Best Electric Smokers of 2023

Best Electric Smokers

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Top 8 Best Electric Smokers

  1. Char-Broil 140 908 (Editor’s Choice)
  2. MasterBuilt MES130B (Luxury Choice)
  3. Callow Retail 500W (Best Value)
  4. Barbecook Electronic (Best Compact Design)
  5. Masterbuilt Black (Best Digital)
  6. Anuka Hot (Best Small)
  7. Royal Gourmet 28 inch (Best Professional)
  8. MasterBuilt MES140B (Best with Wheels)

Smoking food is an age-long cooking method that is practised in several countries. While this cooking practice is highly unlikely to go into extinction, it’s pretty clear that it has undergone a significant amount of evolution.

When compared to the past, smoking food is no longer a laborious process thanks to electric smokers.

It’s noteworthy to mention that digital smokers are gaining popularity over the conventional method of smoking. Furthermore, these new-age smokers come with a lot of benefits.

However, shopping for one can be a daunting task since there are many electric smokers in the UK. So, if you are in the market for one, here are the eight best electric smoker reviews.

How We Compared Electric Smokers

electric smokers collage

To find the right electric smokers, we considered multiple factors, including:

  • Size and capacity
  • Features
  • Temperature range and stability
  • Performance and effectiveness
  • Ease of cleaning
  • Drip and water pan quality
  • Build materials, durability, and longevity

Our team independently examined and compared hundreds of products to help satisfy different needs. We spent our time researching electric smokers and consulting customer reviews to ultimately bring you what, in our opinion, are the best options on the market right now.

To find out more about our editorial process, take a look here.

Electric Smoker Reviews

Char-Broil 140 908 (Editor’s Choice)

If you’re looking for a desirable electric smoker that comes with a wide variety of functions, then the Char-Broil 140 908 is a great pick. Not only does this electric smoker make the smoking process easy, but also hands-free as possible.

The Char-Broil 140 908 comes with an insulated double-wall design that is quite efficient when it comes to preventing heat loss. Additionally, this wall design helps maintain a constant and uniform heat inside the smoker when it’s in use.

This electric smoker boasts an intuitive control panel with an easy-to-read display, precision temperature control, and an audible alert. It also comes with a removable food thermometer that can tell when the food is evenly cooked according to your preferred style and preference.

The transparent glass incorporated on the door of this smoker allows one to have a clear vision of what is cooking. This electric smoker also has an internal light that aids invisibility when cooking. Furthermore, the Char-Broil 140 908 comes with four steel racks and a grease tray.

Did we mention that this electric smoker can be used to smoke food for approximately 8 hours with only four cups of wood chips?

Pros:

  • It comes with a washable and removable food thermometer for perfect cooking temperature
  • It includes an easy to understand intuitive digital controls system
  • It has four adjustable smoking racks with oven-style chrome-plated grates for holding your grill favourites
  • It features an easy to clean side access grease tray
  • A precision temperature gauge and audible alerts functions are included

Cons:

  • It might lack a cold smoking option
  • The integrated thermometer might fail to function after some time
  • The glass door might get partly burned after some time hence blocking cooking visibility

MasterBuilt MES130B (Luxury Choice)

Quality and performance are words that best describe the MasterBuilt MES130B. It’s also one of the best digital electric smokers that sit well with professional and novice users.

The MasterBuilt MES130B boasts excellent heat retention and improved performance thanks to its fully insulated body. It also comes with an appropriately sized heating element and an easy-to-use digital control panel for precise control.

This digital electric smoker also comes with four-chrome plated racks and a drip tray that makes disposing of unwanted waste a breeze. Bear in mind that the MasterBuilt MES130B comes with a patented side wood chip loader that allows one to add wood chips easily without opening its door.

Furthermore, this spacious electric smoker sits well with both professional and novice users since it comes with a detailed instructional manual.

