Best Cheap Electric Smoker

There are numerous smokers out there, and looking for the best smoker is difficult. Our aim in this post is to provide you with in-depth and honest reviews so that you can select the best electric smoker which fits your needs.

There are basically 4 types of smokers: Electric, Charcoal, Propane, and Wood/Smoke. Out of these, electric is a more economical choice with a number of available options.

The only issue with electric smokers is that they do not produce as much smoke as other smokers due to their heating element design. The only way to increase the smoke is by wrapping wood chips in aluminum foil and placing them on top of the heating element.

The use of liquid makes the meat moist but also restricts the amount of smoke that can be produced. You can get around this issue by preheating the liquid in a separate pan.

We have done hundreds of hours of research and tested 20+ smokers before coming up with our top list, which includes the best electric smoker under $100, $200, and $500. So, let’s check them out.

Best Cheap Electric Smoker Reviews

Masterbuilt 20070210 Electric Analog Smoker Review

The Masterbuilt 20070210 Electric Analog Smoker will change the way you think about smoking meat.

This smoker offers 548 sq. inches of cooking space, so you can cook plenty of food at once.

The three chrome-coated racks provide plenty of room to smoke your meat, and the dual-wall insulation ensures that the heat stays inside, so your food cooks evenly.

With its variable thermostat temperature control, you can easily smoke your meat to the perfect temperature.

With a temperature range of 100-degree F to 400-degree F, you can smoke any kind of meat, fish, or vegetable you like.

The built-in thermometer also makes it easy to keep track of the temperature inside the smoker.

This amazing smoker also features a 1500 watt heating element and temperature gauge on the door, making it easy to cook your food to perfection every time.

The smoker has a front-loading wood chips tray so you can easily add your favorite flavor of wood chips.

With a removable water and drip pan, it’s easy to keep your meat juicy and your smoker clean.

Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker Review

The perfect way to cook up your favorite smoked meats and vegetables, the Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker, is a must-have for any smokehouse aficionado. From ribs and brisket to salmon and cheese, this smoker can do it all.

This smoker is extremely user-friendly, making it easy to use even if you’re a novice. With 548 square inches of interior space, there’s plenty of room to cook up your favorite smoked meats and vegetables.

With three removable racks and dishwasher-safe parts, it’s easy to keep your smoker clean and ready to use. The adjustable temperature control allows you to smoke at your desired temperature, adding delicious flavor to anything from chicken to ribs.

This smoker features a built-in thermometer so you can always be sure your meats are cooked to perfection, and it comes with a 1500-watt heating element to ensure that your food is smoked evenly every time.

The removable water pan ensures that your food remains moist and tender, while the chrome spring door handle makes opening and closing the smoker a breeze.

The wood chip tray allows you to customize your smoking experience, so you can create the perfect flavor every time.

This smoker comes with a 3-year warranty, so you can be sure it will last. Plus, it’s lightweight and easy to move, so you can take it with you wherever you go.

Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker Review

Get the best of both worlds with this smoker – digital technology for precision smoking and an insulated body that retains heat and moisture.

This smoker has a cooking space of 730 sq. inches which is enough to smoke up to four pork butts, four racks of ribs, six chickens, or two turkeys at once.

The four chrome-coated racks are also easy to remove and clean, making this smoker a breeze to use.

With precise digital controls, you can easily adjust the cooking temperature and time to create perfectly smoked meats every time.

The thermostat-temperature control ensures that your foods are smoked perfectly every time, and the max temperature setting of 275ᵒ F gives you plenty of versatility for all your smoking needs.

This digital smoker is perfect for the beginner or the pro. It includes a side wood chip loading system, making it easy to get your smoking process started.

The smoker’s dimensions are 20.47 x 19.88 x 33.26 inches, so it’s perfect for those who want plenty of space to work with.

Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker Review

This smoker is perfect for anyone who wants to get that authentic smoked flavor without all of the hassles.

With 544 square inches of cooking space, this smoker can handle anything you throw at it.

The 1,000-watt electric element ensures that your food will be cooked to perfection every time.

The double-wall insulation ensures that your food remains at the perfect temperature, while the dual exhaust ports make sure that all of the smoke and flavor is drawn out for an amazing finished product.

This smoker comes with three chrome-plated cooking grates, so you can prepare all your favorite smoked dishes at once.

The washable cooking grate is easy to clean – just use warm soapy water and rinse thoroughly.

