Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30", Black

Product Information

Since this is a guide for beginners we thought we should explain some of the basics of barbecue. We don’t want you to get your new smoker home and have no idea what to do with it! What’s the difference between smoking and grilling? Here are some of the key features and functions to look for when shopping for an electric smoker. Capacity An electric smoker is vertically aligned with the cooking space at the top and the cooking element at the bottom. That being said, let’s take a look at the different components of electric smokers. Heating Rods

The built-in digital thermometer allows you to select your preferred temperature without worrying about maintaining charcoal or fire. You’ll have to pay a bit more for the convenience, even average pellet smokers will cost more than a great quality charcoal smoker like the Smokey Mountain.The rheostat temperature control takes some getting used to, and the temperature wasn’t consistent. Read our full Masterbuilt Electric Smoker review and see our guide to the best electric smokers for more options. And if you’re like us and collect smokers like some people collect shoes then you can always try your hand at charcoal or pellet in the future… How do electric smokers work We recommend that you only put your smoking wood into the chip holder after the smoker has reached temperature and the heating light has turned off. Paula Stachyra suggests using "a non-abrasive detergent that is food safe and apply with a soft clothor a brush with plastic bristles for stubborn grime. Make sure to clean the water/drip pans by removing them and soaking in warm soapy water. Scrub and rinse."

With a 1500 Watt heating element, the Royal Gourmet is the best budget electric smoker UK stores have to offer. The main cabinet of the smoker is made from steel with plastic trim, while the interior is made from aluminum. The main issues you’re likely to encounter are the inaccurate temperature probe. These are pretty common issues as most manufacturers use cheap probes so you may want to invest in your own thermometer. While pellet smokers also run on electricity, we’ve focused this guide on more basic wood chip-burning electric smokers. If your budget can stretch, we would recommend considering a pellet grill, as they’re more versatile and easier to use. You’ll also need wood chunks or chips to provide the smoke. People love to obsess about type of wood but it really isn’t a big deal. Fruit woods like apple and cherry work well for everything.

You only need to add wood chips once in most cases in the first 20 minutes or so, it should last for around 1 hour or so.

These insulated electric cabinet smokers are very popular in America and finally on UK shores. We get asked a lot for entry-level smokers for people that want to dip their toe into the world of smoking, but don't want the pressure of managing a fire while cooking their food. Electric smokers fall into the “set it and forget it type of smoker” which can be a pro or a con depending on what you enjoy and what you hate about barbecuing

You won't even need to look online for meat cooking tips. There's a full list of common meat types in the manual, along with cooking temperatures and times, so you're all set right out the box. This digital electric smoker comes with a fully insulated body for excellent heat retention and thermostat control for its temperature. With el-cheapo electric smokers, you will get less control (e.g., low, medium, high). This is due to the rheostat, which controls the flow of electricity. The only downside to larger smokers is slightly higher fuel costs and they take up a little more space. Do you want a portable smoker? For many people, the advantages of pellet grills outweigh any cons. You are going to pay a premium for the convenience though, and there are a lot more parts to break.

Imagine being able to smoke and grill food with a rich, smokey taste, without having to babysit your smoker all day. This close-up of the inside of the Cusinart COS 330 shows a common electric setup with the heating element sitting under the wood tray. You then have the water container off to the side. Masterbuilt is one of the world-leading manufacturers that never cut corners when producing electric appliances for grilling and smoking. So, if you want to start your smoking experience with something ultra-durable, you should seriously consider the MasterBuilt MES140B.

You’ll have to open the smoker door every time you want to reload wood chips or refill the water tray. This will let some smoke and heat out, and is inferior to the chip loading feature on the Masterbuilt. I suppose I understand the temptation. Being outside you get rained on, snowed on, and it can be generally miserable. That said, for your first smoke, consider starting with a couple of pounds of cheap pork butt. The meat is pretty forgiving and great for learning the kinks of the smoker you decided on. The heat in gas, pellet, and charcoal cookers comes from combustion which, when mixed with wood, produces gases that impart a distinct flavor. If you’re OK with making a small sacrifice in flavor (to be honest most people won’t be able to tell the difference) then electric could be the right choice for you.