Pros:

  • It features a fold-out panel on the top for added convenience
  • It comes with durable and rust-resistant chrome-plated cooking racks
  • A patented side wood-chip loader function is installed
  • Features a transparent glass door for efficient food monitoring progress
  • It is easy to control and regulate the desired temperature

Cons:

  • Some users may find moving it to be quite challenging since it lacks wheels
  • The lack of a meat temperature control probe may not sit well with some users
  • It might not be waterproof to be left outdoor unattended

Callow Retail 500W (Best Value)

Sleek and portable are the words that best describe the Callow Retail 500W electric smoker. So if you’re looking for the best electric smoker that works well with any indoor or outdoor setting, then this is an excellent choice.

With a capacity of 9.5 liters, the Callow Retail 500W digital electric smoker comes with a three-tire rack. And an easy-to-use control panel with an LED display and a timer.

Bear in mind that this digital electric smoker allows one to choose between hot smoke, cold smoke or a combination of the two when cooking food.

On the downside, cleaning it can be a daunting task, as well as regulating the heat since it may lack vents or dampers. Moreover, this digital smoker may not sit well with cold smoking.

Pros:

  • Three-tier cooking racks offer comfortable cooking
  • It comes with an easy-to-use digital control panel
  • It features a timer and an audible alarm for notification when the smoking is complete
  • The amount of emitted smoke can be minimal
  • Offers both hot smoke and cold smoke settings

Cons:

  • Foods smoked by this smoker may have an intense and bitter smoky taste
  • It might not be suitable for cold smoking
  • Cleaning it might be a bit challenging for some users

Barbecook Electronic (Best Compact Design)

The Barbecook Otto is one of the best electric smokers with an attractive cylindrical design. This fancy-looking electric smoker boasts high functionality. It’s also made of high-quality stainless steel material that makes it sturdy.

Weighing in at 4.8kg, this electric smoker is spacious enough to smoke large chunks of food at once. Moreover, it has a convenient handle that makes it easy to transport when need be. The Barbecook Otto electric smoker features include a stainless steel grate and a drip tray.

Furthermore, it’s important to note that cleaning this electric smoker is a breeze. And its accessories, such as the water bowl and grate, are dishwasher friendly. However, it may not be the ideal electric smoker for novice users.

Pros:

  • Stainless-steel racks and drip trays are included to offer ease of cleaning
  • Features an electrical system and timeless design
  • It comes with dishwasher-friendly parts
  • The included elements are easy to use and maintain
  • Offers traditional smoking taste in no time

Cons:

  • It might overheat or get the pieces of wood burned or charred
  • The recipe book might be pretty challenging for novice users
  • It might lack a thermostat to achieve the desired temperature

Masterbuilt Black (Best Digital)

The Masterbulit Black is an excellent electric smoker that is ideal for both beginner and expert smokers. It comes with a digital control panel that allows the user to turn the smoker on and off and control both the cooking duration and temperature.

Moreover, it has an adjustable air damper that can regulate the amount of smoke in its cabinet.

This digital electric smoker comes with a fully insulated body for excellent heat retention and thermostat control for its temperature.

It’s worth mentioning that one can add flavoured wood chips to this electric smoker without opening its door. This helps in maintaining its internal temperature.

The main cabinet of this electrical smoker is built with stainless steel and coated with black plastic trim. Its interior is made with aluminium material to help keep the heat in.

Bear in mind the temperature of this digital electric smoker ranges between 100-275 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooking time can be controlled using its digital control panel system.

Pros:

  • Features four chrome-coated smoking racks
  • It comes with a thermostat temperature system for desired temperature use
  • An on/off function is included on its digital control panel
  • It has a patented side wood chip loading system installed
  • Excellent at heat retention

Cons:

  • Some users may not find it ideal for indoor use
  • It might malfunction when not maintained properly
  • This digital electric smoker may not sit well with harsh outdoor weather conditions

Anuka Hot (Best Small)

If you’re looking for the best electric smoker designed to smoke food quickly, then the Anuka Hot Smoker is an excellent choice.

