One of the simplest and easiest ways that consumers can get started with smoking is by using a pellet smoking tube. These tubes are designed to hold wood pellets and have one open end that can be easily lit. Once lit, the tube will release smoke through the perforated holes—smoke that the consumer can fill up a grill. These tubes are durable, inexpensive, and produce quality smoke, so they’re definitely something that consumers might want to consider. To help our readers find the one that works best for them, we’ve reviewed some of the best pellet tube smokers currently available.
Quick Summary of Best Pellet Tube Smokers
Reviews
Editor’s Choice: LIZZQ Premium 12-Inch Pellet Smoker Tube
We understand that it might be tempting for people to just grab the first pellet tube smoker that they see and not give too much thought about it. After all, we do have to admit that these tube smokers all look the same. However, to any of our readers who believe this is the case, we encourage them to take a good hard look at this model. It’s a smoker tube that proves not all of them are equal and is worth taking a good look at.
The first thing that we’d like to talk about is how this product is made. It’s constructed from high-quality 304 stainless steel that’s approximately 12-inches long and has a hexagonal shape. This means that this product is not only durable but is also large enough to hold enough wood pellets for an ambitious smoking session. Its shape allows it to sit on one side without the consumer worrying about it rolling. This allows the pellets to remain in an optimal position every single time.
Another thing that we liked about this product was that it was perfectly perforated so that smoke easily rose from it. It also has one end that’s capped and another end that’s open, so it’s extremely easy for the consumer to light the pellets in the tube.
When this smoker tube is properly filled with pellets and lit, it will provide up to 5-hours of smoking. It’s a product that can be used for cold smoking or hot smoking and is sure to be used for many, many smoking sessions. And it’s a smoker tube that’s reasonably priced, so the consumer doesn’t have to break their bank to get excellent smoking results.
Because of all of the reasons we’ve listed, we have no choice but to name this one of the best pellet tube smokers that we’ve reviewed. It’s certainly a tube that will last a long time and give the consumer excellent results every single time they use it.
- This is a reasonably priced smoker pellet tube.
- It’s made out of high-quality 304 stainless steel.
- It has an open end and a closed capped end.
- None, that we can see.
Also Recommended: Lanney 12-Inch Stainless Steel Wood Pellet Tube
Okay, we know that some of our readers are going to look at this model and the model we have at our number one position and wonder what the difference is between the two models. And we think that’s a fair question. These two products are similar, but this one has two key differences. One, it comes with some added accessories, and two, it comes with a higher price. The contrast of these two features allowed this product to slide into the number two position on our list.
Now, don’t get us wrong. This is a product that we feel is as good as the other one we’ve reviewed. We just couldn’t put two products into the number two position, so we had to find something that differentiated the two. And for us, it was the few dollars of extra cost added to this list. Sure, this product does also comes with some added accessories that account for the higher price, but we don’t think that those items add enough value to account for the increased price tag.
This hexagonal tube is made from 304 stainless steel and features one capped end and one open end. It has a good number of perforated holes in it and they’re spread out in an optimal pattern to allow for proper smoke dispersion. This is a smoker tube that’s durable enough to be used for both hot and cold smoking, and when it’s dirty the consumer can wash it in their dishwasher.
Some of the items that come with this tube include instructions on properly using the smoker tube, two S-hooks that can be used to hang the smoker tube from a rack, a tube brush for keeping the smoker tube clean, and a silicone brush that can be used for basting BBQ. It’s a nice collection of items for a pellet tube smoker that’s pretty good and will provide the consumer with plenty of use.
- This product comes with a number of accessories.
- This tube is made out of high-quality stainless steel.
- This tube is approximately 12-inches in length.
- This product costs a little more than we would’ve liked.
Also Consider: Dimeshy 12-Inch Stainless Steel Pellet Tube Smoker
The last pellet tube smoker we want to review is a different shape than the first two we’ve reviewed. Instead of being hexagonal, this tube smoker is actually square-shaped. What difference does that make? We’re not sure, but it might have contributed to the one negative we had about this product. However, we’ll save that for later, and instead, start with how this product is made.
This is a 12-inch pellet tube smoker that has a decent distribution of holes throughout it. Because of its shape, it stays in place, and like most of these tube smokers, it has an open and a closed-end. It’s also a product that’s made out of 304 stainless steel, so consumers can rest assured that it’s a well-made product that should last them for quite some time.
