Best Inexpensive Electric Smoker

With smoked foods becoming more popular these days, it’s no wonder that more people are looking for ways on how to smoke foods at home. The most important thing that you need to start is an electric smoker, one of the most versatile cooking appliances available for your kitchen.

One of the best things about this cooking appliance is its ability to give you delicious foods without putting too much effort on your part. You do not have to babysit it, so you can leave it alone while it cooks your food to perfection.

This appliance is also simple to use; with just a few buttons and switches, you can produce restaurant-quality foods right in your own backyard.

There are several brands available for this cooking appliance that you need to take into consideration. You need to assess what features are most important for you. You also need to take into account what type of foods that you want to cook since it comes in many types.

When buying an electric smoker, the most important thing is the quality of smoke that you will get out of it, because after all, it’s called a smoker. This is the one thing that will determine if you are going to enjoy your food or not, and it’s also the one thing that most people look for when buying this cooking appliance.

In order to achieve a good smoke flavor, a large amount of wood chips are usually required in order to give your food that unique taste.

The best thing about this appliance is its ability to cook different types of food, unlike the old-style smokers, which only produce unique flavors. It can easily be used for any type of meat that you want to smoke, even cheese and other food items that you can think of.

The only downside with this cooking appliance is the fact that it’s not exactly cheap, but this should not keep you from owning one. After all, it’s the best way to smoke any type of food that you want in your own backyard.

Electric smokers are growing in popularity thanks to their ease of use and versatility. But with all those options for smokers, it can be hard to decide which one is best for you.

Some people think that buying a charcoal or gas smoker may be best, but we think an electric meat smoker is a top choice. They’re easy, don’t take much effort, and produce stunning results without much work.

Let’s check out some of the best inexpensive electric smokers available.

Best Inexpensive Electric Smoker Reviews

Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker Review

The Masterbuilt MB20071117 digital electric smoker is an amazing way to smoke your favorite meats.

With its large cooking space, you can smoke a turkey or pork butt, as well as racks of ribs or chickens.

The smoker is fully insulated to help retain heat and ensure flavorful, juicy results. And with four chrome-coated racks, you can cook multiple items at once.

Its digital panel makes it easy to control the on/off, cooking temperature, and time. The thermostat-temperature control ensures that your food will be smoked perfectly every time, while the max temperature setting of 275ᵒ F means that you can smoke any kind of meat.

The Masterbuilt digital electric smoker is perfect for the beginner or the pro. This smoker features a patented side wood chip loading system, so you can easily add chips without having to open the door.

And with dimensions of 20.47″x 19.88″x 33.26″, this smoker is perfect for any backyard cookout.

Summary: Overall, the Masterbuilt is a fantastic smoker that’s really easy to use and comes at a very affordable price. It has all the features you need to produce great-tasting food.

Masterbuilt MB20074719 Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker Review

What’s the point of having an electric smoker if you can’t control it from your phone? With the Masterbuilt MB20074719 Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker, you can control all the important functions from your phone – like temperature, time, and smoke settings.

An integrated thermostat control allows you to adjust the smoker to the perfect temperature for whatever type of meat you’re smoking. Plus, there’s even a meat probe thermometer included to help take the guesswork out of smoking meat.

With four chrome-coated smoking racks and generous cooking space, this smoker can handle anything from chickens to ribs to pork butts. The interior light illuminates food in low light, so you never have to miss out on a great smoked meal.

This smoker comes with a patented side wood chip loading system, so you can easily add more flavor to your food. It’s suitable for novice smokers or those who want to take their skills to the next level.

Summary: This smoker might not have the looks of some pricier models, but it is packed with everything you need to make great-tasting BBQ food. The Bluetooth technology is a plus for those who are easily bored or people who are always on the go.

Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker Review

The Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker is the perfect smoker for the beginner or experienced smoker. This smoker is easy to use and fully insulated with a stainless-steel interior.

The magnetic door ensures that the heat and smoke stays in while cooking. The multi-rack design offers plenty of cooking space for a variety of foods. The inside dimensions are 19 inches, making it the perfect size for small gatherings or large family meals.

With two separately controlled heat elements – one for the oven and one to create smoke – you can customize your smoking experience to get the perfect results every time.