This electric smoker effectively combines both hot smoking and cold smoking. It also comes with two large racks that can hold a significant amount of food for smoking.

The Anuka Hot smoker boasts a 500-watt heating element and a considerable range of temperatures. Bear in mind that this electric smoker can be used to smoke a wide variety of foods with different temperature requirements.

It’s noteworthy to mention that the timer on this appliance allows one to preset the smoking duration. This timer automatically shuts off when the specified time elapses.

With that being said, it is wise to mention that this smoker comes with smoking trivets that are used to collect liquids that might be dripping from the smoked food.

Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that this electric smoker from the Anuka brand comes with a glimmering aluminium base. So, you need not worry about stuck-on foods.

Well, if you are looking for a portable electric smoker, this is an ideal selection due to its small size.

Pros:

  • It comes with a comprehensive recipe booklet
  • A food-safe lid is included for heavy-duty or high-temperature cooking
  • Easy to clean
  • It comes with dishwasher-safe parts
  • It has a robust 60 minute graduated mechanical timer installed

Cons:

  • It might lack standard UK plugs and an adaptor
  • The electric smoker might be quite a hassle to assemble for some users
  • It might not be suitable for outside use if electrical outlets are unavailable

Royal Gourmet 28 inch (Best Professional)

With a 1500 Watt heating element, the Royal Gourmet is the best budget electric smoker UK stores have to offer.

This electric smoker has an adjustable temperature control function, two adjustable chrome-plated cooking racks, and a cooking surface of 457.86 square inches.

Its adjustable temperature control allows one to set a temperature that sits well with their desired cooking style. Bear in mind that this analogue smoker comes with a minimum temperature of 240 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum of 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

This analogue electric smoker allows one to smoke food in a short time. It’s worthy mentioning that this electric smoker from Royal Gourmet Brand is multi-functional. It can be used to steam, barbeque or grill foods using firewood.

Furthermore, it boasts solid construction and a double-walled firewall that aids in retaining heat and maintaining consistent heat and smoke temperature inside the smoker.

The door of this electric smoker comes with a heat-resistant handle, and the helper handles on each side of this smoker make it easy to move from one place to another.

Pros:

  • It comes with two adjustable chrome-plated cooking racks
  • It has a full range heat indicator installed
  • It features a front door handle with an excellent touch wire installed with a latch system
  • A heating element with a fully adjustable temperature control system is included
  • Assembling this electric smoker is a straightforward process

Cons:

  • The cooking grate may become faulty after sometime
  • The connection on the controller to the watt heating element might keep losing connection
  • It might not get to higher temperatures above 200 degrees

MasterBuilt MES140B (Best with Wheels)

If you’re looking for the best electric smoker that offers a higher range of temperature variation, then the MasterBuilt MES140B is a solid option.

This electric smoker comes with a 1200 watt heating element and 972 square inches of cooking space compared to the MasterBuilt MES130B.

This smokey electric smoker from MasterBuilt uses a patented side wood chip system that enables one to add a smokey flavour to the food without opening the appliance’s door. This also helps in maintaining the internal smoking temperature when the appliance is in use.

Furthermore, this digital smoker comes with automated functions that make smoking food a breeze. Bear in mind that this electric smoker comes with four chrome plates, a drip pan, a grease collection tray and a wood chip tray.

It’s important to note that these removable accessories make cleaning the electric smoker a straightforward task.

Pros:

  • Has installed with a wood chip loading system located at the side
  • Features a thermostat for temperature regulation
  • It comes with four chrome-plated racks
  • A handle and two wheels are included for added convenience
  • The installed Digital controller automates the cooking process

Cons:

  • Some users might find it to be quite fragile
  • It might lack a meat temperature probe
  • It might not sit well with a limited cooking space spread

What Is an Electric Smoker?

