Cuisinart 36 Inch Vertical Propane Smoker with 4 Removable Racks

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1. Gardiner Verified Buyer – 2 May 2024

   Overall great but I admit it was hard to keep a constant temperature even with no wind the day we used it! Although the wings and sausages were to die for! I recommend to anyone! We are new to this and learning as we go but love it so far! The racks were very easy to clean I must admit to my surprise. 2 of the racks I did not do anything and the third I sprayed with Pam. All easy to clean! Give it a 10 on 10 for taste!
   

2. redtomatobone Verified Buyer – 4 May 2024

   The out of box experience was really pretty simple …. good instructions, no issues. Assembled in ~ 45 minutes. My first go was a pork shoulder – about 4 1/2 pounds. Trimmed off some fat so probably around 4 lbs in the smoker. I have read several of the other reviews and lots of comments about the temp and the lower water/wood chip tray. I will first say that I was extremely happy about he temperature control. I did have a hard time getting above 250. I was using water in the lower tray as recommended in the manual, as well as chips in the wood chip part of the tray. I did follow others recommendation and add the additional tray drip pan to the lower rack and lined with foil and filled with water about 1/2 way. This acted as a drip tray and kept some water in the smoker since it was burning off so fast in the bottom tray. By opening the lower door so many times to refill with water, I do think it extended by smoke time. I did use a digital bluetooth thermometer to be sure I was watching the temp closely. It took me right at 10 hours to reach temp on the pro shoulder at ~225 degrees for the whole smoke. My 2nd smoke was a quick one – trays used in the same way. Andouille sausages! Used apple wood chips. Took about 2 hours at 225 degrees. Amazing result! Next time will be a whole chicken … will update when complete. My thoughts for potential buyers: 1. Don’t assume this will get to 350 degrees easily as configured 2. Consider using wood chunks instead of chips – soak in water before smoke for at least 30 minutes 3. Consider alternate material for lower water/chip pan – something that will allow more heat to get into the smoker box. (will report on my next attempt) 4. If you use an extra water tray on the bottom rack of the smoker box, should eliminate opening to replace water on the supplied bottom water/chip combo tray. For less than $200, I call this an excellent purchase! I will updated

   

3. DrAtomic Verified Buyer – 21 May 2024

   Cuisinart Vertical Propane Smoker, not the electric version. This is a great smoker at this price point. There are aspects that could be improved, but it’s understandable that allowances were made to keep costs low. Pros: Large! Four racks that can be removed, so even a turkey will fit by removing a rack (or two). Heat control is decent. Low setting kept mine at 250^F. Easy to assemble, sturdy enough (again, price point). Temp gauge is pretty accurate, burner lights easily, temp control knob works fine. Cons: Costs were cut on the door handles. Not sure how to upgrade the closing mechanism, but I’m working on it. The unit doesn’t seal well, but that’s fixed with any after-market high-temp gasket. Other reviewers say not to seal the unit, but those must be for the electric model. Sealing the propane one is a no-brainer as there’s an adjustable vent on the back to control smoke/heat. The tray that holds the wood chips also holds the water, which evaporates quite quickly. One fix for that is constant monitoring, the other is to use the included drip/water pan on the bottom shelf. When the water in the pan runs out, the temp can go up by 50^ or more. Thinking about a Rube Goldberg style automated water filler for the lower pan… So far everything I’ve smoked has turned out wonderfully. Bottom line: This is a great unit to start out with and possibly stick with. It’s large, works great, is pretty bare-bones, and won’t break the bank. The next step up in quality and features would be a leap, cost-wise.

