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Searching for the best smokers for turkey? Click here for the top 10 options available on the market.

I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love Thanksgiving AND I absolutely love smoked turkey!  What a better way to spend the holidays than by having a great big cookout with your nearest and dearest. Shock and awe your friends with amazing Thanksgiving home smoked whole turkey fresh from your very own smoker. Check out five of the very best smokers for turkey below.

Cooking a turkey outside will keep your kitchen from becoming a sauna – and you’ll free up your oven to be used for all your favorite side dishes.

Your smoked turkey doesn’t have to be store bought – you can get yourself a great family sized smoker for smoking your Thanksgiving turkey right at home.

Even if you’ve never smoked a turkey in your life, we’ve got all the guidance you need in our handy buyers guide, complete with answers to your most frequently asked questions.

Best Smoker for Turkey (Winner) 

Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill

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Best Smokers For Turkey – Comparison Table

Image	Product	Our Rating	Buy
	Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	LANDMANN MCO 32954 Landmann Smoky Mountain 26″ Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Best Smokers For Turkey – Our Reviews

#1. Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett WiFi Controlled Portable Wood Pellet Grill

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This is top of the best smokers for turkey. This feisty little number is a smoker-grill combo (most smokers these days come as smoke-grill combos).

Here, this well established brand has produced one of the most sought after smokers around.  It has a digital WiFi controller which lets you monitor your cooking and control the smokers’ temperature through Green Mountain’s iOS or Android mobile application, right on your phone or tablet!

This is all made possible by its Sense-Mate, which is a thermal sensor which constantly monitors the grill temperature, so you can just sit back and enjoy the view!

In addition to Sense-Mate, this smoker grill combo also features those all important meat temperature probes, so you can check the temperature not just of the cooking chamber as a whole, but also check the temperature right in the meat – just what you’re looking for – all without opening the smoking chamber too!

It features a peaked lid, so standing a large turkey up in the smoking chamber is no problem whatsoever.  And as it also features a grill, while you’re smoking your turkey, you can go ahead and grill some of those lovely Thanksgiving veggies!

This smoker also comes with a small bucket for grease drippings – ready for that all-important turkey gravy!

Despite needing electricity to make the most of all of its features, the fuel used by this smoker grill combo is wood pellets – so you get that mouth watering wood chip taste – whether you like to go for mesquite or apple.

Pros

• WiFi controlled temperature setting
• Meat probe thermometers included
• Bucket for collecting grease drippings for gravy
• Can grill your veg whilst smoking your turkey
• Uses wood pellets

Cons

• As it’s designed to be portable, it’s not large enough to house more than 2 medium sized turkeys

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#2. Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker

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Masterbuilt are definitely one of the best brands when it comes to electric smokers, and this smoker is an absolute gem.

It features a 1500 watt heating element for consistent, even heating, for that perfect tenderness and flavor in your turkey.

It sports a built-in temperature gauge and variable temperature control – just twist the dial to change the temperature.

It has three smoking racks in total, all of which are chrome coated and removable, which is not only great for cleaning afterwards, but also means that you’ll have no problem fitting a large turkey in there. This is one of the main features that make it  one of the best smokers for turkey.

The smoke arises from the burning of wood chips, so you get to add that lovely wood-chip smoky flavor.  The wood chip tray just slides right open so you can remove the ash as necessary.

It also has a removable water bowl, so you can add that extra moisture and flavor as and when you choose.

There’s also that all important tray to catch all your excess food drippings, primed for your turkey gravy.

You can also purchase a matching electric smoker cover specifically made for this size machine.

Pros

• Powerful heating element
• Consistent temperature for even heating
• Easy temperature control
• Allows wood chip loading
• Includes a grease catcher for your turkey gravy

Cons

• Not designed to work indoors

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#3. LANDMANN MCO 32954 Landmann Smoky Mountain 26″ Electric Smoker

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The first thing we love about this smoker for cooking your turkey is that you can use it indoors and have it right there in the kitchen with you!  Not only can you smoke your turkey whatever the weather, but you can set it and forget it, and concentrate more on your veggies, side dishes and sauces.

It doesn’t take up too much space, and if you did want to move it you can – it’s super light weight and comes with handles.

Another thing we love about it is its viewing window – you can just sit back and watch your turkey brown before your eyes.  This is great because it means you don’t lose heat by opening the door to check on the food. And you won’t lose all that lovely smoke! This is the main feature that makes it one of the best smokers for turkey.

We also like its three in one tray which you can use for whatever you like, use as a wood chip box, a water pan, or best of all, use it as a grease pan to collect the drippings for that all important turkey gravy!

It’s easy to use too, with a little dial to set the temperature to warm, low, medium or high.

