Does your mouth start to water at the thought of a tender, juicy barbecue? Do you want to host the best barbecue parties in the neighbourhood but skip the hassle? If so, then you should be treating yourself to an electric smoker on your birthday this year!
While some enjoy the labor that goes in traditional style barbecuing, others do not have the time or patience to sit around feeding the fire and monitoring the food all evening.
If you want to truly enjoy the barbecue parties you host and mingle with the guests, you are going to need to replace your traditional smoker with an electric one. These ‘set it and forget it’ smokers allow you to walk away from the grill and enjoy the shindig while they cook the food for you.
But not all electric smokers are created equal.
- What are the best electric smokers that combine great flavor with ease of use?
- Which electric smoker should you buy if you like to throw large parties and want to impress everybody with your cooking?
Here are five best-selling options to look out for when you are in the market for the best electric smokers.
In a hurry? Here is our best!
Got a barbecue to run to? No worries. Here is our overall best pick out of all the best electric smokers you will find in the market today.
The CUISINART COS-330 Smoker, 30" Electric - Our Overall Best
If you want a sweet and simple solution to your barbecue problems, the Cuisinart Cos 330 Smoker has got your back. No matter what meat and vegetables you are craving, this electrical smoker cooks them perfectly every single time to satisfy your taste buds!
The Cuisinart Cos 330 Smoker keeps things uncomplicated by limiting the number of dials and buttons on the cooker. This makes for a super easy barbecuing experience for any beginner, and keeps the confusion at bay. As a result, you are much more likely to end up with a perfectly cooked meal.
Apart from its sheer simplicity and ease of use, there are a number of reasons why the Cuisinart Cos 330 Smoker has won our hearts.
- It does not take up a lot of standing space
- It has a large cooking space, and can prepare multiple meals at a time
- You can set the cooking temperature to anywhere between 100 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit
- It does not need a lot of preparation before use
The Five Best Electric Smokers At A Glance
OUR TOP PICK
Summary
If you are inviting a few friends over for smoked chicken, the Cuisinart Cos 330 Smoker is one of the best electric smokers to have. The 548 square inches of spacious interior gives you plenty of room to cook a variety of meats and vegetables at the same time.
The three removable stainless steel shelves can be stacked on top of one another to get the most out of the available capacity.
Tired of having to peep into the smoker to check if the meat is done? The built in thermometer on the front door makes this annoying practice a thing of the past!
You can simply read the temperature and decide when to take your meal out of the smoker. With a 1500 watt heating element, the cooking temperature can go up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Pros
- 1500-watt heating element
- Built-in thermometer
- Easy cleanup
- A 3-year limited warranty
Cons
- Could improve on body structure and stability
EDITORS CHOICE
Summary
Want a groovy electric smoker that has all your guests ooh-ing and aah-ing over it? Look no further than the Masterbuilt MB20074719 Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker. Not only does it prepare delicious food, but this fancy machine will become the star of the evening due to its smart functions.
Masterbuilt MB20074719 Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker allows you to monitor and manage how your food is being cooked while you sit back and relax. The bluetooth smart technology connects with any smart device for total control. It also features an internal light to illuminate your food in low light when the door is open.
To make sure that no heat is lost during the cooking, this smoker employs a smart fuel loading system. If you see it running out of wood chips, you can add more through a special vent without ever having to open the smoker door.
Pros
- Smart Bluetooth option for remote controlling
- Side wood chip loading
- Interior illuminated chamber
- Meat probe thermometer
Cons
- No hanger hooks
BEST VALUE
Summary
On a budget but still want a kickass electric smoker? This Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker offers you plenty of fancy functions without the huge price tag.
Our Best Budget pick for electric smokers, the Masterbuilt MB20070210 truly delivers when it comes to value for money. This electric smoker comes with a built in analog temperature gauge that is easy to manipulate. Cleaning up is also very easy with a wood chip tray that slides right out.
It also includes three chrome coated smoking racks for quick and efficient cooking of every kind of meat and vegetables. The 1500 watt heating element provides even, consistent cooking and makes sure no part is left undercooked.
Pros
- A built-in food drip tray
- Front access grease tray
- Easy dial temperature settings
- 100-watt heating element
Cons
- Poor smoke generation at a lower temperature
RUNNER UP
Summary
The CharBroil 19202101 Deluxe is a fantastic electric smoker for big families or a party. It has a generous cooking space of 725 square inches that enables you to cook a lot of things in one go.
The insulated, double wall construction of this heavy duty electric smoker makes sure that no heat or smoke escapes while your food is cooking. The large steel locking latch also makes a smoke-tight seal. You can see your food cooking through the glass door without ever having to open it and letting out the smoke.
So, if you prefer your meat to be cooked evenly from all sides, this is the electric smoker to invest in.
When it comes to ease of use, the CharBroil 19202101 is pretty user friendly. Though it has multiple options, the control panel is simple to use and features an easy-read blue LED display.
Pros
- 8.5-cups capacity grease tray
- Automatic temperature control
- 4-cups wood chip loading capacity
- Four removable shelves
- Cleaning equipment comes in the package
Cons
- Need to open the smoker door to load chips
RUNNER UP
Summary
Finally, we have the Masterbuilt MB20071117 wrapping up today’s list of the 5 best electric smokers in the market. Although we are discussing it last, this electric smoker still ranks pretty high among all the options available!
With a simplistic digital panel, the Masterbuilt MB20071117 lets you control the on/off setting, cooking temperature, and cooking time. The precise temperature control system ensures that your food is cooked through evenly and completely. Hence, it is a great option to go for if this is your first time using an electric smoker.
It is super frustrating when your heat dies off due to low fuel in the middle of cooking your meal. The Masterbuilt MB20071117 makes it somewhat bearable by incorporating a side wood chip loading system so you do not have to open the front door every time to refuel the smoker.
Got a family with different preferences of meat for all? The spacious interior allows you to fit in 2 Turkeys, 4 Pork Butts, 4 Racks of Ribs, and 6 Chickens into this beauty all at once!
Pros
- Patented wood chip loading system
- It can fit up to 6 chickens at a time.
- Digital control panel
- It can reach up to 275-degrees Fahrenheit temperature.
Cons
- Needs thorough cleanup after every use to retain the quality
Best Electric Smokers - Buying Guide
As we mentioned earlier, not all electric smokers are created equal. There are tons of products by a variety of brands in the market competing for the title of the best electric smokers. But things are not so simple.
While some may regard a product the best in its category, that should not necessarily mean that you go out and purchase it at once.
Fancy features can be great fun to have in an electric smoker. However, there is a possibility that one might end up never using them in their method of barbecuing.
So, instead of blindly following another’s recommendation when buying an electric smoker, you should really be considering your own requirements and budget.
Here are a few factors that you should keep in mind when buying a new electric smoker.
What To Consider When Shopping For The Best Electric Smokers?
Before we head towards the factors and considerations, a common question that needs to be addressed before that, "is there any actual difference between a juicer and blender, and can we have both in a single product?
First things first, both the juicers and blenders work almost in a similar fashion to turn your fruits and vegetables into fresh drinks when it comes to functionality and operations. Their most significant difference lies in the filtration.
Juicers are equipped with built-in filters to separate the pulp from the juice. On the other hand, blenders yield the final product by chopping the ingredients and thus have more juice fibers.
The answer to the second part is yes! You can now have them both in a single product. All of our products mentioned above are juicers as well as benders in their operations. In turn, you can enjoy every quality textured juice using these versatile juicer blenders.
Cooking Space and Dimensions
Before you start to browse through the hundreds of options available out there, you should know how big you want your electric smoker to be. Of course, this depends on the amount of food you want to cook at a given time, and the size of the party that you have to feed.
If you want an electric smoker only for your own personal use, you can get away with a small cooking space. However, if you are fond of organizing frequent barbecue parties for the friends and family, you will want to get a slightly bigger model. After all, you cannot keep your guests hungry and waiting while the next tiny batch of barbecue is cooking.
While a generous cooking space is great when you have company, bigger is not always better. It is important to note that the large size and capacity comes at the price of portability. But more on that later, when we discuss the convenience that these best electric smokers have to offer.
Controls and Smart Features
Once you have figured out the size and capacity that you want in your best electric smoker, the next step is to notice all the controls and smart features that it comes with.
If digital electric smokers are your thing, you will want to look at options that allow bluetooth connectivity and smart controls that you can operate from a variety of gadgets.
You can now find the best electric smokers that are equipped with various pre-set modes, digital LCD, Wi-Fi connectivity, and much more. But if you are someone who prefers the manual experience more and is tech-savvy, an analog electric smoker will suit you better.
Other smart features to look for are superior insulation methods, a high maximum temperature setting, a smart fuel loading system, and a thermostat that is easy to use.
Portability and Convenience
Portability and ease of use is another important thing to consider before adding an electric smoker to your cart. Before you go through with the purchase, make sure that the electric smoker you are buying is able to serve you in all the ways that you want.
For example, if you are planning to put your electric smoker in a tiny backyard, make sure that the dimensions are in accordance with the space available. If you want to carry your electric smoker to a campsite, it has to be considerably lightweight and portable.
And, always ensure that you are able to fully understand the controls when buying one with complex features - nobody likes the taste of burnt chicken and undercooked beef burgers!
Budget and Cost
Last but definitely not least, one should consider the price point of the electric smoker they want to buy and their own budget before they go through with the purchase. Some fancy electric smokers can be super tempting to buy, but lie way out of your budget.
If you are compromising on the type of meat just so you can afford an electric smoker with a few extra controls, chances are that your food is not going to taste as good. Always ensure that you are putting your money where it pays, and getting the best deal out there.
Figuring this out can be pretty tricky though, especially for an amateur. Our advice would be to do your research and look at a number of options to get an idea about what is available at what cost. Only when you are confident that you have enough knowledge about the best electric smokers should you go ahead with the purchase and bring that smoking beauty home.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What is the biggest advantage that electric smokers have over charcoal ones?
A. The number reason some people prefer electrical smokers over their charcoal counterparts is the ease of use that the former ones offer you. A charcoal smoker is significantly more complex to use, as well as difficult to maintain, than an electric smoker.
Q. How do electric smokers work?
A. Electricity heats the wood present in the side tray or the wood chip panel to produce the smoke. The heating element is devised for this purpose.
Q. Do you need to pre-treat the wood chips?
A. No, there is no need to pre-treat the wood chips before using your electric smoker.
Conclusion
Barbeque needs no season, as it is an all-season food for meat lovers! But grilling your food over a traditional barbecue pit sounds like a lot of work and a whole lot of commitment. Smoked chicken often loses its temptation when you have to spend twice the amount of time preparing your food than the time you get to enjoy it.
Now lessen your worries with the best electric smokers, which do all the cooking for you! They use wood chips to generate the smoke, so you get the same mouthwatering flavor of original barbecue, but with added convenience! Moreover, the additional features, ease of use, digital controls, dip trays, and no chemicals, make these electric smokers a best-choice overall!