The removable side panel makes it easy to access your food, while the temperature control ensures that your meat or fish is cooked perfectly every time.

The smoker features a smoke vent and smoke diffuser that creates even smoking, while the automatic feed system ensures that you always have plenty of wood smoking.

With up to 9 hours of smoking time, the Bradley Smoker BS611 is perfect for slow-smoking meat, fish, and vegetables.

This smoker comes with a variety of wood bisquettes that give your food a delicious smoke flavor. The water basin ensures that your smoker stays clean, so you can spend more time enjoying your food and less time cleaning up.

Summary: The Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker is the perfect smoker for beginners. It’s easy to use and provides great results every time. The digital controls are easy to use, while the smoke diffuser helps you get even smoking. With up to 9 hours of smoking time, this smoker will be your new favorite accessory.

Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker Review

Smoke your favorite foods to perfection with this Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker. With 544 square inches of cooking space and 1,000 watts of power, it’s perfect for smoking meats, fish, poultry, or cheese.

The double-wall insulation ensures even heat distribution, and the dual exhaust ports help keep temperatures consistent. Plus, the three chrome-plated cooking grates provide plenty of room to cook up a large feast.

The Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is perfect for the barbecue beginner. Easy to operate, this smoker features a door-mounted temperature gauge and dual latches to keep the door sealed shut while smoking.

The cooking grate can be easily washed with warm soapy water, rinsed, and dried thoroughly.

This smoker features a wood chip tray and water tray that can be accessed from the inner front, as well as a grease cup that can be accessed from the outer front.

It measures 20.7” W x 33.5” H x 15” D, making it small enough to fit almost anywhere – perfect for those who want great barbecue flavor without sacrificing any space.

Summary: This is the perfect smoker for anyone just starting out. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and has some great features that more experienced smokers will appreciate.

Char-Broil 17202004 Digital Electric Smoker Review

This smoker is perfect for the at-home chef who wants to add some smoked flavor to their meals.

With 725 sq. inches of cooking space, 4 adjustable racks, and a glass door with a beautiful stainless-steel finish, this smoker is sure to satisfy all of your smoking needs.

The included remote control makes it easy to manage your smoker from anywhere in your backyard.

The double-wall construction ensures that your food stays insulated and juicy, while the 750 watts of power give you all the heat you need to get that perfect smokey taste.

With the automatic shut-off feature, you can relax and focus on enjoying your meal – not tending to a smoker. And for those times when you just want to warm something up quickly, the warming feature on this smoker will do just the trick.

The large locking latch ensures a smoke-tight seal, while the removable temperature gauge makes it easy to monitor your smoked masterpiece. The advanced control panel with an easy-read LED display makes smoking your favorite foods easier than ever!

The integrated handle and wheels make it easy to transport from your backyard to the picnic table, and the high-capacity grease tray means you won’t have to worry about cleanup.

Summary: Overall, the Char-Broil 17202004 Digital Electric Smoker is a great buy for anyone who wants to start smoking meats at home. It has all the features you need to make smoking your favorite foods easy, including a digital control panel with an easy-read LED display, a remote control, and an automatic shut-off. It’s affordable too!

Buying Guide for Best Inexpensive Electric Smoker

1. Material

Stainless steel is the most common material for inexpensive electric smokers as it’s durable and looks great, but aluminum and even wood are sometimes used.

Also, a smoker that has a thick wall will retain heat better than one with walls that are thinner, which can affect cooking time and your smoking results.

One that is double-walled or has a ‘double layer’ of metal is best as it may not be as thick as some other smokers, but you have an outer wall and an inner wall, so the heat doesn’t escape.

2. Size

The size of the smoker should be big enough to allow you to fit in more than one tray while still being compact. You don’t want a huge device that consumes too much space and will become difficult for you to store when it’s not in use.

3. Temperature Control

You will need to set your smoker at a certain temperature and keep it consistent for good results.

Some smokers offer better temperature control than others, so you may need to spend a bit more money if this is really important to you.

The best electric smoker with the most accurate temperature control uses digital settings and probes that monitor food temperature while it cooks, which allows you to set your desired cooking time and temperature and then just forget it – your smoker will do the rest.

4. Cooking Capacity

It depends on your smoking needs, but for a compact, inexpensive electric smoker, you should be looking at around four racks or more if cooking large quantities of food is not an issue.

