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Best Electric Smoker Reviews – Experts Picks for 2017

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We are back with another kind of smoker for you and this Best Electric Smoker Reviews For 2017 will provide you with all the details required for the most efficient electric smoker. Also, we will provide the appropriate ratings of the same machines too. Smoking of the food has been considered one of the most traditional way of cooking. And there may be many of you who still wish to cook by this traditional way. The different type of smokers included in this is pellet smoker, propane smoker, barbecue smoker, etc.

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Best Electric Smoker Reviews

Now we have brought the Top-Rated Electric Smoker Reviews for you. The reason for writing this article is, a lot of extra work is put in the pellet smoker and so we can reduce these efforts by using an electric smoker for your personal use.

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Best Electric Smoker Reviews
#1 Recommendation: Smokin-It Model Electric Smoker
#2 Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
#3 Old Smokey Electric Smoker
#4 Smoke Hollow 30162E Electric Smoker
#5 Bradley 4 Rack Digital Smoker

#1 Recommendation: Smokin-It Model Electric Smoker

All the smoker by the Smokin-It comes along with the casters and three grilling racks made of stainless steel, and a rheostat for controlling the range of temperature. This most recommended Electric Smoker arrives in an assembled form itself and so makes it easy to use.

Smokin-It Model Electric Smoker

This electric smoker has got this capacity of handling around 21 pounds of meat. This Smokin-It makes use of 400 Watt of LED light as the indicator. The single phase of 3A with 120volts is covered with the fiberglass material.

The dimension of the Smokin-It Model is given by 12.5 x 17.2 x 13.5 in inches. The system weighs about 58.8 pounds. And it also has got three removable shelves with it and can accommodate a total of 4 shelves.

It is easy to use this machine and comes with simple controls in it. This device is quite portable in nature. Therefore, you can easily move it from one place to another. The steps for installing this smoker is also a simple to do the task.

The only drawback found in this Smokin-It model is the number of the racks provided, as mentioned before there is a space of 4 shelf accommodation but racks provided are only 3 with this.

So we provided you the detailed information on the electric smoker with their pros and cons. Lately, that is evident from only one negative found in this. Also it has got excellent Amazon user ratings!

#2 Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

The main feature of the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker is the intuitive push button that it has got. The temperature range found in this one lies between 100 to 275°F. Also, the temperature is maintained very well in this, thus keeping the food perfect.

The space provided for cooking inside the smoker is quite large, and so you will get a large amount of space to cook ham, sausages, chicken for any special occasion as well as for home cooking.

Talking about the dimensions, this smoker has got 20 x 17 x 33.5 in inches. The appliance weighs around 45.9 pounds, and it comes with a digital timer and temperature controllers.

The size that can be handled by this Masterbuilt product is incredibly large. The selection of this system is an economic one, as it makes use of less amount of woods for the working. The customer care of the company is reportedly co-operative.

The quality of the build lags behind the standard quality when compared with other smokers in this range. So this is the only drawback we got in this electric smoker.

Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

There are many other features which make this product unique from all the others. And the only drawback we got regards the build quality. This product has received great ratings as per the stars given by the users.

#3 Old Smokey Electric Smoker

This product is way too efficient than you think. The performance of this product will be known only after you start using this system. This Old Smokey Electric Smoker is adaptable in nature, so if you wish to try out new recipes, then this smoker remains the top ranked choice of all.

Old Smokey Electric Smoker

This electric smoker has got one tray just like the ones we see in an electric oven. We have to keep the wood chips on this tray and cook. The lid is used for keeping the unit closed, and this will help in storing the wooden flavor of the food while it is cooked.

The dimension of this product is given by 29 x 15.5 x 15.5 in inches. This Masterbuilt device weighs about 24 pounds.

The machine comes with a drip pan for the beginner level cooking and also with additional grill for the top cooking level users.

This Old Smokey is quite easy to handle by a new user, with easy controls and working. The client support team has been working very efficiently. And in the end, the performance of this electric smoker is par excellence at this range.

