Here Are the Best Electric Smokers that Money Can Buy

Ready to start smoking meat but don’t fancy siting out in the rain tending to a fire? If so, you should get an electric smoker.

Electric smokers are set-and-forget units that are perfect for both beginner and advanced pit masters.

From our years of smoking, we’ve found the Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker to be perfect for most people. This unit not only has excellent insulation, but is also easy to use thanks to its clever wood chip tray system. Moreover, it is one of the most affordable electric smokers on the market.

But before you jump to the Masterbuilt electric smoker, you should also check out other options on the market. Below is an overview of the best electric smokers for the money.

Best Electric Smokers

Here are the best electric smokers you can buy:

• 1. Masterbuilt 30-Inch Digital Electric Smoker

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Read the full review of the Masterbuilt Digital Electric smoker here.

If you are just getting started with smoking meat, or simply want to crank out barbecue without having to worry about setting an offset or wood burning smoker, get the Masterbuilt digital electric smoker.

The smoker’s main cabinet is made from steel and features a plastic trim. On the interior, the unit boasts of high-quality aluminum.

This electric smoker has a built-in digital control panel that allows you to set internal temperature to anywhere from  100°F – 275°F. The panel also houses the ON/OFF controls, and allows you to control the cook time. An in-built thermometer takes the rest of the space.

The Masterbuilt electric smoker is well-built and easy to clean thanks to the chrome coated stainless steel.

Specs

The Masterbuilt smoker heats up quickly and maintains even internal temperature during the cooking period. Smoking your food with the unit is simple; just plug it into an electrical outlet and let the smoker do the rest.

The ease of use makes this unit one of the best smokers for beginners.

There are four models of the Masterbuilt electric smoker. These models measure 30” and 40”. The models are:

• Basic 30″ MB20071117 model
• 40″ MB20070910 with window
• 30″ MB20073519 Bluetooth model with a window and a broiler
• 40″ MES 440S Bluetooth model with a window and a broiler

In this Masterbuilt smoker review, we’ll cover the Bluetooth model.

If you are looking to buy a Masterbuilt smoker on Amazon, make sure you confirm the models before buying. You definitely don’t want to go for an older model.

Here is a simple way of knowing whether a Masterbuilt smoker is an older model: if you spot the old Masterbuilt logo with the sun coming over the mountain, then the model is old.

Here is how the old logo looks like:

The old models have a cool-looking front window. However, when you start smoking, you will not be able to see anything through the window. Moreover, the smokers tend to get dirty quickly.

Masterbuilt smokers that are more recent feature the company’s current logo, which is shown below:

The 30″ and 40″ Masterbuilt smokers have similar features, apart from the cooking area space.

With the 30″ smoker, you get 730 square inches of cooking space and 4 racks. If you will be smoking larger racks of ribs, you may need to cut them into half and remove a rack.

Apart from the cooking area space, there is really no other difference between the 30″ and the 40″ Masterbuilt smoker. Generally, if you will be smoking food for many people, go with the 40″ unit.

What We like

• Well Insulated Body. The Masterbuilt Electric Smoker is well-insulated than most budget smokers on the market. The insulation helps to keep the internal temperature even when cooking. As a result, your energy bills will be low, especially during windy or cold conditions.
• Wood Chip Tray System. If you want more smoke, you can add wood chips to the smoker through the chip tube system without opening the door.
• Affordable for the Size. The 30″ has a generous 730 sq. inches of cooking space. This is nearly the same as what you get with the largest 22″ Weber Smokey Mountain.
• Cold Smoking. The Masterbuilt can also be used for cold smoking if you add the cold-smoking add-on kit.

When We Don’t Like

• Narrow Width. If you are smoking a big brisket or large slabs of ribs, you’ll find the cooking racks are not big enough to accommodate the meat without having to roll or cut them.
• Small Wood Chip Try. During the smoking exercise, you will have to refill the chip tray to amp up the smoke. Alternatively, you can add a cheap pellet tube to make your work easier.

The Masterbuilt features 4 chrome-plated cooking racks and 730 square inches of cooking space. Therefore, most people will find it ideal. With this unit, you can cook 6 chickens or 8 small racks of ribs.

The Masterbuilt is so popular such that there is even an Unofficial Masterbuilt Cookbook and a forum of its enthusiasts.

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• 2. Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker

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Read the full review of the Char Broil Deluxe Digital Electric smoker here.

If you are looking for an alternative to the Masterbuilt electric smoker, the Char-Broil 725″ Digital Smoker may be for you.

This unit looks identical to the Masterbuilt, has four cooking racks, and more “smart” smoker features. The smoker has a remote control that you can use to view or adjust the cooking temperature, or turn off the smoker remotely.

On the top of the smoker, there is a digital control panel through which you can control the cooking time and the internal temperature. There is also a glass door through which you can see the racks in the unit. You can watch how your racks look like as they are cooking without having to open the door.

