Do you love the taste and aroma of the smoked meat? Well, we all love it. Why not grill the meat at home with these best electric smokers?
Just WAIT!
Are you thinking that it is difficult to pick up the right electric smoker for yourself? Do not worry! I have got you covered with this extensive research on top rated electric smokers.
To cook the perfect smoked meat, you may consider a smoker that can provide the right temperature and constant smoke. Choosing Best Electric Smokers means best-smoked food to enjoy with friends or family.
Smoking refers to cooking meat at a very low temperature of about 67-177 F for a complete day or more than one day. Whereas, in BBQ, the meat is cooked at a normal temperature for about an hour or two. And for grilling, you cook the meat at a high temperature for a few minutes.
For smoking your meat, traditional charcoal smokers are available but they are not easy to deal with. Thanks to electric smokers, it is possible now to smoke meet without any hassle.
Here we have compiled a list of the best 10 electric smokers for you to buy from. These are the most efficient smokers so far based on rating, user reviews, and comments.
Contents
10 Best Electric Smokers 2023
Electric Smoker | Rating | Price |
---|---|---|
Masterbuilt 20078715 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Masterbuilt 20077515 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Char-Broil Deluxe | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Masterbuilt 20070910 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Masterbuilt 20078616 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Smoke Hollow 30162E Electric Smoker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Smokin-It Model #1 Electric Smoker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Old Smokey Electric Smoker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Masterbuilt 20070411 Electric Smoker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | |
Cookshack SM009-2 Smokette Electric Smoker | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Following is an in-depth review of the top 10 electric smokers. The review covers the features, pros, and cons of all 10 electric smokers. After reading this thorough review, you will become able to decide which smoker fits your needs.
1. Masterbuilt 20078715 – The Best Electric Smoker
Masterbuilt has been serving backyard meat fanatics for a long time now. It is a well-known brand that has been around for decades. This latest smoker by Masterbuilt has changed the smoking game with its attractive pros and features. The taste of the meat cooked by this beauty will be just like the traditional charcoal smoker, which is a plus point as the best and natural taste always comes from a charcoal smoker.
Extensive cooking space: The best feature of this product by Masterbuilt is that it is huge due to its 975 square inch extensive cooking space which can hold up to 12 chickens at a time on its 4 racks. The racks are durable chrome coated with the best build quality. They are less prone to producing hot spots on your meat which allows you to place it anywhere on the racks without considering the center position.
Full foam insulation: The Masterbuilt Electric smoker is fully insulated to make sure the heat produced remains inside. Smoking requires a constant temperature to get the meat cooked properly. Masterbuilt ensures that you serve the best-smoked food to yourself and your guests.
Remote control: It’s got a remote control as well to monitor the temperature of the meat inside the device. This feature can come in handy in long cooking sessions where you have to constantly keep checking the temperature and the condition of the meat.
LED display: The LED display on the Masterbuilt allows you to easily determine the current temperature of the unit. The display is quite great and the figures can be seen even in bright daylight.
Digital control panel: The amazing digital control panel on the device allows you to easily adjust the temperature according to your needs. The digital control panel works fine and is a convenient way to increase or decrease the temperature as per need. The digital controls are better and accurate than the old analog gauges.
Wood chip box: Another great thing about the Masterbuilt 20078715 is that the wood chips can be easily loaded into the unit through the smooth side panel. This method doesn’t let the internal temperature of the smoker disrupt because there is no need to open the front door.
Drip pan on the front: The drip pan of the Masterbuilt is easy to access as it is located at the bottom of the smoker but comes out from the front. There are several smokers in which the drip pan either comes out from the side of the back which isn’t quite convenient. The drip pan in the Masterbuilt is extensive and connects a lot of greases that drips from the meat during the smoking process. You can easily take the drip pan out and empty it before returning it to its place.
- Huge 975 square inch cooking space
- Chrome coated racks with heat distribution
- Full foam insulation to block heat from escaping
- Remote control available to monitor the ambient as well as inner temperature
- Meat thermometer to ensure the meat is safe to eat. Meat over 140 degrees F internal temperature is usually safe to eat
- Drip pan to contain juice or any other greasy material that drips from the meat. It can be unloaded easily without disrupting the inner temperature of the smoker.
- Wood chip to insert wood for enhancing the taste of the meat
- 1200 watts electric supply to get your meat cooked at a suitable temperature.
- Has an LCD screen to monitor the activity of the thermostat. It will also give an alert sound when the meat is ready
- There are no wheels attached to the device to move it around. Have to pick it up.