The only drawback found here is that reliability factor. Some of the users have questioned the reliability of this electric heater, and have a complaint that this product lags behind here.

We discussed the Old Smokey Electric Smoker here, and saw all the needed info on it, with the pros and cons found in it. This product comes at a reasonable rate via Amazon, and the overall ratings are also good on the same portal.

#4 Smoke Hollow 30162E Electric Smoker

The next on our recommendations is the Smoke Hollow Electric Smoker. The first thing about this smoker is that it is surrounded by two wall construction. Therefore, the heat is firmly closed within the smoker.

The heat is generated using the 1500 watt element in this smoker. The system looks like our very own electric smoker; you need to place your favorite wood chip and to get the authentic BBQ taste in the cooked food.

The dimension of the unit is given by 17 x 15 x 31 in inches. The weight of this Smoke Hollow during shipment is found to be 47.65 pounds. The machine has got two handles for ease of handling and assembling the complete electric smoker.

It has this quality of being convenient to the users; it’s because of the compact nature. The quality of the build found in this machine is of high quality. Also, the controls given on this machine is easy to understand, even for a newbie.

The only drawback found regarding this, is regarding the instruction book provided with it.

Smoke Hollow 30162E Electric Smoker

People have expressed that the instructions provided in this were not up to the mark, and they had to surf the internet to get some of the steps cleared.

We have got only one drawback as of now, will update if any other issue is reported. This Smoke Hollow 30162E is mainly preferred for outside cooking. Checking the Amazon ratings, they have got decent ratings by all the users.

#5 Bradley 4 Rack Digital Smoker

This Bradley Smoker includes all the digital technology that is mainly found in the all the modern smokers. Therefore the different categories like the smoke, time, right amount of temperature can be controlled in this Bradley Smoker.

Bradley 4 Rack Digital Smoker

The Bradley Smoker is the best for creating high-quality foods in the home itself. The other features included in this are the automatic way of roasting, cooking barbecue and even smoking in the outdoor places.

The dimension of this Bradley 4 Rack is 14 x 14 x 31 in inches. The product weighs about the 43 pounds.

This electric smoker can provide continuous 8 hours of cool smoke and a temperature which ranges up to 320°F.

The steps for installing this electric heater is quite easy. The cost is worthy of the performance provided by the electric system. The complete smoker is also easy to handle one too with the simple digital controls on it.

The quality of the build found in this product is low comparatively. Some people have expressed their disappointment regarding the build quality of the Bradley electric smoker that they purchased.

We saw the complete in detail info on the Bradley smoker, and also the pros and cons present in it. This product is expensive, and not easily affordable by all the buyers. 

What you should consider for buying the Best Electric Smoker

Now you might think that buying an Electric Smoker is not too much complicated as it seems, but the reality is you might get confused in choosing the right one among all the choices presented to you.

The main reason for this confusion is that, every barbecue lover wishes to get the best Smoker for him/her so that he/she can make delicious yet healthy food at home but easily without any hassles.

On the other hand, there are many models available in the market now offering different kinds of Electric Smoker with some or the other unique feature added to it. So these all factors make it difficult for any user in making the right choice.

Now if you are planning to cook dishes like crab, fish on the smoker, then not all the products are apt for cooking these items. So for this we have enlisted here some of the points that need to be considered for choosing the right appliance for you.

  • Checking out for some openings: The first point to consider is the presence of any cavity kind of thing. The main purpose of such structures is to remove excess heat outside the system.

    • When the excess amount of the smoke and heat is removed, the level of the smoke within the electric smoker will be maintained. Also the other thing that is maintained here is, the level of the smoke and the temperature is maintained in the food.

    When you are dealing with the traditional style for cooking, you are required to stir the vessel to prevent the food from being burnt. But because of the openings present, heat is maintained and there are no chances of any burnt food.

  • Temperature Control: A good food is cooked by keeping the time and the temperature in control. If any one of both the parameters is not controlled properly, your food may fail.

