Best Electric Smoker – Ultimate Buying Guide
Everybody loves to barbeque. But not everybody loves to stay outside and wait for their barbeque to gets done, especially when it’s cold outside. That’s where the best electric smokers Consumer Reports come in.
Do you know that one of the perks of using an electric smoker is that you don’t have to depend on flames to generate a smoke?
And unlike traditional smokers, you don’t need to be a professional to use the electric smoker. Plus, it is super easy to use.
Furthermore, when it comes to temperature control, you don’t have to regulate the temperature now and then. Just set it and forget.
This electric smoker review is in two sections. In this first section, I’m going to reveal the best electric smokers in the marketplace. And in the second section, I’m going to guide you through everything you should know about an electric smoker. Let’s get started.
- Best Electric Smoker – Ultimate Buying Guide
- Best Electric Smoker – Quick List
- Best Electric Smoker – Reviews
- 1. Masterbuilt MB20071117 – Best Overall
- 2. Cuisinart COS-330 – Best …
- 3. Char-Broil 19202101 – Best …
- 4. Bradley Smoker BS611 – Best …
- 5. Royal Gourmet SE2801 – Best …
- 6. Pit Boss PBV3A1 – Best …
- 7. Smokehouse Little Chief – Best …
- 8. Smokin-It Model #1 – Best …
- 9. Smokin-It Model #2 – Best …
- 10. Smokin-It Model #3 – Best …
- Electric Smoker Buying Guide
- 6 Reasons You Should Try An Electric Smoker
- Factors To Consider Before Choosing An Electric Smoker
- Conclusion
Best Electric Smoker – Quick List
- Masterbuilt MB20071117 – Best Overall
- Cuisinart COS-330 – Best …
- Char-Broil 19202101 – Best …
- Bradley Smoker BS611 – Best …
- Royal Gourmet SE2801 – Best …
- Pit Boss PBV3A1 – Best …
- Smokehouse Little Chief – Best …
- Smokin-It #1– Best …
- Smokin-It #2 – Best …
- Smokin-It #3 – Best …
Best Electric Smoker – Reviews
1. Masterbuilt MB20071117 – Best Overall
Masterbuilt 30-Inch is an electric smoker for beginners. It is easy to use. Just unbox and start smoking your favorite meat.
Want to crank out BBQ without worrying about charcoal or gas issues? Have a look at Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker.
When it comes to building quality, Masterbuilt is second to none. I checked the material of the cabinet and noticed that it is an elegant stainless steel material. The interior is aluminum-made, too. And the best part? These materials are super easy to clean.
It features a digital control panel that allows you to set your cooking temperature between 10-275°F.
The panel function doesn’t stop here: it also houses the power On/OFF option, cook time option, and lots more- All for your convenience.
Furthermore, I also tested the smoking quality of Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker with some chunks of ribs and turkeys. And it was impressively. I was surprised to see the smoker heating up faster and maintaining a consistent cooking temperature.
All it cost me was just to plug the Masterbuilt into an electric source.
Now, you have to be careful when selecting this electric smoker, as it comes in different models. Let’s check them out.
We have the:
- Basic 30″ model
- 40″ with window
- 30″ Bluetooth model (plus window and a broiler)
- 40″ Bluetooth model (plus a window and a broiler)
Also, make sure you’re careful about choosing an outdated model. I love the front window design. However, after smoking for about 10 minutes, you’ll notice that the inside becomes fuzzy and nothing to see.
What We like
- Excellent insulation for better heat retention
The more the insulation, the better the heat retention ability. Masterbuilt understood this and included it in this best electric smoker. This feature will let you smoke faster and easier.
- Excellent cooking surface for more cooks
Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker comes at a cooking space of 730 sq inches, which is perfect for most BBQ smokers.
- Wood chip tray system for convenience
Thanks to the wood chip tray, I don’t need to open the door before I add the chips. It is a convenient way to have more smoke.
