Review of Char-Broil CB-600X-LP Vertical Gas Smoker

Customer Ratings:
List Price: $199.99
Sale Price: $139.09
Today's Bonus: 30% Off

I bought this smoker last spring and, though it wasn't the one I actually wanted, couldn't pass it up due to the price, ($70 at Walmart. Goes for $139 now). I just read the review about the guy who hated it and I'm scratching my head. It is a fairly cheaply made smoker, but all my parts were there and went together pretty easily. The one design flaw truly is the water pan/wood chip pan combo. You can't foil the water pan due to the shape, so you always have to clean a very dirty water pan. I don't even use the water pan very often now. I just put my own little pan of water on the bottom. But there's nothing wrong with steam when your smoking. That's why you have a water pan, it turns to steam and helps meat to be moist. Other than that, I love my smoker. I've done ribs, brisket, shoulders, turkey and chicken, salmon, and they all have been awesome! I've read reviews where the doors have leaked smoke but I don't have that problem. It uses very very little gas and the temp. is not a problem. 220 is easy, (actually I have a hard time in the summer keeping the temperature down to 220) and can get it up to 300 or so for pizza. I love being able to control my smoke amount and temperatures independent of each other.

Overall, this is a great, inexpensive first smoker. Take some time to study smoking and you'll love it!!!!

Click Here For Most Helpful Customer Reviews >>

This smoker has a very poor design; first you have to be very careful when pulling the racks out as they have no stops on them; second it burns too hot even on the lowest setting. I thought I had a bad regulator so I contacted the company who, after putting me through many hoops, charged me shipping for the new regulator, it had the same poor performance; thirdly, the inside is rusting form the moisture because it is not properly coated. The water will boil out of this smoker pan in less than two hours and you must frequently wet the chips to keep them from catching on fire.

Best Deals for Char-Broil CB-600X-LP Vertical Gas Smoker

I bought this smoker because I have already purchased a grill from Char-Broil and it has been an excellent BBQ. The frist thing I smoked was baby back ribs. They turned out great. The only thing I encountered was I could not get smoker up to 225 degrees until the water all boiled out. Don't know if this was due to being a windy day or what, will have to experiment more. I do however suggest you put the water in the pan then put your wood chips in. Only becasue the water spilled over in the chips section from filling the pan or closing the drawer. Had to take it out and start over 45 min into smoking.

Honest reviews on Char-Broil CB-600X-LP Vertical Gas Smoker

I have had this smoker for over 2 years now. I bought it primarily to smoke salmon.

The main problem was controlling the temperature The fish would be cooked before getting much smoke.

What you get is an OK metal smoke box. 4 racks. Flimsy sheet metal legs. A reasonable burner, controller, regulator, a fairly useless enameled water-chip pan, and a totally useless in the door thermometer. Not an unreasonable package for the price under $150 at Walmart.

What I did to make it work.

1 Cut a piece of 3/4" plywood to fit the base and screw the legs to it. I raised the platform by putting 1X2 cleats on 2 sides so a hand truck will slide under it. It is now portable so it can be stored. The provided handles are not enough.

2. Get a good probe thermometer. The one in the door of my unit read 225 when actual temperature was 325. Even if the thermometer in your unit is accurate the position in the door will make it unreliable.

4. Get rid of the combination water chip pan and replace it with a wire rack, steel smoke pan and separate cake pan for water and to catch drips.

I can now see the burner and have found I can control the flame by rotating the control clockwise between full and off. Probably not designed to work this way but it works.

I happened to have all the pieces but even if you bought them you would have a workable unit at a reasonable price

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Char-Broil CB-600X-LP Vertical Gas Smoker

I have found that I can make delicious smoked foods with this smoker. Typically, I make brisket and have found that the long process is made easier by the access doors which do not let smoke out when adding more wood chips. I have used Char-Broil's different flavors of wood chips; they have mesquite, hickory and apple wood. To start, I leave fat on the meat to keep it moist and tender during the smoking process, that way I don't end up with shriveled meat like some of the other reviewers have dealt with. After use, I have found the small maintenance has kept my smoker in good condition. This smoker is great, it might take practice to figure out the art of smoking, but the end result can be delicious!