Pros

• Can be used right in your kitchen
• Has a viewing window, so you you don’t lose heat and smoke opening the door
• Can control and adjust the temperature
• 3 in 1 combo tray for wood chips, steam, or collecting grease

Cons

• It won’t fit a very large turkey

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#4. Z Grills ZPG-450A 2019 Upgrade Model Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

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If you’re anything like me, you don’t want to use your smoker just for Thanksgiving! That’s why this model makes it into the top 5 best smokers for turkey. It does it all. This baby grills, smokes, bakes, roast, braise, barbecues, and sears!

This is made possible from the technology it utilizes.  There’s a fan forced convection system, a digital control board that auto ignites the grill and allows you to control the temperature, and an automated system for feeding the pellets into the firebox.

With this item you could leave your Thanksgiving dinner to a beginner and you won’t go far wrong.

As we like to point out, this smoker comes with a drippings collector, ready for that turkey gravy we all crave.

Pros

• Not just a smoker, has 5 other cooking functions
• Fan forced convection system
• Auto-ignition facility
• Digital control board to control the temperature
• Automated system for feeding the pellets

Cons

• Some customers have reported issues with the pellet feeder, but from what we can see these issues are easily rectified

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#5. Dyna-Glo Wide Body Vertical Offset Charcoal Smoker

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As offset smokers go – this is definitely one of the best!  Unlike your traditional horizontal offset smoker, this one has a vertical cooking chamber.

It’s designed to capture the absolute maximum smoke flavour, and a vertical cooking chamber also means that you can stack more meat for smoking into relatively smaller space

This smoker features 6 separate smoking racks all together, and they are all height adjustable – you’ll have no problem fitting one or even two large turkeys in there!

You can check on the temperature with its stainless steel temperature gauge with “Smoke Zone” indicator, then adjust the temperature as required using the steel smoke stack’s adjustable flue.

This smoker comes complete with its own patented charcoal and ash management system, inclusive of charcoal grate, charcoal chamber and a large removable ash pan, making clean up a breeze.

The charcoal chamber keeps briquettes stacked tightly for increased fire from your charcoal.

Your turkey flavor can be charcoal smoked or wood chip smoked – you can load whichever of these fuels you prefer.

Pros

• Vertical cooking camber
• You can fit 2 large turkeys
• Custom fit cover available on Amazon

Cons

• Designed more for charcoal than wood chips

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Turkey Smokers Buyer’s Guide

Within this buying guide we will look at what to consider when buying a smoker for smoking your Thanksgiving turkey.

Type of Smoker

There’s a wide scope of smokers out there.  You’ve got your vertical, horizontal, offset, charcoal, gas, wood chip, pellet, electrical, your reverse flow smoker, and even your smoker-grill combos.

When it comes to smoking your turkey, which type of smoker you use has a direct impact on cooking temperatures and times. Electric smokers are by far the fastest, but you’d miss out on that smokey charcoal or wood chip taste.

For any outdoor smoking, you need also to consider the smokers’ insulation against the weather.  That’s where smoker brand comes into it.

Good brand

There are a number of really good smoker brands out there.  When you go for a well known and trusted brand, you can be assured of such things as build quality and durability.  We have only looked at good brands in our Top 5 Best Smokers For Turkey.

Affordability

You don’t need to go all out and spend a thousand dollars plus on a smoker just for Thanksgiving dinner.  In fact many really good smokers come in at under 300 dollars. You need to ensure good value for money – don’t be ripped off!

The Must Have Accessories

Where would your Thanksgiving dinner be without gravy?  In our top 5 featured smokers we only list smokers that feature a grease tray or bucket to collect all those lovely drippings for your gravy.

Sometimes a turkey will come with a cheap pop-up thermometer – DO NOT rely on this.  We recommend using probing thermometers that can go right into the meat at the thickest part, so you can check the temperature reading where it really counts.  The best smokers will come with dual probe temperature gauges.

These days you can even get Smart technology digital temperature controls that hook up via Bluetooth directly to your iPhone, IPad, or android device.  However you will have to weigh up the extra cost against getting good value for money.

Nonetheless, if your chosen smoker does not feature meat probe temperature gauges, you can purchase these separately, complete with that Smart Bluetooth technology.

Turkey Smoking Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I smoke my turkey?

When you roast a turkey in the oven you run the risk of it becoming too dry, and it’s impossible to cook a large bird like your Thanksgiving turkey on a barbecue grill.

If you smoke the turkey however, the turkey is being continuously basted by the smoke, so it doesn’t dry out.  Not only that but the smoke delivers incredible flavor making – you won’t need to add any seasoning beyond a little salt and pepper.

Turkey is a very delicate meat that doesn’t have a lot of connective tissue or fat.  This means that it will dry out and darken quickly as well as absorb the flavors of smoke much more easily than other meat does.

What size turkey is best for smoking?

Normally, your tukey should be no more than 13 to 15 pounds for smoking.  If more turkey is needed it’s better to smoke two at the same time rather than one larger one.

