Weber Smokey Mountain 18 vs 22

A compact portable hot smoker can offer you unique cooking options unavailable in traditional grills. That’s why even if you already own Weber grills, it’s time to complement your kit with one of the Weber Smokey Mountain 18 or 22 charcoal smokers.

The manufacturer promises us tender meat falling off the bone and incomparable flavor without a bustle. Many reviews claim Weber smokers are the best for those who prefer cooking with charcoal. Moreover, cookers can be used for various tasks. Apart from smoking, we can perform barbecuing and steaming.

But how to decide on the optimal smoker size? And are there any other essential factors of the models to mind? Let’s find it out together!

Main Differences Between the Models

As far as Weber Smokey Mountain 18 and Weber Smokey Mountain 22 belong to the same series, you’ll find almost no differences between these modifications. Here are the key moments to note:

Comparison Table

1. Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker

If you’re looking for the optimal smoker size, Weber is glad to offer you its 18″ Smokey Mountain. 18″ here stands for grill diameter. The model provides the golden mean of the series in terms of dimensions and cooking area. What are other advantages? Let’s look at them closer.

Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain’s main pro is its dual cooking grates that form two levels of smoking. Thus, the cooker is able to contain two large meat dishes like turkeys at the same time, staying quite compact for your backyard.

Classic charcoal fuel helps achieve an authentic smoky flavor at home. A flame is controlled by the dual damper system with 3 individual vents. Their closing and opening lead to higher or lower heat.

A built-in thermometer displays the current temperature. If you need more accurate data, engineers equipped your smoker with a thermometer port for direct food heat sensors.

Anyway, food won’t dry or burn thanks to a water pan included. But please mind that the pan limits access to the charcoal.

The lid is also added to the kit, but frankly speaking, we wish for a better design. The lid sits inside of the body top instead of covering it. It means literally no water protection. When it rains, water gets inside your smoker and destroys cooking.

The charcoal door is another issue. The door doesn’t seal very tightly, which may lead to accidental opening and temperature loses.

verdict

Though the problems are obvious, they can be overcome if desired. We still consider the smoker one of the most well-balanced products in the market.

2. Weber 22-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker

Technically, Weber 22-inch Smokey Mountain offers us the same quality of cooking described in the previous device. However, this modification will greatly interest customers with wider cooking requirements.

You can still enjoy a dual-level system but with more impressive portions. But if we compare the Smokey Mountain 18 vs Smokey Mountain 22, this smoker is made to accommodate 30% more food due to the enlarged cooking grates.

To provide bigger areas with higher heat, the manufacturer ensured 4 vents. The principle of operation is the same.
Stable legs are now complemented with two nylon handles instead of one in the 18″ smoker. More handles mean safer transportation and usage, so it’s definitely a pro.

The grate number and basic design stayed unchanged. So did the whole construction with main elements like a water pan, thermometer with one additional port, charcoal chamber, etc.

verdict

Weber 22-inch Smokey Mountain is the choice for those who cook often and for large companies. On average, you can feed 8+ adults in one turn.

Design and Dimensions

The Smokey Mountain series managed to combine excellent cooking capacity and relative compactness close to the one seen in portable Weber grills. Their dimensions are as follows:

Despite the body size, we deal with stationary smokers, which is proved by their weight. Get ready for severe carrying work, especially with the second model that became almost twice heavier.

When it comes to dimensions, neither of the cookers will require lots of space in your backyard or your storage room.

However, as far as smokers are made for outdoor usage only, they must withstand all weather conditions. That’s why the brand chose the most durable materials such as stain-resistant steel, aluminum, and porcelain-enameled inner parts. As usual, Weber produces its products to last.

Both smokers feature classic design to fit any landscape and offer stylish black color with a glossy cover. None of the users complained about the paint, so we can conclude it’s quite scratch- and moisture-resistant.

Fuel Type

We’ve already mentioned this feature in the description part. So let us only briefly remind you that our competitors work with charcoal.

You’ll find a special charcoal chamber in the lower body part. Charcoal is put on its own grate. You can access the chamber through a door.

In your manual, the manufacturer offers a detailed Smoking Guide with the charcoal amount chart recommended in each cooking case.

