For barbecue lovers, a good smoker would be the best purchase of their lives. Picking the wrong one will surely make them feel otherwise. That is the reason why it is always great to do thorough research. With hundreds of choices in the market which might claim to be the best vertical charcoal smoker, there is an affordable option that can bring out the best-tasting steaks and grilled food without breaking the bank.
Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D 36” Vertical Charcoal Smoker is one of the vertical smokers that caught our attention with its hundreds of fantastic reviews on Amazon and other buying sites. It is quite a looker and is well-built, but will it make its mark in the smoking and grilling game? We will find out in this article.
In-depth with Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D 36” Vertical Charcoal Smoker
There are three ways to assess the Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D best. In this review, we will judge it based on quality, performance and versatility.
It is well-built at an affordable price. The exterior is made with powder coated steel. It is 4 feet and 1 3/4 inches in height, 21 and 1/2 inches wide and 20 3/4 deep. It gives you access to a total of 784 square inches of grilling and smoking area. It has a porcelain-enameled cooking chamber which is quite common to grillers and smokers. This type of material is easy to clean and maintain and will not rust. This also helps with better heat circulation and temperature management.
It has a two-door design which contributes a lot to heat retention and minimizes heat loss while cooking. For some vertical cookers, the common dilemma of users is the inability to top up charcoal once you have started grilling because it is inconvenient to access the charcoal chamber. With the Dyna-Glo 36” Vertical Cooker, all you have to do is open the bottom door and fill it with pre-started charcoal for continuous grilling. You can access the food and charcoal on separate occasions without too much heat loss.
Inside the upper chamber, it has four layers of grates with adjustable height. You have the freedom to raise or lower your grates especially if you need to smoke large items such as chicken, turkey, ribs and pork shank. It is also easy to remove the grates with cooked food and set in place a new one. This makes way for faster cooking and better productivity.
It is easy to use even for beginners because it is hardly intimidating to operate. It builds up your desired temperature easily with its multi-way temperature adjustment. There are three modes of temperature adjustment for this vertical smoker. On top of the smoker there is a chimney-like smoke stack with various modifications for temperature regulation and airflow. Both bottom sides of the smoker also have adjustable dampers to help you achieve a precise cooking temperature. The built-in stainless steel thermometer on top of the cooker also has a “smoke-zone” indicator to help you get started with customizing your own smoking recipes depending on the smoky flavor you want to achieve.
Inside the bottom door, you will have a large capacity charcoal chamber seated on a stainless steel grate. Below this is a removable ash pan for quick disposal and cleaning. On top of the charcoal chamber is a wood chip box that allows you to enjoy your wood chips of choice for quality smoking.
Pros:
- Dual door design to separately access food and charcoal
- Three-way temperature adjustment
- Smoke-zone indicator on the built-in thermometer
- A wide grilling space
- Ceramic enameled coating interior
- Large charcoal chamber
- Large removable ash pan
Cons:
- No water pan
- Tall gaps between the grate tabs
- Discoloration of the exterior of the charcoal chamber
Bottom line
It may appear minimalist on the outside, but it offers a lot once you start using this grill. The built is sturdy and durable although it might not necessarily be weather-proofed. The exterior needs improvement and users are advised to use a grill cover especially if the grill is not stored indoors. The high capacity griling of the Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D 36” will guarantee a spread for 10 to 12 people in single smoking. The adjustable grates give additional points in versatility as well.
Accessories for Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D 36” Vertical Charcoal Smoker
1. Dyna-Glo DG784GSC Premium Vertical Smoker Cover
Although grills and smokers are meant to stay outdoors, it is still best to make a conscious effort to cover this grill to lengthen and maximize its use. Keeping it covered with prevent fading and dirt on the exterior. Impress your guests from the time they see your well-kept cooker ’til the time you serve them food.
2. LavaLock 12 GREY High-Performance BBQ gasket smoker seal SELF STICK
Even the best smokers will eventually experience smoke coming out of the smoker doors. Hinges eventually loosen and the natural seal will eventually wear out. Keep the smoke in and seal the flavors and aroma with this smoker seal from Lavalock.
3. ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Remote Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer with Dual Probe for Smoker Grill BBQ Thermometer
Smoking and grilling are all about temperature precision. Despite the availability of a built-in thermometer, a digital probe is a fail-proof device to accurately tell the exact smoking temperature inside your Dyna-Glo smoker. This is the most innovative way to ensure that you and your family can record, recreate and keep tabs on your best smoker recipes that you can pass on to generations.
Conclusion
Finding the right vertical smoker requires an open mind and willingness to learn. The best way to perfect your favorite barbecue, roasts and steaks is by continuous practice. With that in mind, you need a smoker that will not intimidate you with complicated procedures, temperature settings and difficult charcoal top-ups. Your griller of choice does not have to be expensive, it just needs to get the job done, it must be durable and of course, affordable. The Dyna-Glo DGx780BDC-D 36” Vertical Smoker is an easy-to-understand and easy-to-use smoker that even grilling beginners can grow into.
Last Updated on August 17, 2020 by Judith Fertig
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