Top 5 Best Electric Smokers of 2024 – Reviews & Buying Guide

If you love smoked meat, nothing does it better than an electric smoker. Perfect smoked food requires the right temperature and consistent smoke. The best electric smoker is able to provide just that, and with recent advances in technology, you will find them available for reasonable prices.

People have always been fascinated with the tenderness, flavor, and texture of smoked food. Smoking food involves the process of flavoring, cooking, browning, or – in certain instances – preserving food in the smoke that comes from smoldering or burning wood.

Meat and fish are the most common smoked food; however, many people also enjoy smoking vegetables such as summer squash, zucchini, and bell peppers; and a variety of cheeses, including Mozzarella, cheddar, and gouda cheese. Once you start using your smoker and find how easy it is to operate, you’ll want to start tossing pretty much everything on the grill.

Masterbuilt MB20071117 30-Inch Black Electric Digital Smoker, Top...

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Masterbuilt MB20071117 30-Inch Black Electric Digital Smoker, Top...

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Check Best Price

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Smoking meat is an age-old tradition that began way back in the cave-dwelling era. As one of the earliest methods of preparing meat, it adds a delectable smoking flavor as well as provides a measure of preservation.

Meat smoking remains popular to this day. It involves cooking at a very low heat (of about 68-176° F) for an hour, the whole day, or even for a few days. In contrast, barbecuing is cooking at a medium heat of about 190-300° F for about an hour or less. Grilling is cooking at very high heat for only a few minutes.

In today’s modern world, smoking food the traditional way is often not feasible. We don’t have all day to sit around and watch our food slowly cook on an outdoor smoker. Additionally, it can be impractical to deal with wood and charcoal smokers. 

Luckily, there are top-rated smokers that can prepare smoked food with a taste close to the authentic one without the hassle of watching over it all day long.

🥇 Best all-around electric smoker – Masterbuilt 20077515

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The Masterbuilt (20077515) Electric Smoker comes with features most people look for in an electric smoker. This 30-inch grill has a 730-square-inch cooking area with four chrome-coated racks that can allow you to cook up to about 80 pounds of food while keeping the food’s original taste intact.

Features

Heating Element: The heating element comes with 800-watt power. It also provides full-foam insulation.

Temperature Controls: Many users of this smoker like the inclusion of an RF remote control. It gives you full control of the smoker, from turning it off and on, to keeping track of the temperature inside the smoker, to monitoring the meat probe and tracking the internal temperature of the meat.

Display: This smoker comes with a front LED-type digital control panel so you can monitor everything that is going on inside the electric smoker. The LED display is blue, so reading cooking times and temperatures can easily be done even when cooking under direct sunlight.

Design and Construction: You can also see the smoking progress through the internal light and viewing window of the smoker. When you open the door of the smoker, LED lights with high output will illuminate your smoked food.

On the top side of the smoker is an air damper. Together with the wood chip loading system, the air damper controls the amount of smoke inside the unit. This allows you to control the amount of smoky flavor you desire for your food. 

A few other plus points of this smoker’s design include a drip pan on the front that ensures a mess-free operation and a “drip reflector” that diverts food drippings from the heat source to the tray, allowing grease to end up in a place that is ideal for easier cleaning.

A handle mounted on the rear side of the smoker and a pair of wheels makes this smoker easy to move around the house.

Ease of Use: To start smoking your food, you simply need to plug in the grill, turn it on, set the desired temperature and time in the digital control panel, and you are on your way to smoking your food. As mentioned earlier, an RF remote control enables you to control everything from your fingertips.

Cleaning and Maintenance: The inclusion of a removable drip pan, grease pan, water pan, and wood chip tray makes cleaning a breeze. The drip reflector adds to the ease of cleaning this unit.

Verdict

The Masterbuilt Smoker (20077515) is equipped with ideal technology and the convenience to turn out excellently smoked food with the least effort and at a very affordable price.

🥇 Mid-range option: Char-Broil Deluxe

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The Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker is ideal for the professional smoker. This equipment has 725 square inches of cooking space with four smoking racks on a 1500-watt heating element. This grill allows a professional smoker to create delicious and perfectly smoked food with precision.

Temperature Range: This grill comes with a wide temperature range of between 100- 275 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can choose the right temperature for perfectly smoked food.

Temperature Control: The control panel of this smoker gives you the option to choose between two cooking modes – smoking by temperature or by cooking time. The control panel allows you to monitor the heat inside the unit and make adjustments when necessary. Once the meat has reached the pre-set temperature, this smoker will automatically shift to its “keep warm” mode to prevent overcooking.