   

4. helena Verified Buyer – 14 June 2024

   I’m new to smoking food. I have used my Weber propane grill to smoke a little bit, but I wanted a “real” smoker. I decided to go with propane since it seemed like there would be less work to maintain the temperature and smoke. Assembly was very easy and instructions were clear and easy to follow. I did go out and buy a set of four locking casters to install on the bottom of the legs. I did have to drill holes through the bottom of the feet to attach the casters. Smoker is heavy, so having locking wheels is a must since I will store this in my shed when not in use. Before my first use, I decided I should season the smoker. I was surprised that the manufacturer did not have any mention in the manual about seasoning the smoker. I found a lot of online recommendations for doing this and figured it would be worth it, plus I could get use to the temperature adjustments without risking any food… I wiped down the interior of the smoker with a lite coat of canola oil and filled the wood tray with dry apple would chips. I started the burner (first click on the igniter!) and let the smoker go on high for about two hours. It took about 15 min for the wood chips to start smoking. I also noticed quite a bit of smoke coming out of the edges on the main door, so I ordered some grill gasket tape, which I will install next week. The next day I smoked a pork shoulder for over 12 hours and some sausage links for about two hours. Both turned out perfect. I’ll never have crock-pot pulled pork again…. The temperature was easy to maintain and having the separate door to add additional wood chips definitely helped maintain the temperature. I would highly recommend this smoker to any beginner. It will be interesting to see if the door gasket will help, not completely sure it’s 100% necessary, but others have recommended it so we will see. One other thing, which is no surprise, the thermometer on the door was not very accurate. I used the NutriChef (PWIRBBQ80) (https://www.cuisinartoutlets.com.com/gp/product/B076B36HF9/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Bluetooth thermometer and monitored the temperature of the pork shoulder and the smoke chamber. Definitely a must have. Now I cant wait to use this more. Beef ribs are next! **Updated: Sept 24th 2020** After one full summer of smoking, I can honestly say that I love the food I have made with this smoker (and so does my neighbor). I have burned through at least a dozen propane tanks. I’ve smoked everything from salmon, beef, pork, chicken, vegetables, including eggplant for baba ghanoush, and even made my own chipotles and smoked cayenne peppers, which were awesome is my smoked cast-iron baked beans… My Bluetooth thermometer also held up all season. The smoker has held up well, there’s a small brisket flat on there now. There is one burn spot on the outside rear of the smoker where the burner is, but has not hurt the integrity of the smoker box. I keep the smoker covered when not in use. The door gasket tape was a must and has definitely helped contain the smoke in the smoker. I used the “FireBlack Hi Temp BBQ Smoker Gasket Self Stick 15 ft High Heat 1/2 x 1/8 Black”, from cuisinartoutlets.com, which fit both doors perfectly. I think this is a pretty standard upgrade for any smoker, based on all the reviews I’ve read. I agree with a lot of the reviews about the poorly designed wood/water tray. I do not put water in the water/wood chip tray, I use disposable aluminum trays for the water on the bottom shelf and overload the wood chip tray with one or two larger wood chunks and a bunch of presoaked wood chips. I have not had any problems with not having enough smoke. I have not wanted for more shelves, but do think I will be upgrading to a larger smoker at some point, so I can fit full slabs of ribs and full briskets (just need the wife’s permission). The shelves are a little too small for this (14 x 14 inches), so ribs have to be cut in half and it only fits smaller cuts of brisket. But as an intro to smoking, this was a huge success. I also built a cedar cabinet with a cement countertop to go with this smoker, that provides much needed counter space and storage for the propane tank, wood chips, and trays (picture attached). If you are thinking of trying out a smoker, as a beginner, I think this smoker is a good bet. It made me a smoking addict.

   

