8 Best Electric Smokers Reviewed

The very first consideration for buying a good quality electric smoker is how it was built. Construction and materials do matter, especially when it comes to the construction of the unit's heating element. Most modern electric smokers use a convection heater that is electrically controlled and easy to use, even for someone new to smoking meat.

The main thing to remember is that the construction of the smoker's interior is more vital than the unit's exterior. Of course, you want a smoker that looks good, but the more important aspect is finding one that gets the job done. Stainless steel is one of the best materials for the interior of a smoker since it is highly durable, heat resistant, and easy to clean.

A smoker's damper controls the amount of oxygen (smoke) that is allowed into the chamber. When a damper is fully closed, this means that most of the smoke will be infused into the meat, giving a robustly smoky flavor. An entirely open damper allows most of the smoke to escape from the chamber so that the meat won't contain much smokiness. Look for a smoker that has a damper with several positions, like half-closed and quarter-closed, rather than just fully open or fully closed.

Installed caveats have to do with a smoker’s ventilation system, and they're designed to release some of the heat and smoke throughout the smoking process. This prevents burning and charring, and it is an essential step for properly smoking meats. Caveats also play a crucial role in temperature management, keeping your smoker from overheating.

Not only is Smokin-It’s smoker model the best electric smoker under 400 dollars, but it's also the best-rated electric smoker of all the models we'll cover here. There are a few reasons why we've chosen this as the top pick, the main one being the heavy-duty stainless steel construction. The Smokin-It smoker is made from 18-gauge stainless steel, and it's even NSF certified for restaurant use.

 Another loved feature of this smoker is that it can hold up to 22 pounds of meat during each smoking session. Inside the smoking chamber, there are 3 removable shelves, but there is enough space to add a fourth shelf for even more surface space. All food is smoked efficiently with the 400-watt heating and 8-amp 120-volt single phase. 

Temperature is easy to control thanks to the rheostat located on the front side of the smoker. Temperatures can be set between 100 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit, which is perfect for smoking any type of meat. The smoking chamber is insulated with fiberglass to prevent heat loss. To top it all off, the Smokin-It smoker is highly portable with the addition of the new side handles. This portability is enhanced even further with the 4 heavy-duty caster wheel attachments.

If you’re sick and tired of buying propane or charcoal for your at-home smoker machine, it’s time to find the best electric smoker grill that uses pellets instead. The best electric pellet smoker 2019 has to offer is the Traeger TFB42LZBC. The Traeger company specializes in pellet grills, but they also have a decent selection of pellet smokers to choose from, the most popular being the TFB42LZBC.

Traeger says that this model does everything you could ever need: "Versatile barbecue cooking: hot and fast, or low and slow, the Traeger Lil' Tex Elite 22 pellet Grill offers 6-in-1 versatility to grill, smoke, bake, roast, braise, and BBQ food to juicy perfection." So if you're looking for more than just a smoker, this is the perfect solution for you. Meat is grilled, smoked, roasted, or braised to perfection every time.

The TFB42LZBC is easy and predictable. It comes with an integrated digital Elite controller that works to keep temperatures within 20 degrees of the desired setting. It offers consistency you can trust, “allowing you to craft amazing wood-fired creations time and time again with the ease of set it and forget it.” It’s the perfect size for at-home cooking, even if you plan on entertaining friends and family members.

Not many of the best electric smokers under 300 dollars are digital. Masterbuilt electric smoker MB20073519 is less than 300 bucks, but it is also digital. According to Masterbuilt electric smoker reviews, this model is the best of the best. It's not often that you can come across a digital electric smoker with such an affordable price tag.

Masterbuilt is one of those names you can trust. Their products are built on tradition, and the company “leads the way in our industry with quality and innovation of products.” This machine, in particular, is Bluetooth smart, so you can power the machine on and off, control cooking temp and time, and keep track of progress from your smart device. 

Masterbuilt customers love that this smoker comes with a built-in meat probe thermometer, which allows for perfect results with each smoking session. The smoker is made up of two elements, or compartments, one meant for grilling and the other perfect for finishing off the meat by broiling. In the smoking chamber, there is space for 4 chrome-plated racks.

What we love most about the MB20073519 is the patented side wood chip loading system. This allows you to add more wood chips without ever needing to open the smoker door. All in all, this is an amazing choice if you’re looking for a digital smoker, and you can’t beat that price.

Are you looking for the best electric smoker for the money? Look no further than a brand that has been around for nearly a century: Old Smokey. Old Smokey manufacturers some of the best electric smokers for sale, offering the best electric smoker under 200 dollars. The Old Smokey Electric Smoker is a fairly basic smoking device, but it offers the best value for cost on the market.

Old Smokey says that “the Electric Smoker is controlled by a variable heat control to allow a wide variety of cooking times and styles. You'll want one of our temperature gauges too. Buy one as an add-on, and we'll install it for you.” Investing in an Old Smokey temperature gauge is great advice. Purchasing this isn't a significant expense, but it will certainly make your life easier.

This electric smoker is controlled by a heat thermostat that allows for a wide variety of cooking times and styles. With such a low price tag, you can't expect this machine to come with tons of high-tech features. It's extremely basic, and there are a few features we wish we could change, but for the low price, it's difficult to complain too much.

