The patented side wood chip loading system allows you to comfortably add chips to the chamber without opening the door of the smoker (no heat loss).
It's a bit too heavy.
The Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker is specially designed for true aficionados and novice users alike. The model is equipped with convenient digital controls and is large enough to accommodate 4 turkeys, 16 chickens or 8 pork tenderloins.
~ 1000 W
2464 sq. cm.
4 racks
Exterior: Powder epoxy steel
Interior: Polished stainless steel
Digital panel (power on/off, control temperature, and time)
105 x 65 x 50 cm
33.5 kg
1 year
Thanks to the pull-out control panel, setting the temperature and cooking time is easier than ever. A safety lock on the door makes handling this unit much safer.
The feet are a bit too sharp.
The Klarstein GQM-1500 smoker is exactly what you need for juicy smoked delicacies. As a nice touch, a large viewing window (24 x 44 cm) will allow you to watch the cooking process. The set includes a practical square drip pan, an oval drip pan, and a small drip grate.
650 W
~ 3000 sq. cm.
4 racks
Exterior: Powder epoxy steel and polished stainless steel
Interior: Galvanised surfaces
Flip-top control panel (power on/off, adjusting temperature and smoking time)
81 x 46 x 40.5 cm
25 kg
Amazon's 30-day return policy
The set includes a water bowl allowing you to add fruit juice or water with herbs, onions or lemons and place it inside the chamber. This way, you'll be able to add moisture and unique favouring to the smoked foods.
The included racks are lacking in quality.
Produced by the top manufacturer of smoking appliances, the Masterbuilt MES140B is really built to last. Owing to the control panel with a handy display, it's also very straightforward to use and maintain. Good choice for both beginners and pros.
1200 W
~6300 sq. cm.
4 racks
Exterior: Powder Epoxy Steel
Interior: Polished Stainless Steel
Digital control with LCD-display: Temperature, smoking and oven time
65 x 50.5 x 105 cm
26.5 kg
Amazon's 30-day return policy
The interior of the smoker is fully-insulated, so all the heat and smoke will be reliably kept inside the chamber. Just fill it with wood chips, set the timer and the temperature, and lock the door.
Mounting the electric display may be a bit tricky.
If you're after a mid-ground solution, you can't go wrong with the Masterbuilt MB20077018 model. For a very competitive price, you can get a high-quality device that should be enough for smoking pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Yet nothing larger than a turkey.
~ 700 W
1805 sq. cm.
4 racks
Exterior: Powder epoxy steel
Interior: Polished stainless steel
Digital panel (power on/off, control temperature, and time)
84 x 51 x 50 cm
19.3 kg
1 year
Besides 3 grates, there are 3 hooks for hanging smoked delicacies, as well as a removable bowl for cooking smoked chips. With this rich set of accessories, all your culinary ideas will come true.
No timer function.
The Klarstein GQM2-90500 is a small but mighty smoker made of high-quality materials. Although it's quite compact and its interior space is somewhat limited, it's fitted with a very powerful heating element to deliver quick and tasty results all year round.
1600 W
~ 1000 sq. cm.
3 racks
Exterior: Powder-coated steel, Brushed stainless steel door
Interior: Powder-coated steel
On/off switch, Controllable thermostat
74 x 50 x 35 cm
13.5 kg
Amazon's 30-day return policy
Solid Design
If you don't have an opportunity or desire to get a traditional smoker but still would like to enjoy smoked food, you may like this 40" Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker. The Masterbuilt really knows its onions when it comes to smoking delicious food, so we bet you won't be disappointed with this mighty guy.
To begin with, the smoker offers a nice amount of room for the size. The 2464 sq. cm. should be enough for smoking 4 turkeys, 16 chickens or 8 pork tenderloins, so if you want to feed a crowd, then this model is likely to meet your needs. And owing to the 1200-watt heating element, everything will get smoked evenly and within a quite short time.
As just mentioned, it's a vertical smoker powered by an electrical element rather than charcoal flame, which means it needs wood chips to be fed into the bottom of the unit. Luckily, the patented side wood chip loading system lets you comfortably add chips to the chamber without opening the door of the smoker.