If you did want to smoke a larger turkey, and you  don’t have enough lid clearance, you can always take the backbone out and spread the turkey out a bit.  This is known as spatchcocking. This technique means that the turkey will cook faster because it’s thinner, absorb more smoke, and allow any flavoring or rub you use to cover the bird more completely.

How do I choose the right turkey?

Having too little turkey would be an absolute disaster!  We would recommend using one to one and a half pound weight of turkey per adult dining.  This will ensure that no one goes hungry, and you may even have leftovers for some delicious turkey and cranberry sandwiches!

As you can gather from what we described earlier, if you wanted to cook 15 pounds or more of turkey in your smoker, you are best off buying 2 turkeys.

Decide whether to purchase a fresh or frozen turkey.  If you choose frozen, you need to ensure that the turkey is thoroughly defrosted before cooking.  If you’re buying your turkey fresh from a butcher, we recommend placing your order early. A fresh turkey can sit in a refrigerator for 1 to 2 days and should be kept within the packaging whilst there.

A Butterball turkey, which comes pre-brined, can also be smoked in your smoker – you can find several how-to videos on how to do so online.

What are the best wood chip fuel to smoke my turkey with?

Standard hickory or mesquite wood chips will impart a really good solid smokiness to your turkey.  But if you’re after something more subtle that won’t mask the turkey taste, try mild fruitwood chips, such as apple.   Alternatively you could try soaking the wood chips in water, fruit juice or wine.

Can I fit a whole turkey into a smoker or do I need to cut it first?

Some people have found that by slicing the turkey before placing it in a smoker means that it will more quickly.  However you will lose presentation marks. For best results, we endorse placing the whole turkey into the smoker. If you find your struggling to fit it in, please refer to our FAQ question and answer on “What size turkey is best for smoking?”

How to prepare my turkey for smoking?

There are several ways you can prepare your turkey for smoking.  You can simply do nothing, or you can add a simple rub, or you can brine, marinade it, or do some sort of combination.  Each method has its merits and drawbacks.

Traditionalists will tend to go for buttering or basting, and this is often the go-to choice for people using a wood smoker.

Many people like to go for a simple rub – primarily because there are thousands of different rubs out there.  You can buy a ready made one or make up your own with some simple herbs and spices. A rub also helps to catch the smoke you use to cook the turkey.

Brining the turkey not only helps to tenderise the meat, it also keeps your turkey moist all the while. It does however require the most preparation.

Marinating is popular too.  Unlike brines, which are salty solutions, marinades are acidic solutions.  The acid in the marinade helps to tenderize the meat, so you will need to be careful and don’t marinate for too long.

How long to smoke my turkey for?

Once the smoker reaches a temperature of about 240 degrees Fahrenheit, you will need to smoke the turkey for 30 minutes per pound weight of turkey.  This gets quicker at higher temperatures.

How do you solve the gravy problem when smoking your turkey?

You may decide that your smoked turkey tastes so good and the texture is sufficiently moist and juicy that you don’t feel the need for gravy.  However most smokers come with a drip tray for the grease, so you can collect all the lovely juices in there to make your gravy with.

Any other tips?

We suggest that you set the turkey in the smoker breast side up, and that you insert the digital probe meat thermometer, if you have one, into the thickest part of the breast or thigh. No matter what temperature you cook at, your turkey must reach an internal temperature of 165°F at its thickest point.

We also recommend that you don’t put any traditional style stuffing in the cavity of the turkey – smoke temperatures between 250 degrees Fahrenheit and 300 degrees aren’t hot enough to cover any food safety issues about stuffing.

However, you can go ahead and add some onion, celery, spices, or even an orange.

Accessories

Don’t forget you will need new accessories with any new smoker you buy. Great additions to your outdoor cooking set up are wood fired pizza ovens and one of these knife block sets.

If turkey is not your priority then you really should check out these other beauties on our Best Grills Under $500 post.

Which is the best electric smokers under 300 bucks? Read this guide to find out.

If you love a good cookout, electric smokers are great – once you’ve prepared your meat (and/or veggies) you can literally set it and forget it.  So if you are looking to produce delicious smoked ribs, sausages, burgers, chicken, fish or even a whole smoked turkey and home made smoked salt then check out our top of the range best electric smokers under $300. Buy one and sit back and relax chatting to your friends with a cold one in your hand.

The smoker will take care of the rest.

And electric smokers are so much less expensive than your pellet smokers!  Here we concentrate solely on electric smokers which are under $300.

Low price does not mean inferiority – we can guarantee you there are some really good electric smokers out there for your budget.

Electric smokers are a time saver too, you don’t have to worry about all that time and effort that’s needed in traditional charcoal smoking.

The best electric smokers are also good for smoking a variety of foods such as fish and sausage.  You can sometimes even convert your electric smoker to cold smoker for doing bacon and cheese but we will cover that later in the buyers guide.

