Those mouthwatering ribs, pork chops, and lamb chops are a staple in your traditional BBQ party. A food fest will never be complete without savoring everyone’s favorite baby back ribs.
But how do you make them? With Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker, of course. This brand is one of the most sought-after smokers on the continent. It produces juicy and sumptuous Texas-style grilled chops.
In this smoker and grill combination review, we’ll see why this household name has been a constant in everyone’s outdoor party. We’ll also take a look at other Oklahoma Joe’s Smoker models. These can make your smoking technique to the next level.
Overview of the Brand
Oklahoma’s one of the trusted names when it comes to good old fashioned smoking. This brand has produced six of the most used and often preferred smokers by the majority.
The brand’s humble beginnings date back to 1987. The creator Joe Davidson’s in a quest to make the most flavourful BBQ there ever was. You would need a reliable smoker to produce the best-tasting baby back ribs. His search for the most flavourful backyard barbeque led to the creation of this one mean smoking machine.
So what’s the best Oklahoma Joe Smoker? Let’s find out!
The Famous Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Smoker Review
When you say Oklahoma Joe Smoker, one model will instantly pop up in your mind- Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Smoker. This model is one of the essential innovations of Joe Davidson. Many fell in love with the rich flavors this smoker can create.
This smoker may have everything that a BBQ chef wants. Oklahoma Highland Smoker comes in two types- the offset smoker and the reverse flow smoker.
Let’s see what differentiates the two grills and smokers.
Highland Offset Smoker
Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Offset Smoker is built to entertain and feed a large number of people. It’s spacious- it has a lot of room for hefty servings of those good old pork chops with its 619-square inch cooking space. It’s perfect for Sunday brunch for an extended family, too, since you don’t need to grill your food in batches. You can smoke everything all at once using this offset smoker that costs less than $1000.
It has a built-in lid so that you’re sure that the smoke won’t needlessly escape. So your grilled lamb chops cook faster as the hot temperature is kept inside.
It also has a separate door for the firebox, so whenever you need more wood to smoke your turkey or chicken, you don’t need to open the main door.
It’s lightweight and easily transported: even one person can move this heavy-duty smoker from one location to the other. It also has built-in shelves- these compartments make your smoking and grilling more convenient. You can easily place your supplies and reach for it whenever you need to.
The temperature gauge, traditional offset technology, multiple dampers, and separate firebox offer convenience and ease of use.
- Durable
- Easy to transport
- Large cooking capacity
- Better smoke and temperature control
- Value for money
- Smoke leakage
- Uneven heat distribution
Highland Reverse Flow Smoker
Reverse flow smoking is another method that you can use to smoke your favorite foods. Reverse flow smokers have a built-in steel plate inside the cooking chamber. It’s also void of hotspots that most offset smokers tend to have. With Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker, it’s easier to get that constant heat with reverse flow smoking, so you’re sure that food has a perfect, even cook. Just be ready to spare a bit more time, as it takes longer cook in than the offset ones.
The baffles also seem sturdy and durable. It’s quite thick, plus the coated metal is quite similar to an oven broiler.
The 900 square inches of cooking surface provides a spacious area for a lot of burger patties and hotdogs.
- Durable
- Perfect for slow smoking
- No smoke leakage
- Even heat distribution
- Has four removable baffles
- Has removable ashtray
- Quite large
- A bit heavy
The Oklahoma Joe’s Highland Reverse Flow Smoker is ideal for those who have a big area in their backyard. This smoker is quite large and a bit challenging to move. It might take more than one able-bodied person to assemble and transport this smoker.
If you’re a master smoker who has experience in slow smoking, you will find this wood and charcoal smoker a real treat. The reverse flow technology is ideal if you’re going to smoke more massive cuts of meat. The constant heats will ensure that the meat is evenly cooked to perfection.
Other Excellent Options
While the Highland model has been a constant favorite in everyone’s backyard (and the top contender in our grill review), other Oklahoma smokers can also be the star of your BBQ party.