    • So if you are opting for the traditional style of cooking, then you need to regularly check the temperature inside the unit, to ensure that the food is being rightly cooked.

    While all this work will be now controlled by the electric smoker itself and this job is done by the use of rheostat/thermostat within. Most of the users have rated the rheostats as good compared to the latter.

  • Heat flow in the system: Now a lot more science goes into the making of the heat structure are in a smoker. The main concern while designing the electric smoker is to make sure that the food is prepared rightly and also in time.

    • Now if you are into cooking profession, then definitely you will be looking out for a smoker which cooks the food faster. And for this, go for especially this one where the heat flows from the upside to downwards.

    And for others who are looking out for the smoker for their personal use, then they should opt for the electric smoker where the heat flows from downwards to upwards. The reason is, this method will cook the food slowly keeping all the flavours intact.

  • Food Tray Structure: The electric smokers comes with different kinds of trays in it. The trays are arranged in two ways. One way is the horizontally placed trays without any inclination and the another way is with the inclination.

    • The other classification comes, when looking out for the type of food that you need to cook. If you wish to cook meat, then horizontal tray should be preferred whereas for cooking fish, horizontal trays with inclination is used.

    ​Now considering the material used in the making of the tray, it could be made of steel, stainless steel or any other material. So you need to make sure here that the material of the tray is a durable one and requires less maintenance.

  • Price: After considering all the above points, the last one but the most important of all is your Budget for buying any appliance. After you have decided which kind of smoker to buy then you must check out for the availability of the product in your budget range.

    • For this, you need to first mark down all the features that you wish to see in your electric smoker, which includes the kind of food you wish to cook or the time duration of cooking the food.

    By doing this, you will definitely filter out many options from the list of available smokers. And also you will be able to choose the right system with all the features you needed in it, and also within the budget that you had decided.

About Electric Smoker
What you should consider for buying the Best Electric Smoker
Advantages & Disadvantages of using Electric Smoker
Safe
Price-friendly
Easy to handle
Convenience

Advantages & Disadvantages of using Electric Smoker

In this section we will check out the advantages and the disadvantages present in the Best Electric Smoker. The main concept while dealing with these kind of smokers is that the heat is not created using the flames here.

Here the electric smokers work using the heating of the coils, and thus we get the heat for cooking of the food. Now this way of working provides a lot of advantages to you, compared to the traditional smoker.

And the advantages that your Best Electric Smoker offers are provided in the following section:

Safe

  • Undoubtedly the electric smokers are way too safer than your traditional systems. Talking about the traditional methods, they depend on the fire to get the smoke for cooking.
  • The other issue using the traditional way is that, if by chance the smoking unit falls then the fire could spread around. And if you have got your partner and kids living in the same house, then buying the best electric smoker would be recommended.
  • Therefore the electric ones are undoubtedly more safe to use. Also if you have got any kind of danger with the open flames in your surrounding, then go for the electric smoking.

Price-friendly

  • Here the term “price” relates to the maintenance cost. If you are using the traditional smoker, then you will require money for buying the charcoal and fuel.
  • After some time, a lot of money will be spent for the running of the unit. This issue never arises when we are dealing with the electric smoker.
  • Whereas in the Best Electric Smoker, you don’t require any fuel for running. Instead you have to simply plug the device and then run it. Also this devices does not use a lot of power.

Easy to handle

  • When we are using the traditional unit, you need to keep a watch on it while the electric smoker is in a working state. That is, you need to keep working on the flame, and to check the air flow passage in the flame.
  • ​Also when you are dealing with the traditional smoker, you need to make sure that the flame is running properly within some time interval. In the Best Electric Smoker, you simply have to plug in, set temperature and start the cooking process.
  • An Electric Smoker can work wonders for both the newbies and the experts. Even if you don’t have knowledge of handling the smoking meat, you can easily set the temperature and cook the food easily in an electric unit.