Best Electric Smoker Under $300 (Winner)

Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker

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Best Electric Smokers Under $300 – Comparison Table

Image	Product	Our Rating	Buy
	Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Masterbuilt MB20076718 Bluetooth Electric Smoker 240G Digital		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Royal Gourmet SE2801 Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow SH19079518 Digital Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Landmann Smoky Mountain 26″ Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Best electric smokers under $300 – Our Reviews

#1. Masterbuilt MB20070210 MES 35B Electric Smoker (Our Overall Top Pick)

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Masterbuilt are hands down the most popular brand and produce some of the best electric smokers on the market. Their reputation is second to none – and with good reason!  Firstly performance, this product features a 1500 watt heating element for consistent, even heat – just what you need to get that perfect tenderness and flavor in your meat.

It has a built-in temperature gauge and variable temperature control – just adjust the dial to set different temperatures for your different foods.

It features a removable water bowl, so you can add that extra moisture and flavor as and when you choose.

You can load wood chips, for that all important wood-chip smoky flavor.  The wood chip tray just slides right open so you can remove the ash as necessary.

It has three smoking racks in total, all of which are chrome coated, which is great for cleaning.

It also sports an adjustable air damper because who wants to sit around in smoke.

There’s even a tray to catch all your excess food drippings – great for the health conscious amongst us (or if you want to make some homemade sauce like me).

You can also buy a matching electric smoker cover specifically made for this size machine.

Pros

• Powerful heating element
• Consistent temperature for even heating
• Easy temperature control
• Allows wood chip loading
• Special features such as grease catcher and an air damper

Cons

• It might be too small for some gatherings

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#2. Masterbuilt MB20076718 Bluetooth Electric Smoker 240G Digital (Runner Up)

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Our number 2 is a really good one to go for if your budget allows – as it comes with all the trendy gadgets like a handheld Bluetooth linked remote control, which you can sync with your iPad should you so wish!

Customers absolutely love this feature, but don’t worry if you’re nervous about new tech, you don’t have to use this feature.

You can control the cooking time, the cooking temperature, and it even goes so far as monitoring the internal meat temperature with special probes that go right into the meat.

It’s a good size too – with 4 large chrome coated smoking racks you’re going to fit so much food into it!

It has a large window, allowing you to keep track of all four of its smoking racks, without losing heat and smoke from constantly opening the door to check in the meat browning.

You don’t need to open the door to add the wood chips either – there’s a patented side wood chip loading system instead.

Pros

• Bluetooth smart technology for ultimate control of time and temperature
• Monitors the internal meat temperature
• Large capacity for large, mouth watering meals
• Very large viewing window
• Allows wood chip loading
• Removable sun shade
• Easy to set up, use and clean

Cons

• Premium product at a premium price

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#3. Royal Gourmet SE2801 Electric Smoker (Runner Up)

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Another great electric smoker.  Again we have powerful wattage at 1500 watts, and thanks to its’ double wall construction the smoker body really retains the heat – great for ensuring heat consistency for smoking your meats.  The heat retention is also helped by its latch system for great seal performance.

With its built-in thermometer with removable digital controls you can adjust the temperature as you wish, depending on what it is you’re cooking and how long you want to cook it for –  from 240 degrees Fahrenheit through to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are 3 cooking racks, whereby you can adjust the height to accommodate different size foods.  Altogether, there’s 457.86 square inches of cooking surface, so you can fit in ribs, pies and even turkeys!

The real USP though its versatility – you can set it up, not only for smoked barbeque, but also for firewood grilling, steaming and drying.

Another thing we love about it is its flavoring system.  You can heat wood chips from a lidded box, and along with steam rising from the water pan collocation you get that rich smoky flavor, but also moisture and juicy meat.

For the vain amongst us, the beautiful black smoker features a detailed tattoo-like picture of a bird in flight and looks absolutely stunning.

There’s a cool tough spring door handle to prevent scalding when opening, and there are 2 side handles for ease of transport.

It’s easy to clean too, with a replaceable aluminium oil pan underneath the smoker to collect all the grease from your meats.

Pros

• Great power and insulation for consistent heating and smoking
• Built in thermometer with adjustable control
• Double whammy flavoring system
• Allows wood chip loading

Cons

• Can’t be used indoors

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#4. Masterbuilt Smoke Hollow SH19079518 Digital Electric Smoker (Runner Up)

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Ok, so this one hasn’t got as powerful a heating element as others we have shown you, but we believe its other plus points more than make up for it.

This electric smoker is completely digital – not just for your generic on and off, you can control both the temperature and the cooking time independently.

It features a built-in thermostat, and a fully insulated smoker body.  Together this makes for wonderfully consistent and even cooking and smoking.

Although it’s pretty small to look at its food capacity is pretty good.  At any one time you can be cooking 9 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 racks of ribs, 3 pork butts, 36 sausages, or 24 burgers.