Let’s review two other Oklahoma Joe smokers that are worth your attention. These sturdy machines could be your next smoking machine.
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Smoker (Offset)
Oklahoma Joe’s Longhorn Smokers have more cooking capacity compared to the Highlands model. If you had a festive BBQ lunch with your family with the Highland, the Longhorn is set to grace your reunions and holiday parties. It has equipment of 740 square inches of the smoker grill. Its grates are porcelain grated, too.
The Oklahoma Longhorn also has two other types- the Longhorn Reverse Flow Smoker and Longhorn Combination Grill and Smoker. The Longhorn Reverse Flow will satisfy those looking to grill their food using the unconventional method, while the Longhorn Combination Grill and Smoker is a versatile 3 in 1 smoker.
Longhorn smoker has multiple baffles, a temperature gauge, and stainless steel baskets.
Also, its firebox is inside the side box. It’s quite an ingenious idea and keeps your firebox seemingly new for the longer haul. Moreover, Longhorn smoker is ideal for competitions and culinary whatnots. It has a lot of features that you would ever need to win the big show off. Not to mention, you will still get the same tender juicy slab of meat every single time.
It’s a heavy gauge, all-steel smoker, so that it could last for the long haul.
- Allows maximum temperature and vapor control
- Heat resistant handles
- Has a separate firebox chamber
- Made from heavy-gauge steel
- Uses traditional offset smoking technique
- Quite heavy
- Challenging to assemble
- Prone to rusting
This Longhorn smoker model is probably the biggest and bulkiest smoker in our review. It’s one heavy-duty smoker that won’t disappoint you. If you’ve been happy with the volume of food that you can cook with the Highland smoker, you’d be ecstatic with the Longhorn’s capacity. And it’s equipped with a workspace where you can do all the preparation.
You can use either wood or charcoal to fuel this big smoker. It’s also relatively easy to clean; you can easily brush off the removable ashes in a second.
Oklahoma Joe’s Bandera Smoker
What sets the Oklahoma Joes Bandera Smoker apart is that it has a vertical built. There are racks upon racks where you can hook the slab of meat with a hook. The total cooking space is 744 square inches. If you want to hang meat, plenty of this Bandera vertical smoker reviews say they love its meat hanging hooks!
If the Longhorn can host reunions and parties, expect the Bandera Smoker features a more advanced damper system. This vertical offset smoker is ideal for those grilling experts. It’s surely a show-stopper in any competition and cook-offs. It looks intimidating and would make you seem like an expert once you’re behind this smoker. This smoker is not recommended for the novice for it has quite a steep learning curve. It does have a temperature gauge for a more comfortable monitoring of the cooking process.
Transporting from one place to another is quicker with its large wheels. Cleanup is also easy since it features a removable ashtray.
- This vertical smoker is a space saver.
- Easy to transport
- Heavy-duty steel
- Multiple cooking options
- Uses offset smoking technology
- Challenging to assemble
- Needs a lot of wood
Since it’s got a vertical built, it wouldn’t eat as much space in your backyard. So it’s ideal for those who have limited space in their backyard. It’s smaller, but you still get that tender signature Oklahoma Joe slab of meat.
Conclusion
Is Oklahoma Joe Smoker a good smoker? Yes, it is. This household brand can make juicy, tasty, and tender meat that falls off the bone. The novice can use most Oklahoma Joe grills and smokers. These smokers may have all you need to impress your guests for your weekend cook-offs and Sunday brunches.
Everyone can now make Texas-style barbeque in their backyard.
I spent most of my life fascinated by food, and the outdoors. I can’t think of a more fitting combo that leads to mastering the art of BBQ one day. I ended up decent enough to grill the perfect burger and choose the best equipment after years of improvement. I create this website for outdoor cooking enthusiasts, who are fueled by interest but lacking in help, feel educated when they leave because I see my past clueless self in them.