- The internal temperature of the smoker can be monitored using the LCD screen but it would have been better if it had a meat probe.
2. Masterbuilt 20077515– With LED and Remote Control
This beast from Masterbuilt has some awesome features that a smoker should be expected to have. It’s got a 730 sq. inch where you can cook up to 80 pounds of meat at a time by placing it on its 4 chrome-coated racks.
Full foam insulation: The heating element of the Masterbuilt 20077515 has about 800-watt power which is quite enough to get your food cooked properly. It’s also got the full foam insulation for the temperature to remain constant.
Remote control: It’s got a remote controller that can be used to turn it on/off conveniently along with having the information of the internal temperature of the smoker. It’s also has a meat probe to determine the real temperature of the meat.
LED control panel: The product comes with an LED control panel that lets you monitor the inner activity of the smoker. The display of the LED is in blue so you can conveniently read it during the day as well as night.
The food being smoked inside the smoker can be easily viewed because it’s got internal LED lights that turn on when you open it. Otherwise, you can view the food’s condition by the window, without opening the door.
Move it around: You can easily move the smoker around as it has a handle as well as four wheels to re position it as per need.
Other features: Similar to the above product, it has a drip pan that contains the grease or food drippings on it that can be easily cleaned.
The device is quite easy to use. Just place your meat inside it and set the desired temperature. Now turn the smoker on using the RF remote control to begin the smoking process. Keep monitoring your food using the LED control panel.
- Internal LED lights along with windows to monitor the smoking progress
- RF remote control included for easily controlling the smoker
- Air damper located at the top and side to control the heat and moisture
- Huge extensive cooking space. Cook up to 80 pounds per session.
- Can be easily cleaned and maintained for later use
- The wood chip tray in the device is small in size therefore reloading is required time to time
- It’s got a glass window due to which the inside view can be blocked by the steam produced
- When the device is set at a low temperature, it won’t be able to smoke
3. Char-Broil Deluxe -Front Controller Digital Electric Smoker
The Char-Broil Deluxe is a 725 sq. inch professional digital electric smoker. It comes with a 1500 watt heating element with 4 smoking racks. If you are a pro smoker, this is the equipment you need to buy to get your smoking to the next level.
Heating element: Char-Broil Deluxe can be adjusted between 100-275 degrees Fahrenheit to get you the perfect temperature for your meat to get smoked.
Heating modes: This smoker lets you cook with two modes. You can either choose the smoking by temperature mode or smoking by cooking time mode. Both are effective and easy to use. They can be enabled using the control panel. The control panel also informs you about the internal heat of the smoker. You can change it any time using the same control panel. When your meat gets to the set temperature, the smoker will automatically enable the keep warm mode which will save it from getting overcooked.
The internal meat probe can be efficiently removed to check and determine the remaining time. Just insert the probe on to your food and set the temperature you desire. When smoking gets done, you will get an alert from the smoker. It comes with remote control as well to control it conveniently from a certain distance.
LED control panel: This one also has a blue light LED on its control panel to study the temperature readings easily.
Construction: The smoker is built with fine quality stainless steel along with a finish in dual-tone. There is a glass window on the front to check out the smoking process. The locking system is made up of stainless steel. It’s got double-wall along with tight insulation to make sure that the temperature inside the smoker remains constant. In this way, wood chips become more useful and effective in this smoker as compared to the other.
The wood chip box can hold up to 4 to 7 hours supply of wood chips. After that, you will have to refill the box. It can be easily moved around as it comes with a pair of wheels to accommodate it.
Easy to use: Operating this device is easy as a piece of cake. Just set the temperature and sit back and relax. Once you get the alert sound, grab your food out of the smoker. It’s that simple!
The temperature gauge is removable to easily monitor the smoking process.
Cleaning: The stainless steel built electric smoker can be conveniently cleaned with a damped cloth in a jiffy. The drip pan or grease tray can hold up to 8.5 cups of food drippings to make sure nothing leaks out of it. It can be later on cleaned easily.
- Huge wood chip box to get the smoking going for 4-7 hours.
- Stainless steel door locking system to make the smoke remain inside
- Remote controller for operating from a distance
- Comes with keep warm feature which doesn’t allow the meat to get overcooked.