It has other nifty features too, such as a removable drip pan for grease, a removable water bowl to use or not use as you wish, and even an adjustable air damper for your smoke control.

Pros

• Digital temperature and timing control panel
• Allows wood chip loading
• Removable drip pan
• Removable water bowl
• Adjustable air damper

Cons

• You have to open the door to reach the wood chip tray

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#5. Landmann Smoky Mountain 26″ Electric Smoker (Runner Up)

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Now here’s an electric smoker that you can use indoors.  It features a lightweight design and comes with handles to move to your room or area of choice.  It’s a real space saver too, but don’t be fooled, with its 1500 watt heating element, it really packs a punch!

What we love about it is its viewing window – you can just sit back and watch your foods brown before your eyes.  This is great because it means you don’t lose heat by opening the door to check on the food. And you won’t lose all that lovely smoke!

We also like its three in one tray which you can use for whatever you like, use as a wood chip box, a water pan, or simply use it as a grease pan.

It features an easy to use dial, to control the temperature by setting it to warm, low, medium or high.

Pros

• Can be used indoors
• Has a viewing window, keep track of your smoking without losing heat and smoke
• Can control and adjust the temperature
• 3 in 1 combo tray for wood chips, steam, or collecting grease

Cons

• Relatively small

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#6. Masterbuilt MB20073716 Patio-2-Portable Electric Smoker (Runner Up)

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If portability is more your thing in your electric smoker choice, boy have we got the product for you!  The compact design and folding legs make transport and storage easy.

It has all the features you’d expect from such a top, well trusted brand.  A powerful 1400 watt heating element for consistent and even heating, and a built in temperature gauge with easy dial control to adjust the temperature by hand.

Despite being designed to be portable it can take care of some decently sized meals – up to 4 chickens, 1 turkey, 2 racks of ribs, or 2 pork butts.

Maintenance of this smoker is really easy too.  Just mix 50/50 hot water and vinegar in a spray bottle, shake, and spritz and clean with a soft sponge.

Pros

• Light and portable
• Good brand
• Powerful heating element for even heating
• Easy to clean

Cons

• Too small for large cookouts

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Best Electric Smokers Under $300 – Buyer’s Guide

Here we go through all the things you need to consider when looking to purchase an electric smoker: performance, temperature control, size, wood chip loading, and general maintenance.

Performance

The key to properly smoking meat is maintaining a good, consistent temperature.  If this is ignored it’s difficult to get the meat cooked at the right tenderness and flavor.  That’s why it’s important for your electric smoker to be well insulated.

Controlling temperature

Most electric smokers allow you to tweak the temperature manually with a digital or analog control, so you can set it between 100 and 300 degrees Fahrenheit, while others only smoke at the one set temperature.

Some of the more advanced electric smokers allow you to place a thermometer right into the meat – allowing you to control the temperature right where it counts.

In some of the newer electric smokers, you can even regulate the temperature using Bluetooth!

Size and number of shelves

Electrical smokers come in a variety of sizes and dimensions.  If you intend to keep your electric smoker in your garage, you will likely want it to be small and not take up too much room.

But on the other hand if you intend to cook for many people at any one time, and have several elements of the meal that you want to cook, you may prefer something bigger.

You also need to weigh up the number of shelves against shelf space.  You may decide there’s no value in having 5 cooking racks if you can’t fit a full rack of ribs on them, which can be a common problem in smaller electric smokers.

An average large electric smoker has a capacity of around 1500 square inches of cooking space, which is double the size of an average small electric smoker.  If you do intend to smoke larger items such as whole briskets, you may be better suited a larger model.

If you intend on smoking your own jerky you will want the option of additional jerky racks. You can find out more about smoking your own jerky here.

Ability to add wood chips

Ok, so we’ll level with you here.  If you use a smoker that doesn’t use wood chips or charcoal, you could be missing out on that all important real smoke flavour in your meat.  But that’s not going to be an issue for you – you can buy electric smokers that allow you to add wood chips or charcoal into it, for that all important taste.

Electric Smoker Maintenance

The best electric smokers that have easy to remove shelves and grates, to ensure easy cleaning.  In our reviews we specify if the electric smoker has dishwasher safe parts.

Electric smoker FAQs

Are electric smokers safe?

Electric smokers are indeed safe and healthy and can even be used around children.  They do not emit the same harmful pollutants into the air that other smokers do.

Are electric smokers as good as others?

Electric smokers beat other smokers hands down in terms of how easy they are to use.  We would argue that the food produced by an electric smoker is just as good as that from your other smokers, especially if you use a smoker that allows wood chip loading.  They’re cheaper too.

Can you use electric smokers indoors?  

Some electric smokers can be used indoors and we specify in our featured products which of these can be used indoors.  Importantly, you cannot use an electric smoker indoors if you’re loading it with wood chips.

Do electric smokers cook faster?