An electronic smoker is a cooking appliance that uses hot electric rods as its heating source to smoke food. Compared to their charcoal counterparts, electric smokers are way cleaner to use, and they accommodate a wide variety of designs.

So how does an electric smoker work?

This electric appliance works by heating a cooking chamber in which hot or cold air circulates, heating food via convection.

It’s noteworthy to mention that an electric smoker consists of a cooking chamber, an electric heating element, grill racks, a water pan, and an alternative option for wood to burn along the electric heater if one wants the meat to have a smoky flavour.

What Are the Components of an Electric Smoker?

An electric smoker is vertically aligned with the cooking space at the top and the cooking element at the bottom. That being said, let’s take a look at the different components of electric smokers.

Heating Rods

Heating rods are used to heat and slowly cook food at the bottom of the smoker. It’s important to note that different heat smokers come with varying rods of heating. Some may come with single, and others may come with double rods or more.

Wood Chip Tray

In most electric smokers, the electric heater usually is surrounded by a wood chipping tray. This is where chunks of wood are placed and burnt to produce smoke while smoking meat.

The wood chip tray can be optionally used to add a smoky flavour to the meat. Bear in mind that various kinds of wood, such as the ladder, cherry, maple, and mesquite, can be used.

Water Pan

A water pan is typically situated above the wood chipping tray. Usually, it’s initially filled with cold water as it prevents the smoker’s temperature from rising too quickly.

Bear in mind that the water placed in the pan heats and emits steam, which helps in the convection cooking process.

Grill Racks

A wide variety of electric smokers have stainless steel grill racks. Meats can be placed directly on these racks when cooking. Or they can be used to hold cast iron skillets when roasting foods.

Dampers and Vents

Dampers and vents are used to control the airflow in some electric smokers. Bear in mind that heavy-duty dampers are typically located at the bottom to allow more air to flow into the device. On the other hand, vents are usually located at the top of the electric smoker to allow heat to escape.

Why You Should Invest in an Electric Smoker

Here are some of the reasons why you should invest in a digital electric smoker.

Ease of Use

Traditional smokers require a lot of investment, from firing up the flame to regulating the airflow accurately and maintaining the temperature. These steps can be pretty challenging for both experienced and novice users.

However, electric smokers make the smoking process a breeze. All that is required is to plug it into a power outlet, set the temperature, and you are good to start smoking your preferred food.

Bear in mind that electric smokers give one the flexibility of adding a smokey flavour to food using the wood chips attachment. Well, these digital electric smokers are easy and comfortable to use when compared to other smokers.

Safer Option

Electric smokers are way safer when compared to traditional smokers. This is because no actual fire is required to ignite smoke, and no open flames are emitted during the smoking process.

These smokers can also be used around kids and pets since most electric smokers come with a cool-to-touch exterior even when it’s in use.

Convenient Smoking Option

Electric smokers are a convenient method of smoking food since they do not require any babysitting during the entire cooking process.

When using a digital smoker, all that you are required to do is set the desired temperature, and the timer and let your kitchen workhorse get to work.

Easy to Maintain

The harsh truth is no one likes a hard-to-maintain kitchen appliance, and electric smokers are no exception. Not only do electric smokers come with a no-frills approach, but also they are super easy to use and maintain.

Furthermore, they come with detachable parts such as racks and water and drip pans that are easy to clean.

Heats Extremely Faster

Gone are the days that you will spend more than 45 minutes bringing your smoker up to temperature. The cooking process is easier and faster thanks to their watt heating element when it comes to electric smoking.

What to Look For When Buying an Electric Smoker

Now that you know what an electric smoker is, let’s look at some of the essential factors you should consider when shopping for one.

Size and Capacity

When shopping for an electric smoker, it’s always essential to consider its size and capacity. This is because foods are placed flat inside an electric smoker, so ensure you settle for a model that sits well with your smoking needs.

