Best Electric Smokers 2023 Reviews

Are the delicious smoked steaks making you to highly consider picking a smoker?

Electric smokers are very common nowadays. Actually, anyone can decide to manufacturer one. You just need a steel box, a heating element and some cooking racks. Well, actually is a bit more complicated than that, but the idea is that simple.

With so many options from companies who have been in the business for several years, it is not an easy task to narrow down the selection to pick the best electric smoker for 2022.

After we reviewed and analyzed a lot of smokers, we decided to include five electric smokers that we think are the best based on several metrics, factors and ratings.

Note: Are you in a hurry? Click here to jump to our quick consideration list or here to jump directly to the conclusion section and read our verdict. 

Quick Consideration List

Electric Smokers Comparison Table

Reviews of the Best Electric Smokers for 2022

One interesting touch I like about this particular model are the chrome plated handles on each side which make it very easy to lift the cooker and not burn your fingers, especially if it is in use.

On the other hand, the door is held closed by magnets and event though most of the times it is easy and quick to close it, if the unit heats up a lot, it can pop open or the magnet may lose some power.

When it comes to power, this model runs a 1500 Watt heating element, which is more than enough power to cook almost any food you want. All this power makes this smoker capable of cooking food in temperatures ranging from 160 to 225 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature can be easily adjusted and controlled by the temperature control unit with just one-touch of the button.

One thing that you have to keep in mind for this model, is that with such a high power heating element, you have to be careful to not you use a cheap extension cord to plug in but it is recommended to plug in directly into the outlet.

Bradley Digital 4-Rack - Best Electric Smoker with Digital Thermostat

The inside and outside of this particular product is made of high-quality stainless steel material which is also well-insulated, so the smoke cannot escape for you to lose cooking temperature while cooking.

In the inside, it has 4 removable cooking racks, which can be adjusted to your preferences to get more space for particular situations.

The inside and outside of this particular product is made of high-quality stainless steel material which is also well-insulated, so the smoke cannot escape for you to lose cooking temperature while cooking.

In the inside, it has 4 removable cooking racks, which can be adjusted to your preferences to get more space for particular situations.

It provides up to 8 hours of controllable cool smoke, with up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit temperature, making ideal for efficiency and keeping foods inside until you need them.

As the name suggests, the whole unit has a lot of digital features. It provides a full digital control for temperature, cooking time and smoke. You can easily access the control panel on the side and choose the rate of smoke, the cooking time and the temperature of the meat, all adjustable with just one push of the button.

One cool feature of this particular model is that if you want to use only the burners, you don't have to worry about using the entire smoker as they are built to be used and separated from the oven.

At each side, you can find side handles for easy movement or lifting the smoker. If lifting isn't really your thing, then you can use the unit's 3" diameter strong rubber casters to move it around. If you don't like the look of casters, you can choose to remove them from their place and choose to set the unit in a fixed position, directly to the floor or any other basement.

It has a big cooking capacity, spread into 3 included removable shelves and has space for 4 shelves in total. With a 400 watt heating element, this unit is capable of cooking up to 22 pounds of food at once and can reach temperatures from 100°F to 250°F. One downside that you will experience is that this model doesn't have a thermometer on the lid, so you have to use an external one.

One small touch that I like to mention is that this product comes with a 12 feet long power cable, which makes it perfect for outdoor smoking experience without buying high-quality extension cords.

Conclusion

After we reviewed and analyzed all the selected models in this list, we think that the best electric smoker for 2022 should be considered the MasterBuilt 20070910.

With about 730 square inches of cooking space and a powerful 800 watt heating element, you will smoke any food very easily. Besides that, it has digital temperature and timer control, side loading wood chips and removable drip pan. It can be easily considered an ideal smoker for all experience levels and it is also priced in a sweet point for every one.

And, if for a strange reason, you don't like our first place winner, as runner-up, we decided to go with the Char-Broil 725 Standard. This model is also priced in the same levels as our winner, has almost the same features but has an improved overall built construction.

