Looking for the best Masterbuilt electric smokers for you and your family? You’ve come to the right place.
Crafting a great barbecue experience takes time, care, and attention to detail. Whether you’re looking for that perfect pulled pork sandwich, or you’re dreaming about some super succulent BBQ ribs, the right equipment makes all the difference.
This guide to the best Masterbuilt smokers I’ve tested will put you on the right path.
Masterbuilt Electric Smokers Overview
Masterbuilt’s history of building electric smokers dates back to 1973. This Christian-based and family-run company represents one of the longer-standing brands in the electric smoker product category. Their longevity and focus on customer satisfaction count for something in my book.
Masterbuilt Electric Smokers – Built on Faith, Family, and Hard Work
If you’re anything like me, you’re a fan of seeing hard work and American ingenuity combine with faith and family to produce quality products. This is the history of Masterbuilt Electric Smokers. Starting with Dawson McLemore, a backyard project given steady attention eventually blossomed into a thriving business.
As part of this Masterbuilt Electric Smokers review, I want to give you a little background on the company. To that end, here’s a brief history of the founding of Masterbuilt Smokers…
Take a look at the video below, and you’ll quickly see the work ethic put to use to eventually bring the best Masterbuilt electric smokers possible to market.
Masterbuilt Electric Smokers Review
Average Cost
Masterbuilt electric smokers are manufactured to give you acceptable smoked food results at a price that won’t break the bank. When I say this, I mean that the base units average a cost of between $100 and $400. Most of the units mentioned in my pellet smoker reviews post start at around the $400 range. So, you can see where you are in terms of cost here.
A Note on the Pricing of These Smokers
Pricing for Masterbuilt Electric Smokers remains relatively low. Understand, this is because they’re made overseas. Realizing that you may be someone who prefers to buy American Made products and shy away from those made in say, China, you should consider this point.
Durability and Value
If kept covered and out of the elements, your Masterbuilt electric smoker should last a long time. The lower end units are not meant to be daily use workhorses, but the average cooking volume of these electric smokers doesn’t allow for high volume anyway.
These electric smokers are meant for average-sized families who enjoy smoked food.
Maintenance and Clean Up
As with any smoker, the prep work you do up front makes a ton of difference in how much work you wind up doing after the cook. Many users report that placing your meat in disposable aluminum pans or at least, placing one at the bottom of your Masterbuilt electric smoker will catch drippings and keep clean up at a minimum.
These are widely used ‘tricks’ even among seasoned BBQ pitmasters. I always cook my pork butts in aluminum pans, and it makes all the difference in the world clean up-wise. Oh, and using aluminum pans won’t impede the smoke getting into your meat.
Getting Smoke Flavor with Masterbuilt Electric Smokers
Please understand that regardless of manufacturer, electric smokers produce food that has mild to medium smoke flavor at best. You’re not cooking on a concrete block or brick pit here. It’s a small unit that’s meant to give you some smoke flavor with minimal “care and feeding.”
You can possibly amp up your smoke levels by selecting woods like hickory, oak. or pecan. Fruit woods like apple, peach, and cherry produce relatively mild smoke flavors.
Best Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Models
Below are my top 3 picks for inclusion in this Masterbuilt Electric Smokers review. I’ve ordered them by features and average cost.
Masterbuilt 20070210 30-Inch Black Electric Analog Smoker
This is Masterbuilt’s best electric smoker for the entry-level user. It has three smoking racks – giving you a good amount of space. The variable thermostat temperature control lets you set the smoking temperature to your desired reading with ease, and the unit’s built-in thermometer keeps it running at the setting you choose.
The smoker includes an interior wood-chip tray and water pan. This Masterbuilt electric smoker represents the company’s intro model. It’s bare bones, but it does the job. On thing to note here is that you have to open the cabinet up to add smoke chips. As such, you’re going to lose a bit of heat when doing so. Other models below feature an external wood chip chute that allows the main cabinet to remain closed during refueling.
Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker: Features and Benefits
The Masterbuilt 20070210 30-Inch Black Electric Analog Smoker is a true cooking and smoking unit, in that the temperature setting runs from 100 – 400 degrees F. Clean up is relatively easy, especially if you smoke your meats in disposable aluminum pans.
Masterbuilt 20070910 30-Inch Black Electric Digital Smoker, Top Controller
A step up from its analog cousin, the Masterbuilt 30-inch electric digital version is the best electric smoker for those wanting to gain a bit more overall cooking control. As you can see, the cabinet smokehouse style is still in use, but Masterbuilt adds in digital controls for greater temperature accuracy and an external wood chip feeding system.
The digital temperature settings panel does offer a 24 hour timer that provides an automatic shut off so your food won’t overcook. The ability to feed wood chips into your electric smoker means that you don’t have to open up the main cabinet and lose all that heat and smoke when refueling.
This 30-inch electric digital smoker with top controller has a temperature range of 100 – 275 degrees F. This is important to note in that you won’t be able to do any hot and fast smoking at this rate. That said, these lower temperatures are perfect for BBQ as well as cooking fish or making jerky.
Smoked BBQ Wings on the Masterbuilt Electric Smoker
Overall, I feel that the addition of the digital controls and the external chip feeding feature make the Masterbuilt 30-inch digital smoker a great purchase.
This electric smoker boasts a good amount of interior space, with four racks that give you a little more than 730 square inches of cooking area. Between this and the unit referenced above, I’d probably go with this one for the chip feeding feature alone. Learn more about the Masterbuilt 30-inch digital smoker here.
Masterbuilt 20075315 Front Controller Smoker with Viewing Window and RF Remote Control, 40-Inch
Of the three smokers I reference in this review article, the 40 inch model here with RF remote control is my pick for best Masterbuilt electric smoker.
In addition to the extra cooking space provided and the external fuel/wood chip feeding chute seen in the previous model, you get some great added functionality.
The 4 rack system for this smoker feature curved back ends on each rack that allow you to slide the racks out half way and are ‘caught’ so they don’t tip out. This feature functions much in the same way as the racks do in a standard kitchen oven. Trust me, when you least expect it… those racks are gonna come in handy!
The other feature I like is that there’s a nice sized internal drip tray that has an “overflow” that feeds out to a rear-mounted external drip tray. It seems like Masterbuilt has put years of testing and trials into the thought behind this model, making it not only large in capacity, but extremely function and easy to use.
Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Smoker with RF Remote Features Video
Here’s a video of a nearly identical unit – Masterbuilt’s Top Control 40 inch digital smoker with RF remote. The features of this smoker are the same.
I am not always a bells and whistles fan, but when looking for the best Masterbuilt electric smokers, the remote here being RF-based is a nice plus. The rack system and drip tray layout make for easy operation and cleanup, and there’s a built-in thermometer that users report reads internal meat temperatures accurately. All in all, it really seems that for not that much more money, you’re getting a functional and well-thought-out unit.
Learn more about the Masterbuilt 40-inch digital electric smoker with RF remote here.
Best Masterbuilt Electric Smokers: Final Thoughts
In writing this Masterbuilt Electric Smokers review, it’s clear to me that the company has done a great job of crafting reliable and easy to use electric smokers that provide consistent results.
The base model I reference in this review will do the job for a single person or small family. Obviously, you get more cooking space with the 40-inch models.
If bells and whistles are for you, definitely consider the Masterbuilt 40-inch Front Controller Smoker with Viewing Window and RF Remote Control. It’s got all the features you’ll need for easy smoking and clean up.
Remember, that if you go with any model of electric smoker that requires you to lift the lid or open the door to the main chamber, you’re going to experience a serious dip in smoke and thermal temperature. For that reason alone, I’d lean towards models that provide an exterior fuel feeding chute or mechanism.
Have You Found This Post Useful? Have a Question? Please Ask!
If you’ve found this Masterbuilt Electric Smokers review post useful, please share it with others you feel might also enjoy it. Have a question? Please ask in the comments area below! As you can see from my pellet smoker reviews post, I’m pretty good at getting back to you!
Hi Brown, have to say your experiences with Masterbuilt Smokers shocking folks is troublesome. I see reports that they had a problem in this area on “some” units, but not for the past 3 years or so. I see that you, yourself, are recommending Masterbuilt Smokers on your own site, so you surely know that they are a solid buy. Thanks for stopping by.
I’ve been reading and some reports are saying the digital controls are not as good as the older models
Great article and awesome advice. Thank you
Thanks, Ted!
Hi my boy friend just bought the 30 in. Smoker byge says that we can also use it as a refrigerator. I told him no you can’t it just looks like a refrigerator, I looked it up and found nothing. Who’ s right?
Ha! I’m inclined to side with you on this one. If you want a mini fridge, just buy a mini fridge. 🙂 In truth, the structural elements of a well-insulated electric smoker are similar to a fridge in many respects. But, that’s pretty much where thing end.
I just got into an argument with someone……he is trying to tell me that u can use the digital electric smoker indoors …mind u he lives in an apartment…I saw no …who is right
Hi, thanks for your comment. In short, no. You should not use any smoker indoors. Restaurants and some high end homeowners may be able to do this with professionally installed ventilation systems. But, again, for the vast majority … like 99.999% of cases, the answer is a firm no.
So would the mes 130s just be a smaller version of the 140s? Or does the 140s contain more features too? I’m thinking about the 140s, but would like a smaller version…
Hi. So is the 130s just a smaller version of the 140s? Or does the 140s contain more features? I am liking the 140s, but I am wanting a smaller version…thanks!
Correct. The 140s Give you a bit more room inside. Honestly, I would go with the 140. You never have to use all of the space, but if you ever need more space you’re kind of stuck. It’s not that much more of a size jump to the 140.
An informative article. Masterbuilt smokers are indeed one of the best ones. Thank you for a great share
Have you tried the new series 400 smokers? I’m looking at the new generation 40″ smoker
Hey Doug – No, I have not, but I need to! Hope to have a chance to investigate and get a review up soon!
I bought an electric smoker just last year. The Masterbuilt model MB25075517 used it about 10 times and when I unplugged one of the electric prongs that comes from the heating element came off with the plug.I do not leave the smoker plugged up the plug stays inside except when in use and the smoker has been covered with a tarp except when in use. The thermometer never worked correctly I just bought another one rather than worry about a $2 part. I can replace the element if I could find a way to order the thing but Masterbuilt does not give a way to contact them except through their site and then only for warranty purposes. I guess I just own a piece of junk now I have been on their web page for the last 45 minutes trying to contact them but no way. I guess I’ll just have to go find another one from a manufacturer that cares about their customers after the warranty runs out.
Hello Jim, thank you for taking the time to comment here. I am very sorry to hear about the issues you’ve faced with your Masterbuilt electric smoker. I’ve reached out to Masterbuilt and they assure me that if you contact them via their social media channel – in this case their Facebook page by sending them a message – you will receive a response. You can find that page here: https://www.facebook.com/masterbuilt/
thank you but I have already replaced it. I have been in customer service most of my life and when I have to jump through hoops to contact any company that I buy their product I do not have any patience, in my mind it seems all they are concerned with is the initial sale. So thank you for your help but like I said I fixed the problem by eliminating it. Thanks again, Jim
Understood. Thank you for being part of the community here all the same. I do appreciate your input!
We have replaced our thermostat 2x and it’s still not quite right. We still can’t regulate the temperature correctly. It’s kind of hit or miss. The first thermostat went out after about one year or a little over. It was easier to replace than worryl with Masterbuilt. We reported the issue. We just can’t seem to get a good read on the temperature, even when the thermostat is new.
It’s now too old to mess with so I’m getting him a new one this month for his birthday. We have the glass front and have decided not to go that route, purely because it gets so nasty that we can’t see through it and, living in the country sure doesn’t help.
I completely agree what company doesn’t have phone customer services
Also no gasket under the digital controller mine shorted out after moderate rain though I bought their brand of cheap ass cover for it
Thanks for you advice – I am looking for my first Masterbuilt smoker and was wondering if the top broil feature was worthwhile. If it is, a suggestion on the model that includes that feature?
Hey Joe! I’m not quite sold on the broil feature as being a ‘must have.’ If it comes on a model you find that you like, great! But I probably would not let it be the deciding factor.
Very important reason behind seasoning the Masterbuilt Propane Smoker is rust prevention. Despite the multiple solvents and coatings applied inside this vertical smoker, there is nothing that can safeguard your Masterbuilt Propane Smoker against rusting.David Brown famous for delicious smoker recipes, expert cooking methods, cooking tips, and tricks as well as for his cooking recipes
Trying to decide between the Masterbuilt 30″ digital electric smoker (aluminum) and the 30″ digital electric smokehouse (steel). Same good reviews, same price. Which do I go with?
Hello Judy! I’d probably go with the steel one. The aluminum model “might” get up to temp faster, but the steel version would be my pick for holding temps evenly over longer cook times.
Hi, Can you put pellets in the bin instead of wood chips?
Hi Rick! Sorry for the delay in my response. No, sir. Please only use the chips they direct you to use.
If someone can help me out. I can’t get enough smoke in my Masterbuilt. I have had three smokers and never had this problem this bad before. I have always been told and always kept my wood chips soaked. I am wondering if I should stop soaking the chips so they will burn and smoke better.
I’d definitely try not soaking them.
What is the difference in using electric or propane for fuel. Pros and cons.
Thanks
Both will allow for easy lighting and heat management. Cons for both is that you are limited in terms of getting wood fired flavor you’d get over charcoal.
Thanks Kevin for Sharing detailed information related to this topic.
Hello, We are new to the use of a smoker and appreciate the advice. Can you please give me the model numbers for the two digital smokers you recommend?
Thank you!
I’d recommend the OG Grilla or their Silverbac as a starting point. GrillaGrills.com
My smoker keeps throwing up a air after getting it set to cook it starts beeping and it doesn’t stop until you turn it off and reset and do everything again it will not keep smoking What do I do
I am looking to buy a first smoker. Can someone tell me the difference between the Masterbuilt 140S and the 140G???
And how long does a cup of chips last???
I’m looking at purchasing a Masterbuilt 20070910 30 inch digital electric smoker. Can this unit be stored outside if I keep it covered and waterproofed when not in use?
Hey Richard, I don’t see why not.