It also comes with a removable internal temperature probe to remove the guesswork on how long it will take to smoke a particular food. You just simply need to insert the probe on the meat, set it to your preferred temperature, and wait for the alert when the smoking is done. A remote control allows you to control the smoker even from a distance. The temperature gauge is also removable.

Display: This digital smoker features an LED control panel that is easy to read. It comes with a blue light so that readings are still visible even under bright sunlight.

Design and Construction: The Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker is made from stainless steel and comes with a finish in dual-tone. It comes with a front glass window so you can view the smoking process as well as a stainless steel locking system on the side of the door to allow tightly sealed smoking.

The double-wall and insulation of this smoker ensure that temperatures are consistent and the smoke is kept inside the unit. This makes the wood chips far more efficient than other electric smokers. The holding box for the wood chips is large enough to accommodate four to seven smoking hours without having to refill it.

For added convenience, this unit comes with an ergonomic handle and wheels for easy mobility. The internal light allows you a clear view of the food when you open the door.

Ease of Use: It is such a breeze to operate this smoker. Once the temperature or time has been set, the smoker will smoke your food to perfection. An alarm will notify you for doneness and the “keep warm” function will ensure that you have perfectly smoked food even on your first try.

The removable temperature gauge makes monitoring the smoking process easier. A slide-in, porcelain-coated water pan is easy to refill and adds to the ease of using this smoker.

Cleaning and Maintenance: The stainless steel finish of this grill makes it easy to clean with a simple wipe with a damp cloth. The 8.5-cup grease tray ensures that all drippings from the food flow to the right place instead of into other parts of the smoker that may be difficult to clean.

Verdict

If you are a PRO food smoker, the Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker is a good model. The easy-to-use and convenient features will encourage you to do more smoking because you will always come up with a perfectly smoked food, with minimal effort.

🥇 Budget option: Masterbuilt 20070910

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The Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker (20070910) is the best you can get for below $200. It comes with a generous cooking space of 730 square inches with four chrome-coated smoking racks. This 20.4” x 19.9” x 33.3” grill has more than enough space to smoke your chicken, ham, tri-tip, or salmon for a large family gathering.

Features

Heating Element: The heating element of this 30-inch grill has a power of 800 watts.

Temperature Range: Programmable temperatures can be set between 100-275^oF. Choose your preferred temperature and the smoker maintains it to allow even cooking.

Temperature Controls: This Masterbuilt model features a digital control panel for temperature control. It also comes with a programmable timer so you do not need to constantly check for doneness.

Display: This 30-inch smoker features a digital LED display. It also comes with remote control. The display is easy to read and allows you to set your preferred temperature and smoking time. The RF remote control allows you to monitor from a distance the remaining cooking time, smoker temperature, and even the internal temperature of the food you are smoking.

Design and Construction: The Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker (20070910) is a cabinet-type smoker made from powder-coated stainless steel, making it durable and long-lasting. It is well-insulated, thus it is able to maintain heat for efficient and even heat. It comes with four adjustable smoking racks so you can smoke varied amounts of food, depending on the occasion.

Wood chips can be conveniently loaded through the side, which keeps the smoke contained and at sufficient levels inside the smoker. The smoker comes with more than enough power (800 watts) for any type of smoking mode.

The removable drip pan on the side and air damper at the top of the unit ensures easy cleaning and efficient operation. This smoker can be easily controlled by soft-touch push buttons.

Ease of Use: This is a straightforward electric smoker with push buttons on a digital control panel. To start cooking, all you need to do is press the button of your desired temperature and time for a simple “set and forget” smoking pleasure.

Cleaning and Maintenance: The drip tray is one of the most loved features of this Masterbuilt model because it allows easy cleaning. The drip tray is large enough to catch food drippings so they do not splash all over the smoker, which may be difficult to clean later.

Verdict

The Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker (20070910) is an efficient piece of equipment that comes with an amazingly low price tag. After all, this unit is manufactured by Masterbuilt, an industry leader in electric smokers.

🥇 Portable option: Masterbuilt 20078616

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You do not need a large electric smoker to be able to smoke a large amount of food; the Masterbuilt smoker (20078616) proves just that. This compact electric smoker can cook up to 50 pounds of meat at one time with its two smoking racks coated with porcelain material and 395 square inches of cooking space.

With a dimension of only 31.49” x 25.39” x 19.13”, this portable electric smoker is ideal to bring along on camping trips or to your neighbor’s house because it weighs only 17.5 pounds.