An electric smoker takes a long time to pre-heat, but once the food is in it cooks faster because there’s no combustion, and therefore less airflow through the smoker body.  You’ll need to smoke your meat for approximately 20 minutes per pound of weight.

Do electric smokers use a lot of electricity?

The best electric smokers are energy efficient and very little energy is lost during their smoking process.  The majority of electric smokers use about 800 watts per hour.

Do you need to put water in an electric smoker?

People often like to put water in their electric smoker because it adds a little humidity to the smoker body which can help prevent the surface of the meat from drying out.  You can also add herbs and spices to the water pan.

How often do you need to put wood chips in an electric smoker?

If you are using wood chips in your electric smoker, you need to replenish wood chips when they stop smoking.  The time this takes very much depends on the smoker, it can vary from as often as once every 15 minutes or can go up to once an hour.

Do you have to season an electric smoker?

Yes, you should season a smoker before using it for the first time.  This prepares it for cooking by burning off any residues left over from the manufacturing process.  Not to worry though – you won’t have to do it again. We recommend checking the manufacturer instructions as to how to season your electric smoker.

How to look after your electric smoker?

Looking after your electric smoker is easy, simply remove all the cooking racks to wash them individually (they are usually dishwasher safe).  And for the interior surfaces, gently scrub with warm soapy water using a sponge. Do not use wire wool.

Where can I find an electric smoker cooking guide?

We found a good smoking times and temperature chart which can be found on the following link:

https://www.smoking-meat.com/image-files/smoking-times-temperatures-chart-2018.pdf

Or check out this magnetic quick reference chart you can attach direct to your electric smoker:

image

Bear Paws Meat Smoking Guide Magnet

Do different wood chips cause different flavors?

They certainly do!  The most popular wood chips include oak, hickory, mesquite and maple.  Here’s a link to a handy wood chip flavor pairing guide:

https://www.academy.com/explore/wood-chip-flavor-pairing-guide-grills-and-smokers

Accessories

Why not continue upgrading your cookout kitchen range with an outdoor pizza oven or a cool block knife set.

Which are the best smokers for jerky? Read on for the top 5 smokers that will guarantee you delicious jerky every time.

Jerky is one of those classic American snacks that can be found in grocery stores across the country. But, did you know that it’s actually quite straightforward to make it yourself too? You just need a good quality cut of meat, and a smoker to cook it slowly and add that delicious, smoky flavour. But which smoker should you go for? Let us help you with out list of the five best smokers for jerky. With so many options available to us, it can be a bit of a minefield trying to figure out which one will not only give you the homemade jerky you’re looking to make, but can also be used to create a variety of other smoked foods.

If you’d like to give making your own jerky a go at home, take a look at our favorite smokers below, as well as our handy guide to what to look for when buying one.

If you’re in a hurry to get on with making your own jerky and want a fantastic smoker to help you achieve it, take a look at our top pick below:

Best Smoker for Jerky (Winner)

Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker

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Best Smokers for Jerky – Comparison Table

Image	Product	Our Rating	Buy
	Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Dyna-Glo Offset Charcoal Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Bradley Smoker Original Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Masterbuilt Electric Smoker		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON
	Camp Chef Smoke Vault		CHECK PRICE ON AMAZON

Best Smokers for Jerky – Our Reviews

#1. Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker (Our Overall Top Pick)

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This electric smoker from Masterbuilt takes smoking food to the next level and into the 21st century! With Bluetooth smart technology, you can control the temperature, lighting, monitor internal meat temperature and turn your smoker on and off from your smart device without needing to be anywhere near it. That’s what makes it top of our list of best smokers for jerky.

Four chrome-coated smoking racks allow plenty of room to create homemade jerky as well as a variety of other smoked foods, and it’s patented side-loading wood chip tray allows you to add your flavored chips without any chance of losing heat.

This amazing smoker also contains a built-in meat temperature probe, so you can rest assured that your cooking at the correct temperature, and a grill and fish element on the top allow you to give that extra finishing touch to your recipes.

The digital temperature dial gives you full control over the temperature within the smoker, and the handles and wheels make it easy to move to another area – ideal if you’ve got the smoker on whilst entertaining outdoors.

Pros

• Bluetooth accessibility allows you to control the temperature, lighting and power from your smart device
• Side loading wood chip tray lets you add more flavored chips to the smoker without losing any heat
• With the built-in meat temperature probe you can monitor the internal temperature of your meat and make sure it’s cooked thoroughly
• The grill and fish element gives you an extra finishing touch to your recipes

Cons

• The digital display can be hard to read in full sun, but with the Bluetooth function you can see all the controls and information on your smart device instead

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#2. Dyna-Glo Offset Charcoal Smoker (Runner Up)

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The innovative design of this smoker allows you to smoke meat with both charcoal and your favorite wood chips. The dual door system allows you to add more wood chips without losing any heat from the smoking chamber, and it’s heavy duty steel construction ensures that this smoker is built for durability and a long life.