How We Choose The Products Featured in This List

With so many models on the market today, it is not an easy task to narrow down the selection to only a few models and pick the best electric smokers.

The market is very competitive, with lots of companies that have been in the business for several years and really know what they are doing.

After doing a few researches and based on our personal experience, we decide to consider each model based on several metrics, factors, and features:

If you are planning to spend your money on a smoker, then you should consider each of the upper mentioned points, so you will end up buying a product which really fits your needs.

You don't want to end up buying a big unit if you have a small kitchen or limited space while you can pick one that is small and capable of performing the same as a big one.

A Detailed Electric Smoker Buying Guide

Down below, you can find explained some of the most important points to consider when picking the best electric smoker 2022. 

Why You Need an Electric Smoker?

Despite several smoking methods for foods, such as pellet smokers and charcoal smokers, people are looking for new and more less time-consuming methods.

I know that some people still enjoy the old-fashioned charcoal grilling and smoking food but nowadays, apart for the time required to set up a charcoal smoking grill, you also have to consider the harmful emissions that you release to our nature.

You may think that one grilling for one day per week will not make a huge difference, then just think millions of people thinking the same way. The impact is significant and you can change it.

Instead, you can choose to use an alternative source of energy for smoking, such are electric smokers. They cook food as good and as delicious as a charcoal smoker and what's more important, without releasing any CO emissions on the environment.

You only need to set it once, adjust the temperature, the time and the unit will take care of the rest. You will save a lot of time because you can do other activities while you wait and will protect the environment at the same time.

Down below you can find some advantages and disadvantages of choosing an electric smoker instead of a traditional one.

Advantages of Electric Smokers

When you decide to go electric, you don't rely on flames and fire to produce smoke. You will use coils to produce heat and this method comes with many advantages that a traditional smoker doesn't have:

Easy to Use

Traditional Smokers take a lot of time to set up. You need to get the flame going, continuously regulate the air flow, add coals and adjust the temperature.

With digital electric smokers, you just plug it in, set the temperature and wait for the unit to cook your food. This gives the ability even the beginners to make delicious meals just as an expert.

Safety

Electric smokers are much safer than the traditional ones. The traditional methods rely on fire to produce heat and you need to be careful to make sure that the fire doesn't spread around because when smoking meat, you will leave it on for a few hours.

Also, if you have small kids or pets, then you should highly consider electric smokers over traditional ones.

Budget Friendly

Electric Smokers are very low cost. They don't need continuous spending on charcoal or wood to keep it going. They are pretty much a one-time fee/payment and you just plug it in. Also, they don't consume a lot of energy, so the running costs are very low.

Convenience

Traditional smokers need a lot of babysitting, you need to make sure of the air flow, temperature, flame etc. With electric smokers, you just plug it in and forget it. No need to worry about the flame, air flow or other similar issues.

Disadvantages of Electric Smokers

Even though there are a lot of advantages, still there are some cons when it comes to the electric digital smoker models.

Not Traditional

Many smoking food enthusiasts believe that the traditional way is the right way. They believe that is more fun when they take care all the time of their meat and is actually more enjoyable. They think that the computers should not take care of temperature and smoke production but a human, with logic and experience, can determine the best.

Advanced Systems and Electronics

I know that most of the people know how to find out how to use an electric smoker within minutes but there are a lot of people out there that cannot exactly figure out how to use them and how to properly configure them.

Also, by being computerized, with programmed timers, thermostats and heating elements, there is a bigger chance of malfunction inside them.

Cannot Reach High Temperatures

If you pick an inexpensive smoker, you may face some issues with cooking temperatures. Cheap electric smokers are not capable of reaching high cooking temperatures, thus making you wait for a few more minutes for the food to finish cooking.

How Do Electric Smokers Work?

If you truly want to learn in depth how to use a machine or product, then you first have to understand how they work and how they are built.

While there are different type of smokers on the market nowadays, each type and model works and is built differently.

