The Masterbuilt brand started from humble beginnings. The owner, Dawson McLemore, turned his welding hobby from his backyard into a family business. The name Masterbuilt Electric Smoker came to light as he was seeking guidance and protection from God after partaking in this endeavor.
Since then, the brand was able grow bounds and deliver products to consumers. Nevertheless, the owner still keeps the family and faith at the top of the priority list. With this, the business has built a team that provides value to the business.
Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Reviews for 2020
There are many good electric smokers from Masterbuilt. They are usually equipped with reliable features that aid you in your smoking activities.
Before you decide on getting one, you must first look into the features and benefits you may acquire from the product. Here are some of the top rated electric smokers from Masterbuilt which you can consider.
1. Masterbuilt 20070210 Black Analog Electric Smoker
This electric smoker from Masterbuilt utilizes three racks for smoking. It makes it easier to perform slow smoking as similar with grilling. This product is equipped with a thermostat variable temperature control. With this, the smoking process tends to become hassle-free.
Along with these, there is a thermometer built in to ensure that you are smoking at the correct temperature. Moreover, it eliminates the risk of overcooking your meat.
The electric smoker also includes water pan and wood-chip tray for meats that product juices when cooked. This enhances the smoky flavor without sacrificing the clean-up time. In terms of cleaning, you are assured that the product is easy to clean. The drip pan is removable, making it hassle-free to wipe and wash.
You are provided with a large cooking area. It measures 547.8 square inches with temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. This is truly a great product to add in your cooking equipment.
Product Features and Information:
- Dimensions: 26.8β x 20β x 40.2β
- Weight: 49.9 pounds
- Equipped with three (3) chrome-coated cooking racks
- Has a dual-wall insulation for efficient cooking process
- Comes with a removable drip and water pan
- Provides easy monitoring with a temperature gauge located in the smoker door
Pros:
- Easy to clean as the components are dishwasher safe
- Hassle-free monitoring and control of temperature
- Robust and can last a long time
- Huge space inside for cooking big portions
- Produces good quality cook on food
Cons:
- Noticeable leaks in smoker door
- Does not keep temperature maintained
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2. Masterbuilt 20070910 Black Digital Electric Smoker
Masterbuilt aims to provide the consumers with the right tools for their cooking needs. This digital smoker is a great addition to your cooking equipment whether you are just a beginner or already an expert.
You can easily achieve great cook on your favorite meats without the hassle of cooking up in a grill. There is no need to prepare the propane and charcoal just to set-up your cooking station. With a huge space inside you can fit even 12 whole pieces of chicken. You are assured to complete your cooking tasks in time.
Equipped with a digital panel for temperature control, you can utilize the FR remote to set your desired temperature and cooking time. You may spend your time doing other pertinent activities without worrying about it. Moreover, you can monitor the internal meat temperature to give you an idea of how well it is cooking.
Lastly, this product ensures that you will have that slow-smoked taste on your food all year-round. With Masterbuilt, you can eliminate the use of your grill and enjoy the treat provided by this electric smoker.
Product Features and Information:
- Dimensions: 20β x 17β x 35.5β
- Weight: 45.9 pounds
- Utilizes an RF remote and digital panel for temperature and cook time control
- Allows monitoring of internal temperature of the meat you are cooking
- Has four smoking racks that are chrome-coated
- Equipped with a wood chip side loading system
- Integrates the thermostat temperature with the system for consistent smoking
Pros:
- Hassle-free monitoring of the food’s internal temperature
- Robust and can last a long time
- No need to open the door for chip loading
- Huge space inside for cooking big portions
- Maintains even temperature
- Needs less time to set up
Cons:
- Tends to trip the electrical circuit
- Internal thermostat heats up causing potential bust
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3. Masterbuilt 20073716 Electric Smoker Front Controller
Perfect for on-the-go cooking, this portable electric smoker allows you smoke your favorite dishes such as meats and fish anywhere. With its compact body, you can bring it along with you on any part you shall host. Its design utilizes folding legs to make storage and transportation easier.