Out of the box, the smoker looks like a mini fridge and has a good heft to feel solid. That's mostly achieved thanks to the generously insulated walls that ensure nice airtightness and minimal heat loss. Appearance-wise, it has a classic old-school style with no unnecessary design elements or bits sticking out like a sore thumb.
Great for Beginners
Even if you've never owned smokers before, you'll find using the Masterbuilt model very easy. Anyone can start smoking food right away without learning anything special. All you need to do is place your meat on the grill, select the needed temperature, and you're good to go. Thanks to the LED controller, you'll be able to set the temp to anywhere from 38 to 135 degrees C. The LED controller is situated right on the top of the smoker, so your fingers will be far away from any hot spots as you set the temperature.
One more aspect that makes this smoker so easy to use is the sliding wood chip tray. It moves smoothly and has a fill-line to help you figure out how many wood chips you should load.
All in all, the Masterbuilt 40" electric smoker is fairly easy to understand and use. Dissimilar to more complex and expensive smokers, it'll suit even first-time users who would like to achieve an incredible smoked flavour.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £299.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B0873T2DRM |
Small but Mighty
The Klarstein GQM-1500 is another well-built smoker that boasts galvanised surfaces in the interior, a tough stainless steel grate, and a black powder coating on the outside. With that, its weight is 25 kg and exterior dimensions are approximately 46 x 81 x 40.5 cm, meaning it's quite compact and stable. That's also largely achieved thanks to the low-profile feet that make it a bit stubby yet well-set.
When it comes to the interior, the smoker comes with 4 slots for grates and an extra slot for the drip pan. The grates, each 40 x 30 cm, can easily accommodate fish, bacon, tofu blocks, meat, sausage, or vegetables and deliver the best-smoked flavour to the ingredients in a very convenient and simple way.
Fitted with the 650W electric heating element, it slowly releases the flavour of the wood chips. Overall, it can be adjusted from 37 to 136 degrees C depending on your culinary needs.
The only thing to take into account is that the smoker can only be operated outdoors or in indoor spaces with adequate ventilation due to smoke emission. Also, take note that it comes with a licensed EU to UK converter plug and can operate at 220-240 V.
Ease of Use
We really like that the Flintstone smoker has a fold-out panel on the top side, and owing to this neat flip-top control panel, adjusting temperature and smoking time will be a breeze. After you set the timer and temp, you'll be able to monitor the cooking progress via the large viewing window (24 x 44 cm) without opening the door and letting valuable heat or smoke escape, accordingly.
Maintaining the device is that simple as well. The manufacturer recommends seasoning the unit before use and cleaning removable racks without chemicals (just scrubbing them down). For the interior, you can make a 50/50 mix of hot water/apple cider vinegar and then apply this mixture with a sponge.
In all, the Klarstein Flintstone is another quality electric smoker that can give you perfect smoking results. It's designed to provide as much comfort as possible, so it's quite easy to control and operate. And thanks to the large transparent window, you'll be able to monitor the smoking process without the need to open the door.
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | May be out of stock |
| ASIN | B083Y4Q6L6 |
By a Trustworthy Manufacturer
Masterbuilt is one of the world-leading manufacturers that never cut corners when producing electric appliances for grilling and smoking. So, if you want to start your smoking experience with something ultra-durable, you should seriously consider the MasterBuilt MES140B.
First off, we would like to point out that this smoker has a reasonable cooking surface of 6,271 square cm, which makes it a great choice for smoking meals for large families. By strategically separating the interior space with 4 chrome-plated racks (included in the box), you'll be able to grill a whole turkey, chicken, and hearty cuts of meat in it.
Next, we would like to pivot to the ease of use. The MES140B smoker is really straightforward to start and control. It's fitted with a digital panel on the top with simple controls and a 24-hour timer. Also, the unit has a precise built-in thermostat, allowing it to maintain the desired cooking temperature within the 30-135°C range. The low heat is perfect for making jerky, while the highest setting works better for smoking large cuts of meat or fish. The fully insulated body ensures great heat retention.
During the smoking process, you'll be able to always add wood chips without opening the inner chamber and losing smoke/heat accordingly, since the patented wood-chip loading system is wisely situated on the side.
