joe Grill
This is a compact and lightweight charcoal grill. You can use it on the go, for example, when you are camping by the lakeside. The model can accommodate up to 8 burgers, which are made using a burger press made by Weber.
Its lid and bowls are enameled with porcelain to prevent rusting and peeling. This material also helps the smoker grill to retain heat. It is easy to assemble, and its lid lock also acts as a lid holder when you choose to tuck and carry the grill.
You can also regulate the temperature inside the grill using the Dampens.
Key Features
- It is lightweight and compact, which makes it ideal for use on the go
- There are dampers that you can rely on to control the grill’s temperature
- The bowl and lid are coated with porcelain. Prevents peeling, rust, and retains heat
- It has an ash collector made of aluminum
- The charcoal grate is made from heavy gauge steel which makes it durable
- The lid handle does not conduct heat
Best Fit For
- Use on the go, for example, on a fishing and camping expedition
9. Smokehouse Little Chief Smoker
Smokehouse Little Chief Smoker is an electric smoker suitable for smoking all kinds of game, including trout, pork, beef poultry and more. The package includes a flavor pan, smoker, grilling racks and electric cord. You will smoke your trout in two easy steps. The first is the actual smoking process which relies on wood chips to get the flavor on the trout.
Drying is the second and last step. You will dry the trout to your liking and unplug the cord once you are done. This smoker is made of synthetic aluminum, which makes it durable. You can smoke up to 50 pounds of fish and 20 pounds of trout.
Key Features
- It comes with a flavor fuel pan
- The smoker is well vented. This enhances the dehydration of the trout
- Its drip pan is safe to use in the dishwasher
- The smoker’s heat is non-adjustable. Its normal temperature is 165 degrees Fahrenheit
- Four chrome-plated grills are easy to use as you simply slide them in and out of the cooker
- It comes with a recipe booklet
Best Fit For
- Outdoor smoking
- Smoking larger trout, for example, for a family gathering of friends meet up.
10. Pingji Oven Block Furnace
The Pingji Oven Block Furnace is a round, portable red smoker and grill. It is durable despite its lightweight, delicate, and smooth characteristics. The smoker retains good heat and conducts it well to facilitate smoking and grilling.
It is made using cold rolled and high-temperature steel. The unit is available in two sizes: the 14-inch diameter model and the 17-inch diameter model. You will be able to get 3 to 4 servings with the 14-inch smoker and 5 to 8 servings with the 17-inch smoker.
Key Features
- It is lightweight, smooth, and delicate
- It is available in two sizes, 14 inches, and 17-inch diameter
- Retains and conducts heat well
- It is made from highly durable steel
Best Fit For
- Someone looking for a portable and durable smoker for smoking trout.
Price Summary Table
| Smoker | Price |
| Masterbuilt Charcoal Bullet Smoker | $72.97 |
| Nordic Ware Indoor/Outdoor Kettle Smoker | $99.98 |
| Char-Griller Side Fire Box and Table Top Charcoal Grill | $82.00 |
| Grill Pro 16-Inch Smoker | $84.97 |
| Char-Griller Patio Pro | $78.99 |
| Royal Gourmet Offset Smoker and Charcoal Grill | $96.99 |
| Americana Electric Water Smoker and Grill | $79.99 |
| Weber’s Jumbo Joe Grill | $69.99 |
| Smokehouse Little Chief Smoker | $92.83 |
| Pingji Oven Block Furnace | $89.00 |
Final Word and Summary
What to Consider When Selecting the Best Smoker for Smoking Trout
You should set a guiding criterion to help you select the best smoker for you. The following are some of the factors you need to consider.
1. Cost
The cost of the smoker is among the first factors you should consider. Your budget ultimately determines which smoker you will settle for. As much as price is a major factor compared to the price of a product against its properties to determine your value for money.
2. Material
The material used in the smoker is important as it determines aspects like durability. You should also note the material used on various handles to note how well they conduct heat for your safety.
3. Thermostat
You want to be able to adjust the grill’s temperature for various needs. We advise that you select a smoker that lets you adjust or regulate its temperature. Consider getting one with a thermometer for easier temperature readings and regulations.
4. Maintenance and Cleaning
How easily can you clean out your smoker? In the past, people had to go through the greasy grills or knock the smoker over to clean it. Nowadays, there are removable ash pans to make cleaning easier.
5. Unit Footprint
The smoker’s unit footprint refers to its size. If you intend to move around with your smoker, you may want to get one with a small to medium unit footprint.