Weber 18 Inch Smokey Mountain Cooker Charcoal Smoker Review And Rating – A High Quality Charcoal Smoker

The Pros, the Cons, and the Facts about the Weber 18 Inch Smokey Mountain Cooker Charcoal Smoker 721001.

Better yet, imagine if you could get these consistently perfect results every time.

What if I told you that there was a charcoal smoker available that could reliably help you get these results.  One that is not only made by a well-known and trusted brand that is easy to operate, but that is also widely used to win smoking competitions regularly?

Would you be interested in learning more?  I know I would be.

Enter the Weber 18 Inch Smokey Mountain Cooker Charcoal Smoker and follow me as I show you why this smoker is definitely worth your consideration.

Smoking Meats Has Never Been Easier

And nothing beats the taste of a perfectly smoked cut of meat but to achieve this, you are going to need to correct equipment.

Sure there are ways to smoke meats with traditional grills with workarounds and add-ons, but for a perfect smoke, we highly suggest a charcoal smoker.

Charcoal smokers are offered in a variety of configurations and brands with a list of features to match.  The options can also range in price and you could be looking at smokers out of your budget very quickly.

That is where the Weber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker comes in to give you a happy medium.

This 18-inch charcoal smoker delivers the perfect combination of affordability and functionality.  You can easily achieve authentic smokehouse flavors without breaking the bank.

We are going to take a closer look at this smoker to show you everything you need to know and why we suggest investing in one.

Product Quick Facts

Made By: Weber

Top 3 Features:

• 481 Square Inches Of Cooking Surface
• Easy access aluminum door for easily adding fuel while cooking
• Adjustable vents for controlling air flow and temperature

Standout Benefits Of The  Weber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker

Weber is widely known for it’s great attention to detail and building its grills with the avid griller in mind.  This charcoal smoker is no different as it is built with the slower pace of smoking meats in mind.

The Smokey Mountain is able to maintain its heat exceptionally well for long hours at a time and we found that adjusting the temperature up or down is pretty darn simple by closing and opening the vents.

Another great thing about this smoker is that it comes in three different sizes making it a great fit for anyone’s needs.

Other benefits we like include the following…

Authentic Smokehouse Flavors At An Affordable Price

While it is not the cheapest smoker on the market, with all the top of line additions that Weber included, you are getting a remarkable value.

The attention to every detail, like the built in water pan that allows your smoked meats to stay moist for the perfect smokehouse flavor is what makes this smoker stand out from the rest.

Built With A Smoker’s Mindset

The integrated thermometer and bottom and top vents allow you to easily control heat without having to lift the lid.

If you need to lift the lid to check on your meats, the glass reinforced nylon handle will ensure that you don’t get burned in the process.

To make it easier to use a digital wireless probe, Weber included a soft grommet on the side of the smoker to easily insert a wired probe without damaging the wires or losing valuable heat.

Weber’s Product Satisfaction Guarantee

Included with the smoker is a premium cover to give you extra protection for your investment. Weber takes pride in every grill that they produce and stand behind it 100%.

That is why they offer a 10-year limited warranty and a dedicated customer service staff for the ultimate customer satisfaction experience.

Weber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker Description And Features

Some of these features are only found on more expensive smokers, making this charcoal smoker a great value.

Let’s dive into the features and see what makes this smoker a top choice among experienced and new grillers.

481 Square Inches Of Cooking Surface

Having adequate cooking surface to be able to smoke all of your meats is important and this Weber Charcoal Smoker delivers just that.  With two 18 ½” grates providing 481 square inches of cooking space, the possibilities are endless when it comes to smoking meats for yourself or a party.

The Weber Smokey Mountain 18 inch smoker can hold two whole turkeys or chickens at once to put things into perspective.  These two grates are stacked inside the smoker on individual mounts to maximize your cooking space.

Porcelain-Enameled Steel Construction

Porcelain-Enameled is a coating that is applied to steel which allows for the metal of your smoker to be protected against rust when stored outside.

This is essential when smoking in areas that see very humid or wet conditions to keep your smoker lasting for years to come.

18 ½” Nickel Plated Cooking Grates

These 2 grates are nickel plated to give you a long-lasting, rust-resistant finish to last the life of your smoker.