Features

Heating Element: The heating element runs with a power of 1,650 watts.

Temperature Range: The temperature gauge can be set to off, high, medium, or low and is located on the lid just below the handle. The temperature can reach up to 400^oF. This allows the smoker to consistently and evenly smoke various kinds of food at the right temperature.

Temperature Control: This Masterbuilt model features an analog temperature control gauge. Once you have set the desired temperature, you can leave it alone to do its job without fear of overcooking.

Display: The easy-to-read analog-type gauge sits on the lid just below the handle.

Design and Construction: This compact, bullet-shaped Masterbuilt grill (20078616) comes with a small front door with a heat-resistant knob where you can load wood chips. The removable chip tray is porcelain coated. It also comes with a drip pan to collect all food drippings so grease does not scatter all over the smoker.

This compact electric smoker comes with curved side handles so you can conveniently carry it anywhere. The handle on the lid comes with a curved design as well for easy lifting. It is heatproof too, so no need to use kitchen gloves to protect your hands.

The racks have porcelain coats to ensure meat fats do not stick to them during the smoking process; otherwise, they may be difficult to remove.

Ease of Use: Smoking with this compact and portable Masterbuilt grill is an easy task. Plug in the smoker, add water and some wood chips, set the temperature, and off the smoker goes to smoke your favorite meat without a fuss.

An adjustable air damper will check the amount of moisture and smoke inside the unit so you can adjust it accordingly.

Cleaning and Maintenance: The smoking racks are dishwasher-safe and the inside of the smoker does not need much cleaning or maintenance. All this smoker needs is a thorough cleaning every few months or so, depending on how often you use it.

You do need to clean the lid, though, with a damp cloth after every use.

The water bowl, drip pan, and chip tray need regular cleaning, but no need to worry; they clean easily. If you leave the smoker outdoors, make sure to get a grill cover to protect it from the elements.

Verdict

The Masterbuilt Grill (20078616) may be small but it is packed with features often found only in high-end electric smokers. The affordability and practical application of this smoker can be hard to beat.

🥇 Best electric smoker for beginners: Smoke Hollow 30162E

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If you are a beginner at smoking food, you can easily get started with the Smoke Hollow (30162E). This unit has proven popular among beginners because it is straightforward and simple to use.

This electric smoker comes with only three temperature settings and will not make the beginner smoker panic when outside temperatures affect cooking temperatures. The temperature inside the unit remains constant despite changes in outside temperature.

Features

Temperature Range: This smoker runs on a power of 1,500 watts. The temperature remains constant throughout the cooking process even when the outside temperature is high.

Temperature Controls: The adjustable temperature control gauge is located on the door of the smoker.

Display: This smoker does not come with a control panel display. What it has is an analog gauge on the door of the smoker.

Design and Construction: The Smoke Hollow (30162E) is perfect for small outdoor smoking parties. It does not have wheels but it has two sturdy side handles you can hold on to when moving this 55-pound electric smoker.

This electric smoker comes with steel construction in black with double walls for good ventilation. The wood chip box is painted in black and the steel water pan is coated with porcelain material.

Ease of Use: From an easy assembly to easy handling of temperature controls, this smoker is perfect for the new food smoker.

Cleaning and Maintenance: Cleaning the smoking rack, wood chip box, and steel water pan are a breeze because they are coated with porcelain material.

Verdict

The Smoke Hollow Electric Smoker (30162E) comes with a simple design and operation. It is, however, not lacking in features that allowing it to produce delicious and mouthwatering smoked food in your home.

What makes an ideal electric smoker?

There are many things you can cook in an en electric smoker. You can smoke meat and fish, as well as make smoked turkey, bacon pastrami, or smoked nuts. You can even load a pound of brisket in the morning and it will be all prepped up when you get home in the evening.

The best electric smoker comes with these features:

• Heating Element. This is what takes the place of burning charcoal in traditional smokers. The best electric home smokers have the power of 1,000-1,200 watts.
• Temperature Range. Electric smokers should have various temperature ranges because different types of food require different smoking temperatures.
• Temperature Control. This sets the temperature of the smoker and monitors the internal temperature.
• Meat Probe. This is a thermometer inserted into the meat while it is smoking. It allows you to monitor the temperature of the meat without the need to open the smoker.

Some of the best electric smokers also come with space where you can add some wood chips. Wood chips add more flavor to the meat.

