There are many different types of smokers, with electric smokers being a favorite to many. There are quite a few reasons why electric smokers are better than charcoal or propane smokers. One of the best reasons is electric smokers are very easy to use, making them perfect for beginners. If you can use an oven in your kitchen, you will be able to use an electric smoker.
Electric smokers also do not cost quite as much as other smokers, so if you find that smoking food isn’t for you, you’re not out a lot of money. The upkeep and cost of supplies are also much lower for an electric smoker than a charcoal or propane smoker. These three simple things make them a great choice for just about any household. Read on to find out exactly why electric smokers are better than others on the market.
Electric Smokers Are a Great Choice For First Time Smokers
If you are new to the smoking world, an electric smoker is a great choice because they are very user-friendly. You will be able to use the electric smoker right out of the box with no experience at all. They are truly that easy. Charcoal smokers are known to be quite difficult to master.
When you are smoking meat over charcoal or propane, it takes quite a bit of planning. It also takes time to get it to the right temperatures and keep it there. All of this requires a bit of skill and knowledge about smokers. Between all the components that go with a charcoal grill, it can be a bit overwhelming for someone with no experience.
Electric smokers are as easy as putting wood pellets into the hopper and filling the water pan. You simply set it to the cooking temperature you want, and that’s it. It’s so much easier than fussing with charcoal and trying to get the right temperature and keep it that way. Charcoal smokers are much harder to keep at the right temperature as wind and cold air will affect the dampers on those types of smokers.
Electric Smokers Cost Less Than Other Smokers
Electric smokers are far less expensive than charcoal or propane smokers. You could easily save over $300 by purchasing an electric smoker over a different type of smoker. Their cost, along with how easy it is to use electric smokers, make them the perfect smokers for every home.
Electric (Pellet) Smokers
A decent brand of electrical smokers can be found for well under $300, such as the Pit Boss Vertical Smoker which has many great features for the price, or the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker, which is a much simpler design than the Pit Boss, but that’s exactly what so many love about it.
You will also only need to buy wood pellets for your electric smoker.
A Charcoal or Propane Smoker
If you were to buy a charcoal or propane smoker, the cost would begin around $300 and go up to around $800 for a decent brand of smoker. For example, the charcoal Masterbuilt model is on the higher end of this range, but it is still a simple model.
There is also much more upkeep when for these types of smokers. Not only do charcoal smokers have more parts that could potentially need to be replaced they will also be spending more money on supplies.
Electric Smokers Remove the Worry About Temperature Control
With an electric smoker, you will be able to leave it alone for long periods without worrying about the temperature getting too high or low, unlike those who use a charcoal smoker. Charcoal is very temperamental, and something simple as a gust of wind could mess with the dampers causing the charcoal to change temperature quickly. This can cause your meat to become dry or undercooked.
Wind and cold days are such a pain when you are using a charcoal smoker. It will easily alter the temperature because the wind will blow into the damper, causing changes in the temperature. With an electric smoker, you simply set it to the temperature you want and allow your meat to cook thoroughly.
The temperature is better regulated with an electric smoker, and you will be able to go on about your day without having to frequently check your smoker.
When you use an electric smoker, you put the food in and leave it until it’s ready to be taken out. It is powered by the same level of fuel at all times, so it will not cause a fire to grow, thereby burning your food, nor do you have to be concerned about quickly lowering temperatures. This is another reason electric smokers are good for beginners.
Electric Smokers Are Legal When Fire Bans Are In Effect
Electric smokers can be taken to campsites even when there is a fire ban in the area due to seasonal dry times or heat. You will need an outlet, which may require a generator if you are dry camping, but this gives you more chances to camp even during times of the year when you would not be able to have a fire.
Many campsites have been set up where you will be able to easily have access to a power source. Electric smokers work by building up enough heat to warm the wood pellets. They will not ignite, though. Instead, they create smoke without any flame.
These make them perfect for campers or even those who want to cook outdoors but live in a place where you can’t have grills. The lack of flames allows these to be used in many more places than charcoal smokers or your typical grill.
There’s Less Mess To Clean Up When Using an Electric Smoker
When you are using a charcoal smoker, there is quite a mess to clean up afterward. However, when you are using an electric smoker, the only mess you would have to clean up is the small number of ashes that are leftover from the wood chips.
You will need to clean the racks, as you would any smoker or grill, but the mess is so much smaller than what you would be dealing with at the end of a long day of smoking meats on a charcoal smoker. It’s completely worth it!