Despite the small body, you are still provided unique functionalities that aid you in your cooking needs. It has a reliable heating element and smoking racks for efficient smoking. It also has simple controls that you can configure for the settings. You can set it at low, medium or high temperatures.
In terms of monitoring, you are provided with built-in temperature gauge on the door. You can easily identify the temperature inside the smoker. On the other hand, cleaning has never been easier. You can just remove the drip pan and clean it outside. This product is truly an ideal device for tailgating, road trips and camping.
Product Features and Information:
- Dimensions: 20β x 17β x 35.5β
- Weight: 45.9 pounds
- Utilizes a 1,400 watt heating element for steady temperature
- Equipped with a temperature gauge built in the door
- Has smoking racks that are chrome-coated
- Uses a removable water pan and chip tray
- Features easy-to-fold legs
Pros:
- Convenient to bring along as it is light and portable
- Easy to store and transport due to foldable legs
- Hassle-free cleaning as water pan and tray for wood chips are removable
- Simple to control temperature settings
- Convenient temperature monitoring by using built-it gauge
- Recommended for tailgating, road trips and camping
Cons:
- Racks tend to slide out when removing food
- Takes a long time to reach desired temperature
- Bottom rack tends to sit close to the burner
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4. Masterbuilt 20070411 Electric Smoker Top Controller
This electric smoker helps you achieve better cooking results in your own home. It comes with a remote that aids in controller temperature and time. Furthermore, it has a probe thermometer that is built-in to measure the internal temperature of the food.
To operate this device, you can just simply plug your smoker and set the setting by using the digital controls. It will do all the cooking work. You do not need to worry about the flavor as this product utilizes wood chips. It has a loading system for wood chips so you do not need to open door.
With a huge cooking space, you can fit up to 12 whole pieces of chicken. Moreover, you can watch you food as it cooks through the viewing window. The internal light can aid to see the actual state of the food you are cooking.
Product Features and Information:
- Dimensions: 18.5β x 19.5β x 33β
- Weight: 49.9 pounds
- Has a 730 square inches of space inside for cooking
- Has four smoking racks that are chrome-coated
- Allows monitoring of internal temperature of the meat you are cooking
- Provides you a view of the food you are cooking through the window
- Equipped with a wood chip side loading system
- Features an RF remote and digital panel for temperature and time setting
Pros:
- Conveniently load wood chips without opening the door
- Hassle free cleaning as it utilizes removable pan for drips
- Easy monitoring using the window
- Quickly check internal temperature of meat using built-in temperature probe
- Maintains even temperature due to heating element
Cons:
- Does not last a long time
- Tends to trip the electrical circuit
- Issues encountered with internal thermostat
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5. Masterbuilt 20072115 Electric Smoker Smart Bluetooth Digital
In today’s time when most devices are smart, you can improve your cooking experience by getting a smart electric smoker. The Bluetooth allows you to connect your handheld mobile device as a remote control. The smart technology can allow you to control the power and monitor the temperature of the smoker.
There are also other functionalities that this product offers. You can set the smoking time, ensuring perfect cook for every dish. With your handheld device, you can also operate remotely the smoker’s food light. Moreover, you can know the internal temperature of the food. You can enjoy all these functionalities using your smart device.
On the other hand, this product has a wood chip side loading system. You can add chips of wood without opening the door.Β You can surely master the process of smoking using your very own Masterbuilt smart electric smoker.
Product Features and Information:
- Dimensions: 20.9β x 20.1β x 31.9β
- Weight: 53.7 pounds
- Controls the temperature, light and time using smart device with Bluetooth smart integrated technology
- Allows monitoring of internal temperature
- Has four smoking racks that are chrome-coated
- Equipped with a blue digital LED control panel with sun shade
Pros:
- Easy monitoring of cooking time and temperature
- Hassle free monitoring of the food’s internal temperature
- No need to open the door for loading wood chips
- Huge space inside for cooking big portions
- High output of interior LED lights
Cons:
- Requires frequent maintenance and repair sessions
- Shoots up to a very high temperature
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In general, Masterbuilt electric smokers work well in producing great tasting food. It is equipped with a number of features that provide benefits to users. Nevertheless, some improvements may be made to eliminate issues in temperature control and maintenance.