The more sophisticated electric smokers come with a remote control so you can control the equipment from a distance. Some even come with a mobile app so you can control the smoker from your mobile device.

There are two kinds of electric smokers:

1. Vertical Electric Smokers: These are the least expensive kind of electric smokers. Water in a bowl is placed between the smoking area where food is set and the burning wood. The temperature in the smoker’s chamber is controlled by the water that dissipates, together with the smoke from the burning wood. Smoke vapor reaches the meat and adds to its flavor.
2. Electric Cabinet Smoker: This looks similar to a small refrigerator. A heating element is located at the bottom of the equipment.

Vertical and Cabinet electric smokers both have very simple operations. The heating element produces heat while the wood chips produce smoke.

Seasoning the electric smoker

This is the process of ridding a new smoker of industrial factory oil, dust in the inner chambers, and other harmful materials that might have accumulated during the production and assembly of the product.

Seasoning new digital smokers is important because these units are not sanitized well enough in the factory.  It is extremely unwise and unhealthy to cook with the electric smoker immediately after unboxing. Blame it on the high demand for this product, which causes manufacturers to produce them on a mass scale. This results in a reduction of proper quality control.

How do you actually season a new electric smoker?

1. Unpack the electric smoker and make sure all parts and components are in order.
2. Turn ON the unit.
3. Load some wood chips onto the wood chip pan.
4. Set the temperature control to 275^oF and for three hours. This will cause unwanted dust and oil, which may affect the smell and taste of smoked food, evaporate out of the chambers.
5. After two hours, load some wood chips on the smoker to sanitize the inner chamber and make it ready for smoking.
6. Turn off the unit after three hours or after all wood chips are burned.
7. Wipe the bars and the entire electric smoker inside and out with a clean microfiber cloth.

Your new, sanitized, and clean electric smoker is now ready for smoking. There is no more need to repeatedly season your electric smoker unless you want to smoke another type of meat other than what you usually smoke.  This is so the flavors do not mix.

Benefits of having an electric smoker

If you are not yet sure about getting an electric smoker, here are some good reasons to own one.

1. Authentic smoked food is best made with a charcoal or gas smoker. These types of smokers, however, require a lot of monitoring. Additionally, they may be dangerous to operate and difficult to clean. An electric grill, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. All you need to do is plug the unit and leave it to do its job.
2. There is no need to deal with messy wood pellets and charcoal. Set-up time is lessened.
3. “Set and Forget” is the theory behind an electric grill, which is ideal for the average person in today’s busy culture.
4. Temperature control is the most important aspect of food smoking. An electric grill automatically and perfectly does this for you so you can do other things instead of constantly monitoring the smoking process.
5. Savings on time and effort are what you will get when you own an electric smoker. You also do not have to deal with excess smoke inside your smoker.

Most importantly, a digital smoker is your best option if you really want to enjoy great-tasting smoked meat but you are not allowed to cook with charcoal in your home.

Besides, investing in than electric smoker may in the long term be cheaper than always having to buy charcoal.

How to choose an electric smoker

It is not easy to buy an electric smoker. You want to be able to cook the perfect smoked food all the time.  That goal can only be accomplished if you are cooking in a reliable electric grill. Here, then, are the things you need to look out for.

1. Cooking Space. Think of the quantity of food you intend to smoke at any given time and choose a digital smoker that has the capacity to accommodate your greatest food load.
2. Temperature Control. As mentioned above, cooking with the right temperature is the most important factor when smoking food. Choose a model that has an easy-to-use temperature control. A digital electric smoker comes with a controller that is a lot easier to handle than an analog one. If you are more comfortable with a temperature gauge (analog), however, the choice is yours.
3. Choose the Features. If you are buying your first smoker, choose one that comes with a tempered glass door. This will allow you to monitor the smoking process without having to constantly open the door, which can make temperatures fluctuate and affect the quality of your smoked food.
4. Fuel Type. Charcoal and wood smokers have nearly reached extinction and are being replaced by the more convenient and practical electric smokers. When you choose your electric grill, make sure it does not need extra charcoal or wood to fire up. Go for a model that uses wood chips.
5. Racks, Trays, and Pans. Grills and hollow trays are commonly used in electric smokers. Electric grills produce better-smoked food and leave smoke rings on them … just like when smoking the traditional way. You should also watch out for efficient water pans, drip pans, and wood chip pans.
6. Electronics and Technology. Remote controllers and Bluetooth connections are some of the technologies you need to check into. Remote controls allow you to control your electric grill from a distance. Electric smokers with Bluetooth connections allow you to remotely control your smoker. Check out each of the included technologies and choose the electric grill with technologies you are most comfortable with.
7. Budget. The cost of an item is always a major consideration when buying anything. When it comes to cost, always choose one that provides the best value for the money you are willing to spend.