2. Cuisinart COS-330 – Best …
If there’s any reason why we’re sold on this electric smoker, it’s the compact design. Also available in 30-inch and with similar quality, you will be saving a few bucks with the 26″ model. And you’ll also sacrifice a few cooking spaces.
Inside the smoker are two accurately packed racks. Gladly, you can adjust the racks to your cooking heights.
For instance, if you’re smoking Turkey and ribs simultaneously, you can adjust the cooking racks to fits in both accordingly.
Unlike most electric smokers, control isn’t mounted at the top here; it’s the temperature gauge, instead.
What We like
- Heating elements for heat control
This Smoke Hollow size comes with a 1500 watt heating element to offer a 175-325°F of the temperature range.
While it’s nothing serious, several bigger electric smokers fall below this temperature range.
- Overall compact design
The footprint doesn’t take much of your space. Feel free to easily fit the electric smoker on a corner of your patio.
- An excellent electric smoker for beginner
Setting up the smoker, plus the controlling temperature, is a breeze.
3. Char-Broil 19202101 – Best …
If you’re not a fan of the Masterbuilt, the Char-Broil’s 725 square inches electric smoker would be a smart alternative. While it is similar to Masterbuilt in terms of size and feature, Char-Broil added great smart features to this digital electric smoker.
Here’s an exciting part: char-broil includes a remote control in this electric smoker. That way, you can easily adjust the cooking temperature from the comfort of your home. And you can even turn it off from the remote.
On top of your smoker is the digital control panel that also lets you control the cooking temperature and time.
I also love that the glass door allows you to see your cooking from outside. Although watching your smoked food isn’t the main thing, the ability to see how your cooking is doing without opening the door sounds good.
The Char-Broil Deluxe is durable and constructed sturdily. Like the Masterbuilt, the exterior walls are stainless steeled material with a nice heat retention feature.
While the glass door is durable, sometimes, heat does escape from them. So make sure your kids don’t stay close to the door.
What We like
- Easy to use and maintain
We love the simplicity of the digital panel at controlling temperature. The set up is quite flexible, which makes it fit into different kinds of food. The rack can be configured to fit into your cooking. While it can accommodate your large turkey, your smaller ribs are welcomed as well, all in one cookout session.
- Large digital temperature screen
You can easily read your temperature, even from afar. Thanks to the large screen.
4. Bradley Smoker BS611 – Best …
Bradley is a household name when it comes to the best electric smoker. And among different variants of the brand, Bradley BTDS76P is a model to reckon with.
I was able to discover this digital electric smoker based on several references from smoke lovers.
Bradley BTDS76P comes with a digital control system that allows you to easily control your cooking temperature, all with the press of a few buttons.
Furthermore, its build quality is second to none. If you’re looking for a stylishly designed electric smoker with a sturdy design, you might want to look in the way of this model from Bradley.
What We like
- Easy to clean
Bradley BTDS76P is easy to clean. Just wipe clean using a dry cloth. Thanks to the stainless steel exterior.
- Multipurpose electric smoker
Here’s the unique part: this electric smoker offers different burners for your smoke and oven. In other words, you can do a “smoke only or heat only” cooking.
- Generous warranty
The product comes with a one year warranty. That way, you’re safe, in the event of “the unexpected.”
5. Royal Gourmet SE2801 – Best …
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6. Pit Boss PBV3A1 – Best …
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7. Smokehouse Little Chief – Best …
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8. Smokin-It Model #1 – Best …
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9. Smokin-It Model #2 – Best …
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10. Smokin-It Model #3 – Best …
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Electric Smoker Buying Guide
Welcome to the buying guide section. As you know, when looking for the best electric smoker, you have a wide variety of options to choose from.
Each electric smoker comes with its unique features- especially in terms of quality, functionality, warranty, and overall result. You must figure out which of these qualities matches with your needs.
However, it’s not only about the smoker meeting your needs to be sure that it fits your budget as well.
6 Reasons You Should Try An Electric Smoker
Ease of use
If you’re an experienced smoker, you know that traditional smokers require lots of investment. First, you must fire up the flame, ensure that airflow is regulated accurately, and that temperature is maintained.