The People and Technology Behind the Brand
Working at Masterbuilt Electric Smoker involves cultivating several values such as determination, integrity, grit and teamwork. The owners deem that maintaining a good relationship with the employees is pertinent to the success of the business.
The company values loyal and trustworthy team members. This makes the workplace a better place where everyone gets the job done without sacrificing fun. Furthermore, it inspires the employees to do well and contribute more to the company.
On the other hand, product innovation has been one of the cornerstones of Masterbuilt. The company pursues creation of the best products for the consumers. These include indoor electric fryer for turkey, cargo carriers and electric smoker.
Customer Service
Product buyers are considered as members of Masterbuilt community. Customers can look into the recipes, shared in Masterbuilt website. There are also product tips and resource sharing with other community members.
Masterbuilt aims to create a nice environment within the consumer community. The relationship does not end after the customer purchases a product. Masterbuilt continues to interact to everyone for a more efficient use of the products. With this, the brand remains respected and reputable internally with the employees and externally with the customers.
Vision and Mission
The vision of Masterbuilt is to be the leader in the industry by producing high-quality and innovative products as well as services. This will be done by establishing good working relationships with the business’ stakeholders β customers, suppliers, employees and community members. The owner recognizes that the vision can be completed with the aid of God.Β Moreover, the company maintains a high standard of ethics in business.
In terms of the company’s mission, the company aims to design innovative products and deliver them to the industry. This creates a good mark in the markets that the company serves. On the other hand, Masterbuilt shall strive in creating a good working environment for its employees. A conducive working environment can produce employees who are dedicated and motivated to create quality products.
All in all, it is the customers that serve as the best asset for the business. Masterbuilt commits to provide a caring service to all the members of the community. Maintaining a loyal and satisfied customer base is the top priority of the company.
Electric Smoker Review
There are several things you need to know before deciding to purchase an electric smoker. You must first know if the performance of your option is better than other products in the market. You have to look into several factors such as durability, maintenance, price, and smoking capability.
These factors are important to note to make sure that you will have a swift usage upon purchase. You may also read reviews from customers who have bought the product. With this, we are giving you a quick run through of the general performance of electric smokers from Masterbuilt.
1. Durability
Masterbuilt smokers are made from high quality and robust materials. The company values their product’s reliability. Thus, if your smoke is well taken cared off and kept covered against outside elements, it may last for a long time. They are robust and can function well even after multiple uses.
The units in the lower end, on the other hand, are not recommended to be used daily. Nevertheless, you can use them for average volume of cooking activities. Most of the electric smokers from Masterbuilt do not support high volume cooking. The smokers are ideal for families with average size of members.
2. Maintenance
Similar with other smokers, you may need to start preparing for the work even before you commence cooking. Some of the customers rely on disposable aluminum pans to minimize the waste. This keeps the cleaning time faster and more effective.
There are also users who utilize aluminum sheets to at the bottom of the smokers. There might be drip pans on some smoker models. Nevertheless, you still need to clean up this pan which means you will have to do extra work. By utilizing a disposable sheet for dripping, all you need to do is remove it and throw the sheet to the trash.
3. Price
Masterbuilt manufactures their electric smokers regarding its quality and reliability. Nonetheless, the company aims to offer it at a reasonable price. In this way, you will not need to break you bank just to get amazing smoked food.
The average cost of an electric smoker is between 100 to 400 US Dollars. This is relatively lower than other electric smoker brands which start from 400 US Dollars. With this, you can generate a lot of savings and get a good value out of your money.