Another thing that we liked about this product is that it’s reasonably priced. At the time of this review, it was one of the more inexpensive models available, which is certainly a plus for most people. Since this product can hold up to 13.6-ounces of wood pellets, it’s capable of providing the consumer with up to 5-hours of smoking at a time. And because of its construction, it can easily be used for both cold smoking and hot smoking applications.
If there was one thing that we didn’t like about this smoker tube, it’s the fact that it spent too much time in the white smoke phase before moving on to the more desired blue-smoke phase. In our opinion, that means that the pellets aren’t combusting properly and the most likely cause of that problem is because air doesn’t move efficiently through it. Of course, not everyone will care, so each consumer will have to decide for themselves whether this was a deal-breaker or not.
- It’s a 12-inch square smoker tube.
- It’s made using 304 stainless steel.
- This is an inexpensive pellet tube smoker.
- Airflow through the unit could’ve been better through it.
A Guide To Pellet Tube Smokers
Anyone who has seen a pellet tube smoker in action has probably wondered how they can harness its ability to generate great blue-smoke on the fly. After all, these tube smokes are a lot less expensive than buying a full-size smoker and allow the consumer to convert just about any grill into a smoking machine. That’s why we decided to not only review some of the best pellet tube smokers available but also to take the time and write this guide.
This guide is something that we hope will at least get people curious about pellet tube smokers. We believe that this guide will introduce people new to smoking in general towards pellet tube smokers, and may even convert those hardcore electric or propane smoker fans to covert to tube smokers. But this guide is going to do more than just inspire our readers, it’s also going to give them an education on how to purchase the best pellet tube smoker available and use that properly.
What To Look For When Buying A Pellet Tube Smoker
The first section of this guide is going to concern itself with purchasing a pellet tube smoker. Like we said during one of our reviews, many of the pellet tube smokers available look the same but they aren’t the same. There are a few differences between some of the main models being manufactured, so it behooves the consumer to think about these differences closely. Below are some of the things that the consumer is going to want to consider before purchasing a new pellet tube smoker.
Consider The Tube’s Construction
The first thing that the consumer is going to want to consider is whether the tube is made from stainless steel or not. Although these tubes are made with a variety of different metals, stainless steel ones are the best. That’s because stainless-steel holds up to heavy use without rusting and won’t warp while it’s being heated. It’s simply the best choice for the smoker tube’s construction.
Consider The Tube’s Size
The next thing that the consumer is going to want to think about is the size of the smoker tube. Most of these tubes are available in either 6-inch or 12-inch sizes—although we can’t rule out there being some other tubes being manufactured in nonstandard sizes. 6-inch tubes will normally provide enough smoke for up to 2-2.5 hours, while 12-inch tubes will normally provide enough smoke for 4-5 hours. It’s as simple as that.
Consider The Tube’s Shape
The last thing that the consumer should think about when shopping for one of these tubes is the shape of the tube. We’ve seen these tubes in square shapes, round shapes, hexagonal shapes, and even wedge shapes. In our opinion, hexagonal-shaped models do the best job of producing smoke because their shape allows them to hold more pellets and allows air to properly circulate around those pellets. Round models are also good for producing smoke, but they have a tendency to roll out of position. The smoker tubes we like the least are square and wedge ones because they often stay in the white smoke zone longer than they should.
Using A Pellet Tube Smoker Properly
Now that we’ve covered some of the points that consumers should think about when choosing a new pellet tube smoker, it’s time to turn our attention to helping our readers use that tube to the best of their ability. With that goal in mind, we’ve listed some of the things that consumers should think about when they’re using their pellet tube smoker for BBQ.
Step One: Use Dry Wood
The first step to achieving great results with a pellet tube smoker is to use dry pellets. Pellets are designed to burn in such a way that will enable them to produce the best amount of smoke. If they’re wet, they’re not going to achieve the temperature necessary for a good smoke.
Step Two: Don’t Overload The Tube
The next thing the consumer is going to want to do is to load the tube. And for this part, they should be careful. They want to make sure that they fill the tube to get a good smoke time, but they don’t want to overfill the tube. If there are too many pellets in the tube, then oxygen is going to be cut off and they won’t burn consistently.
Step Three: Keep The Pellet Tube Clean
The last thing that we’d like to recommend is that the consumer keeps their pellet smoker tube clean. It should be regularly cleaned to ensure that it maintains a high level of performance. If the consumer does this, then they can rest assured the smoker will provide them with years of great smoking.
