Smokers are a type of outdoor cooking appliance that cooks meat by smoking it, and a must-have item for anyone that likes to host barbecues and summer parties. They allow you to make delicious smoked dishes like brisket and imbue the meat with that wonderful, smoky, authentic barbeque flavor.
There are lots of different smoker brands to choose from, but Pit Boss is undoubtedly one of the best. The more important question is: which Pit Boss smoker should you buy? To help you decide, we’ve done the research for you and reviewed and compared all of their most popular products.
If you’re interested in buying a Pit Boss brand smoker, read on and check out our in-depth Pit Boss smoker reviews.
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Why Choose Pit Boss?
Pit Boss is recognized as one of the leading grill and smoker manufacturers on the market - and for good reason. Here are just some of the key features that Pit Boss are famous for:
Pit Boss Smokers Compared
Image | Product | Temperature Range | Cooking Area | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Pit Boss 700 Classic | 180° to 500°F | 700 Sq. In. | ||
PIT BOSS 77435 | 180° To 500°F | 700 Sq. In. | ||
PIT BOSS 71820FB | 180° to 500°F | 820 Sq. In. | ||
Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate 4-in-1 | N/A | 2,167 Sq. In. | ||
PIT BOSS 72700S PB72700S | N/A | 2,167 Sq. In. | ||
PIT BOSS 77425 2.5 | 180-500° F | 700 Sq. In. |
Pit Boss Smoker Types
The first step in deciding which Pit Boss smoker to buy is deciding which type of smoker you need. Here are the different types of Pit Boss smokers you can choose from:
Pellet
Pit Boss pellet smoker grills use wood pellets as a fuel source. They give your meat a complex, consistent, wood-fired flavor that a lot of people love. Wood pellets burn away almost entirely, which makes these types of smokers easy to clean.
Vertical
Pit Boss vertical smokers are exactly what they say on the tin - smokers that feature a more 'vertical' design. Unlike traditional smokers, vertical smokers are taller rather than wide, which means you get more cooking space without using as much floor space. They’re perfect for smaller gardens and patios.
Charcoal
Pit Boss charcoal grills use charcoal as their fuel source to give the meat a rich, smoky, traditional flavor. Many Pit Boss charcoal grills are Kamado-style smokers, which offer exceptional insulation and are great for cooking things like pizza and bread.
Gas
Pit Boss gas smokers use - yep, you guessed it - gas as their fuel source. This makes them much easier to use than other smoker types - you just turn the knob to alight the flames. They can also reach much higher temperatures and preheat very quickly.
Combo
Pit Boss also offers a few ‘combo’ smokers, which combine elements of the other types of smokers we’ve talked about, such as their Pit Boss pellet/gas combo smoker.
6 Best Pit Boss Smokers Reviewed
1. Pit Boss 700 Classic
best rated Pit Boss smoker
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 105 x 68 x 112 centimetres |
Weight | 121 Lbs |
Temperature Range | 180° to 500°F |
Cooking Surface Area | 700 Sq. In. |
Material | Steel |
Warranty | 5 year limited warranty |
The Pit Boss 700 Classic is the best-rated Pit Boss smoker that we’ve come across. It’s part of Pit Boss’s renowned 700 series. The ‘700’ part of the name refers to the 700 square inches of cooking surface, which allows you to really pile the meat in there and makes this a great choice for larger families or anyone planning on cooking for groups of 4-6 people.
It’s a wood pellet smoker, so it produces an exceptional, natural taste. You don’t need to worry about natural gas or propane, you just fill up the hopper with Pit Boss pellets and start smoking.
“I've owned the Classic for about 5 months and this grill does not disappoint! Before purchasing a pellet grill, do your research. The pellet grill does not function as a gas grill, it can be a little feisty figuring out your sweet spot on the grill but after you master it, it serves the purpose very well.”
The build quality is excellent, the temperature control is spot on, and it's incredibly versatile. It cooks pretty much everything well, from slow-cooked pork ribs and briskets to turkey.
It's also very easy to use for first-timers; all you have to do is use the digital control board to select your preferred cooking style and let the smoker do the rest.
Pros
Cons
2. PIT BOSS 77435
best vertical Pit Boss smoker
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 21.5 x 23 x 47inches |
Weight | 52 lbs. |
Temperature Range | 100° to 350°F |
Cooking Surface Area | 884 Sq.In. |
Material | Steel |
Warranty | 5 year limited warranty |
Next up, we have the Pit Boss 77435, which we think is the best vertical Pit Boss smoker you can get right now, all things considered.
Being a vertical smoker, it has more cooking space than the 700 Classic that we talked about earlier - 884 square inches, to be exact. But what makes this even better is that, despite giving you more space to cook with, it takes up less space on your patio. If you plan on cooking for very large groups, but you have limited space to work with, this is the way to go.