Easy Assembly and Maintenance
Upon arrival, just a little assembly is required. All the steps are described in the detailed instruction manual along with a wood chip guide, smoking times and proper temperatures. Once put together, the smoker looks very nice and sturdy. It has thick insulated walls that leave no chance for the smoke to escape. Also, you’ll like how easy the includes grates slide in and out.
Besides the four grates, the smoker comes with a removable base drip pan, rear grease collection tray, wood chip tray, and a water bowl. By pouring water, fruit juice, herbs, onions or lemons to the latter, you'll be able to add juicy moisture and subtle flavouring to the foods.
After your delicacies are ready, the chamber will be fairly easy to clean. Just take racks out to scrub them with a sponge, and then wipe clean the interior with some mild detergent or vinegar/water mix. As you see, this smoker is easy to use and maintain. It'll suit both novice users and professionals who seek a reliable mid-sized smoker produced by a trustworthy manufacturer.
| Last updated price | £299.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07X1YMPDQ |
Middle-ground Solution
Are you tired of smoke coming from your neighbour’s brisket? Then it's high time that you entered the fun of backyard smoking with the 30" Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker. It's a perfect model for beginners that don't want to shell lots of money but still want to get a decent piece of smoking equipment. It's a compact smoker from a reliable manufacturer that strikes the perfect balance between size, quality, and price.
To begin with, it's a vertical smoker with an electric heating element that is simple to use and control. It heats up to the required temperature quite quickly, allowing you to easily add wood smoking chips wherever you want. The wood chips need to be fed into the bottom of the unit where they gradually combust, releasing heat into the main chamber (the integrated thermostat will help you maintain a consistent temperature during the whole process). As a result, the food acquires a very smoky flavour along the way. Speaking of which, the 1805 sq. cm. of interior space should be enough for cooking pulled pork, brisket, and ribs. The majority of novice users should find this enough for their needs.
As far as electric smokers go, this model also ranks among the best for beginners because of its ease of use. Equipped with digital control, it lets you adjust all the settings easily. Simply plug it into a power socket, set the temperature, and it will do the trick, while the patented side wood chip loader will give you an opportunity to experiment with flavours without opening the smoker's door. This will also aid in keeping the internal temperature of the smoker consistent. Ideal purchase for mastering the art of smoking.
Good Insulation
Upon opening the box, you'll find all the pieces well-packed in foam and reliably tied into place. So, there should be no risk of damage, dents or scratches during shipping.
The body of the smoker is fully insulated, meaning you'll get a consistent cooking temp, which is particularly crucial for those who live in cold climates where freezing temperatures can play havoc with internal smoker temps. The unit also sits very low to the ground, so strong gusts of winds won't be a problem either. Moreover, the door latch mechanism keeps the door tightly shut, so you'll get a tight seal to trap all the smoke inside.
Bottom line, the MasterBuilt MES13OB Digital Electric Smoker is definitely one of the best compact smokers out there. Designed with well-insulated walls and a side chip loading system, it'll retain all the smoke and keep the internal temperature consistent to help you get better smoking results each time.
| Last updated price | £215.12 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B0873SV3NN |
Compact Smoker
Whether you want to smoke meat, fish, or veggies at the comfort of your own home without the need to hassle of charcoal or propane, the Klarstein Flintstone is your perfect smoker. Suitable for the beginner or the pro, it'll particularly come to liking to those individuals who're limited in free space or would like to smoke on an occasional basis. The thing is, it's one of the most compact and lightweight smokers on the market, which is easy to transport or carry to your garage when not in use (there is a handle on the top for easy transfer). At 74 x 50 x 35 cm and 13.5 kg, it measures almost twice less than the competition, so if portability is the thing you cherish the most, keep on reading and discover more about this little guy.
Despite the modest dimensions, the Klarstein smoker has three chromed grates in the oven, each is 40 x 25 cm. The interior capacity should be quite enough for smoking bacon sides, tofu, ribs, brisket, or your own fancy sausage creations. As a nice touch, there are three additional hooks inside the chamber, which are great for smoking whole pieces of pork belly or bacon (at least one of the wire racks should be removed). Also, the manufacturer has included a removable bowl for smoked chips and aromas.
The unit is delivered already assembled with everything nicely wrapped in plastic and secured inside the oven. Once all the parts are unwrapped and installed in the slots, the smoker is ready to use. The overall build quality is quite good for a hobby smoker - magnetic door closure works smoothly and the rubber feet seem very stable. Plus, it has cool-touch handles on the door and the top.