You must note that the price of electric smokers from Masterbuilt is relatively low. The company has always been honest about the manufacturing process of their product. The smokers are built overseas requiring less cost compare when it is made in the US. However, the company makes sure that the quality remains good.
4. Smoking capability
Regardless of the company that manufactures the electric smoker, these products aid in producing better tasting food. Masterbuilt electric smokers produce great tasting food with mild to average smoke flavor. By having a piece of equipment that is not meant for huge volume cooking, you can get excellent smoke flavor faster.
The smoker also needs minimal monitoring and control during the process. There are several models which you can just configure the settings and wait. There also some models which utilize smart technology that allows you to utilize your handheld device for control.
You have the option of increasing the smoking level by utilizing select woods. Woods such as oak, pecan and hickory provide a more enhanced flavor. If you are more into mild flavors, there are fruit woods that you can utilize such as peach, cherry and apple.
In general, you are assured of getting the best value of your money from Masterbuilt electric smokers. There are warranty conditions that can aid you to ensure longer reliability. Nevertheless, Masterbuilt assures customers of high quality products that is robust and can last for a long time. In terms of cleaning, there are certain preparations that minimize the cleaning process and time.
The prices of Masterbuilt electric smokers are less than the average cost of other brands. Nevertheless, you can still rely on its performance. The smoke flavor is customizable by loading your preferred wood chips. With this, you always get great tasting food without spending too much on getting high quality equipment.
Things You Should Know When Finding an Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
When purchasing an electric smoker, there are a number of things that you must consider. If you want your food to be flavorful every time, you must get reliable equipment.
Not all electric smokers are created equal. With this, you must first look into the following features or functionalities that your desired smoker can offer. These will help you stay away from buying low quality smokers.
1. Heating Structure
It is important to note the heating structure of an electric smoker before deciding to purchase it. The structure defines the distribution of heat within the set temperature the smoker’s chamber.
Most electric smokers utilized by professionals have continuous flow of heat downwards as well as sideways. This heat flow allows your food to cook and finish smoking faster. However, if you are specifically looking for meat or fish smokers, it is desirable to get a smoker with upward flow of heat. The heat for smokers with upward flow comes from below the furnace. It aids in cooking fish and meat to perfection. With this, you will be left with a crunchy and smoky flavor.
It is also preferable to get smokers with electronic temperature control. This is great for beginners which require less monitoring. It also trains newbies into becoming a more skilled smoker.
2. Temperature Control
It is common for electric smokers to use thermostats. This aids in keeping track of the smoker’s temperature. Modern smokers are also utilizing rheostat in measuring the inner temperature of the chamber.
Temperature and timing goes hand in hand when cooking. With this, most professionals deem that smokers working with thermostats are a better option than others. Thus, if you are currently deciding which smoker to buy, you must select the electronic smoker with thermostat installed in it.
3. Caveats Attached
Caveats are also known as a ventilation system attached in the chamber for combustion. It allows the smoke to escape in the chamber. Old school smokers such as charcoal and wood smokers do not have installed ventilation. With this, it causes the food to get a smokier flavor compared with electric ones.
Nevertheless, Caveats present a benefit in terms of the end result of the food. Electric smokers have generally less airflow. With this, it requires little to no combustion for the food to cook. Therefore, electric smokers aid in cooking a solid food without unwanted burnt areas on the fish or meat you are cooking.
For a more visually appealing meal, electric smokers are preferable compared with gas smokers. There shall be no burnt areas and it will taste great.
4. Wood Chip Loading
Electric smokers utilize wood chips to mimic the burnt wood taste that grilling or gas smokers produce. There are some electric smokers that may require you to open the doors for wood chip loading. Nevertheless, this procedure can be troublesome and may affect the cook and flavor of your food.
It is essential to get electric smokers that have a loading system which shall allow you to load wood chips without opening its door. With this, you will not disturb the food as it cooks. Moreover, it provides less hassle as you continuously load wood chips while cooking. It is mess free and hassle free way of providing a smoky flavor to your food.