Specs

We love how sturdy and well-constructed the Char-Broil Deluxe is. On the outside, the smoker is made of stainless steel, which retains a decent amount of heat. The glass door is also quite durable. However, the door lets out some heat. Therefore, you may want to keep small kids away from the smoker when cooking.

What We Like

• Easy to Use. You can easily control the temperature through the digital panel. It is also easy to add water or wood when smoking meat.
• Easy to Clean. All parts of the electric cooker fit in the dishwasher. Therefore, you won’t have a difficult time cleaning the parts.
• Flexible Setup. All the four racks of the Char-Broil Deluxe smoker can be adjusted to fit whatever you are cooking. Whether you have smaller ribs or a large turkey, this smoker can accommodate them all.
• Easy-to-Read Digital Temperature. The smoker’s digital control is large and allow you to easily read the temperature.

What We Don’t Like

• You have to set up the time and temperature. When you are cooking, you have to set the meat cooking time or temperature. If you don’t know what the cooking time or temperature is, your meat may end up being undercooked or overcooked.
• Limited Remote Control Range. The smoker’s remote control feature is awesome. However, if you are within walls or move some distance away from the smoker, the remote control functionality starts failing.

The smoker comes with a meat temperature probe, which you can use to set your cooking temperature. From there, simply let the smoker run until your meat is ready. When the unit reaches the set temperature, it will start cooling down.

With the Char-Broil electric smoker, you can cook 8 slabs of baby back ribs or two large pork butts at once.

The Char-Broil electric smoker is easy to use and clean. This unit comes with essential features required to make your smoking a success.

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• 3. Masterbuilt Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker 40 Inch

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If you don’t want to be hovering around the fire smoking your meats, you should get an electric smoker that can be remotely controlled. One of the best electric smokers that can be controlled remotely is the Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Smoker.

As the name suggests, this unit can be operated with your phone via Bluetooth. You can use the Masterbuilt app on your phone to turn the smoker ON/OFF and control the temperature of your food.

The Masterbuilt Bluetooth smoker comes in both 30″ and 40″ models. These two units are essentially the same, save for the amount of cooking space they have. If you will be regularly smoking meat for a crowd of people, get the 40″ smoker since it has more cooking area space.

This digital smoking unit has 4 adjustable racks and its heating element is 1200 Watts. However, the unit can only reach a maximum temperature of 275°F.

There is also a wood chip tray that you can use to reload wood chips. Therefore, you don’t have to open the smoker and, in the process, lose smoke and heat.

What We Like

• Easy to Move Using the Wheels. The Masterbuilt Bluetooth smoker has sturdy wheels. Therefore, it is quite easy to move it.
• Large Capacity. The unit comes with 4 racks and boasts of 975 sq. inches of cooking surface. The cooking area is large enough to allow you to prepare meal for a large group of people.

What We Don’t Like

• Limited Bluetooth Range. The Bluetooth range is quite limited. The further you are away from the smoker, the more unstable the connection gets.

You can control the smoker’s temperature without leaving the house through the Masterbuilt app via Bluetooth. However, the Bluetooth range is quite limited (works only up to between 12 to 15 feet from the smoker). If the Bluetooth path is obstructed by things like walls or trees, the signal’s strength reduces significantly.

Therefore, if the main reason for wanting to buy this smoker is because of the Bluetooth functionality, you are likely to end up disappointed. However, if you are not solely fixated with the Bluetooth feature, this smoker is actually a high-performer.

All in all, you will love the Bluetooth feature if your smoker is outside just a few feet from your home. You will appreciate the convenience of being able to set the temperature remotely when smoking food during cold or wet weather.

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• 4. Smoke Hollow Electric Smoker

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Electric smokers are among the cheapest smokers on the market. Making it on our list of the best electric smoker is the Smoke Hollow 30″ Electric Smoker. While this unit is cheap, it measures nearly the same size as the Masterbuilt and Char-Broil smokers reviewed above.

The Smoke Hollow unit comes with a digital control panel through which you can set the temperature. There is also an integrated thermostat that controls the temperature for you.

This budget electric smoker comes with 3 chrome-coated adjustable grill racks.

What We Like

• Easy to Assemble. The unit comes well-packed and it takes less than 15 minutes to assemble it.
• Great Insulation. This smoker is well constructed for a budget smoker.

What We Don’t Like

• No Wood Chips Tray. This unit does not have a removable chips tray. To add wood chips, you have to open the door. This opening can make the inside temperature fluctuate and, in turn,  affect the outcome of your smoked meat.

While the Smoke Hollow doesn’t have the best insulation or the sturdiest construction, it’s hard to ignore it at the cheap price.

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• 5. Smoke Hollow 26″ Electric Smoke

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If you are looking for a compact smoker, get the Smoke Hollow 26″ Digital Smoker. This unit is comparable in price to the Masterbuilt 30″ and is regularly sold at a discounted price.

The specs of the Smoke Hollow 26″ are similar to that of the Masterbuilt Digital smoker. The unit is also available in a 30″ model. If you will be regularly smoking food for many people, go with the 30″ option.

Both the 26″ and 30” units have similar features. However, the 30″ option has a larger cooking surface area than the former. As a result, it is also more expensive.