- The food remains warm until it is served
- Extensive cooking space
- The temperature gauge is removable
- Can be easily cleaned
- Temperature range is limited
- The front glass door or windows gets slimy
- Sometimes, the temperature in actual is higher than it is displayed
4. Masterbuilt 20070910 – Best Budget electric smoker
This one is a Best digital electric smoker if your budget is less than 200$. It has 730 sq. inches cooking space with 4 chrome-coated racks. The smoker can smoke your chicken for a large or normal family gathering.
Heating element: The 30-inch Masterbuilt smoker comes with 800 watts heating element.
Temperature: The device can be used to adjust the temperature between 100-2755 degrees Fahrenheit to smoke your food according to your desire
Controlling the temperature: The device comes with a control panel on the top for controlling the internal temperature. In addition to this, it has a timer that can be set for a specific time so that you don’t have to check your meat again and again.
LED display: The Masterbuilt electric smoker has a digital LED display installed on it. In addition to this, the device has a remote controller that can be used to control it from a specific distance for ease of use. The display of the LED can be conveniently read and set. The remote controller can be useful for determining the smoke temperature and cooking time.
Construction: The device is made up of stainless steel which makes it better in build quality along with being capable of long-time use. The equipment is also efficiently insulated for the heat to remain inside to maintain a constant temperature.
When it comes to wood chips, Masterbuilt can be easily loaded with wood chips from the side without disrupting the smoke inside its cabinet. Whereas, the electric power of 800 watts is more than enough to cook your food to perfection.
There is an air damper located at the top of the smoker along with a removable drip pan on its side which makes it easy to clean the food drippings.
Using the smoker: Using the smoker is easy due to the soft push buttons included in the control panel. To get the smoking started, adjust the temperature with the help of the push buttons and start the process. Now all you need to do is sit back and relax and wait for the cooking process to complete.
Cleaning: The best thing about Masterbuilt is that it has a great and extensive drip tray that can be easily cleaned afterward. It can contain a lot of greases that drops from the meat. The grease drops directly on the drip pan which can be later on taken out of the smoker easily to get it cleaned.
- Â The build quality is admirable as it is made from durable and strong materials.
- Smoke levels can be flexibly controlled
- The timer can be set to a fixed time for making the cooking process easier by eliminating the need of keeping a separate timer on your phone or watch.
- Temperature control can be accessed through the remote from a specific distance hence there is no need to get up frequently to open and check the temperature.
- The 4 chrome-coated racks are removable
- The device can be easily cleaned and maintained for later use
- The power cable is of short length.
- The smoker requires some time to heat up to the required temperature.
5. Masterbuilt 20078616 -Portable Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt electric smoker is small in size but can cook relatively equal food than the large-sized electric smokers. It can cook up to 50 pounds of food at a time. It comes with 2 porcelain-coated racks along with 295 sq. inches of cooking space.
The weight of this electric smoker is less than most of its competitors. Hence, it is easy to carry it around to a relative or friend’s house for a meat smoking session.
Heating Element: The device comes with a heating element of 1650 watts.
Temperature: The temperature gauge can be set to four modes including low, medium, high or off. It is located below the handle on the smoker. The temperature of the equipment can go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit which is quite enough to smoke numerous sorts of food at a constant temperature.
Controlling the temperature: The temperature control gauge that comes with this model is analog. After setting the gauge, sit back and relax and let the smoker do its job. Don’t worry your food won’t be overcooked.
Construction: There is a small door located at the front of the smoker that can be used to load the wood chips easily as the knob located on the door is heat resistant. The chip tray is removable and is made up of porcelain material. The good thing about the smoker is that it has a drip pan that can collect the food drippings.
The Masterbuilt electric smoker can be easily carried anywhere because it comes with curved handles to carry it. The handles and knobs on the device are heatproof hence you don’t have to carry your kitchen gloves around with you wherever you go.
Using the smoker: The smoker is easy to use. Its big advantage is that it is portable. For getting the smoking process started, plug in the smoker, add some water and wood chips, adjust the temperature on which you want your meat to be cooked and just wait for the job to get done.
The unit has an air damper that can be utilized to determine the amount of smoke and moisture inside the smoker so you can adjust it easily.
Cleaning: The internal area of the Masterbuilt smoker does not need frequent cleaning. The drip pan can be conveniently cleaned after the smoking of your food is done. You can clean it and put it inside for later use.
- Â The temperature can go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- Light-weight and portable, easy to carry around.
