There’s nothing like freshly smoked meat…its taste, tenderness and depth of flavor are sure to tempt your taste buds! However, depending on your living arrangements, you may not have enough space or even the permission to set up a wood-fired smoker. And even if you have, traditional smoke cooking is a hands-on process that seems daunting or discouraging to even try.
Top 10 Best Electric Smoker Comparison Table
| Picture | Name | Features | Rating (1-5) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Bradley Smoker Digital 4-Rack Smoker | Automatic wood chip feeder Digital thermostat and timers Separate smoke and oven burners 1-year warranty | 3 | $$$$ |
 | SmokeHouse Products Little Chief Front Load Smoker | Compact, portable design Flavor fuel and safe drip pans 2-year warranty Low price | 3 | $ |
 | Masterbuilt Bluetooth Smart Smoker, 30-Inch | Bluetooth connectivity Digital thermostat and timers Meat probe thermometer Removable sun shade Automatic wood chip feeder | 3.5 | $$$ |
 | Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker | Bluetooth connectivity Digital thermostat and timers Meat probe thermometer Automatic wood chip feeder Food warming mode 1-year warranty | 3.5 | $$ |
 | Smoke Hollow 30-Inch Electric Smoker | Powerful heating element 3 temperature settings Great online discount | 3.5 | $ |
 | Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker | Powerful heating element Large cooking area Low price | 4 | $ |
 | Old Smokey Electric Smoker | Cylindrical structure with lid Corrosion and rust resistant Integrated thermostat Low price | 4 | $ |
 | Masterbuilt 30" Digital Electric Smoker | Digital thermostat and timers Automatic wood chip feeder Adjustable air damper 1-year warranty | 4.5 | $$ |
 | Masterbuilt Portable Electric Smoker | Compact, portable design Powerful heating element Integrated thermostat Adjustable air damper Low price | 4.5 | $$ |
 | Masterbuilt Front Controller Electric Smoker with Window | RF remote Grease management features Digital thermostat and timers Meat probe thermometer | 5 | $$$ |
It involves adding the right amount of wood, continually tending to smoke, maintaining the coals at perfect heat and, not to forget, cleaning up ashes in the end. However, there is an easy way too. With modern electric smokers, you can finally say goodbye to traditional smoke cooking and balance heat, smoke and timing almost effortlessly.
Electric smokers have a wooden box or tray where woodchips are inserted to create smoke while the heating part is done via electricity. This consumes far less wood and provides the perfect temperature for smoking while avoiding the harmful emissions caused by charcoal and gas smokers.
Whether you’re a home cook, a chef or just someone who likes to host barbecues, preparing delicious food for family and guests will be a lot easier & enjoyable. And to help you find the best electric smoker for this, we have compiled a handy guide with all the crucial information and reviews of some best-selling smokers. Let’s get started then!
What Types Of Electric Smokers Are There?
Electric smokers are usually classified by size. Larger the size, greater is the amount of food that can be smoked at a time. Those that are below 30 inches of height are considered as small electric smokers. They usually have a capacity of about 500 square inches and include 2-3 cooking grids to accommodate enough food for 4-5 people.
These aren’t too heavy to carry around, so you can also take them out for picnics or excursions. The medium sized smokers are slightly bigger and weigh about 30-40 inches. They include 4-6 grids and are ideal for a large family of up to 10 members. Small and medium sized smokers are ideal for home purpose only. The larger ones are meant for restaurants or commercial kitchens.
Benefits of Best Electric Smoker
If you love to cook & serve, why not invest in the best electric smoker? High-end smokers offer many great benefits that regular ones don’t. For instance, they have tighter locking doors and double walls to ensure that very little smoke or heat escapes the unit. Also, they have thermostats and temperature probes to maintain the right temperature for cooking.
The ones that let you set a desired temperature but do not regulate it afterwards fail to give best results. Another great thing is that they feature digital controls and automatic system to add fresh wood to wood chip trays without even needing to open the main door. This not just saves you the trouble of having to constantly check the wood supply but also preserves the smoke within the unit.
The material used in construction should also be noted before buying a product. The preferred materials are stainless steel and aluminized steel as they protect the smoker from rusting and corrosion. For easy cleaning and maintenance, it is best if the model has removable and dishwasher safe racks. Handles and wheels are also a must-have if you want it to be easily portable.
Downsides of Electric Smokers
Though all seems good, there a few downsides also. Electric smokers usually have very tiny vents to help maintain temperature. This makes them ideal for cooking foods where retaining moisture is crucial but if you want something crispy, electric will not be of much help. Also, the flavor produced is slightly inferior to charcoal or gas smokers for most meats such as turkey and beef brisket.
