Smoking foods may not require you to be a master in the kitchen, but it still needs a little bit of hard work, as you need to adjust the heat and fuss over the smoke levels to cook sumptuous smoked food. However, if you lack that devotion, you can still enjoy delicious smoky food with the help of the best electric smoker.
Electric smokers offer convenience as they can take a lot of work out of the entire smoking process. It can automatically monitor and regulate temperature during the long smoking process.
Since electric smokers come with various features, sizes, and designs, it is best that you consider your options and choose the smoker carefully based on your needs and preferences.
To make it easier for you, here are the top electric smokers in the market today.
Product’s Name | Score |
Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker (20078715) (Editor’s Pick) | 96/100 |
Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615) (Best High-End Electric Smoker) | 98/100 |
Masterbuilt Electric Bullet Smoker (20078616) (Best Budget Pick) | 82/100 |
Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker (Best Electric Smoker for Beginners) | 93/100 |
Bradley Digital 6-Rack Electric Smoker (BTDS108P) (Best Smoker for Large Crowds) | 97/100 |
Below, you’ll see more detailed reviews, but you can also click the links above to see current prices and read reviews on Amazon.com
Comparison Table of the Best Electric Smokers
Features | Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615) | Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615) | Masterbuilt Electric Bullet Smoker (20078616) | Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker | Bradley Digital 6-Rack Electric Smoker (BTDS108P) |
Watt | 800-watt | 800-watt | 1650-watt | 1500-watt | |
Best for | Editor’s Pick | Best High End | Budget Pick | Best for Beginners | Best for Large Crowd |
Cooking Space | 721 square inch | 721 square inch | 395 square inch | 505 square inch | 780 square inch |
Cooking Racks | Four chrome-coated racks | Four chrome-coated racks | two porcelain-coated racks | three chrome-plated cooking racks | six stainless steel racks |
Display | LED Digital Display | LED Digital Display | Temperature Gauge in Lid | Temperature Gauge in Lid | Full Digital Control |
Remote Controlled | x | v | x | x | x |
Temperature Control | Adjustable temperature | Adjustable temperature | Analog Temperature Control Knob | Adjustable temperature | Adjustable temperature |
Woodchip tray | v | v | v | v | v |
Drip Tray | v | v | v | v | v |
Door | Food cannot be viewed unless opened | Glass door, food can be viewed without opening door | Food cannot be viewed unless opened | Food cannot be viewed unless opened | Food cannot be viewed unless opened |
Portable | x | v | v | v | v |
Top 5 Best Electric Smoker Reviews
Best of the Best Electric Smoker (Editor’s Pick) – Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker (20078715)
[amazon box=”B00SKO7C18″ ]
This electric smoker is perfect for beginners and professional smokers. In fact, with this tool, you can achieve competitive results in your own home without having to fuss about charcoal or propane fuel. It just needs three simple steps – plug, set, and enjoy!
This smoker has excellent features, including a 721-inch cooking space, allowing you to cook more for the entire family. Also, this smoker is designed with four chrome-coated cooking racks and a stable front door to hold the heat inside.
It runs with an 800-watt heating element to ensure that food is cooked thoroughly. The heat can be adjusted from 100 degrees to 275 degrees, depending on what you are cooking. It also comes with easy to read LED display, a side woodchip loading system, and a front access drip pan.
What We Like
- Large cooking space up to 721 square inches
- Easy to use with LED display
- Wood chip loading system
- Adjustable heat settings from 100 degrees to 275 degrees
- Dishwasher safe components
- Durable
- The mess-free front access drip pan
What We Didn’t Like
- Cooked food cannot be viewed unless the front door is opened
Best High-End Electric Smoker – Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615)
[amazon box=”B00VSFCR1G” ]
If you have a few extra dollars to spare, you might as well invest in the best high-end electric smoker – Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615).
Whether you are cooking chicken, beef, pork, or seafood, you can never go wrong with using this electric smoker. This smoker is built for success with a generous 721 square inches of cooking space and four chrome-coated cooking racks.
It has numerous advanced features, including a built-in thermometer that allows you to monitor your cooked food. Its glass doors allow you to check on your food without having to open the door and accidentally release the heat.
You have full control over the cooking process as this electric smoker comes with an RF remote that lets you control the time, the meat temperature, the oven temperature, and even the switching on and off of the food light. Its LED display is easy to read, and its handle and rear wheels make it very portable.
What We Like
- Large cooking space up to 721 square inches
- Built-in thermometer
- Glass doors to easily view cooked food without opening the door
- Remote controlled
- Adjustable temperature
- Easy-to-read display
- Portable with handle and rear wheels
What We Didn’t Like
- Expensive
Best Budget Pick – Masterbuilt Electric Bullet Smoker (20078616)
[amazon box=”B01FJVSWFY” ]
If you are on a tight budget, the Masterbuilt Electric Bullet Smoker is the best electric smoker for you. In fact, this smoker is also the perfect choice for beginners.
This electric smoker has a compact bullet-shaped design that can handle up to 50 pounds of smoked food at a very affordable rate. It comes with 395 square inches of cooking space and two porcelain-coated racks, which are easy to clean.
It is effortless to operate with its analog temperature controls. You can set it for high heat, medium heat, low heat, or off. Its temperature gauge is very easy to read, and this 1650-watt heating element can reach temperatures up to 400 degrees. You can quickly add wood chips through its front access door.
This unit is also very portable and easy to carry around wherever you want to go.