- Enough cooking space for a family gathering
- The external analog thermometer can be used easily to determine the internal temperature
- Using the smoker is simple and easy
- Can be efficiently and easily cleaned as the interior does not require frequent cleaning
- Keeping a constant desired temperature can be sometimes frustrating
- It isn’t much easy to load the wood chips inside the smoker
6. Smoke Hollow 30162E– Best for Beginner
If you are a beginner in the meat smoking game, Smoke Hollow is the device that you want to buy to get things started decently. Why? Because this smoker is the simplest and easiest one to use as an indoor Electric smoker.
Temperature: There are very straightforward three temperature options included in the Smoke Hollow 30162E which makes it easy to decide the temperature for the beginners. Talking about the power capacity, the device uses 1500 watts heating element to smoke and cook your food with perfection. The temperature inside the device is guaranteed to remain constant during the whole cooking process no matter what the external temperature is.
Display: There is an analog gauge located on the front door that can be used to monitor the temperature. The device has no control panel display.
Construction: This device is a must-to-buy for a group of young friends who like outdoor food parties. The Smoke Hollow promises to provide an unforgettable cooking experience for newbies. It doesn’t have any wheels on it but as its weight is only 55 pounds, it can be easily carried around with those sturdy handles on its side.
The smoker has double-walls which never lets the heat escape from the inside. The water pan is porcelain coated while the wood chip box comes covered in black paint.
Using the smoker: As the smoker can be easily handled and carried around, it can serve as the perfect choice for beginners in the smoking game.
Cleaning: As the wood chip box, rack, and also the water pan is covered with porcelain material, hence it is easy to clean them for later use.
- Â The smoker heats up instantly to the desired temperature
- The insulation of the smoker is admirable
- Heat distribution is even
- The external temperature does not affect it. Hence, it’s the best choice for outdoor cooking parties.
- Can be conveniently assembled in a few minutes
- Easy to use. Suitable for beginners
- Can be easily cleaned
- The interior is reported to cause leaks.
7. Smokin-It Model #1– Best Small Electric Smoker
Smokin-It Model #1 has a simple and effective design. It has a cooking area of 468 sq. inches along with three stainless steel cooking racks. It’s on of best small electric smoker that is efficient and easy to use.
Temperature: Model #1 has a temperature range between 100-250 degrees Fahrenheit which is quiet enough for a small smoker like itself. Whereas, the heating element of the device has a power of 400 watts. It’s a simple and budget electric smoker for beginners.
Using the smoker: Using Model #1 smoker is quite easy. You just have to put your food in, add some wood chips, adjust your desired temperature and you’re good to go. It’s the good old “set and forget” style electric smoker. Assembling the smoker is also quite simple and can be done in a few minutes.
Construction: The unit is made of stainless steel and comes in excellent build quality. The walls of the device are completely insulated with fiberglass which prevents heat loss to contain a constant temperature. The door of the smoker is also made up of stainless steel which plays an important role in preventing the heat from escaping as the walls.
Cleaning: The Smokin-It Model #1 has a drip pan that helps to prevent any grease from the food from dripping on the other areas that are tough to clean. The drip pan easily slides out of the unit and can be cleaned conveniently and then put once again inside for later use.
- Brilliant stainless steel build quality
- Temperature range is good
- Cooking quality is excellent
- Can be easily moved
- Durable and portable at the same time
- Can only accommodate 22 pounds of meat per smoking session
- If you want to cook large ribs or racks, you have to cut them into small pieces as the cooking space and size isn’t extensive
8. Old Smokey Electric Smoker – Affordable
Old Smokey is a decent electric smoker that you can buy at an affordable price. It comes with 2 cooking racks along with a cooking space of 280 sq. inches. The build quality is quite good.
Heating Element: Old Smokey Electric Smoker comes with a heating element of 1250 watts which is enough for smoking your meals to a decent level.
Flat Design: The unit has a flat roof design which means that the condensed juices will get up to the top and then drop back while maintaining the original taste, moisture and juicy meat instead of being dry.
Construction: The good old smoker is made up of aluminum steel with a simple design. Both the racks can be easily taken out of the unit, hence, making them removable. Each of the racks can easily hold about 6 large burger patties. To get access to the wood chip box, you need to remove the lower grill.
It does not have any kind of reader or control panel to know the meat temperature, however, you can always buy a cheap meat probe to determine the temperature of the meat smoking inside the Old Smokey.
- The heating element of 1250 watts is quite enough in the cheap price
- Build quality is good
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- If you want to add more wood, you will have to remove the grill just above the wood chip box
- Doesn’t has much space
9. Masterbuilt 20070411 – Smoker With Meat Probe
Masterbuilt 20070411 is an electric smoker that has a cooking space of 721 sq. inches along with 4 chrome-coated racks. It has a beautiful design and is comparatively smaller in size as well as lighter in weight as compared to other Masterbuilt products with the same or almost similar specifications like this one.
Heating Element: The Masterbuilt comes with a heating element of 800 watts.
Great Design: The Masterbuilt Electric Smoker is a 30-inch electric smoker with a black powder-coated body. The front door of the unit is made of stainless steel. There are wheels connected to the unit to easily move it around whereas the weigh itself is not much, it’s about 50 pounds. There is a rear handle that can be used to reposition or relocate the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker with ease.
Remote Control: The Masterbuilt comes with a push-button to start the smoking process but if due to some reason, the push-button stops working, there is a remote controller included with the device to easily control it in such cases. The remote control allows to conveniently monitor the temperature as well as time settings.
Meat probe: The Masterbuilt Electric Smoker comes with a meat probe so that you don’t have to worry about checking out the meat from time to time to determine whether it’s cooked or not. The meat probe will let you know the internal temperature of the meat to guess whether it is ready to be eaten or not.
Construction: The design and the material of Masterbuilt are quite good. There is a wood chip box that can be easily inserted from the side of the smoker without disrupting the internal temperature of it. You can easily reload the wood chips and then insert the wood chip plate right into the smoker to get your food the genuine smoky taste.
There is a drip tray at the bottom as well that can be removed and cleaned with ease, making the cleaning process of the Electric Smoker easier.
- Extensive cooking space. Up to almost 730 sq. inch wide cooking area
- Meat probe to determine the meat condition
- Wood chips can be easily loaded from the side without having to open the front door and disrupting the temperature as well as smoke
- Can be easily and efficiently cleaned
- Complete 100% insulation to let the heat remain inside the container body
- Two AAA batteries would have been a better option in operating the remote controller.
- The inside light won’t be of many purposes during the smoke process
10. Cookshack SM009-2 Smokette – Stainless Steel Electric Smoker
The last on the list comes with a 588 sq. inches of cooking space with 3 nickel-plated racks. The build quality is rock solid and stainless steel has been used on the interior as well as the exterior of the Cookshack SM009-2 Smokette.
Heating Element: The electric smoker comes with a heating element of 500 watts which is enough but could have been better. The temperature can go between 140-250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Construction: The Cookshack electric smoker comes with double-walls and stainless steel in and out of the container. The drip pan is made of aluminum. The power cord of this electric smoker is 63-inches. Hence, it is good enough to place it in your backyard where power outlets aren’t near enough.
The removable parts are machine washable to get them cleaned in a jiffy. There are 2 pairs of small tires included at the rear to get the smoker relocated wherever you want.
Using and Cleaning: Assembling the Cookshack is easy and takes about 30 minutes even if you have no experience in the assembly of any smokers.
Cleaning this system isn’t a hassle. You just have to take out the dripping pan and cleanse it with some water or rub a damp cloth on it to get it ready for the next use.
- Strong and durable build quality
- Stainless steel in and out
- Easy to setup
- Easy to clean as well
- Portable
- Double-walled stainless steel
- The price is a bit higher than its competitors
- Can only cook up to 25 pounds at a time
- Doesn’t have a digital display
7 Tips to Buy the Best Electric Smoker in 2023
With tons of electric smokers available in the market, it’s always a hard choice for a newbie or even an experienced person to buy an electric smoker. Well, to help you get the best electric smoker for yourself, we have compiled a list of some tips that you can follow before buying one. Here is what you need to consider before purchasing an electric smoker:
- Cooking space: Determine the quantity of food that you cook in normal scenarios. If you have family gatherings or receive guests quite often, you might buy an electric smoker that can hold a lot of food at a time for all of your people to eat to their fill.
- Controlling the temperature: The main key to smoking is the right temperature. If you have set the right temperature, you are good to go. Hence, you should always consider an electric smoker that has a simple temperature controlling configuration that is easy to understand as well as easy to set. Digital temperature controllers are quite easy to use rather than the analog ones. Another plus point here is that the digital temperature controllers can have a remote controller as well. But it all depends on your choice. If you fancy the analog controllers, you are free to buy a smoker with an analog controller. Just determine what you can easily operate.
- Consider the features: If you are a beginner in the smoking game, you might consider an electric smoker that has tempered glass food so that you can easily monitor the smoking process. In this way, you can keep an eye on your food’s condition without opening and closing the door frequently as it will disrupt the internal temperature which can eventually affect the quality of food.
- Fuel: Nowadays, charcoal and wood smokers have been almost extinct. People are buying modern-day electric smokers to initiate a better and faster cooking session. Whenever you plan to buy a smoker, make sure it can work with electricity along with a few wood chips to enhance the taste.
Components: You should also consider the racks, trays, and pans as well as the electric smoker you are about to buy. You should be more careful about the material or coating of the racks or the drip pans. If they are good in quality, they will surely last for a long time. - Technology: Modern-day electric smokers are coming with Bluetooth, remote controllers and other useful equipment that can greatly assist you in your smoking process. Remote controls can help you in controlling and determining the temperature from a distance. Bluetooth enabled electric smokers can be easily controlled remotely. Before buying an electric smoker, check out the included technology. Buy the one you are comfortable with.
- Budget: Determine your budget and search for the nest electric smoker in your range. If you have found an electric smoker in your range, check out its competitors that will have the same price but can have extra or other amazing features that can come in handy. Before buying an electric smoker, make sure to check the reviews on the internet of the one you have planned to buy.
Electric Smoker Best Brands
There are a lot of brands available in the market that are constantly producing electric smokers and making them available for the general public. But certain brands are the pioneers of electric smokers. Here we have mentioned the top 5 brands that you should consider before buying your next electric smoker
CHAR-BROIL: The Char-Broil company was found in the late 19th century. The company was established as a cotton factory. The company then sold products of various categories including farm equipment, fishing gear, BBQ grills, etc.
In 1949, the first-ever Char-Broil grill came out and was liked a lot by people around the globe. Since that year, the company has become a pioneer in the BBQ equipment business. The unique thing about the Char-Broil is the Tru-Infrared technology that is being used in almost all of their smokers and grills.
MASTERBUILT: Masterbuilt has been satisfying the backyard cooking sessions for decades now with their fabulous equipment. They are considered a top-notch brand that delivers quality products worldwide since the year 1998.
Masterbuilt sure is expensive but they do deliver quality products. But if you are looking for a low budget but a good quality smoker, you should better consider brands like Char-Broil or Bradley.
BRADLEY: There is a popular story which is likely to be true is that the founder of the company once met a master smoker. He asked him to teach him how to smoke salmon and in return, he will teach him how to fish. So, after learning how to smoke, the guy decided to open up a brand of his own. So, in the 1970s, Bradley was officially launched and started delivering its service to a vast area.
SMOKEHOUSE: The electric smokers built by Smokehouse are usually great for outdoor BBQ parties. They mainly focus on creating kitchenware. A smoker from Smokehouse is likely to have at least 4 grill racks in it.
SMOKIN-IT: Another top-notch brand, Smokin-It, are NSF certified and are delivering their services to customers worldwide. The unique thing about them is that they are interested in creating smokers that are fully insulated. This helps a lot in containing the smoke inside and the quality of the food is also maintained.
Types of Smokers
The smokers have a diverse range to choose from depending upon what kind of barbeque you want to smoke and how much fortune you want to spend on it. So, I have made things easy for you. I have put together a guide of the most common types of smokers for you along with their brief description. So, you can effortlessly select the appropriate smoker, which matches up neatly with your smoking needs.
1. Electric Smokers
Electric Smokers are simple to use and handle. It is a great choice for people who are new to smoking because of its straightforward control panel. These smokers work on their own, which means you just have to set a temperature, time and smoking will be done for you. So, you don’t have to check continuously throughout the process and can carry on with your other tasks.
How do Electric Smokers work?
Electric smokers use heating elements other than any combustible fuel. When the smoker is heated it smolders the wood chips and produces smoke. The smoker has a wood and water pan between the heating element and the food racks. The water pan creates water vapors, which enhances the smoky flavor and taste of the meal. Moreover, it creates indirect cooking, which protects your food from the direct heat and keeps the temperature and the smoking time low and steady.
Electric smokers are the best choice for the people who are unable to use gas or charcoal burners where they live. Moreover, it gives you an opportunity to set the timer and walk away. You don’t have to check up your food continuously as it won’t get ruined.
2. Pellet Smokers
Pellet Smoker is one of the most versatile smokers. It acts as a grill, smoker and an oven all rolled into one with a digital thermostatically controlled temperature. These smokers are easy to use and deliver a remarkable flavor with the blend of the actual wood smoke.