The door-mounted temperature gauge ensures precise smoking every time.

The dual latches keep the door sealed shut so your food smokes evenly. The analog electric smoker is easy to use – just set the temperature and time, and you’re ready to go!

The wood chip tray allows you to add your favorite wood chips for delicious smoked flavor.

The smoker even has a water tray to help keep your meat moist. Plus, the grease cup makes cleanup a breeze.

Bradley BS611 Digital Electric Smoker Review

The Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker is a marvelous smoker that has a lot of features to make smoking an enjoyable experience.

The smoker is easy to use and fully insulated with stainless steel interior. This ensures that your food will be cooked evenly and deliciously every time.

The magnetic door ensures that the door closes tightly and keeps the heat and smoke inside where it belongs.

The multi-rack design allows for multiple racks to be used so that you can smoke a variety of foods at one time. The inside dimensions of 19 inches provide plenty of cooking space for whatever you might want to smoke.

Whether you’re a seasoned pitmaster or just starting out, this smoker’s analog generator with temperature control and removable side panel makes smoking meats and other food items easy.

With two separately controlled heat elements – one for the oven and one to create smoke – you can customize your smoking experience however you like.

It features a smoke vent and smoke diffuser to optimize flavor, an automatic feed system to keep the smoker running smoothly, and up to 9 hours of wood smoking. This smoker has everything you need to create delicious smoked meats, fish, vegetables, and more.

This smoker comes with 12 varieties of wood bisquettes, making it easy to find the perfect flavor for your food. The water basin also collects the wood smoking bisquettes and grease, making it easy to clean.

So, fire it up and get ready to wow your guests with some smokin’ good eats with The Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker.

Buying Guide for Best Cheap Electric Smoker

With the increasing demand for electric smokers in the market, a lot of companies have entered this industry to cash in on the opportunity.

This has led to a huge increase in the number of low-quality electric smokers flooding the market.

If you are looking for a good quality electric smoker but don’t want to spend too much money, it is advisable that you consider a few factors before making your final purchase.

Durability

Before purchasing an electric smoker, it is important that you think about the durability of the product. Even though cheap products look good and work well initially, they might not last for long periods of time.

The heating element in such cheap smokers gets damaged easily, which causes the product to become unusable after a short time period. This might end up causing you a lot of problems if you are looking for an electric smoker that can last for many years.

If you want to be on the safer side, it is advisable that you consider buying a smoker which offers good quality and durability.

Size of your Cooking Area

It is important that you buy an electric smoker according to the size of your cooking area. If you are planning on buying a large smoking unit, it is advisable that you consider using propane smokers as they come with higher temperature ranges.

This allows you to control the temperature easily and also cook food faster. Cheap electric smokers can damage your food if they are not properly maintained. This is another reason why you should buy a smoker based on the size of your cooking area or according to your needs.

Ease of Operation

Another important factor that you should keep in mind while buying an electric smoker is the ease of use and operation. Some smokers come with advanced features which allow you to control the temperature easily.

If you are a beginner, it is advisable that you consider buying an electric smoker with basic features which come at an affordable price tag.

Additional Features

Apart from the above-mentioned factors, you should also think about the additional features offered by electric smokers before making your final purchase.

Some cheap smokers might come with additional features which can be quite useful for the users.

Easily Accessible Parts

One of the most important factors that you should keep in mind while buying an electric smoker is the ease of use and access to its internal parts.

If your smoker comes with easily accessible parts, you will be able to clean it with ease. Before making your final purchase, you should also think about the type of smoker which comes with easy to access internal parts.

Benefits of Using an Electric Smoker

The best thing about electric smokers is there are no hassles associated with using them. All you need to do is plug in, press a few buttons, and let it be.

The food comes out tender and juicy every single time without fail. Here are 5 reasons for loving an electric smoker.

1) No hassle of lighting charcoal or wood chips

An electric smoker is an excellent alternative for people who are not used to light up their grill. As opposed to gas grills, they do not require you to use any lighter fluid, so there is no danger of your food getting a peculiar taste.

All you need to do is plug in and press the on switch, and it will get started working right away.

2) Controlled smoker temperature

Smoking meat is an art, and it requires a certain level of precision when it comes to temperature. An electric smoker gives you that precision as it has a thermostat that allows you to set the desired temperature and keep it consistent.