Smoking All Year Round
The Klarstein Flintstone is definitely a small but mighty one. It comes with an adjustable thermostat and a 1600-watt heating element, whereas most other smokers within its price bracket only have an 800-watt heating element and typically come without a thermostat. And since smokers are designed for outdoor use and their ability to heat up largely depends on the ambient temperature, a powerful heating element like this means that the Klarstein smoker can be used for hot smoking all year round without issues during the coldest winter days.
So, if you're after a compact smoker that can keep a high smoking temperature even in low temperatures, you can't go wrong with the Klarstein Flintstone oven. With a whopping capacity of 1600 watts and an accurate thermostat, it's ideal for smoking delicacies all year round.
| Last updated price | £259.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07Q3YVHGS |
What Is an Electric Smoker?
When it comes to choosing a smoker, it's easy to get lost in an array of models available. If you ask us, of all smokers produced today, the simplest and easiest to use would certainly be an electric smoker. The advantages electric smokers offer are hard to beat. For one, they provide flawless results regardless of whether you have prior experience in smoking food or not. For two, they require minimum control on your side - once you set it all up, the device will do all the work for you. And finally, they need no fuel. All you need is to connect it to a power socket and you're good to go. All this makes them a no-brainer choice for anyone looking for a hassle-free way of smoking food.
If space is not an issue for you and you don't mind setting a smoker in your backyard, we'd recommend you to pay attention to our review of gas grills. Another appliance that might come in handy in your yard is a patio heater.
What Features to Compare
Dimensions
Speaking of dimensions, it's necessary to take into account not only the size of the appliance itself but also a cooking surface you’d need for smoking. If you don’t plan to cook batches of smoked snacks for big get-togethers, then you’d be fine with a small to moderate-sized electric smoker. But for more intense use, a bigger capacity is a must. Consider whether the chosen smoker comes with the racks to adjust the space inside the appliance to fit in more foodstuff. This feature can add some usable space even to a small item.
Control and Power
The control feature is also important and will tell you how easy a smoking will be. Contemplating which one to choose - a digital or analogue electric smoker, we recommend you to give preference to the former since it’s much easier in use and there’s nothing more you need to do rather than push several buttons once. Analog electric smokers are a bit trickier in use and require your constant supervision. Consider whether the smoker you chose comes with a meat probe. It’s not a compulsory item but it can help a lot when determining the doneness degree. Speaking of the power, opt for higher numbers if you want to cook quicker. Some other things to pay attention to are a water bowl, a grease tray and a capacity of a smoke box. These features provide a fast cooking process and easy maintenance.
Materials and Features
Since electric smokers are mostly used outdoors, it’s essential that they are made of durable, rust-resistant and solid material. Besides quality material, the construction should also feature a well-insulated door (preferably windowed) and a lid to prevent a possible heat leakage. The wheels and handles would be welcomed if you’d need to change the setting of a smoker, moving it from one place to another. Pay attention to all these features and little extras and choose the most suitable electric smoker among the best presented below.
Did you know?
Water is the Key
Water is an essential thing for successful smoking. For example, a generous 270-kg load of meat puts out approximately 90 kgs of water during the smoking process. And to keep the inner chamber of the smoker moist, you can place a bowl of water, use soaked wood chips, spray ingredients with apple cider or wine, or mop the food with a special BBQ mop sauce.
Surprising Ingredients
Apart from common meat, fish, sausage, you can smoke such unique ingredients as cream, butter, ricotta cheese, maple syrup, sugar, honey, salt, mayonnaise, ketchup, hot sauce, tomato sauce, mustard, olive oil, capers, olives, garlic, lemons, bologna, and even ice. And as gourmets tell, the taste is really delicious.
The Most Popular BBQ Day
The most popular day of grilling in America is the Independence Day. In the UK, there is no one special day, however, there is a National BBQ Week that usually takes place at the beginning of June. But if you’re a true grill-lover, you know for sure that every day of the year is good for outdoor BBQ!
So Many Flavours
Smoke results the taste of your food, but not all wood chips taste the same. The most widely-used types of wood are apple, pecan, cherry, oak, guava, maple, kiawe, hickory, and mesquite. It’s considered that hardwoods produce the best flavour. The wood that contains resin or tar isn’t used for BBQ, as it gives a chemical taste.
From Generation to Generation
Smoking, as well as grilling, is more like a family tradition rather than a hobby. 60% of smokers say that they have learnt it from their father, uncle, brother or other older family member.
Amazing Numbers
People in America consume more than 900,000 kg of jerky annually. Jerky is the result of a smoke-drying process, one of the first methods our ancestors used to preserve food.
Impact of Smoking
Actually, smoking almost doesn’t impact the nutritional value of food. Moreover, it can be a great way to add flavour without adding fat, calories, and sodium. It’s the marinades and sauces that can add a large amount of fat, sodium, and even sugar. So it’s advisable to use them moderately.
If you use hot smoking, keep in mind that the heat can destroy some vitamins in vegetables, but it can also boost the production of the antioxidants and kill the bad bacteria. A rule of thumb, it’s better to keep smoking time and temperature to the minimum. This way, you’ll get more nutrients.
FAQ:
Q: What is seasoning? How is this procedure carried out?
A: Seasoning of an electric smoker is a procedure which should be carried out before the first use of your appliance in order to get rid of the unpleasant smell that almost any new appliance has. In general, to season your new electric smoker, you need to make it work empty for approximately an hour at 150°F. Yet, since the operating principle of electric smokers might differ, it is recommended that you read a user's guide to learn how to carry out the procedure properly. The food smoked in the appliance which is regularly seasoned is much richer in flavours and tastes much better.
Q: Can I use an electric smoker indoors?
A: Electric smokers, as well as charcoal and gas-powered ones, are intended for outdoor use only. The main reason for this is that they produce smoke. Even if your kitchen is well-ventilated, you will not be able to avoid that heavy fog of smoke that trails the smoking process and remains in the air for several hours. The only case when the use of an electric smoker in the premise is allowed is when it's designed for commercial purposes and you're buying it to set in a spacious place.
Q: Do electric smokers come with bisquettes/chips and accessories like a meat probe?
A: It depends on the manufacturer and you can find different offers on the market. However, more often than not, you’ll have to buy accessories and wooden bisquettes/chips separately. On the one hand, it can be inconvenient since you won’t be able to use your smoker right out of the box if you don’t have all the necessary things at hand. On the other hand, if you buy additional stuff yourself, you can choose wood chips the flavour of which you like better, or, if you buy a meat probe, choose the one a bigger number of different functions.
Q: Do I need to control the smoking process all the time or is it enough to set the temperature and the time and leave until the food is ready?
A: Though we all would like the smoking process to be simple and effortless, it's not quite the case, alas. You will still need to control the cooking process and manually add chips or bisquettes when a loaded batch burns out.
Q: Can I use an electric smoker during cold seasons?
A: Using an electric smoker under bad weather conditions is possible, although it would not be as simple and comfortable as it'd be on a hot sunny day. The main problem you'd face while smoking in the cold weather is maintaining the proper temperature throughout the whole smoking process. But don’t get desperate. Here are some tips that can help you prepare the tastiest food in your smoker even in the winter:
- Don’t open the smoker door too often. Since electric smokers are made of metal, they do not retain hot temperatures very well when the weather is cold. If you open the smoker door - you let the hot air out.
- Create a shelter for your smoker. The smoking results will be much better if you place the smoker under some kind of a roof or surround it with something like a wall to keep it away from wind, rain, and snow.
- Insulate the smoker with flame-resistant material to keep the heat inside the smoker.
Sources:
1. Meathead Goldwyn Electric Smokers: Buying Guide, Reviews, Ratings, And Recommendations, AmazingRibs. July 10, 2013.
2. Justin Brunner Meat Smoker Wars: Which is Best? FARM & FLEET. May 18, 2015.
3. Derrick Riches How to Buy a Smoker, About. February 12, 2016.
4. Meat Smokers Buying Guide, eBay. December 21, 2013.
5. Kristen Hicks BUYER’S GUIDE: Grills & Smokers, Compact Appliance. June 26, 2015.
6. Smoking (Cooking), Wikipedia. September 1, 2017.
7. How to Use an Electric Smoker, wikiHow.