Electric Smokers

I been thinking of buying an electric smoker. Tell me the one to buy and the in's and out's of actually doing the smoking? How will they work in mid winter when using them?

I have a mecco barrel type, cheap and it works best in the winter because you can control the heat better, would love to have a cookshaq I believe it is a set it and forget type smoker.

I think that is what I maybe looking at also, set and forget it.

I got a pit boss, it's a pellet smoker. It has done great so far but I haven't had it long enough to make it to winter. Plus my winter aren't bad here anyway. I have cooked briskets, ribs, bologna and a couple big fatty with sausage and every thing turns out great.

I’m running a masterbuilt electric with the optional cold smoke unit It’s a good smoker auto timer and thermometer built in to the controller the problem with the smoker is when you need a cold smoke such as on fish or cheese the chips are ignited by the hearing element so you have to have the heat high enough or you won’t get your chips smoking.They sell an optional unit that’s a stand alone that fits into the side where you normally put your chips .Honestly since I got the cold smoke unit I only use it for my smoke generation.If you are just going to do pork butts ,ribs or beef brisket you wouldn’t need the optional cold smoke generator.If your going to do say cocktail pepperoni or something you want to start with a low heat smoke you Would need the optional smoke unit.the small size master built and the cold smoke unit would probably set you back about 350.00 and about 425.00 for the biggest smoker.Ive literally done thousands of pounds thru this smoker as I was processing deer for about 3 years .probably cutting 175 deer and 80 or so elk every year .its 9 years and still going strong.

I have been that route till I watched a Video on the PIT BARREL SMOKER.....I had to have one & after using it I got rid of the Electric Smoker Because the Pit Barrel will cook with very little work....Also the price is very Reasonable & made in the USA by a Veteran who Built his First one in Iraq Tours. I like This type Smoker for it has Better Flavor & easy to control the Smoke Flavor......It is also Coated & will not Rust....Quality & free Shipping along with everything.......I'm not trying to sell it on here ......But i am so happy with mine after over 2 years. Check it out you will be glad you did. LBEE

The only electric I know of that will cold smoke with out an add on cold smoker is a Bradley. It has two heating elements. One for the wood pucks and one to heat. If you use it much the pucks get expensive. $22-24 for 48 If you get the 120 pack they get about half price. I ordered them off the computer. I have a Z grill pellet grill. It has a smoke mode, but runs at about 190 degrees. I have done all sorts of stuff on it. You throw it on and set the temperature. It is no different than using the oven in the house. I made the one in the picture and it works on the same concept as the PIT Barrel Smoker. You control the air to control the heat. I can run it at 200 degrees by leaving the door open 1/2 an inch. The fire box is under the grill and hooked together with a 6x6 box tube. The fire box will take a three foot piece of wood and you build your fire on the door end and it burns down the wood. It's not really a smoker. It is a wood grill.

I have a Bradley, and like it. They are pretty expensive, (both to buy, and operate), but are easy to use, easy to clean, and mine has had zero problems for the 5 years I've had it.

Electric smokers are where its at as far as set it up and leave it and come back hours later and it be done.

Other traditional smokers require more babysitting and the people that use them look down on the electric models.

As far as brand or which one to get? I see them second hand on FB for $100 pretty often that are barely used. Gifts they don't like or whatever who knows.

If I was building one I'd get an old 50's fridge, pre plastic, and put it up on something and have a fire box a ways away and the smoke stack under ground ground leading up to the bottom of the fridge.

I like this video.

New Guy here, Another vote for the Master Built. Has a nice easy to set temp and timer as well as digital probe that is fairly accurate. I have done 2 briskets, numerous pork butts and a bunch of ribs in it. Also have done some salmon. Takes basic wood chips through a little removable side feed. Bought the week after Christmas and did a Brisket in it that weekend overnight. Plug it in, set your temp and time, and let it rip. feed it chips every couple of hours, and it works great. Also Master Built has a pretty decent YouTube Channel with how too's. Good luck!

Exactly the same setup I have. Love it! To answer the winter smoking question, it does great at keeping temp consistent in all weather. I put 4 pork butts on one night and it started blowing and sleeting outside. I thought I was in trouble but the temp stayed consistent. I have the 40 inch and have smoked 6 pork butts at a time with it. I like the 40 because I can hang 3# summer sausage rolls in it vertically. The cold smoke box is definitely worth the $ because it holds about 5x the chips that the hopper holds.

Thanks for all the information! A lot of good tips and advise, thank you very much.

Another vote here for Masterbuilt, I have one and it is very simple to use. Like others have said, set the temp, feed it chips every hour or so and that is all you need to do. I do not have the optional cold smoke unit and have done briskets, sausage, ribs and pork butts. You can cut the smoke during the last few hours. It makes a nice smoke ring.

my masterbuilt was free dollars which happens to be the best price. Given to me by a friend. has the thermometer and is rock solid easy to use. Leave it and forget. I am just starting in the smoking world and it is easy to start and get pretty good at. Just what I was looking for. I am not wanting to babysit something for 5 hours.

I've got a masterbuilt, and it's a cheap, easy to use, good smoker. I've smoked lots of fish, ribs, chicken, etc. Digital thermostat and timer works great, for only about $125.

Another vote for Masterbuilt. Here's mine with a homebuilt cold smoke box on top. Smoke is supplied from a 46 oz juice can "duct" that fits perfectly over the smoker vent. Turn the smoker to max (275) and top box gets tons of smoke and about 100 degrees.

Great idea T-Rex!