To ignite the fuel, use a long-neck lighter or matches and paraffin cubes. You’ll need to wait about 30 minutes to reach the necessary charcoal condition and temperature.

attention

Please pay attention that the manufacturer prohibits using charcoal lighter fluid. Charcoal impregnated with it may cause poisoning, serious bodily injury, death, or fire, as well as damage to property.

Cooking Area

The cooking area is an essential factor for all smokers as the smoking process often takes 12 hours and even more. Users just cannot afford to cook that long in several batches.

When we say “the total cooking area”, we mean space provided by both porcelain-enameled cooking grates. Since the grates are almost identical in size, you can divide the total square to get each grill’s separate area.

Users can apply both floors simultaneously when smoking large batches of meat. The 18″ cooker is big enough to feed 4-6 adults with ease. The 22″ is a huge smoker for 8+ people.

Two grates form two cooking ‘floors’. The lower grate is called a no-handled cooking grate as it has no handles. This level is perfect for steaming.

The upper grate is a handled cooking grate. Handles are required because this grill is meant to be frequently removed. The handled grate is used for barbequing.

Vents

Though we cannot directly adjust the heat and flame with valves like on Weber Spirit or Genesis grills, both smoking appliances still offer some heat controlling method.

It’s called the damper system with vents, and it allows for controlling the heat inside the smoker without lifting the lid.

Engineers ensured simple mechanical open/close technology. When all vents are open, the level and flow of oxygen are increased, and you get the maximum heat. Closing all dampers or vents will cut the oxygen flow and reduce the heat or extinguish the coals.

Thermometer and Port

The built-in lid thermometers allow us to control the current heat. According to the markings, you can reach 350°F/177°C.
While higher temperatures are used for barbequing, the manufacturer states 250°F to be an optimal temperature for smoking. Thermometers even have a special mark on the scale.

As we’ve already mentioned, users are recommended to wait for 30 minutes before cooking to allow the smoker to reach the necessary heat. It is also recommended to keep the lid closed all the time. Every time the lid is lifted, it will be necessary to add 15 minutes to the cooking time as the heat is lost.

However, the thermostat is not always enough for accurate temperature control, especially when it comes to the food temperature itself. That’s why Weber provided us with additional silicon thermometer ports. Each port has a small round hole and a slot to accept several sizes of heat sensors or probes.

attention

Please pay attention that sensors are not included in the kit. But you can purchase them separately to improve your cooking results and control meat temperatures directly.

Water Pan

The water pan protects your food from drying and ensures sufficient air moisturizing.

Additionally, the pan often serves as a grease tray for meat juices. The unit is located right above the charcoal, so you can even see it when you open the charcoal chamber lid. Water pans are removable.

Weber recommends filling the water pan with between 2 to 2.5 gallons of water. The amount is enough for most tasks and the whole cooking cycle.

important

Unfortunately, though the idea of the water pan is excellent, we see not the best construction in terms of safety. The problem hides in its spherical shape, which is too deep and disturbs proper charcoal control. The flat design seems to be more efficient.

Safety

The Smokey Mountain is not the most innovational Weber series when it comes to safety technologies.

All you get is a stable bowl with legs to place your smoker on any flat ground. Additionally, the 18″ and the 22″ modifications are equipped with one handle and two handles, respectively, for safer transportation.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Smoker?

Smokers are neither obligatory nor too expensive units for your home. However, they can greatly please you with delicious food and unique dishes for parties. And if you’d like to get all the best and avoid possible mistakes during model choice, we’d recommend you mind the following factors.

In addition to the above-mentioned factors, there is a number of important units that allow you to operate the smoker with the greatest efficiency and convenience. These include:

Conclusion

They say you can never go wrong with a Weber. So, that’s true for all its products, including the Smokey Mountains. Smokers proved to be quite efficient in terms of cooking results even though some drawbacks are inevitable.

Nevertheless, if listing the best moments, we’re glad to say the smokers will suit both beginners and experienced cooks. No matter how big your backyard is, it won’t require much space. But what model should we finally choose?

verdict

As we all understood, size is the only key moment. With Weber Smokey Mountain 22 you will never have any problems fitting meat pieces. Choose this model for big families, crowded parties, and monstrous pork.

Weber Smokey Mountain 18 is the perfect choice for more moderate smoking for family members and a close circle of friends. If a couple of turkeys and ribs are enough for you, go for the 18″!

Further reading and references: