What are electric smokers for? Using the best electric smoker can make you’re your meat more tender, more flavorful, and have a better texture. Modern smokers even come with features that make smoking meat easy.
While charcoal, propane, and wood smokers are popular, electric smokers are also widely used because they are easy to operate. Choose a smoker that you can easily handle.
Electric Smoker Reviews
Smokin-It Model #3 Electric Smoker
Smokin-It Model #3 is an easy-to-use and portable stainless steel electric smoker. It lets you cook up to 45 pounds of meat in its 4 stainless racks. It comes with a rheostat temperature control, smoke box and sliding drip pan.
Masterbuilt 20075315
Masterbuilt 20075315 features a viewing window and front controller. This 40-inch digital smoker offers 975-square inch cooking space in its 4 cooking racks. It comes with a built-in meat probe, drip catching system, and front access drip pan.
Cookshack Smokette Elite
Cookshack Smokette features easy-to-use digital controls for smoke cooking. It comes with a professional quality meat probe and LED display panel for temperature. It can cook up to 25 lbs of meat in its 2 nickel-plated shelves.
Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker 1000
Char-Broil digital smoker offers a massive cooking space of 1,000 square inches over 4 smoking racks. It comes with a viewing glass door and removable thermometer. It automatically turns off once the cooking is done and has a warming function.
Smokin-It Model #1 Electric Smoker
Smokin-It Model #1 is an easy to use portable stainless steel smoker. It comes with 2 grilling racks, thermostat, drip pan and smoke box. It is insulated with fibreglass and has 22-lbs meat capacity per batch.
Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker 725
Char-Broil’s digital electric smoker comes with 725 square inches of cooking space in its 4 adjustable racks. It has a washable and removable meat probe and a large viewing window. It is insulated with a double wall construction.
Masterbuilt 20072115
Masterbuilt 20072115 uses Bluetooth technology control though a smart device. It offers 721-square inch cooking space over 4 chrome-coated racks. It features a glass viewing window, built-in meat probe, and LED display panel.
Smokintex 1100 Pro Series E
Smokintex 1100 is an easy to use, portable and versatile electric smoker. Its temperature control lets you cook your food slowly without fuss. It has an approximate capacity of 23 lbs. in 3-shelf positions. It features double wall insulation.
Smoke Hollow 30162E
Smoker Hollow 30162E comes with an adjustable heating element. It is equipped with 3 chrome-plated cooking grids. It has a magnetic door latching system. It uses a porcelain-coated steel water pan and painted steel box.
Boulder Creek SC2187401-BO
SC2187401-BO electric smoker by Boulder Creek offers a massive 960 square inches of cooking space. It features temperature setting and timer control and a LED display for monitoring. It has a remote control and meat probe for easy cooking.
Advantages of Buying an Electric Smoker
An electric smoker provides a more modern take to traditional cooking. It allows you to smoke meat without the need to monitor it often. It also adds flavor, texture and tenderness to the meat. Other advantages include:
Reliable and convenient – It is convenient in such a way that you can easily use and transfer it from one place to another. You can also choose your preferred fuel and add your desired flavor to meat or beef.
Safe – An electric smoker is safer than the traditional type, which depends on fire to produce smoke. It is ideal in those areas where open flames can trigger harm.
Versatile – You can use it for parties or personal reasons. With its help, you can serve high quality grilled or smoked barbecue pork or meat not only to your family, but also to your friends and colleagues during parties.
Produces healthier foods – Smoking meat is healthier than deep frying it. It ensures that the cooked beef or meat is free of excess oil. It retains both the unique flavor of the meat and its nutrition value.
Provides temperature variation – Several electric smoker models feature programmable presets, thereby providing several variations for the temperature. Cooking different types of meat is easier with these features.
How Does an Electric Smoker Work?
An electric smoker is useful in smoking – a process which involves making foods in the steam, usually with the aid of the smoked burning wood. You need to place the meat or food above the smoke or steam and cook it slowly.
Some of the affordable electric smokers utilize rheostat to work. This aids in turning down the flow of electricity into the coil. You can also find models with settings ranging from low, medium to high.
High-end models come with thermostats that feature a temperature probe within their cooking chamber. This probe works in turning the juice either on or off as a means of holding your desired temperature.
In most cases, small amounts of wood chips are necessary in getting your desired smoke profile. You also need to follow the basic set-up in loading the chips, and refilling the tray at times.
Some smokers provide easy access to a tray or loading port where you can add the wood chips. This lets you add some wood chips without waiting for the smoker to cool down.
Most electric smokers also have 3-4 racks that can accommodate a family of around 4-6 members. This capacity, however, is still dependent on the food you’re cooking – whether it’s chicken, pork or brisket.
Factors to Consider when Buying an Electric Smoker
If you are planning to choose the best electric smoker, then check out a few vital features. Here are some factors and features that you need to keep in mind during the selection process:
Size and capacity – Determine where you intend to use the machine frequently. Is it just for yourself, your entire family or for occasional parties? Look for a smoker which can accommodate your preferred quantity each time.
Source of power – Look for one with a source of power, which you can easily access. Some popular sources of power for electric smokers are charcoal, propane, electric and wood.
Budget – You also need to decide on your budget. Avoid going for the cheapest ones, however. Look for an affordable electric smoker, which does not compromise its quality and features.
Availability of safety features – Your chosen electric smoker should have safety features, like insulated or cooling handles, especially if you intend to cook with kids. There should also be a feature, which aids in preventing water from reaching electrical parts.
Insulation – The best electric smoker is one with excellent insulation around its smoking compartment. You need a well-insulated smoker as it aids in preventing excessive heat loss.
Tips in Maintaining your Electric Smoker
It is important to take good care of your electric smoker if you want it to last for a long time. Here are some maintenance tips that will prolong its life and ensure that you can always maximize its use:
Clean after every use – Remove all easy to access internal parts. Clean them up using a damp cloth. For parts made of stainless steel, cleaning them up with dish soap or throwing them in your dishwasher would suffice.
Clean the racks thoroughly – Remove the racks and use a wire brush made of stainless steel to clean them up, as well as their other parts. To get rid of sticky residues, vinegar and baking soda combination can help.
Avoid immersing it in water – Use damp towel, instead, to wipe grease and food particles inside the smoker. Note that the build-up of grease may trigger fire if left neglected for a long time, so it is advisable to remove it often.
Remove rust – Use a sandpaper or wire brush to scrub any visible rust in the smoker. Focus more on the holes, joints, corners, or any other areas where rust tends to accumulate and spread.
Check the ventilation system often – Make sure it works perfectly and does not have any clogs. Clean the grease and ashes that accumulate in the bottom since both retain and absorb water, which can hamper the smoker’s structural integrity.