When shopping for an electric smoker, check as many electric smoker reviews as you can, so you can come up with an educated decision.

Look at the full range of reviews for a single product. If you only look at the “one-star” reviews, you can grow discouraged and assume that every single grill out there is a dud. However, if you only look at the glowing “five-star” reviews, you might think you’re buying the perfect smoker and end up with something less than ideal. Checking out the “in-between” reviews can provide a more balanced idea of the kind of smoker you are buying.

Important tips in using an electric smoker

To perfectly smoke meat, you will need to first have the best electric smoker for 2020. Of course, the best electric smoker is the one that is ideal for you. That is the main prerequisite.

Although a smoker is a “set it and forget it” type of grill, there are certain things you need to do before you set and forget your electric grill to do its job.

Follow these tips and make your electric smoker work for you.

• Season the Unit Before Initial Use. As mentioned above, if you want the best and most flavorful smoked meat, you’ll want to season your electric grill right after unboxing. You do not want dust, factory oil, or manufacturing chemicals to contaminate your food.
• Pre-Heat the Smoker. This is a mistake many newbies or even seasoned food smokers often commit. Always make sure to set the temperature of the electric smoker to your desired level before loading the meat. The smoke coming out of the electric grill should also already be blue and not white. The wood chips should have started turning into ash. This will make sure that you will be smoking meat at the right temperature.
• Monitor the Temperature. You can do this throughout the entire smoking process with the control panel and meat probe. You will want to keep the internal temperature constant at between 225 to 250^oF to ensure evenly smoked meat. Higher temperatures outside of the meat will cause it to be dry and overcooked. Always check the internal temperature of the meat to prevent overcooking. Also, make sure that the water pan is always with water. Running out of water will cause a sudden increase in temperature.
• Keep the Vents Open. Closed vents will keep excess smoke inside the electric smoker. This is not good for your food. Open vents will allow smoke to properly circulate over the food and out of the smoker in the proper manner. This will give the inside of your smoker the best ventilation and will, in turn, produce a clean smoke.
• Use the Right Type of Wood. Scrapwood or treated wood will produce harmful gas. The best wood chips to use are the hardwood ones such as mesquite or hickory. They are the best for food smoking.
• The Right Spot. Where you position your electric smoker also plays an important role. Electric grills should not be placed too close to the wall. There should also not be anything close by (objects, furniture, etc.). The electric grill should be placed in a spot where smoke can freely escape from the smoker so it will not fill the room. This also prevents the possibility of a fire.
• White Smoke and Black Smoke. Clean white smoke can fill your smoked food with that inviting smell smoked food is known for. This can only be achieved if you allow your electric smoker to have proper ventilation. Improper ventilation will cause your food to burn and emit black smoke, which will negatively affect the flavor of your food. Worse, you might be caught off guard with an unpleasant scenario when you open your digital smoker.

One last important tip you need to always remember: always make sure to soak your meat with a brine solution before loading it to your electric smoker. This will ensure that you will have flavorful and tender meat.

A good brine solution is a mixture of seasonings and salt. The brine solution should cover the entire piece of meat. Soak meat in a brine solution overnight to get the best results.

Conclusion

There is nothing that can compare to the relaxing aroma of smoke coming from wood together with the amazing flavor and taste of perfectly smoked meat. While proper smoking of food requires a bit of knowledge, it is a skill that is easy to acquire and not exclusive only to the experts.

The concept of smoking food is simple. Smoking is exposing food to smoke coming from a heat source for a long time. The process gives the food a distinct flavor and taste that has been passed down for generations.

Traditional smoking has in the past been done with oak and alder wood. The trend later shifted to wood from fruit-bearing trees such as apple, cherry, and maple. In today’s modern world, electric smokers have brought the science and art of food smoking close to smoking the traditional way.

Smoked meat, vegetables, and even cheese have become popular items these days, and for good reason. If you want to impress your friends and neighbors as well as prepare superior smoked food every time, a good and reliable electric smoker can help you produce the best flavors.

If you want your family and guests to experience the best-smoked food, you’ll want to invest in a reliable electric smoker. Choose from among the best smokers included in the best electric smoker reviews included above, and you’ll be well on your way!

Last Updated on August 7, 2020 by Judith Fertig