Electric Smokers Can Cook Just About Anything
Electric smokers can cook a larger variety of food and typically hold a larger amount of food. They can keep a very regulated temperature which makes them perfect for different types of smoking. You can cook everything from a thick rack of ribs that need to cook on a higher heat to smoking an expensive cheese or fish to perfection.
Electric Smokers Are Great for Cold Smoking
If you are not familiar with cold smoking, it is simply using a much lower temperature to smoke the meat and slowly cook it. This will be used when you want to smoke cheese or fish that does not need higher temperatures as it would mess with the integrity of the food.
The temperatures are usually under 250 degrees and will take longer to smoke than the higher temperatures you would use to cook heavier meats. You will get the same great taste of smoked foods without needing to worry about it overheating as it would with a charcoal smoker, where you would not be able to maintain such a low temperature.
Electric Smokers Can Have Extra Built-in Features
Electric smokers tend to have many more advanced features than typical charcoal smoker. They can have everything from LED screens to Bluetooth features because they are continuously powered by electricity. This makes the possibility of features found on an electric smoker endless.
There is a wide range of features available, but not all electric smokers will have every one of them. Some of the features may include:
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled
- Digital controls
- Full-size glass windows
- High-capacity grease trays
- Larger capacity to hold more food than a charcoal smoker
- LED control panels
- LED screen to read temperatures
- Locking latches to keep in all of the smoke and moisture
- Removable thermometer
- Slide in the water pan
- Timers
The options are endless depending on how much money you want to spend. The more features the smoker offers, the higher the cost of the electric smoker.
Electric Is Environmentally Better Than Charcoal or Propane
Electric Smokers are a better choice not only for the environment but also for your health. While charcoal and propane smokers can make great-tasting meat, they are not the best for the environment. Charcoal burns dirty and releases toxins into the air. If you are trying to be a little more eco-friendly with your outdoor cooking, then an electric smoker will be a perfect choice.
Propane is also not better than just plain wood-burning electric smokers. With an electric smoker, you are only burning wood chips which is much better than using other fuels to cook. Cooking over wood is safe when using the right clean-burning woods. Woods that are not only better for the air, but for you, too. You won’t be eating food that has been exposed to lighter fluid in the charcoal or propane for hours which is a little better for you.
What Are The Top Electric Smokers?
Trying to find the perfect electric smoker can feel a little overwhelming. Whether you are new to the smoker world or want to upgrade your current electric smoker, there are many brands of electric smokers on the market. Let’s look at some of the better electric smokers that are currently available.
Masterbuilt Digital Smoker
This electric smoker is a very nice size for those that would want to smoke quite a few things at the same time. It is very straightforward and has four large racks inside. It can hold four racks of ribs or whole chicken. Its features include the ability to add wood chips via a loading system without even having to open the door, and it offers digital control.
Char-Broil Digital Electric Smoker
This electric smoker has a very modern design with a full glass door to be able to see the foods that you are smoking. It features four large racks to fit four racks of ribs and a wood chip loading system that holds four cups of chips at a time. It also has a removable thermometer to make sure your meats are cooked to perfection.
Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker
With this Bluetooth-enabled electric smoker, you will be able to control the temperature, and lighting, and turn the smoker on and off with your phone. It also has a wood chip loader so that you never need to open the door when you add more chips to the electric smoker.
There are a lot of brands and styles of electric smokers on the market. These are just some of the favorites you can find right now. They are all three in different price ranges with different features that you may like. No matter which one you pick, you will have been making delicious and moist meat in no time.
What Are The Easiest Things to Smoke In An Electric Smoker?
Even with an easy-to-use electric smoker, choosing what to smoke first may seem a little overwhelming. Thankfully there have been tens of thousands of people who have used smokers and this can give you a good idea of what to start with. The easiest types of meats to smoke are:
- A Rack of Ribs – With a little preparation and the right seasoning, ribs are fairly full proof
- Boston Butt – This is your typical pulled pork. It’s hard to mess up and very easy to cook
- Whole Chickens – Why cook drumsticks when you can just throw the whole thing in your electric smoker
There are many more types of meat and other foods you can experiment with. You can even smoke fruits and vegetables to not only enhance their flavors but also add in smoke to create a unique side dish.
Electric Smokers Are the Perfect Choice for Any Home
It doesn’t matter where you live; an electric smoker can be a great fit for you. It will not break the bank, and you can use one right out of the box with no experience. An electric smoker is also a great choice for those that want a taste of smoked meat without all of the mess that comes along with other styles of smokers. The clean-up is a breeze, and your food will taste amazing.