The Pit Boss 77435 uses gas as its fuel source, which means very quick and easy to use. All you have to do is press down on the push-button ignition to light it up, and you're up and running. Interestingly, despite being a gas cooker, it doesn't get quite as hot as the Pit Boss 700 classic - it maxes out at around 350°F.
However, it does heat up rapidly and reaches that max temperature very, very quickly. As long as you don’t plan on cooking anything at higher temperatures than 350°F, it does a great job.
Other great features worth talking about are the external heat indicators and a large front window that make it easy to monitor your meat as it's cooking. The rear wheels that make moving it around a cinch, and the elevated frame that makes it easy to transfer the meat from the smoker to the table.
And on top of all that, it looks great too! The stylish red semi-gloss finish looks great and will definitely impress the neighbors.
Pros
Cons
3. PIT BOSS 71820FB
best Pit Boss pellet smoker
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 47.9 x 25.3 x 50.2 inches |
Weight | N/A |
Temperature Range | 180° to 500°F |
Cooking Surface Area | 820 Sq. In. |
Material | N/A. |
Warranty | 5 year limited part warranty |
Moving onto the Pit Boss 71820FB, another wood pellet-fueled smoker. In fact, this is our number one pick for the best Pit Boss pellet smoker, as we think it offers the best value per square inch on the market.
It uses all-natural barbeque wood pellets to smoke your meat, which gives it a delicious, authentic taste. The digital control board easily ignites the grill and makes it easy to start cooking. You can automatically set the temperature anywhere from 180 degrees to 500 degrees and use any of the 8 cooking methods, including: roasting, smoking, braising, grilling, searing, or baking.
This product also features a flame broiler, which gives you the option of grilling your meat directly over an open flame when you're looking for that flame-grilled flavor. Like all Pit Boss products, the 71820FB is built to last with durable materials. It also features a minimalistic black design that won’t look out of place in any patio.
Pros
Cons
4. Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate 4-in-1
best Pit Boss smoker grill combo
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 48.5 x 30 x 23 inches |
Weight | 141 lbs. |
Temperature Range | N/A |
Cooking Surface Area | 2,167 Sq. In. |
Material | Steel |
Warranty | 5 year limited part warranty |
Now let’s talk about the Pit Boss Memphis Ultimate 4-in-1. This is the very best Pit Boss smoker grill combo you can get. It’s more versatile than the other products we’ve talked about so far as you can choose between two fuel sources: charcoal and liquid gas.
This allows you to use it in different ways, depending on how you want to barbeque your meat. You can use it as a charcoal grill, a liquid gas grill, a smoker firebox, or an infrared searing burner.
“The charcoal side was great and you can set the level of charcoal as you cook so as the coal burns down you can raise the level to keep temperatures even. The gas side is your basic grill and performs just like it is supposed to. With plenty of space.”
It’s also the smoker with the biggest total cooking area on this list, with 2167 square inches of space. That’s made up of 1,327 inches to grill with and 840 square inches to smoke with. As such, this is my top recommendation for anyone that needs to cook for very large groups of 10 or more.
I don’t have a lot of bad things to say about this appliance. The only thing worth pointing out is that the assembly can take a while. You’ll need to set aside at least a few hours for it and watch the video to make sure you get it right. Also, the stickers on the grill can be a little hard to peel off.
But other than that small annoyance, it’s a fantastic product.
Pros
Cons
5. PIT BOSS 72700S PB72700S
best electric Pit Boss smoker
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 52.7 x 26.6 x 46.7 Inches |
Weight | 131.2 Lbs. |
Temperature Range | 180-500° F |
Cooking Surface Area | 700 Sq. In. |
Material | Cast Iron |
Warranty | 5 year limited part warranty |
The Pit Boss 72700s pb72700s is by far the best electric Pit Boss smoker available. It has a large and stylish design that is sure to be the center of attention at any BBQ. Wood pellets fire the grill, but the heat can be controlled digitally using the convenient digital panel.
In terms of cooking heat range, the grill can reach temperatures of 500F, making it perfect for almost any type of meat. The grill is extremely versatile and has 8 different settings to cater to a range of different cooking styles.
This grill has a great reputation and is a firm favorite among smoking enthusiasts. One reviewer said, "I bought this about a year ago and my bbq has gone from so-so to wow. I’ve even got a catering business now. I do own other smokers but this is a good addition to any arsenal."
Thanks to its electric operation, the grill is extremely easy to use and control so you can ensure that your meat will come out perfect every time. The company recommends that customers use Pit Boss hardwood pellets with this smoker in order to achieve the best results and an authentic smoky taste.