What We Like
- Portable
- Affordable
- Easy to use and operate
- Simple analog settings – high, medium, and low
- Comes with a drip pan, wood chip tray, and water bowl
What We Didn’t Like
- Very small unit
- The cooking space is just 395 square inch
Best Electric Smoker for Beginners – Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker
[amazon box=”B004J66WRQ” ]
If you are one of those people who want to try smoking for the first time, the Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker is the perfect unit for you. For first-timers, you do not need to buy a large and expensive unit, as you can start out with this electric smoker at a very affordable rate while still getting excellent results.
This unit comes with a generous 505 square inches of cooking space and has three distinct temperature settings, with the temperature reaching up to 400 degrees that can accommodate different types of smoked foods. It is durable and well-insulated to keep the heat inside the smoker.
This electric smoker is designed with a wood chip tray, water pan, three chrome-plated cooking grates, and lid mounter temperature gauge with a bezel.
What We Like
- Best for beginners
- Affordable
- Adjustable temperature setting from 150 degrees to 400 degrees
- Easy to use
- Comes with numerous accessories, including a wood chip tray, water pan, and three chrome-plated cooking grates
What We Didn’t Like
- Small cooking space
- Cooked cannot be viewed unless the door is opened
Best Smoker for Large Crowds – Bradley Digital 6-Rack Electric Smoker (BTDS108P)
[amazon box=”B000FK09EW” ]
If you are thinking of cooking for a large crowd, then you should consider getting a sizeable electric smoker. One of the best electric smokers for a large group is the Bradley Digital 6-Rack Electric Smoker.
This electric smoker has a generous 780 square inches of cooking space with six stainless steel racks. With this unit, you can cook 50 pounds of meat at one time.
Not just that, this smoker is designed with full digital control, which allows you to set the temperature inside the unit, the cooking time, and the amount of smoke you want to produce in its smoke box. The amount of smoke generated is determined by a ‘smoke generator,’ which will automatically feed bisquettes into a separate burner while ejecting the old one as needed.
This unit has a digital interface, an insulated stainless steel interior, and an internal thermostat.
What We Like
- Ideal for cooking large batches of smoked foods
- Large 780 square inch of cooking space
- Comes with six stainless steel cooking rack
- Digital interface
- Full control over the temperature, cooking time, and smoke produced
What We Didn’t Like
- Expensive
- Not suitable for small areas
Features that Make the Best Electric Smoker
When choosing a smoker, you have to bear in mind that a relatively low-priced smoker does not mean that it has less quality. That said, you have to be careful before purchasing a smoker and consider comparing the different models to make sure that you are getting your money’s worth.
When purchasing a smoker, you should consider the following features.
Temperature Control
The best kinds of electric smokers come with temperature control features. This feature will allow you to control the internal temperature of your smoker based on the type of food you are cooking. Also, temperature control often comes in the form of a digital display or a knob.
Installed Caveats or Small Ventilation
Caveats are small ventilation systems located in a smoker’s combustion chamber, which function as vents to release smoke and heat. These small but essential features help maintain a stable temperature inside the smoker, which ensures that the food you are cooking will not burn or char.
Heat Structure
When choosing an electric smoker, it is crucial that you know how the heat flows inside the smoker while cooking. Knowing this will help you plan how you can arrange your meat on the rack. With more heat sources, you can cook your meat for a shorter time.
Smoker Design and Grill Racks
Electric smokers may be horizontal or vertical and can come with different types of cooking racks. Some smokers are equipped with stainless steel racks, while others come with chrome-plated racks. You should opt for those racks that can retain heat better, as this would give you those nice grill marks on your food.
Addition of Woodchips
Some electric smokers come with woodchip trays where you can add woodchips while cooking. This feature allows you to enjoy the smoky taste of your food, which is very distinct from charcoal smokers.
How Can You Get the Best Out of Your Electric Smoker?
Once you have purchased the best electric smoker for your needs, the next thing that you would want to ensure is how you can get the best out of your electric smoker. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure you are getting your money’s worth with your smoker.
- Know Your Smoker – It is essential that you know your smoker well. The more you learn about what your smoker can do and what it cannot, it will make it easier for you to use it effectively.
- Preheat Your Smoker – Preheating your smoker can help increase the lifespan of your unit. When you preheat your unit, it will not take a longer time for the unit to reach the desired temperature when you place your food inside. That said, your smoker will not work harder to cook the food.
- Clean Your Smoker Regularly – You should make sure that you clean your smoker on a regular basis. Cleaning the unit will help ensure that your food will come out fresh and without any undesirable odor that may be left behind from the previously cooked food. Also, with regular cleaning, your smoker can operate efficiently and will not develop rust over time.
- Be Patient and Careful When Using Your Smoker – Whether you are cleaning or cooking with your smoker, you should always remember to be patient and careful. A well-maintained electric smoker can last longer without breaking down, ensuring that you are getting your money’s worth.
The Bottom Line
Choosing an electric smoker should not be that difficult. Based on the review conducted, the best one in the market is the Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker (20077615). This unit is perfect for both beginners and seasoned pros in the smoking industry.
Not just that, this unit is effortless to operate and has a large 721 square inches of cooking space, allowing you to cook various food at one time. It also comes with numerous accessories, including a side woodchip loading system, a front access drip tray, and four chrome-coated cooking racks. Its digital display is easy to use and allows you full control over the temperature of the unit.
Jen Lin-Liu is the founder of Black Sesame Kitchen. A Chinese-American writer and a nationally certified Chinese chef in Beijing. Jen is the author of two memoirs, Serve the People: A Stir-Fried Journey Through China and On the Noodle Road: From Beijing to Rome with Love and Pasta.