My Honest Oklahoma Joe Smoker Review: Plus Modifications and Comparisons to other Smokers

If you ask true pit-masters, they’ll often tell you the taste and quality of BBQ coming from an offset smoker is virtually unmatched. That is why I purchased my first offset smoker a few years back, and it was the Oklahoma Joe Highland.

The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is a popular offset smoker that has garnered a reputation for its durability and cooking performance. Here’s a review of the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker, covering its features, versatility, and value for money: I’ll also draw comparisons to other comparable smokers in its price range.

Oklahoma Joe Highland Features:

1. Design and Construction: The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is constructed from heavy-gauge steel, which contributes to its sturdiness and heat retention. It features a traditional offset design, with a main cooking chamber and a firebox on the side. The cooking chamber has a large cooking surface area, allowing you to smoke a considerable amount of food at once.
2. Heat Distribution and Control: The offset design of the smoker allows for indirect heat cooking, where the firebox produces smoke and heat that travels into the main cooking chamber. This setup provides excellent heat distribution and allows for precise temperature control. However, it may require some practice and adjustments to maintain consistent temperatures throughout the cooking process. I strongly encourage anyone with an offset smoker to obtain a multi prong thermometer for monitoring the temperature of your entire cooking surface. There will be varying temperatures across the entire grill, so its better to be precise. There are also plenty of good videos on maintaining your fire and temperatures in the offset for beginners, check them out. With practice, it becomes very simple.
3. Cooking Versatility: The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is primarily designed for smoking meats such as ribs, briskets, pork shoulders, and poultry. Its spacious cooking area accommodates larger cuts of meat and allows for smoking multiple items simultaneously. 619 square inches to be precise. With proper temperature control, you can achieve deliciously smoky and tender results.
4. Grilling Capability: While the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is primarily designed for smoking, it does offer the possibility of grilling. The large grates in the main cooking chamber allow you to cook directly over the fire, giving you the option to grill steaks, burgers, vegetables, and other grilled dishes. However, it’s important to note that the smoker’s primary strength lies in smoking rather than grilling. On this note, I’ve found that perhaps the best reverse seared cooking I’ve ever done was by finishing off a steak in the firebox itself after smoking. I do this with my Tri Tips now, you’ll thank me later.
5. Value for Money: The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is generally considered to offer good value for its price. It provides a solid construction, decent cooking capacity, and effective smoking capabilities. However, it’s worth mentioning that as an entry-level offset smoker, it may require some modifications or additional accessories to enhance its performance and address potential temperature inconsistencies. For an entry level though, there is no better starter offset in my mind.

Cooking Surface		619 Square Inches
Weight Assembled		178 lbs
Grate		Porcelain
Wheels		Wagon Style- sturdy
Meat On Grate Capacity		8 Small Chickens 3 Briskets 4 Full Pork Shoulders 6 Racks of Ribs
Pricing		Check Price on Amazon

Comparing the Oklahoma Joe Highland Smoker

When comparing the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker to the suggested comparable models, here’s how they stack up:

1. Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker: The Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is highly regarded for its temperature control and durability. It is known for its consistent performance and ease of use. Compared to the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker, the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker is more compact and offers a different design with a vertical orientation. Both models are capable of producing excellent smoked results, but the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker may have a slight edge in terms of temperature management and overall build quality. Amazon Pricing
2. Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Smoker: The Dyna-Glo Signature Series Vertical Offset Smoker is another offset smoker that offers a large cooking area and solid construction. It shares similarities with the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker in terms of offset design and cooking capacity. However, the specific features, build quality, and temperature control capabilities may vary between the two models. The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is generally well-regarded for its durability and cooking performance, while the Dyna-Glo Signature Series smoker may offer a more compact footprint. Amazon Pricing
3. Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker: The Char-Broil American Gourmet Offset Smoker is a budget-friendly option suitable for beginners or those on a tighter budget. It shares the offset design with the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker, but the construction and overall performance may differ. The Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is often considered to be more robust and reliable in terms of long-term durability and temperature control. However, the Char-Broil smoker provides a more affordable entry point into offset smoking. Amazon Pricing
4. Pit Barrel Cooker: The Pit Barrel Cooker is a unique barrel-shaped drum smoker that combines smoking and grilling capabilities. It differs significantly from the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker and other offset smokers in terms of design and cooking method. The Pit Barrel Cooker uses a hanging cooking method that produces flavorful results. While both smokers can create delicious smoked foods, the Pit Barrel Cooker offers a distinct cooking style with a focus on convenience and simplicity. Amazon Pricing

3 Simple Modifications to the Oklahoma Joe Highland that Improve Overall Function

1. Sealing Air Leaks: One common modification is to seal any air leaks in the smoker to improve temperature control and efficiency. Look for gaps or openings around the doors, seams, and joints. You can use high-temperature gasket tape, such as Nomex or silicone-based gaskets, to create a better seal. This helps prevent air leaks, retain heat, and maintain more consistent temperatures throughout the smoking process.
2. Tuning Plates or Heat Deflectors: Adding tuning plates or heat deflectors inside the cooking chamber can help distribute heat more evenly across the cooking surface. These plates sit between the firebox and the cooking grates and help to regulate the flow of heat and smoke. They encourage better heat circulation, reducing hot spots and promoting more consistent cooking results. Tuning plates can be made from heavy-gauge steel or aluminum and can be adjusted or positioned according to your cooking preferences.
3. Extended Smoke Stack or Chimney: Another modification you can make is to extend the smoke stack or chimney on your Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker. By extending the chimney, you can create a better draft and improve smoke flow, resulting in cleaner smoke and enhanced flavor infusion. Additionally, extending the chimney can also help direct smoke away from the cooking surface, reducing the risk of soot or excess smoke settling on the food.

Best Meats/ Recipes For The Oklahoma Joe Highland

Low and Slow is the name of the game when it comes to smoking on an offset smoker like the Oklahoma Joe. Therefore my favorite recipes involve cuts of meat that require a slow cooking, things like Ribs, Brisket, Tri Tip, and Pulled Pork.

Anything that can be enhanced by rendering fats and a good quality smoke will have great success on this smoker. Be ready to learn how to use your smoker and maintain a good fire. There is some tradeoff in that aspect, as this definitely isn’t a “set it and forget it”, type smoker.

Overall Feeling for the Oklahoma Joe Smoker

Overall, the Oklahoma Joe Highland smoker is well-regarded for its durability, cooking performance, and traditional offset smoker design. It often competes favorably with comparable models in terms of construction quality and smoking capabilities. However, specific features, price points, and personal preferences should be considered when making a final decision. It’s recommended to review detailed product specifications, user reviews, and possibly even try to see the models in person to determine which one aligns best with your needs and cooking style

For me personally, its great. I use this smoker anytime I want to have a classic smoked taste in my meat, and it gives the smoke ring that can rival any other smoker in the same class. There may be a learning curve from a fire management side, but don’t let that discourage you from this amazing smoker, or any in the off set class.