Constructed vertically to capture maximum smoke flavor, the offset functionality keeps your meat away from the heat source to allow a slower cook, creating a smokier flavor. This smoker from Dyan-Glo also has a unique smoke chamber that stacks the briquettes tightly for a more efficient fuel burn, meaning you’ll not only spend less time refilling the chamber but will also spend less money on charcoal.

Equipped with 6 height adjustable cooking grates, you’ll be able to fit in a variety of foods ranging in size with ease, and you can control the temperature within the smoker by adjusting the smoke stack’s flue.

There is even a temperature gauge on the outside with a useful ‘smoke zone’ thermometer to let you know when you’ve reached the perfect smoking temperature. With so many features no wonder its made it right up here at number two of our top 5 best smokers for jerky. If you’re looking to make delicious, smoked jerky at home, then this smoker is a great choice.

Pros

• Dual door system allows you to feed in more wood chips without losing any heat
• Unique smoke chamber stacks briquettes to allow for more fuel efficient smoking
• Has 6 height adjustable cooking grates to allow for size variations in food
• Temperature gauge on the outside with ‘smoking zone’ indicator lets you know when the perfect smoking temperature has been reached

Cons

• Some customers found that the bottom heat rack cooked meats a little quicker than the higher racks so, depending on how much your smoking, some shelf rotation may be needed

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#3. Bradley Smoker Original Smoker (Runner Up)

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Capable of both cold and hot smoking, the original smoker from Bradley Smoker uses smoker bisquettes that burn for 20 minutes each ensuring there is no fluctuation in temperature. This also reduces the creation of high temperature gases, acids and resins that can otherwise distort the flavour of your food.

It’s four removable racks are perfect for creating homemade jerky, and they come with a brilliant rack safety support that prevents them from tipping out when adjusting or removing. The extra large front feet also offer added stability whilst in use, and the removable side panel allows for easy cleaning and maintenance.

The simple to control smoke dial on the front of the generator box allows you full control over the temperature, which is generated by an electrical filament meaning no messing around with charcoal or fire lighters, as well as being more environmentally friendly.

Whilst some other smokers require attending to periodically during the cooking process, this smoker automatically produces clean, cool smoke for up to 9 hours without any need for intervention. Ideal if you’re looking for a low maintenance way of smoking, or want to keep it going when you’re out of the house, this model is perfect for entertaining, creating delicious jerky, or simply enjoying the fun of smoking food.

Pros

• Uses smoker bisquettes that each burn for 20 minutes, ensuring no fluctuation in temperature
• Includes four removable racks with a rack support for extra stability and safety when adjusting or removing
• Can be left to smoke food for up to 9 hours without any need to attend to it

Cons

• Some people that purchased this smoker previously found that it took a while to heat up to the temperature they required

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#4. Masterbuilt Electric Smoker (Runner Up)

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Perfect for beginners to smoking and pros alike, this electric smoker from Masterbuilt takes all the fuss out of cooking with charcoal and gives you the professional results you’re looking for right in your backyard.

It’s generous internal sizing houses three chrome coated smoking racks that can cook 3 chickens, 2 turkeys, 3 pork ribs or 3 pork butts, and the variable temperature controls give you full flexibility over the cooking heat.

This smoker also comes with a removable water bowl which allows you to control the moisture and flavor, whilst the adjustable air damper lets you adjust the smoke level.

As if all of that wasn’t enough, there is also a front access grease tray that will catch any excess food drippings, and the removable wood chip tray makes for an easy way to clean up afterwards. Perfect if you’re looking for a low-maintenance way to smoke your food.

Pros

• Generous internal size allows you to smoke more food at once
• Variable, analog temperature dial gives your full control over the cooking heat
• Includes a removable water bowl that allows you to adjust the level of moisture in the smoker

Cons

• The single unit construction of this smoker makes it easy to lose heat when adding in more wood chips

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#5. Camp Chef Smoke Vault (Runner Up)

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Designed with the appearance of an old-fashioned bank safe, this is one of the most aesthetically pleasing smokers available and would make a great talking point at any barbecue. Not only is it nice to look at, but it is also ideal for making homemade jerky thanks to it’s specially designed jerky smoking rack.

Simple to operate with a convenient matchless snap-ignition, this smoker also comes complete with two more adjustable smoking racks, and a heavy gauge steel wood chip tray with a water pan that will infuse your food with moisture as well as the smoky flavor you’re after.

The fully adjustable heat dials allow you to control the temperature between 160°F and 350°F, so you can create a variety of lightly and deeply smoked foods. There are also three adjustable damper valves (one on top and one on each side) that will allow you to control the levels of smoke within the cooking chamber.

Complete with a recipe book, tips and cooking ideas, this smoker is ideal for anybody who wants to try their hand at creating some amazing homemade smoked food.