However, using an electric smoker is easy. Plug it in a power outlet, set the temperature, and you’re good to go. Anyone would find this more comfortable to use, unlike its charcoal counterpart.
Safer option
Traditional smokers require a real fire to ignite a smoke. And you have to leave the fire on for at least a few hours. Undoubtedly, this can be a dangerous act for anyone with kids or pets around.
Electric smokers don’t have open flames. The heating is done inside your smoker, making it a safer and preferable option for anyone with kids around.
An affordable smoking option
A traditional smoker will require you investing in wood chips to maintain the flames. Some cooks such as smoking a whole turkey can consume a lot of time and a lot of chips too. And that’s expensive. Although you also add wood to an electric smoker, it’s used as a flavor than for smokiness.
With this, electric smokers are efficient in terms of how they use wood chips. Practically, one cup of wood chips may use up to 5 hours.
Also, electric smokers don’t consume much power so that they won’t take a toll on your electricity bill.
A Convenient smoking option
You have to babysit your traditional smoker when smoking. You must monitor the temperature. Ensure that the flame doesn’t escape out. And the airflow is in the right direction.
However, the best electric smoker works on a ‘set and forget’ style. You don’t have to invest much that effort.
Just plug it in and leave.
Easy to maintain
The harsh truth is that when you use other smoker types, especially the charcoal smoker, cleaning up can be difficult. Charcoal ash usually spread all through the smoking environment. On the other hand, an electric smoker comes in a no-frills approach. It’s super easy to use and maintain. It comes with detachable body parts like racks, which makes them easy to clean.
Heats extremely faster
While it takes charcoal some hours to heat up, an electric smoker won’t spend more than 45 minutes to attain your desired temperature. The cooking process will become easier and faster. This is more beneficial, especially when dealing with a huge number of people.
If you own an exceptionally fast electric smoker, you will reach your desired temperature within 20 minutes. Isn’t that great?
Factors To Consider Before Choosing An Electric Smoker
Now that you’ve known about an electric smoker and how they differ from the traditional smoker, below are factors you should consider before you buy one.
The material used for production
Considering the build quality of an electric smoker is essential before buying it. What were the construction materials used? Are they stainless steel? Or aluminum? Or both?
The material used plays a huge role in its durability. The majority of the product featured in our best electric smoker review is stainless steeled material. And that’s because they are the best material to make an electric smoker, these days, particularly the interior.
Stainless steel materials are known to help maintain and control the internal temperature. They are also durable and super easy to clean. Also, make sure that the interior of the electric smoker is insulated correctly. That way, you can maintain a proper and even cooking experience. And on the exterior, aluminum materials are used. That’s because aluminum materials are the most durable and can withstand extreme weather conditions.
Cooking area
The cooking area determines the quantity of food you can smoke on the go. Generally, most electric smoker comes in a large cooking space.
Make sure you go for one with enough rack space. Four ranks can accommodate a cooking space of up to 700′. Larger once can handle over 50lbs of meat at once, which is best when you’re entertaining large guests.
However, if you’re not cooking for a large audience, then you don’t need a large cooking area. The idea is to go for a smoker that meets your specific cooking space.
Online reviews
I know this sounds simple, but it’s one of the best ways to know what smoker to choose. Most online reviewers are usually honest about their experience with a product. Our reviews are also reliable and to the point.
Price
Price is an essential factor to consider. Fortunately, you can find a different range of electric smokers within your budget.
Don’t go for cheap smokers because most are made with the cheapest materials with questionable quality. They usually don’t last long.
Instead, look for a model that will fit into your budget and offer your desired feature.
Conclusion
A high-quality electric smoker will ensure that your food comes out as top-notch. All of the products reviewed are the best electric smoker you can ever find on the marketplace.
Go through each of them to determine what fits into your budget and meet your needs. We hope you’ll be able to make the right choice. Have a lovely smoking experience.
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- electric smoker