The Best Electric Smokers To Make Pit Master-Style BBQ At Home

With little effort, the best electric smokers add a signature smokey flavor and texture to meats. Contrary to popular belief, electric smokers are easy to access and use; plus they are more affordable than in years past. Smoking your meat outdoors can take your meals to the next level—before you know it, you’ll be the next neighborhood pit master.

Some of the best electric smokers have push-button digital controls, LED readouts and even big … [+] viewing windows.

ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS

Using a traditional backyard grill is still a great way to prepare delicious proteins but using a smoker infuses your BBQ with a deep smokey flavor. To use an electric smoker, place your meat or veggies inside, add your wood chips, set the temperature and you’ll be on the road to BBQ heaven. The smoke from wood chips or pellets combined with the circulation of convection heat will penetrate and elevate your brisket, burgers, poultry and anything you want to infuse with that rich flavor.

When shopping for the best electric smoker for your needs, there are a few things to remember, including storage space, the capacity you’ll need and whether you want a cooker with advanced smart features (or not). To find the best options on the market, we narrowed down the top-rated models with the best value and functionality; of course, we poured over hundreds of customer reviews to find the greatest. These are the best electric smokers, whether you’re already a pit master pro or a beginner barbecuer. For more backyard upgrade ideas, check out our favorite fire pits and patio furniture.

Mục Lục

Best Electric Smoker Overall

A Smoker That Delivers Authentic Flavor With Plenty Of Capacity

SmokinTex Smoker

Weight: 93 pounds | Size: 29 x 21 x 17.5 inches

SmokinTex delivers authentic pit barbecue while simplifying the entire process. Add wood chips to the bottom, place your food on the racks, turn it on and you’re good to go. An adjustable thermostat lets you cycle from 100 to 250 degree Fahrenheit, while double-wall insulated stainless steel construction keeps the consistent low heat you need. Want vegetables, chicken and steak at once? Not a problem. Four racks let you cook whatever you want together. Also, you can move things around thanks to the casters.

Best Inexpensive Electric Smoker

A Hearty And Powerful Option That Won’t Break Your Budget

Walmart

Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker

Weight: 30 pounds | Size: 20.7 x 21.3 x 39.4 inches

Don’t let the price fool you—this smoker gets the job done. With a 354-square-inch interior, there’s plenty of space to cook several meats at once. The Masterbuilt has a 1,800-watt heating element, which is more than enough to churn out smoky, juicy, evenly-cooked meats. The smoker has two adjustable chrome-plated grates you can move around to fit your meat, while a removable wood chip tray allows you to infuse as much or as little smokiness as you want. A nice perk: There’s a built-in door temperature gauge, so you can easily keep tabs on the cooking process.

Best Electric Smoker For Beginners

A Roomy Smoker That’s Incredibly Easy To Use

Amazon

Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker

Weight: 51.5 pounds | Size: 33.3 x 19.9 x 17.3 inches

Cuisinart’s electric smoker doesn’t have too many bells and whistles that could make the process feel overwhelming for newbies. The interior features 548 square inches, which is ample space to smoke several meats and vegetables at once. It also has a small vertical footprint, allowing you to put it just about anywhere outdoors. Three removable stainless steel shelves allow you to shift things around to make room for larger cuts of meat, while an easy-to-read thermometer on the front door lets you check out the temperature inside. The whole thing can heat up between 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit with a dial.

Best Large Capacity Electric Smoker

A Sizable Option That Can Handle 16 Chickens At Once

Lowes

Masterbuilt 40-Inch Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker

Weight: 66 pounds | Size: 42 x 10 x 25 inches

Masterbuilt’s smoker has plenty of room for cooking food for your whole family—and your neighbors. This machine can handle 16 chickens, four turkeys or eight oversized cuts of pork at once, with room around for vegetables and other sides. The smoker uses Bluetooth Smart technology to allow you to monitor and control your meat and temperature from either your phone or the digital control panel. An included meat probe lets you see exactly what’s happening inside your food. You can even add wood chips without opening the smoker door.

Best Small Electric Smoker

A Basic Gadget You Can Take On The Go

Wayfair

Old Smokey Vertical Electric Portable Smoker

Weight: 24 pounds | Size: 29 x 15.5 x 15.5 inches

This classic-style smoker is pretty bare bones, but that’s not a bad thing. It has a flat top, allowing juices to drip right back onto your food. A tray on top of the heating element holds your wood chips for that perfectly smoky flavor. It’s also controlled by a heat thermostat that allows you to cycle through a range of cooking times and styles. The whole thing weighs just 24 pounds, making it easy to tote from backyard to backyard.

For a limited time, if you apply for a Wayfair credit card and get approved, take $40 off this portable smoker if it’s part of your first qualifying order of $250 or more.