Pros

• Includes a specially designed jerky smoking rack
• A heavy gauge wood chip and water pan infuse your food with moisture and flavor
• Three damper valves give you control of the smoke levels whilst cooking

Cons

• Some people that brought this smoker found that the initial assembly can be quite tricky, and it definitely needs more than one person to build it

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Jerky Smokers Buyer’s Guide

Making jerky in a smoker is a great way to have a stash ready to hand whenever you want, as well as letting you have control over the flavors, but buying a smoker is a pretty big investment so, before jumping straight in, it’s worth doing some research and thinking about what else you might want from it.

Size

The size of your smoker is the first thing to consider. Bear in mind that smokers need to be outdoors, so give some thought to how big your outside space is. If you’ve got a large backyard, then a bigger, sturdier smoker isn’t going to be too much of an issue for you.

However, if you’ve got a small courtyard or even a balcony, a smaller smoker that is easy to move is probably going to be the best choice.

Heat Source

The way you wish to light your smoker is something to give some thought too as well. If you enjoy cooking with charcoal, there are smokers that will let you start a fire within them and get both the smoky flavor from your wood chips as well give your food that classic, barbecue charcoal flavour.

 If you’re looking for a cleaner flavor, however, then an electric smoker would be a better choice, as they will only give you the flavor from your chosen wood chips. Electric smokers are also a lot easier to light than a charcoal fire, so that’s something to bear in mind as well.

Capacity

Depending on how much food you’re planning on smoking at one time, you may want a smoker with a lot of racks that can fit larger quantities of food in them at once.

Smoking racks should ideally be removable to allow you to fit different sized meat joints in them, as well as letting you rotate the food in order to prevent the food on the bottom rack cooking too quickly.

 Some smokers include a rack support that will help to keep the racks sturdy whilst you are rearranging things, which is also a fantastic safety feature.

Extra Features

Think about what extra features you’d like as well. If you’re planning on using your smoker purely for making jerky and nothing else, then a basic model is going to be fine for you. But it seems a shame to waste a good cooking opportunity when there are smokers that come with an assortment of accessories!

Some are able to grill dishes to add some extra crispiness to chicken skin or add the finishing touches to your recipes. Others come with removable water bowls that allow you to add moisture and juiciness to your food.

Safety

Food safety is something else to bear in mind when purchasing a smoker. You want to ensure that, whatever you’re cooking, it is thoroughly cooked all the way through and won’t make anybody ill.

Most smokers come with a temperature gauge that will inform you of the cooking temperature within the chamber, and some even include a built-in meat probe so you can be certain that the internal temperature of your chicken, beef or pork is hot enough.

Maintenance

Smoking foods can create a lot of mess. Between charcoal and wood chip ashes, and the food getting stuck to the smoking shelves, there can be a bit of cleaning to do afterwards.

Look for a smoker that will make life easier for you, whether it be a removable ash tray that you can easily empty out and rinse, or chrome covered cooking racks that encrusted food will easily wash off. Smoking should be about creating delicious foods after all, not about spending hours cleaning up afterwards.

Once you’ve found your perfect smoker, don’t be afraid to experiment with loads of different foods and meat joints until you’ve found your perfect jerky recipe!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a charcoal or electric smoker best for making jerky?

This is purely down to your own personal preference. Both charcoal and electric smokers will do a fantastic job of creating delicious, homemade jerky. The only thing to bear in mind is if you want that added, barbecued charcoal flavor to your jerky which you’ll get from a charcoal smoker. If you want a cleaner smoke and only want to taste the flavor of your wood chips, go for an electric one.

What temperature does a smoker need to reach to make jerky?

In order to get meat totally bacteria free and safe to eat, it needs to be cooked at a temperature of 145°F – 155°F for at least four hours. Be sure to get a smoke with a reliable temperature gauge and, where possible, find a model with a built in meat thermometer. For even more accuracy you can upgrade to a digital smoker thermometer.

How do I clean a smoker?

Smokers are relatively easy to clean, and regular maintenance will also ensure your smoker lasts longer. Try and get a model with a removable ash tray that you can simply empty out, rinse and reinsert. Smoking racks that are chrome coated will make cleaning off any encrusted food easier as well. Please remember to let everything cool off completely first before attempting to clean your smoker though.

How often do I need to attend to my smoker whilst it’s cooking?

This varies depending on the cooking method and the smoker that you have gone for. Charcoal smokers will need to be tended to more frequently in order to make sure the fuel doesn’t run out. Electric smokers will need less checking on as they don’t require fuel to power them. Some smokers use special bisquettes that stack and burn for set periods of time, meaning you leave them unchecked for longer. And some more hi-tech smokers allow you to monitor the temperature and power them on and off through Bluetooth!

What size smoker should I be?

Practicality is key here. If you have a large outdoor area, then a bigger smoker probably won’t be a problem for your space. If you have a smaller area, or a balcony, go for a smaller model that can be easily maneuvered.