Some inexpensive electric smokers use a rheostat, which transforms the flow of electricity to the coil, very similar to an electric hotplate or stoves.

A high-end electric digital smoker and usually the most advanced ones have different heat settings. They have thermostats, which have temperature probes inside the cooking chamber, and the probe activates or de-activates the juice in order to hold it to the desired temperature. That's why you can get pretty accurate with the temperature controls on these models. Just turn the dial or press the button and you are good to go.

As the name suggests, in order for electric smokers to run, you need electricity. Depending on the model, you may need or not an extension cord. You have to be careful because not any cord will do.

Electric smokers usually draw 10-20 AMPs and if you have already turned on a lot of devices/furniture that draw a lot of AMPs, you can have some issues with your circuit breaker.

As for the efficiency and electric consumption, electric smokers are pretty cheap and budget-friendly to operate. A powerful 750-watt element smoker burns about half a kilowatt every hour if you keep it running constantly, which will not happen all the time because the thermostats activate and deactivate it constantly. At average, one kilowatt costs about 8-15 cents, so if the long run, it is a lot cheaper than charcoal.

How Do You Use an Electric Smoker?

Using an digital electric smoker is a very simple and easy process. Usually, most of the models come with an instruction manual included but if you don't have one, you can read it down below.

First, you have to prepare the smoker and make it ready. You have to cure or season it first by using oil. Just use some cooking oil and turn on the heating to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and disperse the oil. After that let it run for a few minutes until to one hour. You do this in order to burn off any solvents, dust or other residues.

Now, after you prepared your smoker, it is time to prepare your food. Electric smokers are very good for cooking delicious seafood meals, meat or any poultry.

It depends on your preferences on what you like to cook and how you prepare it, but here are some guides to follow:

After the food is ready, you now have to get the wood chips and place them in the smoker. Usually, the wood chips area is under the heat source. In average, four cups of chips is usually good for about 4-5 hours of smoking.

The type of wood you use it totally based on your preferences and recipe. Just remember that everytime you add wood chips to your smoker, you lower its temperature by opening the door.

Even though water pan is optional and is applicable only to some models, water makes steam which will help tenderizes your meat.

After setting up the wood chips and the food, you have to check the temperature. Just use the digital temperature control panel to adjust it to your preferred levels.

You should put the meat in the rack only when it reaches the desired temperature and wait for about 3-8 hours for the meat to smoke. Usually, the cooking time depends on your recipe and on your food type.

How to Maintain an Electric Smoker?

The problem with most of the people is that they complain about the durability and performance of their products without taking the necessary optional steps to make the product run.

It is very crucial to take care of your grill and smoker if you want to use it for a few years. Like most of our appliances, it is a mechanical unit and it requires regular maintenance. If you take proper care of it, they can last up to a decade.

When it comes to maintaining your electric smoker, the good news is that is not very complicated and everyone can do it. You just have to keep in mind a few tips to not damage any part. For the best results, and also to not spend hours of cleaning each time, you need to be consistent.

If your smoker is easy to disassemble, then you will find it easier to clean it since most parts can be removed and washed or cleaned separately.

How to Clean an Electric Smoker from Grease

The main cleaning should start by removing the grease. Most of the grease dribble down the grates and if you let it stay on the smoker's interior for long, it will harden and it will be difficult to clean it. Also, not removing the extensive grease can become a threat for the heating elements of the unit.

It is recommended to clean it after each use and if you don't have much time, then you can clean it after two uses.

How to Prevent Rust on Electric Smokers

One other thing that you need to watch and keep in mind if you want to maintain your electric smoker is the rust. The rust is probably one of the things that you cannot control but what you can do is that you can prevent if it is caught in the early stages.

Because an digital electric smoker is exposed to high temperatures and water, it is prone to rust. What you can do is to get a wire brush and some fine sandpaper. First, rub the rust down using the wire brush and then use the sandpaper to remove the fine and small bits of it. After you have finished with scrubbing, wipe away the rust residues and you are good to go.

If your unit rusts often, you can even spray it with some heat resistant paint which will create a protective layer and can prevent future rusting.