This is especially important if you want to smoke a specific type of meat and achieve a certain level of smokiness.

3) More smoke flavor

Unlike grills, smokers produce a lot of smoke, and this is what gives the meat that characteristic smoky flavor.

An electric smoker is no different and will do a great job of flavoring your food. In fact, many people say that the food tastes even better than when it is cooked on a charcoal grill.

4) No need to babysit the smoker

While you do need to spend some time monitoring your food when cooking on a charcoal grill, this is not the case with an electric smoker.

Once it is set up, you can pretty much leave it alone, and it will take care of the smoking process for you. This is perfect for those who want to smoke large quantities of meat and do not have the time to babysit a grill.

5) Clean up is a breeze

One of the best things about using an electric smoker is that the cleanup is a breeze. All the ash and debris from the wood chips simply falls into the bottom tray and can be dumped out in a matter of seconds.

You do not need to clean the grill after every session, and if you leave it for weeks, there will be no corrosion or rust on it.

Tips on Smoking Food in an Electric Smoker

Before you start smoking, it is essential to learn the basics of the electric smoker. The first thing that you must know is how your electric smoker works or operates. You need to choose the right food for it, especially meats like beef and chicken that require long hours of cooking time over low heat.

Here are some tips on smoking food in an electric smoker:

1. Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before using your electric smoker.
2. Make sure your electric smoker is clean and free of any debris or ash before you start smoking food.
3. Use good-quality wood chips, such as hickory, apple, or cherry, for smoking food.
4. Soak the wood chips in water for about 30 minutes before using them. This will help to produce more smoke and add more flavor to your food.
5. Preheat your electric smoker to the desired temperature before adding food.
6. Place food on the racks in the smoker, making sure there is enough room between the pieces for good circulation.
7. Do not overload your electric smoker as it will alter its cooking temperature and result in under-done food.
8. Keep the lid closed except when adding more wood chips or checking your food to prevent heat loss during the smoking process.
9. Smoking time varies depending on the type and thickness of the food, etc. For beef, it usually takes 16 to 18 hours.
10. After smoking is complete, immediately remove your food from the electric smoker, or you will lose moisture in the meat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I use an electric smoker for cooking full meals?

Yes, you can use an electric smoker for cooking full meals. However, it is important for you to keep in mind that the food cooks faster when compared to traditional charcoal smokers.

Are modern-day electric smokers hard to use?

No, modern-day electric smokers are not hard to use; in fact, they are very easy to use and operate.

How does an electric smoker work?

Electric smokers work by using electricity for cooking the food. The food gets cooked by slowly heating up, and this creates steam which in turn cooks the food.

How do electric smokers make smoke?

You might assume that electric smokers use electricity to create smoke, but this isn’t the case.

Instead, they have a compartment where you can put wood chips, and these will produce smoke during the cooking process.

This is why it’s important to get pre-soaked smoking chips, so you don’t have to worry about running out halfway through your food preparation.

Can I use an electric smoker indoors?

It is not advisable to use an electric smoker indoors.

Can I use an electric smoker in my garage?

Yes, you can easily use an electric smoker in your garage.

How hot does the cooking area get when using a smoker?

The cooking area of an electric smoker gets very hot. It is important for you to keep in mind that the temperature varies from one unit to another depending on the power output capacity of your smoker.

Can I add smoke flavor to my meat, fish, and veggies?

Yes, you can easily add smoke flavor to your meat, fish, and veggies. All you have to do is add one or two wood chunks into the smoking box of your electric smoker.

Can I put a cover over my electric smoker?

Yes, you can easily keep your smoker covered. However, it is important for you to keep in mind that the cover you use should be water-resistant.

How much does an average electric smoker cost?

An average electric smoker usually costs anywhere between $100 and $500.

What types of wood chips can I use to smoke food?

You can use a variety of woods in order to add flavor to your meat. Some popular choice includes oak, pecan, apple, and maple.

Can I use an electric smoker for cooking other things aside from meat?

Yes, you can easily use an electric smoker aside from cooking meat.

Conclusion

We hope that this article has been helpful in answering your questions about the best cheap electric smoker. The market is flooded with a variety of options that it becomes a daunting task to pick the right unit. You can also check our article on Best Electric Smoker with Wifi.

After going through this article, we are sure that you will be able to easily choose an electric smoker for yourself based on your requirements and needs. If you have any other queries, do let us know using the comments section below.