The nickel-plating not only looks great, but it also makes it very easy to clean to keep your smoker properly maintained.

Built In Thermometer

Smoking meat depends largely on a well-regulated temperature and not having an accurate thermometer could ruin your meats.

This thermometer along with the heat controlling damper system is one of the most popular features of this smoker.

I always suggest investing in a digital probe thermometer that allows you to wirelessly monitor your meat during the entire cook for best results.

Heat Controlling Damper System

This releases a considerable amount of heat and makes cooking times last longer.  To combat this, Weber has designed a comprehensive damper system of vents to allow you to easily control how much airflow your smoker is getting to regulate your temperature.

Using your thermostat to gauge the temperatures, you can easily adjust each vent to get the temperature just right.

Heat Resistant Nylon Handle

This can be as simple as grabbing the handle of a grill that is made from non-heat resistant materials.  Weber, being true grilling experts, has taken this into account with the Smokey Mountain Cooker and developed a heat-resistant nylon handle.

This handle is designed to keep your hands safe and provide an easy way to lift the lid to check your meats.

We have seen other grills and smokers with wooden handles that tend to split over time and metal handles that become very hot requiring gloves to remove the lid.  Although it seems like a small feature, Weber has really taken into account the grilling experience and made it much simpler with this simple addition.

Porcelain-Enameled Water Pan

By using this coating, you can avoid common issues that other grills face such as rust and oxidation, which deteriorates water pans.

The water pan heats up during your smoking process and creates a steam inside of your smoker.  Utilizing steam in your smoking process is vital as the smoking process slowly cooks the meats and the steam adds moisture back into the meat.

The result is a tender, smoked cut of meat that is sure to be a hit at your next cookout.

Free Premium Cover & Cookbook Included

This protective cover is built specifically for Weber smokers and is made from premium materials for a long lasting construction.

Weber also includes one of its cookbooks to help you get started making some great meals!

Who Is The Weber 721001 Smoker Made For?

The easy to use features and simple cleanup make it great for beginners and the advanced features make it perfect for the experienced smoker wanting to add a great charcoal smoker to their arsenal.

Why You Should Think Twice

The one improvement I would like to see if an optional hinge for the lid. When smoking meats, finding a place for the lid can prove to be difficult and setting it on a surface could result in strain in the shape of the lid.

Having an optional lid mechanism like a Weber Kettle, in my opinion, would make this grill really stand out from the competition.

Pros And Cons

Here are a few of the pros and cons we found with this smoker.

Price And Warranties

Finding a smoker with all of the features this Weber has at this price can be difficult, but The 721001 delivers way past our expectations.

Standing behind their product, Weber offers a 10-year limited warranty to give you the peace of mind that you are buying a quality product. Their staff of professionals is ready to help you with world class customer service.

The Bottom Line

It has all of the features we would want to expertly smoke large and small meats for any crowd we are entertaining.

With the amazing warranty and thousands of positive reviews, it is easy to see that this smoker is a crowd favorite and has real-world testing.

If you are looking to add a great smoker to your outdoor cooking arsenal, this Weber 721001 would be one of our top suggestions that will make your smoking quick and easy and that will also fit your budget.

Now It’s Your Turn

Which outdoor smoker have you used before?

Have you used this smoker or any other Weber smokers before?

What other features would you like to see in this smoker?

Are you going to be purchasing a smoker in the future?  Or do you plan on looking at a pellet grill, standalone gas grill, or charcoal model?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below.

If you still have questions, please feel free to send me a message.

Cheers,

Patrick

At The Grilling Life, I am committed to researching and writing thoughtful, informative and editorially independent reviews of the best products for your outdoor cooking needs.  If you like what I do, you can support me through my chosen links, which earn me a commission.  This allows me to continue sharing with you my love for all things barbecue.  Your support is truly appreciated.

Thank You for Supporting TheGrillingLife.com!

Every time you click one of my links and make a purchase, it helps me pay for the domain, hosting services and every other expense needed to share with you my love for grilling.

I am beyond grateful to all of you support my passion.  I especially enjoy hearing how much this site means to you.

Patrick Ginise
Grillmaster/Website Owner
www.thegrillinglife.com
www.pinterest.com/thegrillinglife

Don’t hesitate to drop me a line about anything at all by using my contact us page or the easy form below.