If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Robb Report may receive an affiliate commission.
For many who have a passion for cooking—and have a considerable amount of patience—smoking meats has become the new go-to hobby. Indeed, it takes a good deal of time to get the rich flavors of smoked cuts, the ones that add a whole new dimension to your meats. Of course, not everyone has the time to deal with a traditional smoker—and this is where electric smokers come in.
Designed for ease of use, electric smokers offer an alternative for those who want all the taste and character of smoked meats, but may not have the time to invest in traditional smoking. Additionally, these smokers with digital capabilities offer you direct control over the temperature for a more precise smoking experience.
With a few simple steps, modern technology can help you master the old-world art of smoking meats. Best of all, with the excellent choices below, no one will know your slabs came from an electric smoker.
An incredible value purchase, this digital smoker from Dyna-Glo is a great unit for those who have wanted to get into smoking meats but were too intimidated by the price and process of it all. Dyna-Glo’s digital smoker is simple and easy to use and even includes a side loader to add extra chips when you need to kick things up a notch or two. Oh, and cleanup is a breeze, too, thanks to its removable grease and liquid tray.
The name of this Cookshack device is apt: It’s not a regular electric smoker, but a super one. Made of stainless steel and Measuring 20 inches in width and over 35 inches in height, this durable and sizable device is able to smoke 35 pounds of meat at one time. The smoking temperature ranges between 140 and 300 degrees, which can be regulated and controlled digitally through LED panel displays. It’ll also monitor the internal temperature of your slabs, making sure that nothing is undercooked.
Bradley is a trusted name in the smoker game—and for good reason. The Canadian outfit’s no-fuss designs are a triumph of form and function. Take this electric smoker, for instance. It features a unique, automatic feed system—kind of like a fancy conveyor belt—that provides the smoker with enough fuel to run for up to nine hours. That fuel is 100 percent natural wood and comes in the form of specially shaped smoking bisquettes. Unique to Bradley, these bisquettes extinguish well before they turn ashy. This means you have fantastic flavor every time. The smoker also has two different heating elements that allow it to function as a hot smoker, cold smoker, oven or dehydrator. The digital controls, meanwhile, enable you to set the temperature and smoking time. Just grab the meat and you’re good to go.
Smokin Tex’s device is the biggest on this list, an electric smoker that measures 21 inches in width and 41 inches in height, and can hold 80 pounds of slabs on four adjustable racks. It’s basically made for commercial use, perfect for bustling restaurants, but can also fit it in easily in any home—especially ones that host large parties regularly. It’s so easy to use and control that you really don’t have to be a professional to serve up delicious smokey slabs.
With 725 square inches of internal cooking space (including 4 adjustable racks), the Char-Broil digital smoker offers up plenty of room for your smoking endeavors. The dedicated smoke box offer anywhere from four to seven hours worth of smoking, for whatever you’re planning on making. And its double-wall construction will lock-in heat and smoke while its digital controllers takes the guesswork out of the smoking experience.
This elegant digital smoker from Masterbuilt lives up to its namesake. The four chrome-coated smoking racks offer a considerable amount of storage space for all kinds of meats. The digital panel controls make it simple to adjust the temperature. However, the standout feature is easily the smoker’s patented side wood chip system, which allows you to add extra chips without ever having to open the door and let all the heat and smoke out.