The heat in traditional smoking process comes from combustion and when this heat mixes with wood, it produces some special gases which impart a distinct flavor. On the other hand, the heat in electric smoking comes from electric heating rods and the smoke is created by smoldering wood above the heating element.
This does not produce the needed combustion gases, so the flavor is different and there is no smoke ring either. Of course, the ring has nothing to do with flavor, but it does add to the authenticity and visual appeal.
10. Bradley Smoker BTDS76P Bradley Digital 4-Rack Smoker
This smoker is from Bradley’s ‘lazy-Q’ range of home food smokers and it’s extremely easy to use, which is why it’s suitable for beginners and experts alike. It features automatic advance technology which feeds wood chips onto the burner every twenty minutes and produces a clean, true smoke flavor of foods. The machine allows loading up to eight hours worth of chips at a time but you can adjust the cooking time according to your needs.
There is an internal thermostat as well, so there is minimal temperature fluctuation or interruption in smoke production. Time, temperature and amount of smoke – all are controllable via a large digital interface on the front. The Bradley BTDS76P has separate burners for smoking and cooking, allowing you to cold smoke foods such as cheese by simply turning off the cooking element.
This way, you can produce heat with smoke, without smoke and similarly, smoke with or without heat. For hot smoking, the maximum temperature is standard 320 degrees F. Measuring 14 x 14 x 31 inches, the BTDS76P is a funky, shiny unit about the size of a small refrigerator. Also, it has four removable racks to accommodate all cuts of meat. As it’s designed for outdoor cooking, the exterior is made from durable powder epoxy steel.
The interior is made from polished stainless steel for maximum heat retention. This product comes with a one-year warranty and is known to last really long. And yes, the food it prepares is also rich in flavors. All you’ll need to do is to plug in the unit, place the food inside, set the timers and walk away without any further ado – it’s that simple!
Pros:
- Automatic wood chip feeder
- Digital thermostat and timers
- Separate smoke and oven burners
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- High price
9. SmokeHouse Products Little Chief Front Load Smoker
The SmokeHouse Products Little Chief smoker is a small electric smoker measuring 11.5 x 11.5 x 24.5 inches and weighing just 12.16 pounds. With that size and 4 adjustable grills, it allows you to load in up to 25 or 50 pounds of meat or fish respectively.
The unit is designed and intended for outdoor use only, so it’s durably built using embossed aluminum and chrome-plated grills. It features a flavor fuel pan to imbue the food with any smoked flavor of your choice and a dishwasher safe drip pan at the bottom for easy cleanup. With a 250 watt heating element, it can reach levels of 160 to 165 degrees F.
However, there are no digital controls for temperature variation. The good thing is that it’s easy to use, fully assembled and perfect for low-capacity home usage or as the first electric smoker for beginners. A Smokehouse recipe, an instruction booklet and a bag of Chips n’ Chunks wood fuel in hickory flavor are also included in the package to get you started.
The price is low but the product is great in terms of usability, build and functionality. In fact, it’s the cheapest option on our list. If you want a low-capacity smoker without spending much, this is probably the best electric smoker to consider. Moreover, it’s backed by a 2-year warranty, so your investment is protected.
Pros:
- Compact, portable design
- Flavor fuel and safe drip pans
- 2-year warranty
- Low price
Cons:
- No digital controls
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8. Masterbuilt 20072115 Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker, 30-Inch
The Masterbuilt 20072115 is a technologically advanced smoker with all the latest features. Unlike most others, it features Bluetooth connectivity so that you can monitor the device remotely from anywhere in home. This means that with a single click on your smartphone, you can easily turn on/off the smoker and monitor or control cooking temperature and lights.
Additionally, it also features a smart device notification sending system to notify you when the food is cooked. Measuring 20.9 x 20.1 x 31.9 inches, it is a medium sized smoker with four adjustable smoking racks. And thanks to the integrated thermostat temperature control and meat probe thermometer, it produces perfectly cooked food each time.
With 800 watt heating element, the maximum achievable temperature is 275 degrees F. There is also a patented wood chip loading system on the device, so the chips are automatically added without you needing to open the smoker door. The included removable water pan, grease pan and drip pan are also accessible in a way that they do not interfere with the cooking process.
The 53.7 pounds unit is designed for outdoor use and has rear-mounted handle and wheels for easy mobility. The LED digital control panel display has removable sun shade, so reading the temperature and other settings is also easy even under bright sunlight. For an advanced electric smoking experience, this is a great pick. The price is a bit high but the high-tech features, excellent performance and the convenience it offers is worth the splurge.
Pros:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Digital thermostat and timers
- Meat probe thermometer
- Removable sun shade
- Automatic wood chip feeder
Cons:
- High price
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7. Char-Broil Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker, 725 Square Inch
The Char-Broil Deluxe is again a medium sized electric smoker ideal for beginners. Considering the price, it comes with several modern features such as LED display and remote controls. It’s factory-assembled and has an insulated, double-wall steel construction as well as a locking latch to ensure that no heat or smoke is escaped.
This also implies that fewer wood chip re-fills are required while cooking. With its automatic smoke generator, the Char-Broil Deluxe can be left to run on its own for up to seven hours. It measures 16.5 x 18.1 x 32.5 inches and has 725 square inches of internal cooking space. Also, there are four adjustable cooking racks to accommodate a variety of foods.
The unit is equipped with a removable food thermometer and a temperature gauge, so you can easily monitor or adjust the heat through digital controls. The temperature range is 100-275 degrees F.
Interestingly, it also has a warming mode, so your food stays warm after cooking until you’re ready to serve or eat. The smoker is easy to use and includes a porcelain-coated water pan and an 8.5-cup grease tray. It’s a reliable product and is backed by a 1-year warranty as well.
Pros:
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Digital thermostat and timers
- Meat probe thermometer
- Automatic wood chip feeder
- Food warming mode
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- High price
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6. Smoke Hollow 30162E 30-Inch Electric Smoker with Adjustable Temperature Control
The Smoke Hollow 30162E is a 30-inch, basic smoker with a very powerful 1500 W heating element. This gives it the power to smoke and roast any variety of meats, poultry or fish. The smoke box is incorporated into the heating element and usually, it burns down the loaded wood chips in thirty minutes.
With its double steel insulated walls and magnetic door-latching system, the smoke and heat are consistently retained, regardless of outside weather.
The smoker features three temperature settings ranging from 175-325 degrees F and a traditional-style thermometer dial gauge for monitoring. There is no digital LED display. Measuring 30 x 15 x 17 inches, it is large enough to accommodate two whole chickens and even an extensive turkey in one go.
Additionally, it has four cooking racks that can be easily adjusted or removed to accommodate more. This product is an entry level barbecue cooker and smoker and is designed for outdoor smoking. At 47 pounds, it is one of the lighter models on market and has strategically located side handles for easy lifting.
The wood chip box, grease collection pan and the water pan- all are included in the package. The price is also reasonable but it’s better to buy it online to avail good discount. Overall, it’s a great product, especially for those who are looking for something powerful and basic.
Pros:
- Powerful heating element
- 3 temperature settings
- Great online discount
Cons:
- No digital controls
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5. Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker
Like the Smoke Hollow 30162E, the Char-Broil Vertical also features a powerful 1500-watt heating element and variable heat settings but it’s more affordable. It can easily reach high temperatures of up to 400 degrees F and as it’s well insulated with double walled steel construction, there is minimal heat escape.
The unit measures 17.5 x 20 x 37.8 inches and has three adjustable chrome-plated grates to accommodate all cuts of meat. The manufacturers have also added a chrome-plated handle, so you’ll not need to wear a glove for cooking. Pans for wood chips, water and grease drip – all are also included in the package.
While it does not come with a high-tech display, a temperature gauge for monitoring heat settings is embedded into the lid. For those who need very high temperatures and quick results for their cooking but do not want to spend much, this is probably the best electric smoker to consider. However, it lacks in terms of technology and convenience.
Pros:
- Powerful heating element
- Large cooking area
- Low price
Cons:
- No digital controls
4. Old Smokey Electric Smoker
This one looks very different from the present day electric smokers. It is a traditional-looking, cylindrical smoker measuring 17.5 x 17.5 x 29 inches and weighing just 23 pounds. Made of aluminized steel, it is corrosion and rust resistant as well. Inside, it has two cooking racks and a drip pan.
With 1250 watts heating element, it easily reaches temperatures of 250 degrees F and retains heat well, thanks to the attached lid for sealed cooking. The integrated thermostat controls temperature automatically, so the heating is always even and consistent.
On top of the heating element is a tray where wood chips are added for smoke flavor. With this smoker, no water is needed as the top lid captures juices from meat for more flavorful food.
This smoker has no advanced features but is popular for the great flavors it produces. And because it is compact and has big carrying handles, it can be easily taken along on picnics and camps. For those needing a low-priced, basic and durable smoker, this one is worth considering.
Pros:
- Cylindrical structure with lid
- Corrosion and rust resistant
- Integrated thermostat
- Low price
Cons:
- No digital controls
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3. Masterbuilt 20071117 30″ Digital Electric Smoker
The 20071117 is another great entry-level electric smoker from Masterbuilt. It measures 19.9 x 20.5 x 30 inches and has four adjustable smoking racks, allowing you to cook as much as six whole chickens in one go. Weighing 39.3 pounds, it is lighter than most other models on market but does not include wheels for easy mobility.
The interiors are fully insulated, so you get the exact amount of heat you’ve set while the adjustable air damper provides for constant basting. The integrated thermostat allows for even smoking regardless of the weather. And thanks to its automatic wood chip loading system, the supply is also replenished without having to open the door.
With its 800-watt heating element, achievable temperatures are 100 to 275 degrees F. The digital control panel on door allows you to have an accurate review of internal temperature at all times. The device is sturdy, durable and easy to use for both beginners and pros.
With its removable drip pan, cleaning it is also easy. The Masterbuilt 20071117 is actually very reasonably priced for the value it offers and is backed by one-year warranty as well.
Pros:
- Digital thermostat and timers
- Automatic wood chip feeder
- Adjustable air damper
- 1-year warranty
Cons:
- No wheels for mobility
2. Masterbuilt 20073716 Portable Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt 20073716 is one of the most compact and lightweight models on market. Measuring 15.9 x 23.6 x 23.4 inches and weighing just 21.6 pounds, it’s very portable and features folding legs as well for easy storage. Its steel build is fuss-free and capable of enduring outdoor conditions such as wetness and humidity. All this makes it an ideal smoker for camping or road trips.
The 1400-watt smoker isn’t too large but spacious enough to accommodate one whole turkey or a couple of hamburgers. The included two racks are adjustable, so they can be removed to cook more food. Unlike many other smokers, it lacks digital controls, so you’ll have to set the temperature manually but heat retention is good as the door has a very tight seal.
A temperature gauge is also conveniently placed on the door, so you can monitor the heat consistently. The included air damper is adjustable and aids in quick heat circulation and smoke control.
Affordable and portable, the Masterbuilt 20073716 is one of the best-selling models which you can use at home or on-the-go. It’s also the lowest priced option on our list. If cost is your main criteria, this one is the best electric smoker for you.
Pros:
- Compact, portable design
- Powerful heating element
- Integrated thermostat
- Adjustable air damper
- Low price
Cons:
- No digital controls
1. Masterbuilt 20077515 Front Controller Electric Smoker with Window and RF Controller, 30-Inch
This one is a medium-sized smoker with excellent grease management features in place. Unlike many others, it features an innovative drip deflector as well as a front access drip pan for convenient cleanup. Measuring 19.7 x 20.3 x 30 inches, it can accommodate as much as twelve whole chickens or two whole turkeys in one go.
It also features four chrome-coated racks that can be adjusted or removed as per convenience. The wood chip loading system is on the side, so you don’t have to open the doors while refilling the tray. The magnetic locking door and the inner liner also help to retain the precious heat and smoky flavor inside.
The maximum achievable temperature is 275 degrees F, which is good enough for most of the cooking. With its top-mounted digital control panel and RF remote, monitoring and maintaining the temperature and cook time is also easy.
The integrated thermostat provides for even, consistent smoking while the internal thermometer reads the temperature of your food and displays it on panel.
This stainless steel smoker comes with rear wheels and handle for easy portability. Overall, it offers great convenience and value but if you are still not sure, there is also a warranty of 90 days to protect your investment.
Pros:
- RF remote
- Grease management features
- Digital thermostat and timers
- Meat probe thermometer
- Automatic wood chip feeder
- 90 days warranty
Cons:
- High price
Editors Choice of Best Electric Smoker
Reviewing all the popular models, we believe that Masterbuilt 20077515 is the best electric smoker on market. It is a solid, well-insulated unit with perfect size for everyday home cooking or occasional, small get-togethers. And because it has all the modern convenience features such as RF remote control, it is also extremely easy to use.
But what impressed us most is the number of positive reviews this product has received from users worldwide. It is the best-selling smoker on market and users seem to be very happy with the experience they have had with it.
Do you own any of these models? Which one do you think is the best electric smoker? Share your experiences or opinions by leaving your comments in the box below and help others make an informed choice.
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