Pros
Cons
6. PIT BOSS 77425 2.5
best gas Pit Boss smoker
Dimensions (W X D X H) | 21.5 x 23 x 41 Inches |
Weight | 48.5 Lbs. |
Temperature Range | 100-350° F |
Cooking Surface Area | 884 Sq. In. |
Material | Stainless Steel |
Warranty | 5 year limited part warranty |
The Pit Boss 77425 2.5 is one of the best gas Pit Boss smokers on the market, and it's great for anyone that is looking for a hassle-free option. The smoker comes in a stylish red stainless steel finish and has a large window for you to keep an eye on your meat.
If you're concerned about complicated assembly, this smoker could be right for you as it is effortless to assemble and can be up and running within an hour. You can basically set it up and get smoking straight away.
If you're new to smoking, then a gas smoker like the Pit Boss 77425 2.5 could be the way to go as it's extremely easy to use. There's no messing around with wood pellets, and the smoker itself heats up really fast. It has a great temperature range for all types of smoking. You also don't need to make a dedicated space for this smoker as it is equipped with wheels that make it easy to move around and store if needed.
Overall, this is a great first smoker for anyone looking to try their hand at smoking meat or fish, and it's available for a great price.
Pros
Cons
Comparison to Other Brands
There are many other smoker brands out there aside from Pit Boss, such as Masterbuilt, Bradley, Traeger, and Yoder. Let’s see how Pit Boss smokers compare to a couple of them.
Pit Boss vs. Traeger
Of these brands, the top two companies are probably Traeger and Pit Boss. Both brands are top-rated and have a reputation for creating high-quality grills and smokers. The question is: Is Pit Boss better than Traeger?
Well, the answer is subjective, but in our opinion, Pit Boss is the better brand. Both brands have similar temperature ranges and excellent build quality, but Pit Boss grills are typically around $100-$200 cheaper than their Traeger counterparts. And while Traeger smokers might have a little extra cooking space, it isn’t really enough to make up for this difference in price.
Pit Boss vs. Masterbuilt
Masterbuilt is another one of the leading smoker manufacturers, but, again, we found that their grills didn't quite match up to those from Pit Boss. We compared Pit Boss vs. Masterbuilt and found that Pit Boss electric smokers were much easier to clean as the components were removable and that they were also easier to use as they held more pellets and didn't need to be topped up with wood as frequently.
While Masterbuilt appliances are usually quite a bit cheaper, it doesn’t quite make up for the difference in quality. At least not in our opinion.
How to Setup & Use a Pit Boss Smoker
The proper way to set up and use a pit boss smoker will depend on the specific type and model of your smoker. Your product should have come with detailed manufacturer instructions that can guide you. You may also be able to find these instructions on the Pit Boss website.
If you’re using a Pit Boss wood pellet smoker, here’s the basic process to follow every time you start cooking:
- 1Make sure your power source is plugged in.
- 2Open the lid and remove your cooking grates, foil, and deflector plate
- 3Clean out any ash in the smoker and put everything you removed back inside (the foil is optional; it helps with cleanup).
- 4Open the hopper and fill it with wood pellets. It's recommended to have around 2 lbs of pellets per hour of smoking low and slow or 4 lbs of pellets per hour of grilling hot and fast.
- 5Set the grill to smoke and prep your foods
When you see thick clouds of smoke, your pellets are burning and you're ready to start grilling. Set your desired temperature and get cooking!
The best way to smoke or grill your meat will depend on the type of meat you're trying to cook. You can find cooking guides for all the different kinds of meat, including recommended temperature settings and grilling times, on the Pit Boss website.
You can also find a bunch of great smoker recipes that will your barbeque guests thinking you’re a professional chef right here.
Cleaning and Maintenance
If you want your Pit Boss smoker/grill to last, you need to take care of it. That means cleaning and maintaining it regularly. It's also important to remember that these are sensitive, hot, and potentially dangerous appliances if misused, so they need to be used correctly and sensibly.
Here are some cleaning, maintenance, and safety tips that you should take note of:
If you prefer visual instructions, check out this YouTube video that walks you through how to clean your Pit Boss smoker properly.
People also Ask (FAQs)
Where is the best place to buy Pit Boss smokers?
What are the best meats to smoke or grill in a Pit Boss smoker?
How long does it take to smoke meat?
What are the essential accessories for smoking?
Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has shown you why you should definitely consider Pit Boss if you’re looking for a decent smoker or grill.
And now that you’ve read through our Pit Boss smoker reviews, you should be ready to make a decision about which smoker is the right choice for you. If you’re still struggling to decide, go for the Pit Boss Classic 700 - it’s a great smoker that won’t let you down.
Enjoy!