How to Season Your Electric Smoker

The third point to have in mind when it comes to maintaining an electric smoker is the seasoning. Even though it's not very complicated to apply particular seasonings, you still need to know how to do it.

Most of the models come with an instruction manual and you can find the guide there but if your unit doesn't have one, just apply oil to the insides of the smoking box.

It doesn't matter which oil you use, but some good smelling oil is recommended because it will affect your food.

After applying the oil, turn on the heating and heat it up to around 250 degrees Fahrenheit and disperse the oil around the surface at the same time.

The benefit of oiling is that it acts as a barrier against water and prevents the oxygen to get into the contact with the metal, thus preventing the creation of rust.

Also, have in mind that some smokers, usually the high-end and modern ones, don't need oil and seasoning. If you have one of these models, you can just heat the unit at 250 degrees Fahrenheit and use the smoke to built up a protective layer.

Ventilation Systems

The last but not least point to consider in order to properly maintain your electric smoker is the ventilation systems. You have to make sure that they work properly and are clean.

Always make sure to clean the ashes and debris after smoking food. They tend to accumulate water and make your unit rust eventually.

It is important to clean the exterior as well. Make sure to clean off any external elements like leaves, branches etc. especially if you use it outdoors. 

Also, with a damp cloth and using soapy water, clean the surface of the two thermostats (depending on your model) located on the rear side wall of the smoker and then wipe them dry.

I have prepared a quick and detailed infographic with the main important points for maintaining an electric smoker. You can find it down below. Also, don't forget to share it with your friends.

FAQs

Can Electric Smoker Get Wet and Used in Rain?

Well, we cannot give you a definitive answer to this question but as long as you follow the safety instructions carefully, there is no problem to use the smoker if it is slightly wet. Although, you should not hesitate to buy a cover if you plan to keep it outside.

Can electric smoker be used indoors?

It is not recommended to use an electric smoker inside in order to avoid any instances of carbon monoxide poisoning. Although, some people still use them by leaving a window open all the time to let the fresh air in.

What to Do When I Need to Replace a Part?

It is always recommended to contact the manufacturer for legit parts or buy them from trusted sources. Also, you can pick a model with a long warranty and don't have to worry about finding parts.

Do I Need to Wet the Wood Chips?

While it can be done, it is not required. Water creates additional moisture inside the smoker but is not always required.

Does Food Taste the Same as Charcoal Smokers when Cooked with Electric Smoker?

Yes, the food tastes as good as when cooked with charcoal smokers. While some people say that they notice a difference in taste, the average consumer will not feel any major difference.

What Is the Drip Pan Used For?

The drip pan's purpose is to hold any moisture that drips past the water pan during the smoking. Most of the users place it at the bottom of the smoker and lining it with foil also help cleaning.

What is the Water Pan Used for in a Smoker?

A water pan's purpose is to retain moisture in food while it is smoking. It is not a must-have tool even though most of the people use it. The water will turn into moisture during the cooking and make the meat or the food more tender and juicy.

The liquid can be water or any other juice of choice and most of the pans are coated with porcelain.

Can You Use a Smoker Without Smoke?

Yes, you can choose to use a smoker without smoke. You just don't need to put wood chips inside and you will be able to use it for homebrews and as a slow cooker.

How to Control Moisture in an Electric Smoker?

You can control the moisture by adjusting the vents. Leaving it more closed will allow more moisture to retain and opening them will leave less.

Also, what you can do to increase the moisture on the cooking chamber is to use an aluminum pan, by filling it with water or stock broth. Doing so, will increase the moisture during the cooking, since the heat will cause the liquid to evaporate and turn into moisture and flavor for your food. 

How to Do the First Time Pre-Season After Assembling?

Place the water pan inside the smoker and then plug it into the power outlet. Set the heat to 250°F and run it for about 3 hours, putting the wood chips during the last 45 minutes.

Turn it off after 3 hours and let it cool off, ready to use for your next meal.