One thing that we don’t love about the Old Smokey electric smoker is the top-load design. There is no door to the smoking chamber. Instead, there’s a lid that is removed from the top where meat is loaded in. Another thing to be aware of is that this smoker does get hot to the touch after running for several hours. If you have little kids or pets running around, you might want to find a more heat-safe model.

It's not difficult to find electric smokers for sale, but when you're on the hunt for the best electric smoker under 1000 dollars, things become a bit more complicated. There are tons of highly-rated models for less than $1000, but each one comes with its own set of features and smoking performance. The main thing to look for is a highly versatile smoker, like the Traeger electric smoker TFB88PZBO.

When you invest in the Traeger model, it means you'll never be needing gas or charcoal again. This is a highly versatile BBQ cooker that cooks however you prefer, no matter if that means hot and fast or low and slow. It offers 6-in-1 cooking capabilities, including smoking, roasting, grilling, baking, braising, and barbecuing. For each cooking feature, you can count on the fact that your meat is cooked to juicy perfection.

What we love most about the Traeger TFB88PZBO is the amazingly precise temperature control. "The Digital Pro Controller rocks Advanced Grilling Logic, which maintains a +/- 15 degrees F temperature control to guarantee precision grilling," says Traeger. There's no guesswork when it comes to setting and maintaining the temperature of this smoker.

This list of the best electric smokers in 2019 compares models of all shapes and sizes. A large smoker means a higher cooking capacity, but this isn't the best choice if you're limited on space. In this case, you’ll want to invest in the best small electric smoker, which is without a doubt the Cookshack Oven Model SM009-2. It might look small at first glance, but it actually has an impressive cooking capacity.

The Cookshack resembles a mini-fridge. It features a 500-watt heating element, 588 square inches of cooking space, and temperature controls ranging from 100 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to its small size, the Cookshack can fit just about anywhere. It comes with everything you'll need to get started, including an aluminum drip pan, 5 pounds of hickory hardwood, and a Smoking at Home cookbook.

Cookshack has a lot to say about their leading model: “Smoking delicious food is as easy as loading the Smokette with wood and meat and setting the cooking temperature just as you do on your kitchen oven.  It is easy to clean and maintain and gives great results every time.  It is energy efficient and easy to move on its four lockable casters.” The lockable casters make this smoker one of the most portable on our list.

The Cookshack we just reviewed is a small electric smoker, which means it ranks reasonably well in portability features. But if your priority is portability, no smoker compares to the Z Grills ZPG-7002E. This model is quite a bit larger than the Cookshack, but it comes with portability features that not all smokers have, like a sturdy handle and set of durable caster wheels.

The real draw of this smoker, though, is that it comes with 8-in-1 cooking capabilities. Aside from smoking your food, you’ll have the option to grill, bake, roast, sear, braise, barbecue, and char-grill. Z Grills says that it can “go from 180°F to 475°F with an upgraded digital control board that auto ignites the grill. Its automated electric feed system maintains the heat for you — no more babysitting the grill!”

The convection cooking method used by the ZPG-7002E eliminates the need for a rotisserie. Simply place the food on the large cooking racks, set the temp, and wait patiently as your food smokes to perfection. This smoker does it all - you can find a long list of recipes on the company’s website if you’re at a loss on how to start using the machine. 

The only negative feedback surrounding the Z Grills smoker is that assembly is challenging. But as long as you follow the user manual to a T, you should have no trouble getting the smoker up and running. Once assembled, you’ll love the easy operation. It comes with an electric auto-start ignition, digital auto temperature control, and a waste oil collector for easy cleanup and maintenance.

Out of all the electric meat smokers, the Char-Broil electric smoker is the best model featuring a vertical design. Char-Broil electric smoker reviews all say the same thing about the company's vertical smoker, and that is that it's one of a kind. Whether you plan on cooking baby back ribs in an electric smoker or you're more inclined to rotisserie chicken, you'll love what Char-Broil has to offer.

This smoker features an insulated, double-walled construction that is better able to maintain a consistent temperature than any other smoker on this list. The smoking chamber fits 3 adjustable chrome-plated cooking grates that offer up to 505 square inches of cooking capacity. It comes equipped with a water pan, wood chip holder, and lid-mounted temperature gauge for easy temp control. 

Char-Broil says that "this electric smoker features a 1,500-watt variable temperature heating element to heat wood chips and water for smoking, front-mounted temperature gauge, water and wood chip pan, convenient porcelain ash pan and grease cup." The porcelain material is easy to clean, and the same goes for the stainless steel chamber, so cleaning the smoker is as easy as wiping it down after every use.

Some reviewers feel that just over 500 square inches of space isn't enough. When compared to other electric smokers on this list, 500 is on the low-end, but it is still perfectly suitable for most people. The small size of the machine doesn't take away from its performance in any way, but if you're looking for more cooking space, you might consider another choice.

A gas-powered smoker uses propane fuel to heat the chamber. Before using the smoker, you'll need to ensure that there is propane left within the tank and that there is enough to complete the task at hand. Because they are powered by propane rather than electricity, gas smokers are capable of reaching higher temperatures. But the advantages stop there.

Although a gas-powered smoker can get hotter than an electric one, an electric smoker is better for the environment and more economical. Electric smokers are much easier to use, the temperature is more comfortable to control, and they are considered to be the safer option of the two. When comparing gas vs. electric smoker, the electric version wins hands-down.