How do Pellet Smokers work?
Pellet smokers use sawdust into a firepot to combust and produce smoke. These pellets are put into a hopper on the side of the smoker and are automatically fed into a firebox by an auger drill. The heated metal rod inside the firepot keeps the pellets to combust and the airflow creates smoke and consistent heat into the cooking chamber for the perfect smoking. The in-built thermometers keep the temperature stable
Pellet smokers are a great option for people who don’t want to babysit their charcoal smokers. This high-tech smoker will do the smoking automatically according to the temperature of the grill and the setting you have chosen. Moreover, if you have a room for only one cooking appliance then this versatile smoker is the best choice for you to put your hands on. Here is list of Best Pellet Smoker and Grills.
3. Offset Smokers
The offset smokers are one of the sturdily designed cooking smokers with a durable layout and fairly simple control panel to handle. These smokers are commonly known as horizontal smokers and are designed to smoke food at low temperatures. It allows the smoke to penetrate into the food leaving it crispy and flavorful from the outside and tender and moist on the inside. The smoker has a large barrel food chamber and allows you to cook massive meals in a single go.
How do Offset Smokers Work?
The offset smokers have their fire pot on the lower side of the main cooking chamber where you place your food. When the wood or charcoal combust in the firebox, the smoke is created into the food chamber, which creates consistent heating and gives the meal the smoky barbeque flavor. Some offset smokers have the reverse flow system, which means it flows the smoke over and under the food. In these smokers, chimneys are settled above instead of opposite the firebox. Most of the models come with the detachable grill plate giving you two in one the smoker and the griller.
Offset smokers are a great option for the people who want to put time and effort into their meals and want to create massive food to serve large gatherings. However, these smokers occupy a large space area due to its huge layout. Check 10 Best Offset Smoker Reviews Recommended to Buy in 2023.
4. Gas/ Propane Smokers
Gas or propane smokers use natural gas to produce heat. The smoker provides a consistent heat temperature to the food inside the chamber but it doesn’t provide a smoke. This gas smoker requires wood chips or chunks to produce sufficient smoke for your barbeque flavor. The gas smokers are easy to use and handle and propane is widely available and is a cheap fuel to refill your smokers.
How do Gas/Propane Smokers work?
Most of the gas smokers have vents and burners at the bottom of the smoker. Whereas the chimneys above. The gas travels from the bottle to the cooking section below and gives the perfect heat to the food inside the chamber. The gas is ignited and flows out of the burner valves. You can effortlessly make the changes to the heat and the temperature according to the meal desire.
Due to the lightweight and the bottle gas fuel, these smokers are ideal for the people who want to enjoy their camping with delicious barbeques. These smokers give you an enhanced flavor than the other smokers. Read 10 Best Propane Smoker Reviews 2023 & Buyer’s Guide.
Wrapping it up
An efficient smoker maintains the perfect low cooking temperature for an extended period of time around the meat to fully engulf the smoky flavor. There are various ways to use smokers and there are numerous types of smokers available in the market. Each smoker has its own pros and cons but the important factor is what kind of barbeque you want to smoke and how much fortune you are willing to spend.
After skimming through this guide I am hopeful that you are well aware of the most common types of smokers. If one of them jumps off the page at you it’s probably the one that is for you. Buy the one that matches all your smoking needs and start smoking some delicious food for your loved ones. I bet you will get your reward for your efforts with some mouth-watering meals.
Verdict:
Getting a top-notch electric smoker ensures that the food you prepare for yourself or your guests is perfectly smoked and has an amazing taste some because of your skills while the rest because of the great features of the smoker.
If you are a restaurant owner or working somewhere as a permanent chef, electric smokers are something that you need to save you a lot of time and hassle.
If you are a housewife and want to frequently surprise your husband and children by serving them with quality food, electric smokers might help you a lot.
Electric Smoker FAQ’s
1. Can electric smokers be stored outdoors most of the time?
Well, electric smokers are made durable to withstand the hot and cold weather so they can be stored outdoors. But, it is better to store them inside because these are electric equipment and electric equipment should be placed somewhere inside safe and sound. If you are not a frequent user, it is better to store it somewhere inside. That place can either be your garage or your shed but just make sure there is no ceiling leakage. It’s better to cover it with a cloth to prevent any sort of grime settling on the top of the smoker.