Convenience

  • This point is connected to the previous advantage. Because of the feature of the ease of handling, this electric smoker gives the advantage of being convenient for the users.
  • Talking about the traditional method, you need to keep a watch on the food at regular intervals. Need to check the flames, flow of air and the temperature whereas in these particular Smokers, just set the temperature and cook the food easily.

Advantages are done, now we will check out the disadvantages of using the Best Electric Smoker. And they are:

  • Low Temperature – The electric smokers provide comparatively lower temperature, which results in longer time for cooking food. The level of temperature is one of the main drawbacks of the these smokers.
  • Prone to malfunction – Compared to the traditional system, the electric smoker is vulnerable to the failure because of the electronic elements present in the latter one.

So these were the advantages and disadvantages present in the use of Electric Smoker, and we have compared them with the traditional.

We are concluding our post on Best Electric Smoker Reviews For 2017 and hope that we helped you in the right way in making the right selection for these appliances among all the ones that are available in the market. For more updates on the Smoker Reviews, keep visiting us on Smokerify!

Old Smokey Electric Smoker as Top Pick of 2017

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Smoker is equal to a blessing for all the meat lovers out there. But one thing required for best results is Patience. This is because most of the smokers follow the slow cooking way. Patience and dedicated cooking will present you with perfectly cooked, delicious and juicy meat.

Among all the Electric Smokers, this Old Smokey device tops all of them. And so we made our mind to provide a complete review for all our readers.

There are different types of smokers available nowadays, and they mostly vary on the basis of fuel type. Smoker comes in a wide variety, ranging from the traditional units (food cooked at 225 degrees F) to cold smoking method (temperature can go lower than 60 degrees).

Coming to the features of one Electric Smoker, you can get as high or as low degrees of temperature within it. But the main quality required in this type of smokers is the level of automation.

Old Smokey Electric Smoker Complete Review

For cooking on the Old Smokey unit, you won’t require the presence of water for this. The sealed lid present on it helps in capturing and adding the best flavors to the meat. This results in tasty and juiciest meat ever. The top of the unit has got a flat construction, with an even cooking of the food.

Specifications

Old Smokey Electric Smoker

Listed below are all the major specification details of this Old Smokey Electric Smoker.

  1. The main point to note here is that this smoker does not require water for the making.
  2. Electricity is the source of power supply, which keeps the unit running.
  3. The width of this smoker is around 17 inches, so make sure that you provide enough space for the setup.
  4. The smoker is made of Aluminized steel.
  5. The color of the machine is grey.
  6. For the smokey flavor, you have to use wood chips and place them on the chip tray provided with it.

These are some of the important details about this Old Smokey. It is good to know about these details before making a purchase.

Features of Old Smokey Electric Smoker

Less or no amount of water is needed for the cooking purpose. Here the top of the machine is flat in design, and it makes sure that the food is cooked evenly. You can prepare the marinade for cooking or even make use of the juices of the meat itself.

There are two cooking racks included within the smoker, one drip pan, smoking chips and the handle. One corrosion-resistant steel is used in the construction part, along with the heating element in here. The heat is easily adjustable, so you can set the one which is preferable for cooking.

The unit has got a gray color, and with the help of the flat top present here you can get all the juices dripping back to the food. There is one chip tray which is placed right on top of the heating element. And you have to lay all the wood chips on this tray, and this is the one which is responsible for all those smokey flavors.

Old-smokey-electric-smoker

Also, it is recommended to all users to not compare this system with the charcoal or any other traditional ones. Each of the units has got their positives and negatives. On this Old Smokey, you can easily perform smoking, roasting. Additionally, Electric Smokers minimizes a lot of efforts taken while using the regular barbecues.