Bear in mind that most electric smokers typically come with three to four racks that are ideal for holding enough meat for a serving of up to six people. However, this capacity might vary depending on the size of the meat you are smoking,

Meat is placed in trays inside a kitchen appliance

Features

When selecting an electric smoker, it’s always wise to consider its features. Some of these features include Bluetooth compatibility, temperature probes, and a side patent wood chip tray.

Also, it’s essential to check the kind of options available on the control panel of a digital electric smoker. Such functions include a temperature gauge and cooking settings.

On the flip side, if you are looking for a Bluetooth digital electric smoker, always consider the quality of its Bluetooth connectivity.

Temperature Range and Stability

The best electric smokers tend to have a cooking temperature range between 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

This temperature range consists of appropriate temperatures that make smoking meat an easy task and accommodate a wide range of foods that can be smoked.

Keep in mind; the watt heating element also weighs in on an electric smoker’s type of smoke.

On the other hand, many electric smokers come with temperature probes, and others have wireless thermostats that allow one to monitor the temperature using a smartphone.

It’s noteworthy to mention that the construction of an electric smoker can impact the Stability of its temperature. The density of a smoker’s metal determines its external temperature, which is then judged by its overall weight.

While its type of insulation tends to dictate how internal temperature is held and is protected from external weather conditions such as wind and rain, the seal integrity of doors and windows can also impact temperature stability.

Performance and Effectiveness

A tall electric smoker in the kitchen

Another thing that you should consider when shopping for an electric smoker is its performance and effectiveness. But what do we mean by performance and effectiveness?

Bear in mind that a lot of factors tend to determine the performance of an electric smoker. However, when the list is narrowed down, one element that should not be overlooked is power.

The power of an electric smoker can be used to determine how long the appliance takes to get to temperature, how long the smoker can sustain the temperature, and how much food the appliance can cook at a given time.

Typically electric smokers have wattage ranges between 500 -1500 watts. However, the best electric smokers tend to have 800 watts as this is the sweet spot that compromises best between a capable and a less power-hungry smoker that is not costly to run.

It’s noteworthy to mention that the lower the wattage on an electric smoker, the longer it will take to rise to temperature and vice versa.

Ease Of Cleaning

When selecting any kitchen appliance, one should always consider how difficult or easy cleaning it might be. This also should apply when choosing an electric smoker. Bear in mind that cleaning your equipment is essential since it weighs in its durability.

It’s always advisable to settle for an electric smoker that might not require too much elbow grease when cleaning it.

Moreover, an electric smoker that comes with dishwasher-friendly accessories makes the cleaning process child’s play.

Drip and Water Pan Quality

While water pans might seem to be a simple thing, it’s always essential to consider the type of water and drip pan an electric smoker comes with, simply because drip pans are used to collect any drippings when cooking. In comparison, water pans are used to hold water during the smoking process.

Bear in mind that a deeper water pan helps reduce the number of times that water has to be added during the cooking process.

Build Materials, Durability, and Longevity

When selecting a digital electric smoker, it’s always essential to consider its build quality. This can be determined by simply checking the materials used to assemble it- stainless steel, aluminium, or both. Bear in mind that the durability of this cooking appliance depends on the material used.

Note: Aluminium and stainless steel materials have better rust resistance. They can withstand the test of time.

It’s always advisable to settle for electric meat smokers with stainless steel or chrome-plated grates and racks.

lunch in the courtyard

Conclusion

Well, that is it on the best electric smokers. Bear in mind that every option of the reviews above would make a great choice. However, if we were to pick an overall winner for the best electric smoker in the UK, we would settle for our Editor’s choice, the Char-Broil 140 908 electric smoker.

Not only does it boast an insulated double-wall design that is quite efficient at preventing heat loss, but also it helps maintain a constant and uniform heat during the smoking process.

Bear in mind that this electric smoker comes with a simple to use digital control panel, a detachable thermometer and four stainless steel racks. Lastly, it comes with a large stainless steel lock that has a smoke seal.

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