3 Best Vertical Pellet Smokers of 2024

By Harry RamosLast update: 2024-07-11

Do you want to have a party in your yard with your friends and family? If yes, you need to prepare delicious foods to treat them. In this case, I strongly recommend a vertical pellet smoker, which has a lot of cooking space to cook plenty of foods at the same time.

What is your purpose when reading this article? Do you want to buy the best vertical pellet smoker for smoking slow-cooked ribs, brisket, or pork butt? Or Will you have a big event, and you need to serve a lot of people at the same time? I have an amazing solution for beginners as well. Depending on your demands and preference, just pick up one in this list.

Here are the best vertical pellet smokers you can buy in 2024:

  • Best for Brisket: Pit Boss Grills 77550
  • Best for Pork Butt: PIT BOSS PBV3P1
  • Best for Big Families: Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker
3 Best Vertical Pellet Smokers
Best for Brisket
Pit Boss Grills 77550
    Best for Pork Butt
    PIT BOSS PBV3P1
      Best for Big Families
      Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker

        Best for Brisket: Pit Boss Grills 77550

        Pit Boss Grills 77550
        Pit Boss Grills 77550
        Pros
        • Large cooking space

        • Easy to use

        Cons
        • It seems dangerous because the control board is close to the heat source.

        What do you need to prepare to smoke brisket?

        Well, you need a high-quality cut of meat, seasoning, kitchen tools, Pit Boss Grills 77550, and your PATIENCE.

        This smoking process takes you a lot of time. First, you have to spend 8 hours to smoke until your meat reaches 165°F. Then you need to smoke extra 5-8 hours until you get a tender meat cut. You should invest in Pit Boss Grills 77550 because its hopper can hold up to 40lbs of pellets. Therefore, you can continuously smoke your brisket more than 24 hours before reloading new pellets.

        Although it takes time to cook this dish, you don't have to monitor it during the day. You can check the internal temperature through the digital LED readout and meat probe. So, while smoking, it's fine to do other things. Even if you forget, the machine will automatically turn off when reaching the temperature as desired.

        Pit Boss Grills 77550 Specifications

        Weight

        131 pounds

        Dimension

        28 x 29 x 53 inches

        Smoking Size

        1830 sq in.

        Hopper Capacity

        over 40 lbs

        Highlight Features

        digital LED readout and meat probe, 5 porcelain coated cooking grids, porcelain-coated water pan, heat Deflector, auto-start 300-watt igniter, and auto shut-off

        Verdict

        Pit Boss Grills 77550 is designed for smoking in a long time.

        Best for Pork Butt: PIT BOSS PBV3P1

        PIT BOSS PBV3P1
        PIT BOSS PBV3P1
        Pros
        • Versatile

        • Good insulation

        • Easy to use

        • Well built

        Cons
        • Not accurate temperature control

        Compared to brisket and ribs, pork butt requires longer smoking time, around 2 hours per pound of pork. For example, The total cook time for a cut of 8-pound pork shoulder is about 16 hours. Thus, you need PIT BOSS PBV3P1, which can work all day long consistently because of the 40+ lb hopper capacity.

        With a 150-450 temperature range, you can enjoy your pork butt with different tastes. This means that you can enjoy your smoked pork shoulder when tight connective tissues start to break down at 195 degrees F internal temperature. Or, it's more wonderful to enjoy a cut of tender meat at 201 degrees F.

        PIT BOSS PBV3P1 Specifications

        Weight

        97 pounds

        Dimension

        26 x 22 x 53 inches

        Smoking Size

        901 sq in.

        Hopper Capacity

        over 40 lbs

        Highlight Features


        digital LED readout and meat probe, 4 porcelain coated cooking grids, porcelain-coated water, and heat Deflector, auto-start 300-watt igniter, and auto shut-off

        Verdict

        PIT BOSS PBV3P1 is a great solution for low and slow cooking at a reasonable price.

        Best for Big Families: Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker

        Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker
        Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker
        Pros
        • Great to hold temperature

        • Simple and quick to assemble

        Cons
        • Vibrates out a bit while operating

        How to make a lot of food to serve a big family?

        Of course, you need a big-sized vertical pellet smoker with a large capacity. Louisiana grills model is what you are looking for.

        The 2.059 square inches of cooking space and 6 cooking racks provide you with plenty of room to store and smoke foods inside. In particular, its hopper holds 60 pounds of pellet, so that you can deal with any slow-and-low dish for up to 35 hours.

        More than a big family, this model has a perfect size to serve a big event at your home. It can cook many different significant cuts of meat at the same time. They include whole briskets, multiple racks of ribs, and pork shoulders.

        Louisiana grills vertical pellet smoker Specifications

        Smoking Size

        2,059 sq.in.

        Hopper Capacity

        60lb

        Highlight Features


        a built-in meat probe, 6 cooking racks, porcelain-coated grid,

        Verdict

        Are you worried about the next big party? Do you need to cook for many people at the same time? Don't think more; you can solve your problems by picking up this smoker.

        How To Choose The Best Vertical Pellet Smoker?

        There are several models available on the market, but what is the most suitable choice for you? Determining what you really need is the key to choosing the best vertical pellet smoker. Take a look at the following considerations:

        Size and Capacity

        A small one is enough if you are looking for a smoker to serve the needs of a small family. On the contrary, you love organizing parties regularly, right? If your answer is yes, you should invest in a big model with a large capacity.

        In sum, the size and capacity of a smoker will be based on your specific needs.

        Material

        If your choice is a steel smoker, you had better be more careful. When you let this material directly contact with fire, it tends to be rust quicker and easier. However, in case the steel body features high-temperature powder coat paint, the model can put up with high heat. Thus, you can expect a longer lifespan without flaking.

        Space

        A small kitchen can't store a big model. So, before clicking to the "BUY" button, you have to determine the size of your space.

        Food

        Which kinds of food do you usually smoke in a pellet smoker?

        Or do you want to try several cooking ways like smoking, grilling, and searing in one? If so, you should make a big investment with plenty of features and functions.

        Price

        What should you do if you find a smoker that can meet your requirements, but out of your budget? If this is your case, you should sacrifice some unessential functions. There are many models available on the market that can meet the basic needs at a reasonably affordable price.

        Which Brands Make The Best Vertical Pellet Smoker?

        Masterbuilt

        Masterbuilt has been the leading brand in this industry for a long time thanks to its product quality and innovation. Moreover, it also has world-class customer service to support its customers.

        PIT BOSS

        In 1999, The Pit Boss company was founded by Dan Thiessen. They deal with good quality and durable products at an affordable price.

        FAQs

        When searching for vertical pellet smokers on the Internet, I found that the following questions are pretty common. If you are also wondering about these problems, see my answers as follows:

        Are vertical pellet smokers any good?

        Are vertical or horizontal pellet smokers better?

        Are pellet smokers better than regular smokers?

        The pellet smoker is better because it produces less smoke than a regular smoker.

        Are pellet smokers healthy?

        Yes. If you have a good smoking and roasting skill, everything will be fine. However, over grilled and over smoked foods have a high risk of cancers.

        Are electric or pellet smokers better?

        Smoke the meats in your way!

        When choosing the best vertical pellet smoker, don’t just stare at the price and pick up the most expensive or cheapest one. A good model must meet your requirements, but it is not out of your budget. As I mentioned, different smokers can work well for different types of meat and different purpose. So, determine what you want and make a purchase.

        Conclusion

        Now, it’s time to let me know your choice. Which product above works well for you? Does it help you bring wonderful experiences? Tell me your ideas by leaving a comment in the section below.

        Thanks for reading until the end, and have a nice day!


        Related Articles