Pros

  • Pocket-friendly, quality product considering the price of the smoker
  • The structure of this Old Smokey is simple and thus makes it easy to use
  • Maintenance is easy
  • With the help of the firm lid covering, it has got an amazing heat control quality
  • Handles are found to be heat resistant

Cons

  • Some of the users mentioned that the quality of the built could have been improved
  • A few users said that the meat gets moist after processing. Well, we have a solution for this, either you can get a generic grilling vent on the lid or simply make a crack on the lid

User Reviews 

Though some issues are found with this smoker, there are a lot of users who have found it amazing. This electric smoker is considered the best for all newbies, to get started with the smoking work. This product is easy to install and is reportedly reliable (with right maintenance).

About Old Smokey and their other products

Old Smokey is a manufacturing company based in Houston, Texas. They want to create/produce such systems which are liked by the user, and also which makes them happy. Their team always stand behind the products, and if you face any issue in the system then get in contact with them. The problem can be solved quickly; customer satisfaction is one of the main aims of Old Smokey.

Along with the Electric Smoker, Old Smokey is also offering Charcoal Grills. There are three different models in this product category.

#14 Old Smokey Charcoal Grill 

#18 Old Smokey Charcoal Grill 

#22 Old Smokey Charcoal Grill 

The brand Old Smokey has been one of the trusted brands in the grillers section. All the Charcoal Grills are differentiated using the measurement of the diameter. For example, the first grill has got the diameter of 14 inches. In the same way, the second and the third product comes with 18 and 22 inches respectively.

This company is only into grilling and the Electric Smoker production. Other than this they also offer all the perfect fit replacement parts for both electric as well as Charcoal Grill. Also, they also supply many different accessories which include Old Smokey Cap, Temperature Gauge, Wood Chips, Seasonings, and Olive Oil, and many other products.

Old Smokey is  more than a decade-old brand. Many users across the world trust this brand.

We are concluding our review on Old Smokey Electric Smoker. Hope that it helped in solving out many of your queries. Still feel free to get in touch with us, and ask out your questions in the comment space given below. Liked our review? Then, show some support on our page Smokerify

Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker

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Who doesn’t love to Smoke a Brisket or a Turkey in an Electric Smoker? It can be an expensive piece of meat, but it surely provides you with the best kind of taste. In the present article on, Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker we will guide you through the method of How to Smoke a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker?

The Smoked Brisket or Turkey tastes awesome. Although a bit time consuming, you can sacrifice that much time in order to have the great taste. So Follow the below given steps and enjoy your piece of meat.

Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker – Smoking a Brisket

Are you planning to Smoke a Brisket in an Electric Smoker? This is how you can do that easily.

Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker

1. Selecting the Brisket

  • In order to prepare the best kind of Brisket, you have to buy a good quality of meat. You have to buy a tender Brisket.
  • To check the Brisket, First of all, take a Brisket and keep it in your hands. Now you have to check out the bending strength of the Brisket.
  • More the Brisket bends, more are the connective tissues in it. Better the Brisket it becomes. So you have to choose the Brisket which bends the most.
  • You also have to check the thickness layer of the piece of meat. Thicker the meat, more it will remain moist.

2. Preparation of Brisket

  • Before Smoking the Brisket, rub the massage over the piece of meat at least few hours before you plan to smoke it. It will extract the best kind of flavors and juice for you.
  • Rubbing it a night ago and keep it in the refrigerator can also get you the best kind of taste.

3. Smoking the Brisket

  • Take out the Brisket from the refrigerator at least couple of hours before you are planning to smoke it. In this way, It will come down to normal temperature.
  • Now, you have to fill your Wooden Chip Box. You can use commodities as per your taste such as Mesquite, Apple, Hickory as well as Cherry.
  • In case if you don’t have wood, you can also use Charcoal Chip Box. Although, it is believed that the Wooden Chip Box gets you the best-flavored Brisket.

4. Preparing the Brisket in Smoker

  • Preheat the Smoker at the desirable temperature as per the recommendations of the Manufacturer.
  • Attach the temperature probe on the thickest part of the meat. Keep this arrangement on the rack in the Electric Smoker.
  • Turn ON the Smoker and start heating it until it reaches the desirable temperature.

Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker – Smoking a Turkey

Are you planning to Smoke a Turkey in an Electric Smoker? This is how you can do that easily.

Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker - Smoking a Turkey

1. Choosing a Turkey

  • To prepare the best kind of Turkey it is essential to buy the best kind of Turkey. Experts suggest buying a Turkey without any kind of added ingredients or flavors.
  • You don’t even need to remove the bones, as the bones will keep the meat moist. Apart from that, if you wish to add any kind of flavor then you can do it with the help of Rub, Brine or Injector.

2. Preparing a Turkey

  • First of all, you have to thaw your Turkey. It is not recommendable to smoke a cold Turkey. You also need to clean your Turkey before preparing it.
  • Next, you have to brine the Turkey. For brining it, drop it in the water vessel with a little salt. It enhances the moisture retaining capacity of the Turkey.
  • After this, you have to rinse the Turkey in chilled water completely. And then you have to take it out and allow it to dry completely for 12-24 Hours.

3. Preparing a Smoker

  • Now, when you are about to prepare Turkey. First of all, rub it properly both from inside as well as outside. For inner portion use Dry Rub and for outer portion use the Wet Rub.
  • Heat the Smoker to the desirable temperature as suggested by the manufacturer before keeping the Turkey in it.
  • When the device has reached the appropriate temperature, attach a temperature probe to the Turkey and keep it in the Electric Smoker.
  • Do add oil on the surface of the smoker so that it doesn’t stick to the surface of the electric smoker. Also, spray the oil or butter while the cooking process is ongoing so as to keep it moist.
  • Heat the Turkey till the desirable temperature is reached.

We hope our article on, Smoking a Brisket and Turkey in an Electric Smoker will be helpful to you for preparing Brisket as well as Turkey in an Electric Smoker. Both the methods are extremely easy.

Now go and enjoy your food and share it with your loved ones! Do follow Smokerify for more updates!

Electric Smoker – Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

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Every machinery requires maintenance, and same is the case with our Smokers too. You may find grease and oil depositions settling on your Electric Smokers, and this is the time when your machine needs the process of Cleaning! You have to follow some easy steps for cleaning and you will all set to get the best results from your smoker system.

Avoid using harsh cleaners and opt for mild detergents while you are up with the cleaning work.

Electric Smoker – Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

It would be great if you could clean the smoker unit after each use. But who does that? We could say only a few of you do this. But after a long usage period, you have to perform the cleaning work without fail. Otherwise, you won’t get the best performance out of your unit and will end up ruining your Barbecue feast.

We don’t want our readers to go through such a bad experience. So take out some time on your lazy Sundays and get the unit back in action!

Electric smoker cleaning and maintenance tips

 

The first step is to Clean the Smoking Chamber:

Before starting with this process, let the system cool down completely. Initially, get the machine components like the water pan, racks, drip tray, and the smoker box out. If you find any buildup formed within the unit, then brush this formation completely out of the unit. If you have got residues left inside, then remove it from the chamber as well. Now take some warm soapy water, and start scrubbing the interiors of the smoker. Make use of a sponge or any plastic bristle brush. Do not use the metal scrubs for this purpose.

Some people have asked about the darkening of the interiors; this darkening cannot be reduced though. One benefit of this darkened surface is that it helps in preventing any rust condition. Thus it helps with increasing the overall performance.

Clean the Outside of the Smoker Machine

For getting started with this process, you need to take some warm soapy water. Then using a damp cloth, start wiping the exterior of the smokers. Clean the hard oil buildups formed on the unit, and after you are done with the cleaning wipe the entire smoker. Wipe it to dry it completely.

While some of the Smoker tops have got glass windows on them, so in such case, you need to use only the approved cleaners for dealing with ceramic glass surfaces.

In this way, you can get the interior, as well as exteriors, cleaned.

Electric Smoker cleaning and maintenance tips

For the Thermostats

Take one damp cloth and some soapy water. Yes, this combination will remain same for almost any cleaning Smoker task. You will find the thermostats on the rear inside wall of the smoker unit, clean them rightly. And finally, wipe dry both of them.