2. Can it be used when it’s raining?
As you all know that electric smokers are electric appliances, you should never use them in the middle of a storm. Well, if the cord is fine and you just want to use it for any reason, you should always take some precautions.
And placing it in the rain might get it rusty in no time. Though the build quality and the materials used for these products are great still there is a probability that your electric smoker can get damaged or rusty if you use it in rain. Besides, who wants to get outside time to time to keep checking their smoked meat in the middle of the rain?
Another problem is that, if any wire is exposed, it might get in contact with the ground and, as it is pouring, there is a high probability of you getting shocked. While, such scenarios don’t happen much, but you need to ensure your safety as it is more important than smoked meat, isn’t it?
3. Can it be used with charcoal instead of wood chips?
Yes, you can use charcoal instead of wood chips. Usually, people use wood chips but if you are willing to use charcoal, there isn’t any problem. The main thing that you need to be concerned about is keeping the charcoal contained.
Well, talking about the company-made stuff, most of the electric smokers are usually built to be used with wood chips. You can surely try other stuff but it is better to use what the company recommends to be used with their product. Wood chips and charcoal will surely do the same job. It’s up to you to decide.
Take a look at some other available models:
- DIGITAL CONTROLS - Set your desired smoking temperature and cooking time on the digital control panel for seamless smoking experience up to...
- PATENTED SIDE WOOD CHIP LOADER - Patented side wood chip loader to continually add smoke flavor without having to open the smoker door, locking in...
- WATER BOWL TO ADD MOISTURE – The removable water bowl allows for optimal amount of moisture, resulting in juicy and tender meats. Experiment with...
- SPACIOUS VERTICLE DESIGN with 711 cooking square inches that fits up to 6 chickens, 2 turkeys, 4 pork butts or 4 racks of ribs, 4 Chrome-coated...
- FOUR chrome coated smoking racks included
- 548 SQUARE INCHES OF INTERIOR: The spacious 548 square inch interior means there is plenty of room to smoke a variety of meats and vegetables. The...
- THREE REMOVABLE SMOKING SHELVES: Three chrome plated steel racks can be easily removed for smoking large cuts of meat. Racks are dishwasher safe,...
- BUILT-IN THERMOMETER: Features easy-to-read thermometer on the front door for accessible monitoring of the internal temperature.
- 1500-WATT HEATING ELEMENT: Featuring a heating coil that provides the 1500-watt heating element able to produce a temperature from 100°F to 400°F...
- STAINLESS STEEL TRAYS HOLDS WOOD AND WATER: Stainless steel trays hold the wood chips and water, so clean-up is easy after use. Smoker requires wood...
- Digital charcoal grill and smoker with 1050 square inches of cooking space
- Reaches 225F in 8 minutes or 700F in 15 minutes to use as traditional charcoal grill or charcoal smoker
- DigitalFan precisely maintains desired cooking temperature during grilling or smoking
- GravityFed vertical charcoal hopper uses gravity to continually burn through fuel, allowing for 10lbs of lump charcoal or 16lbs of briquettes for up...
- Digital control panel to easily set desired cooking temperature for grilling or smoking
- COOKING SPACE: 544 square inches of cooking space
- POWER: 1200 watt heating element and insulated cooking chamber
- GAUGE: Door-mounted temperature gauge
- GRATES: 3 Chrome-plated cooking grates
- CLEANING: Aluminized steel water pan, wood chip tray and grease tray
- SPACIOUS COOKING SURFACE: 457.86 sq. inches of cooking surface over 3 chrome-coated smoking racks; 1500-watt heating power with adjustable analog...
- GREASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: In addition to removable stainless steel water pan and lidded chip box, this analog electric smoker has an independent...
- VERSATILE APPLICATION: Featuring multi-functional uses, the smoker could satisfy different sorts of needs such as smoked barbecue, firewood grilling,...
- GOOD SEAL PERFORMANCE: Latch system ensures a good seal performance, cool-touch spring door handle prevents scalding, and 2-side handles for...
- HEAT-RETAINING: Double-wall construction firebox helps retain smoking temperature.
- 3-in-1 combination tray
- Non-insulated cooking chamber
- Product is 26 inches
- Four chrome-plated steel cooking grates offer a total of 732 square inches in cooking space
- 800 watt burner provides abundant cooking power even in colder climates
- Digital thermostat with push-button controls for setting and monitoring the cooking time and temperature
- Integrated meat thermometer displays internal temperature at the push of a button
- Side access wood chip loader minimizes smoke and heat loss when more wood chips are needed