This Under $100 Kettle Smoker Is the Best Kitchen Purchase I’ve Made This Year
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If getting into smoking food is something you’ve considered, you’ve probably looked at the large smokers and grill combinations that can take up a good chunk of patio space. I know I did.
For a couple of years, I kept looking at different options but never felt ready to commit. Then this spring, Costco started carrying the Nordic Ware Deluxe Kettle Smoker, and it seemed like a much easier way to give smoking a try.
I purchased mine at full price, and after using it regularly since early May, it’s become one of the most-used cooking appliances in my house. Right now, Costco has it marked down to $39.99 in warehouses, making it an even better value than when I bought it. If you can’t find it locally, Costco also has it available online while supplies last.
Consumer reporter Jeff Rossen recently highlighted the deal in June 14 TikTok video:
Nordic Ware’s Kettle Smoker Makes Smoking Food Surprisingly Easy
One thing that initially caught my attention was how beginner-friendly the smoker is. Rather than investing hundreds of dollars in a large outdoor smoker, the Nordic Ware Kettle Smoker comes with everything needed to get started.
The kit includes the smoker base, a domed lid with an adjustable vent, a smoking tray, a drip pan, a thermometer, a recipe guide, and five varieties of wood chips: apple, sugar maple, cherry, hickory, and sweet mesquite.
Made in the USA from durable aluminized steel, the smoker can be used both indoors and outdoors, making it a versatile option for year-round cooking. The 10.2-inch smoking tray is large enough for everything from chicken wings and pork ribs to roasts and smaller cuts of brisket.
What surprised me most, however, was how often I use it without the wood chips.
The smoker also functions as a steamer, which has become one of my favorite ways to cook ribs and chicken wings. The results are incredibly tender, and the meat practically falls off the bone. For better caramelization, I finish everything under the broiler after adding the sauce.
Shoppers Say It’s Easy to Use and Delivers Tender Results
Costco shoppers have found the same. One reviewer shared, “It is a very convenient indoor smoker and easy to use. It reduces cook time and yields a tender, juicy result. However, if you want your dishes to be more charred or crisp, you have to finish them off in the oven, air fryer, or on the grill. But all in all, great product.”
Another wrote, “Kettle grill does not provide heavy smoke–more moderate to light at best. Holds moisture very well, so meats that usually require foil don’t need it here. The brisket came out nice, juicy, and tender–also amazing for chicken wings as they don’t get burned up!”
I found that assessment to be accurate. This isn’t designed to replace a large dedicated smoker that produces heavy smoke flavor over many hours. Instead, it’s an approachable, low-commitment way to experiment with smoking foods at home while still producing flavorful, tender results.
If Costco is sold out, the Nordic Ware Deluxe Kettle Smoker is also available on Amazon.
Whether you’re picking it up at Costco or ordering it from Amazon, it’s one of the most affordable ways I’ve found to get started. Considering it includes the smoker, thermometer, recipe guide, and five varieties of wood chips, it offers a lot of value for anyone curious about smoking food without investing in a much larger setup.
For me, it’s gone from an impulse purchase to a weekly kitchen staple, and that’s not something I say very often.
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