5. Tray layers
There are a number of smoker brands that utilize different types of layers. These layers are installed within the system to help you station your food. Some layers use stainless steel while other have a specifically formulated steel layer racks. Formulated steel such as chrome-coated ones are robust and help cook your food to perfection.
When deciding about the layers, it is a wise decision to get a smoker with thick grids. It is also great if these grids are straight by design. This helps the food cook faster and more efficient. Nonetheless, hollow grids are recommended when you are smoking meat or fish.
You should stay away from smokers that have a boxed shaped rack or layers. These designs block the flavor in your food. Professionals suggest that you get smokers with hollow-grid, straight and thick bars as layers.
These are just some of the things you need to consider and look for when purchasing an electric smoker. It is best to look for preferable features that experts recommend so that you will have a smooth use with your smoker. Moreover, it will aid you to get the best cook for your food.
Using Masterbuilt Electric Smokers
Smoking allows your food to cook at a lower temperature in a long time period. This makes your fish or meat fresh and more flavorful. In today’s time, there are a lot of electric smokers in the market that handles food smoking quicker and easier.
Working with electric smokers allows you to effectively smoke your food without the need to monitor it constantly. Electric smokers, in general, give you full control of the time and temperature you are cooking at.
Using electric smokers is not an easy task. Nevertheless, it is not that complicated. Provided below is a step-by-step guide in selecting and utilizing electric smokers.
1. Identify the electric smoker type.
There are several electric smokers that offer different ways of usage. They are relatively cheaper that other smoker types.
Electric smokers work the best during the warm weather. They find it hard to stay in the set core temperature during the cold weather. With this, it is important to note the weather when buying one. It is recommended to get a weather-appropriate smoker to ensure smooth cooking process.
2. Read the manufacturer’s user manual.
The user manual contains a set of instructions that you must follow in order to effectively use the device. Different electric smoker types also have different directions for operation. With this, it is essential to understand the process of how you should handle it.
3. Prepare your food.
Preparing your food includes cutting it on the desired shape you want it to be cooked. You can then proceed to season your fish or meat using a dry rub. In your dry rub, you can include herbs, sugar and salt.
You can also soak it on a marinade whose flavor can be incorporated during the smoking process. It is also optional to let the rub and marinade sit on your meat for a few hours or even overnight.
4. Prepare your smoker.
You can then proceed to add water on your smoker should it utilize a water receptacle. It is great to prepare the smoker parts such as the layers and dripping pan.
It is also important to prepare your wood chips. You can get your chips at a specialty shore, online or hardware shop. Different wood chips provide different flavors for your meat. Thus, it is essential to know which wood chip works well with the food flavor you are going for.
5. Control the smoker temperature.
Upon starting to cook with your electric smoker, always take note its internal smokers. Smokers which have an internal temperature meter or gauge comes in handy on this step.
To adjust the temperature, most electric smokers have a digital input or dial which you can set higher or lower. As you reach your desired temperature, you must make sure that it will not change throughout the smoking process. This is to make sure that your food shall turn out perfectly cooked.
6. Place your meat inside the smoker.
When the electric smoker stabilizes in your desired temperature, you can start placing your meat on the rack. Allow the meat to smoke and cook until it becomes tender.
The process may take for several hours. With this, you need to regularly check if the food is done. There are several electric smokers which can check for the food’s internal temperature. Nonetheless, if your cooker does not have this functionality, you can just insert a thermometer on the meat’s center.
7. Turn-off the smoker.
Once your food is perfectly cooked, you can now proceed with turning off the smoker. Let your meat sit on the racks first so that the extra juices can drip on the pan below for easy cleaning.
Some electric cookers have a timer functionality. If you wish to have a hassle free cooking process, a timer is a great way to free yourself from constant monitoring.