Rust Issues

Smoker systems will get rusty after some time since they are exposed to various temperatures and sometimes even water. Therefore you cannot completely prevent your unit from getting rusted, but you can reduce the intensity of the rust.

Take out one wire brush or sandpaper, and start scrubbing the rust affected areas. After the scrubbing, paint your smoker system with a quality heat-resistant barbecue paint. This paint works like a protective layer which does not let the air come in contact with the smoker surface.

As an additional step, you can even check the internal functioning of the machine. Make sure about any clogging issue present within the system.

Hope you guys liked this article on Electric Smoker – Cleaning and Maintenance tips, and let us know if you have got any cool tip for maintenance which we missed out here.

You can follow our page Smokerify for receiving post updates!

Which one to choose – Electric Smoker or Charcoal Smoker

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It is a never-ending debate. Electric Smoker or Charcoal Smoker which one to choose? Our one sentence answer is that ‘it depends on the user interest and requirement.’

Now, what if you are confused with what you are looking for? Chill guys, we are here to solve your questions and doubts related to making a selection between both the Smokers.

Electric Smoker or Charcoal Smoker

You will find a unique flavor in a Smoky food, which cannot be obtained in an oven or grilled type of cooking. This type of cooking is an old method, and it has been present for a long time. If you search out for types of smokers, then you will come across many varieties of them. All of them have got their unique purpose and usage method.

To highlight some of the difference between electric and charcoal smoker, Electric Smoker is easy to use compared to the other. Charcoal Smoker requires the user presence, while Electric one needs less user supervision. So if you are the kind of person who wishes to spend more time around the smoker with coals and wood chips, then you won’t like the electric smoker.

Now we would like to list some points to make the difference more clear. This will help in choosing the right Smoker system according to your need.

electric smoker vs charcoal smoker

Space Constraints 

If you don’t have much space indoors, and looking for an outdoor smoker, then you consider both the Electric as well as the Charcoal Smoker in this case. Charcoal Smokers are only recommended for outdoor installation, so for those planning to install indoors then you can choose the Electric one only.

Also, it is must to have some space left around one Charcoal Smoker, to keep yourself safe from any fire cases. While there are some Electric Smokers which are installed outdoors; as they release some gas while processing. Therefore, choose the unit which matches your space availability.

Source of Fuel

This point can help you in choosing the unit which you wish to have. Talking about the Electric Smokers, they are fixed with the temperature provided in this. When we talk about the high-end electric units, they can go as high as 350°, whereas in a low-end unit you won’t get temperature more than 200°. This makes it a great option for those looking for an easy way of getting a consistent temperature.

While in Charcoal unit, the temperature ranges are found to be wide. But the challenge present here is with the building and maintenance of the desired temperature. So mastering the art is needed for the best results with the charcoal system.

Popular Smoker 

If you want to go by the popularity of the smoker, then currently the Electric Smoker is getting popular. One of the main reasons for this is the dropping prices of this smoker, and ease of handling. You can get one basic electric smoker for about $100, and it can be installed in indoor as well as outdoor place.

Talking about the Charcoal unit, it has been for a long time now. This type of smoker is preferred more in the places which are famous for the barbecue food. It is popular in most of the places based in the United States.

Heating Process Preferred to You

Well, this point to the factor about the heating method preferred by you. When we are dealing with the Electric Smoker, here radiant waves are passed through the meat for some time, and then the unit is turned off. After some time, the coils are re-charged when any temperature drop is found in the unit. So here, major time of the food is cooked using indirect heat.

While in a charcoal unit, continuous heat is supplied till the fibers of the meat is broken down to give you the best flavored, juicy meat. So, depending on your preferred style of cooking you can choose from both Electric and Charcoal.