Best Front View Electric Smoker

A Cool-Looking Smoker That Lets You Watch The Action Unfold

Wayfair

Pit Boss Vertical Electric Portable Smoker

Weight: 67 pounds | Size: 47 x 23 x 21.5 inches

This version from Pit Boss has a huge window in the front to allow you to keep tabs on your dinner. You can control what’s happening internally with a push-button digital control panel with LED readout. There’s also a programmable meat probe to allow you to monitor the internal temperature of your meat and vegetables. Worth noting: You can even make pizza in this contraption. And the cool blue exterior helps it really pop on your patio.

Best Digital Electric Smoker

A Smart Version That Lets You Easily Adjust The Temperature As Needed

Wayfair

Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker

Weight: 50.2 pounds | Size: 32.5 x 18.1 x 16.5 inches

Char-Broil’s smoker has a clear, easy-to-use digital thermostat and display panel so you can quickly change the temperature when needed. The smoker features four chrome-plated steel cooking grates in 725 square inches of cooking space. An integrated meat thermometer lets you track the internal temperature of your food without opening the door and losing precious heat. A really nice feature: The smoker will turn itself off automatically when your food is ready, so you don’t have to stress about overcooking. A warming feature will help keep food hot until you’re ready to eat. For a limited time, if you apply for a Wayfair credit card and get approved, take $40 off this electric smoker if it’s part of your first order.

Best Easy-To-Clean Electric Smoker

An Option That Catches Spills And Used Wood Chips For Simple Cleaning

Amazon

Bradley Smoker BS611 Electric Smoker

Weight: 55 pounds | Size: 34 x 20 x 18 inches

The Bradley Smoker has plenty of cool features to make this worth your time. It features a special hopper on the side to store and add your wood chips without much work on your end. Simply load it up with chips, and it’ll do the rest. A stainless steel interior helps circulate even heat, while four racks give you plenty of room to cook. A special smoke diffuser helps ensure smokiness infuses your food, no matter where it’s positioned. A drip tray helps catch spills, and all the racks are dishwasher safe. There’s even a basin to catch used wood chips.

How We Chose The Best Electric Smokers

Over the years, we have written dozens of home and outdoor stories. To find the best electric smokers, we narrowed down picks from top-rated creditable brands, then analyzed their value, key features and customer reviews.

When curating our list, we selected picks that could work for both new and experienced cooks in various sizes and prices. We included selections like the Masterbuilt Digital Smoker, which can handle up to 16 chickens at a time and options like the Old Smokey Vertical Electric Portable Smoker, which is a better fit for those who cook in smaller quantities. We looked for simpler picks that didn’t have many bells and whistles, like the Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker. We also kept an eye out for those who are more tech-savvy with picks like the Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker. In the end, we found electric smokers for almost every type of BBQ lover.

We frequently update this story to ensure accuracy and it was last edited in December 2022.

What To Look For In An Electric Smoker

Here are some of the key features and functions to look for when shopping for an electric smoker.

Capacity

You can easily get away with a smaller, less expensive electric smoker if you’re cooking for your family versus regularly hosting backyard parties at your place.

Temperature Control

Are you the type of smoker who wants to be babysitting your meat or be free to make a round of margaritas instead? If it’s the latter, you’ll want to at least be able to turn a dial to set your temperature.

Visibility

Some smokers have windows to allow you to see what’s happening inside while others don’t. If you do like to keep a watchful eye on your chicken, you might want to invest in a model with a glass door.

Overall Size

If outdoor space isn’t an issue for you, you can go as big as you’d like. But if you’re dealing with limited space, you’ll likely want to opt for a smaller smoker.

Portability

Do you plan to take your smoker grill to tailgates and neighborhood backyard parties, or would you rather it take up permanent residence in your backyard? Not every smoker is easy to tote around.

What Is The Best Electric Smoker For Beginners?

The Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker is a smaller model, so if you are just dipping a toe in the BBQ smoking pool, this one’s easier to manage and won’t take up too much space. It has simple controls to prevent confusion for novice outdoor chef and there’s a temperature feature right on the front door so it’s easy to read.

Are Electric Smokers Worth It?

When using electric smokers, you don’t have to worry about purchasing charcoal or propane, which is an added cost when using other smoking methods. Electric smokers also give you a bit more control over temperature, which doesn’t require as much babysitting. If you are still unsure if electric smokers are worth the investment, start with a less expensive model, like the Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker for under $100.

What Is The Best Smoker Of 2022?

If you are looking for the most reliable smoker, then any of the above picks from top-rated brands could work for you. Our best smoker of 2022 is the SmokinTex Smoker because of its simple design, large capacity and double insulated walls. Plus it’s on wheels, making transport simple.