The 26” electric smoker has 1.3 cubic feet of cooking capacity and a 1500-watt electric heating element. This smoker has two chrome-plated cooking grids, which can be adjusted depending on your cooking needs. For example, you can modify the grids to fit both ribs and brisket at the same time.

The Smoke Hollow looks like a cabinet and is easy to operate. On the front door, the electric smoker has a temperature gauge rather than controls.You can also easily get your hands in and out of the smoker through the latch door without burning yourself.

What We Like

• Easy Operation. Setting up and operating the Smoker Hollow unit is easy, even for beginners.
• Small Unit. The smoker measures 36.5 x 19 x 16.5 inches. Therefore, it does not take a lot of space. Moreover, the unit has adjustable shelves on which you can fit larger items.
• Great Heat Control. The smoker has a 1500-watt heating element that reaches temperatures ranging from 175°F – 325°F.

What We Don’t Like

• Cleaning the Heating Element. Sometimes, meat juices can drip on the heating element and make cleaning a little difficult. To prevent this issue, add a wire rack with some foil under the second shelf.
• Short Warranty. The unit comes with just a 90-day warranty. This is quite short, compared to smokers by such as Fire Magic, which have over 10 years warranty.

The Smoke Hollow 26″ is one of the best smokers for beginners. The smoker is easy to operate and quite affordable for the features it has.

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• 6. Smokein-it Model #2 Electric Smoker

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The Smokein-it is another electric smoker that you should check. While this smoker may not be as popular as the Char-Broil and Masterbuilt, it is a quality unit with a generous cooking area space. If you have a large family, this is the smoker you need.

The Smokein-it is built with 18-gauge 201 stainless steel, and is well-insulated with fiberglass to reduce heat loss. This unit does not require any modifications to keep the temperature steady.

When you turn on the smoker, the temperature will spike to 40°F to 50°F. After the chamber has heated up, the temperature will level off and remain at the degree you’d set for hours.

This electric smoker comes with 4 removable stainless-steel cooking racks that can be configured how you like it. The quality of this unit and the price makes it an excellent budget smoker.

What We Like

• Efficient Wood Consumption. This smoker consumes wood very efficiently. You will only need 2-5oz wood at a time, depending on what you are smoking.
• Great Mobility. You can easily move  from one place to another, thanks to the strong wheels at the bottom.
• Long Power Cord. The smoker has a 12 feet long cord, just in case you want to place it a bit back from the house power.

The thermostat on this smoker sits a little low. As a result, the unit can run a little colder at the top. Therefore, when cooking, make sure you take the temperature where the meat is actually sitting.

Still, this is not really a big issue. Moreover, for the size, build quality and price of the smoker, you are guaranteed to get great value for your money.

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• 7. Bradley Digital 6 Rack Smoker

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The Bradley is a hybrid unit that is both an electric and pellet smoker. This smoker has a front-loading cabinet made of polished stainless steel, like other electric smokers in this review. However, this unit does not use wood chips. Instead, it uses its own proprietary Bradley bisquettes.

Bradley bisquettes are made from compressed sawdust and look similar to grill pellets. However, the bisquettes can only be used on Bradley smokers to produce heat and smoke.

The Bradley Digital Smoker has 6 cooking racks and can reach temperatures of up to 280°F. The unit’s cooking space is 11″ x 13″.

This unit has multiple fans and the wood bisquettes work well. However, I don’t like that you can only use Bradley bisquettes with the unit.

Other features of the smoker include an auto-off function, precise temperature options, digital control panel with improved heading controls, and more.

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• 8. Old Smokey Electric Smoker

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Another affordable electrical smoker that makes it on this list is the Old Smokey. This unit looks like a trashcan, measures 29 x 17.5 x 15.5 inches, and has 280 square inches of cooking space. The compact smoker is made in the United States in Houston, TX.

While the electric smoker has a catchy design, its construction is pretty straight-forward. First off, there is a heating element that connects to the electric outlet at the bottom. There is also a chip tray for adding wood to the smoker.

The cooker is divided into an upper cooking level, grill and lower cooking level. There is a drip pan on the lower cooking level that will catch meat juices. However, this unit does not come with a water pan.

With the Old Smokey, the price is right for a budget option. However, you’ll sacrifice temperature control and insulation. The unit does not have an in-built temperature gauge. However, you can purchase it as an optional accessory.

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• 9. Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker

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For a mid-priced unit, you want to check out the Char-Broil Vertical smoker. This unit comes with some basic features and has 505 square inches of cooking space.

This smoker is compact, cheap but has surprisingly good insulation. The unit is also easy to operate.

However, like is the case with most cheap smokers, the Char-Broil Vertical unit is not as sturdily built as some of the units that rank high in this review. For example, the door requires some effort to close. Moreover, the insulation is a little wanting. If you are cooking in extreme cold conditions, your meat may take longer to get cooked.

Still, if you are looking for a budget smoker, this Char-Broil unit is a good option.

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The above are the best electric smokers on the market.