Size of the Smoker

Of course, Electric smokers need less space than Charcoal Smoker! The reason is, electric ones do not require space for keeping the coal containers which are present in the charcoal units. While you are dealing with charcoal smokers, you will find the large size, and also you have to provide some extra space for all the charcoal units. This is for safety issues.

But there is a relief for you here. You can easily choose from small to large sizes smokers for both the electric as well as charcoal smokers. Therefore, this choice may not help you much though.

Summary

Considering all the points listed above, it proves that Electric Smoker is preferable for all newbies. Whereas for all those looking to work with the woods and coals can easily opt for the Charcoal Smoker. Charcoal is recommended for best Smoky results.. So depending on your preferences and interests, you can opt for either one of them.

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How to use an Electric Smoker – Easy Steps Explained

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Cooking meat using heat for extended time period prevents easy spoiling and also adds a unique, irresistible flavor to the meat. If you are a barbecue lover, then you must try out some recipes on an electric smoker.

Also with the help of an electric smoker, you don’t have to supervise the dish continuously. You can leave the unit, and let the smoker do all the magic for you! But for all this, you need to know the right way of using an Electric Smoker, and that’s exactly what we are going to check out here.

How to use an Electric Smoker

People love to use an electric smoker for reasons aplenty like low-cost, easy on handling, and the unit does most of the work without human intervention. First, you need to get one Electric Smoker for yourself, but make sure that you use the smoker in the summer season. This is because, it has been observed that the smoker performs better during Summers than in Winters.

The shape of an Electric Smoker is just like that of a refrigerator, and most of the units come along with gauge setting which lets the user monitor temperature within the unit. So look out for a unit which provides this temperature control feature in it.

Steps to use Electric Smoker are explained below:

  1. The major step is to get one smoker unit, and considering all the points explained before.
  2. After you are set with your Smoker system, your next step is to read the user guidelines carefully. There are many types in the Electric Smokers. Therefore, before starting to use the unit, a thorough understanding of it is important.
  3. Coming to the using, you need to set the unit for work. This is termed as ‘season the machine.’ For cleaning, seasoning or curing the smoker, follow the process given in the user manual. This seasoning is a must process for preparing any food item within it. It helps in removing dust, or any other odor present in the smoker.
  4. Take the cooking oil, and apply on the racks and other indoor portions of the smoker.
  5. Then turn the machine on, and keep it running for about 2 hours. After the 2 hours time, turn the machine off, and open the lid to let go of the heat inside. Let the smoker cool down completely.
  6. While the machine is cooling down, you can prepare and set the meat during this time. Take the appropriate amount of meat you want to cook and arrange all the herbs and spices required for marination.
  7. Add sugar, spices, herbs, salt and place the meat covered in an acidic marination. This step is mandatory while you are working with an electric smoker for cooking meat.
  8. For best results, keep the meat overnight with the marination on. This will help in soaking the meat in the best way, thus giving the best smoky flavors. You can alter the level of spice as per your choice.
  9. Now turn your electric smoker on. Some of the smokers come with a water receptacle section, so if your unit has one then add water during this step.
  10. You have to purchase wood chips for creating the smoke, and it is available in almost all grocery stores. There is one wood chip container which comes with the smoker. In this container, you need to add cherry, alder, plum, hickory chips, cedar, etc. Approximately, 3-5 hours of smoking requires 4 cups.
  11. You are almost there! Just set the temperature needed for cooking. It is important to set the desired temperature and then to get started with your meat.
  12. The meat is to be placed on the rack of the smoker after the temperature is set.how to use electric an electric smoker
  13. Continuing the cooking till the meat becomes tender. Check the internal temperature, and let the smoker start working on the meat. You can make use of a meat thermometer to check if the meat has reached the right temperature. This thermometer is inserted just in the center of the meat.

Now, you just have to wait and watch for the Smoker Magic. You can easily check the unit in between to know the status of your food.

So this is the manner of using one Electric Smoker, and it can change from one smoker unit to another. So it is important to read and understand the processing steps carefully before getting started with your smoker model.