If you plan on cooking larger meats such as a whole chicken, turkey, or ham, then the cooking capacity should be considered.

5. Ease of use and cleaning

You need to choose an electric smoker that is easy to use and will also allow you quick and hassle-free cleanup time after each smoking session.

While most inexpensive electric smokers are designed with this in mind, some can be a bit fiddly to use at first until you become accustomed to them.

6. Price

Before buying something, one of the most important things you should consider is the price. Inexpensive electric smokers cost about $200 to as high as $500.

7. Portability

If you plan on taking your smoker to various places such as parties, family barbecues, or tailgating at a football game, then look for one that has convenient carrying handles, which will make transportation much easier.

8. Features

The best thing about electric smokers is that they are very easy to use. Options like temperature settings make it even easier for you. Apart from the basic settings, you will find other features like an open lid, wood chip loading design, etc.

9. Brand & Warranty

It is always better to choose an electric smoker from a well-known brand that has been in existence for quite some time now. Great brands include Cuisinart, Char-Broil, Masterbuilt, and others.

10. Accessories

A great accessory that may come with your smoker is a remote control. This is because smoking food for hours can be boring, and using a remote control will help you do other chores while your food is cooking.

Other things to be considered before buying an electric smoker

When it comes to choosing the best inexpensive electric smoker, you will also need to consider the following questions:

How often do I plan on using my smoker?

If this is something that you use regularly, then spending a bit more money on a top-quality unit may be advisable because it will not only last longer, but you are likely to have better results.

If not, then you can probably find a great inexpensive electric smoker that will do the job for you without spending too much money.

How important is temperature control?

You don’t need to spend extra money on an expensive smoker if this isn’t something that is very important to you, but if it is (and it can affect the taste of your food), then you might need to spend a bit more.

How much do I want to spend on my smoker?

While most smokers are affordable, cheaper smokers aren’t always of great quality, which means they may not last as long or give you the results you expect when smoking with them.

On the other hand, a cheap smoker may be just what you’re looking for if you don’t need the top-quality unit and are only going to use it occasionally.

What features do I want or need?

If it’s important that your smoker has accurate temperature control, then look for one that uses digital controls – if not, then a model without this feature will do. If you want convenience, choose a smoker with easy-to-use digital controls, etc.

How much cooking capacity do I need?

You may only be planning on using your cheap electric smoker for smaller cuts of meat, or you can cook larger joints if that’s what you’re after – even so, most smokers have enough room for what you need.

How portable do I want my smoker to be?

If you intend to take your smoker to a variety of locations, such as parties, family barbecues, or camping, search for one with easy carrying handles to make transporting much easier.

What is the cleanup like?

If you need a smoker that has a quick and easy cleanup time, choose one that is dishwasher safe, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the best electric smoker for beginners?

The best electric smoker for beginners is an inexpensive mid-range one that can deliver consistent results with minimal learning involved compared to beginners’ level smokers on the market.

Should I get an inexpensive electric smoker with a thermostat?

This will depend on your smoking needs, but if you are just starting out then, it’s not really necessary as most smokers have straightforward controls that are easy to use.

That being said, some inexpensive electric smokers can be very fiddly to use, so you might need more practice before you master how it works.

What are the downsides of inexpensive electric smokers?

The main drawback is that they aren’t as accurate when it comes to controlling the temperature, which can affect your smoking results, but some of them do a better job than others.

Can I use electric smokers outdoors?

Yes, you can use them in your yard or deck as long as there aren’t any harsh weather conditions such as wind that will affect the overall temperature of your unit and what you are trying to cook.

How long does it take for an electric smoker to heat up?

This is going to depend on the model and wattage of your electric smoker and how cold or warm your space is – typically, you can expect anywhere from 40-80 minutes. We would recommend that you turn the switch on at least 20 minutes before you plan on smoking to get a feel for how long it takes before the temperature is right to begin cooking with.

Conclusion

This review of the best inexpensive electric smoker will help you find a good quality smoker that doesn’t cost a fortune, so you can start smoking food at home. You can also check our article on Best Electric Smoker for Brisket.

You can spend as much or as little as you want when it comes to buying an electric smoker, but we feel that with the right amount of research, anyone can find a good inexpensive electric smoker without breaking the bank.