5. Heather P. Verified Buyer – 18 October 2024

   I just got this smoker yesterday and have yet to fire it up, but wanted to leave my initial impressions. Material seems to be top quality. In total it weighed 75 lbs. came packed in a very organized manner and the instructions were extremely easy to follow, although I recommend you have someone to assist, not because it’s hard, but holding the burner and doors on while you get you screws started will make things easier. Still not difficult by yourself but easier. They do include a tray for extra water, which some reviews mentioned the water reservoir was small. Chip bowl is pretty small but I think will be fine as it is easy to add more. I’ll be cooking with it this weekend and will add additional info then. UPDATE: Okay I have now cooked a couple of times and here is what I find. I still give this smoker a 4* rating, however you do have to make a few small adjustments. 1st time using I simply could not get the temperature above 200 on high with my tank turned all the way up. After several hours of fiddling with it I finally pulled the bottom water/wood pan out and the temp shot up to over 350 almost instantly. It appears the issue is the bottom pan is pretty thick and fits just above the burner that it doesn’t allow heat to flow up into the smoker very well, creates and essential blockage and the heat just leaves through the bottom. The 2nd time I used it I took the extra water pan and placed it on the bottom just above the burner, this proved to work a lot better, but what to do with my wood chips. I went out and bought two small bread pans from the dollar tree and placed wood chips in one of those pans and sat it on the bottom rack. The problem with this was the wood wouldn’t heat up enough to smoke, so about halfway through I moved the wood/break pan into the water pan. Once the water ran out the wood would create the smoke I was looking for, but you need water, so this solution wasn’t ideal. FINAL SOLUTION: placed the extra water pan just above the burner, by removing the original, thick black pan from smoker, placed a small break pan with wood chunks inside that pan and then another small break pan with water inside it as well. This allowed the wood chips to heat up enough to provide lots of smoke and still provided the water you need to keep food moist. With these minor adjustments that cost $3 at the Dollar Store this machine is perfect. Maintained 250 degrees for 5 hours set on low and gas about 25% on all while cooking short ribs, turkey breast, and a whole chicken.

   

6. Jason Weigel Verified Buyer – 27 December 2024

   This smoker was very easy to assemble. I did it in my dining room in 45 minutes or so. Instructions are good enough for anyone with any mechanical ability to figure out. I will say that Cuisinart should not even bother including tools. They fit the fasteners very poorly, and honestly, if you don’t have the required philips screwdriver and a couple of basic wrenches, you probably shouldn’t be tackling this project. Anyway, I’ve smoked some pork tenderloin and ribs since I’ve had it, and both turned out perfect. I took some advice from other reviewers and used the extra pan for water on the bottom rack and filled the chip/water tray with chips. Worked excellent. The only reason I’m not giving 5 stars is because I feel that temperature control is a bit touchy. I may add a different style vent. Overall, great value for the money.
   

7. Tamara Clark Verified Buyer – 27 January 2025

   I recently got my hands on a smoker, and let me tell you—it’s been a game changer for my backyard barbecues! From the moment I fired it up, the intoxicating aroma of wood smoke filled the air.

   The setup was a breeze, and the instructions were clear. I loved experimenting with different types of wood chips to achieve that perfect smoky flavor.

   What’s really fantastic is how versatile this smoker is. I’ve smoked everything from brisket to vegetables, and each dish has been a delicious adventure.

   Overall, this smoker has not only elevated my cooking game but has also brought friends and family together for some unforgettable meals. If you’re considering getting one, do it! Your taste buds will thank you, and your BBQ parties will never be the same!
   

8. Derrick A. Verified Buyer – 13 April 2025

   Couldn’t be happier. this was my first attempt at smoking, easy to assemble and works as it should. Had no issues maintaining required temperature, easy to regulate the smoke. I didn’t do the best job my first attempt but that’s on me and not the hardware. Was easy to clean and I look forward to my next attempt at smoking.
   

9. Sean 805 Verified Buyer – 2 May 2025

   I finally decided to replace my old side box smoker and really wanted to switch to propane. There’s a lot of options out there, but this smoker delivered what I wanted at a reasonable price. I like the simplicity in the design. One of the biggest gripes I saw in reviews was that the water pan is too small, and it is. I think the manufacturer saw this, because mine shipped with an extra pan that you can put on the lower shelf. That solves the issue for me. Overall, I am impressed and really like this smoker. It fits well on my patio, looks good, and smokes well. It is easy to get to and hold temp (I have only used it in fall weather, so the winter may be a bit different). It also is very judicious as far as propane use is concerned. I’m getting multiple uses out of one tank. The built-in thermometer is close enough to real temperature for me, but is not dead on accurate. Also, it was easy to put together. I am very happy with this purchase. For household use it more than fits the bill. If someone is looking for a smoker without all the bells and whistles that does the job, then this is a good choice.

   

10. Véronique Thibeault Verified Buyer – 14 May 2025

    Produit merveilleux pour nos besoins. Nous avons fumé des côtes levées, de la truite, du porc. Goûteux à souhait.