Effective use of an electric smoker starts with choosing the right device for you. It is pertinent to look for options which have great features and customer reviews. Consider the advantages as well as the disadvantages one may offer.
Once you have acquired the preferable smoker device, it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to prevent potential issues. With all these at hand, you are on your way to achieving a perfectly smoked food every day.
Cleaning and Maintaining Masterbuilt Electric Smokers
Now that we have learned more about selecting an electric smoker, it is essential to also know its cleaning requirements. It is critical to let your electric smoker cool down after cooking. Not only does it make the work easier, it also eliminates the risk of mold formation.
Cleaning the Inside of the Smoker
The first area that you can tackle is the inside chamber of the smoker. It is generally easy to clean with the appropriate materials. Here is a simple guide in how you can clean it.
- Remove the pieces. You can start by taking out all the items that can be removed inside the chamber. This includes the drip and water pans, racks and smoker box.
- Clean the smoking chamber. Once you open the smoker, you can throw away soot and ash that were accumulated. Using a mixture of apple vinegar and hot water, spray a couple of mists on the insides. Then, you can proceed wiping it down, making sure that the chamber is clean for your next use.
- Eliminate the residue. To effectively complete this, you may need a soft brush. Place a pan or paper below the smoker which may help you catch dust and dirt. Starting from the top, use your brush to sweep dirt build up and leftovers in a downward motion. Remember to get into the far corners of the interior. Once you finish brushing all sides, remove the pan or paper at the bottom. Proceed with scrubing the dirt situated on the base of the smoker.
- Scrub the insides. Use your apple vinegar and hot water spray to completely soak the inside of the chamber. Use a clean sponge to wipe everything. On hard to scrub areas, utilize more force that is just right to eliminate leftover particles.
It is important not to let the gunk stay on the surface for a long time. It may harden and can be a bit hard to remove. Thus, only wait for a couple of minutes after turning your smoker off.
Cleaning the Racks
In general, it is easier to clean the racks of your electric smoker than the insides. This is because you can remove it and clean the racks outside.
- Soak the rack. You need a soap mixed with water. The first thing you can do is to soak the racks in a soapy water. This will make the gunk soften so it is easier to remove.
- Scrape off the residue. Remove any food stuck on the rack or grills. You may use a scrubbing pad or thick cloth to do this. A thick cloth is preferable as it does not scratch your racks.
- Continue scrubbing with soap. Once you remove the first layer of gunk in the racks, you can proceed with utilizing soap and a scrubber. These shall aid in removing oil and grease that does not come off easily. Always make sure that the racks are completely clean before using them again.
It is practical to spray oil on your racks or grills when cooking. Vegetable oil, for example, aid in preventing rust on the metal areas. Moreover, it helps reduce the changes of the food getting stuck on the grill. This will make it easier to clean.
Cleaning the Smoker Window or Glass Part
The easiest part to clean is the windows. Since it is only used as a part for viewing your food, you are not directly placing food on it. Nevertheless, it can get dirty overtime as meat juices or sauces spill on it. Provided below are the directions on how to clean them.
- Spray a cleaning solution. An effective cleaning solution that we recommend is made from hot water and apple cider vinegar. Using a spray bottle, moisten the glass and let it soak for a few minutes.
- Wipe the glass/window. Using sheets of newspaper or cloth, wipe the glass or window down. To prevent some streaks from appearing, do the wiping process thoroughly.
Maintaining a clean window helps you see your food inside the smoker better. Thus, you can monitor its cook well to prevent overcooking.
Final Thoughts
Overall, electric smokers aid you to get better tasting foods without the hassle of opening your messy grill with charcoal. You can easily get a smoky flavor even by cooking inside your kitchen.
When choosing an electric smoker, it is essential to look into its features and advantages. In this way, you can get the most value out of your money.
Find a smoker that is robust and can function well even after multiple uses. It is essential to keep your smoker maintained and clean so that it can last for a long time.
Last Updated on August 17, 2020 by Judith Fertig
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