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Recommend electric smoker?

Posted on 11/11/25 at 6:23 am
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
41159 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 6:23 am
I'm no grill master but interested in a simple easy electric smoker. Any posters here have one or knowledge of a good one? Looking for some comments of experiences.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16187 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 6:25 am to
I'm also looking. My 9 year old GMG pellet grill just crapped out. Might look at another pellet maybe Weber or a vertical electric. The prices on pellet grills have doubled since I last bought though so I dunno. Just saw Z grills has a deal, if you buy a pellet grill they send you a new one every 5 years for 50 years. Pretty wild.
This post was edited on 11/11/25 at 6:43 am
Posted by bovine1
Walnut Ridge,AR via Tallulah,LA
Member since Dec 2004
1353 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 6:58 am to
I love my Masterbilt.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16187 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 7:04 am to
Have you had it a long time? I bought one of those for my dad and he likes it. Very interested in the Weber searwood though. It's $100 off now but still $900
Posted by jmh5724
Member since Jan 2012
2629 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 7:14 am to
Academy has a online sale for this pit boss right now
LINK
Posted by AtticusOSullivan
Member since Mar 2016
2865 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 7:54 am to
I also have a Masterbuilt. Works great. I would advise this, biuld a small box for your control unit. I made one out of plywood amd painted it black to match. Notched the back wall just enough for chord to get through. Otherwise smoke can get into the unit and kill it. This happened to me after 2-3 uses. Masterbuilt sent me a new one at no charge. Built box and it still works great few years later.
Posted by BilbeauTBaggins
probably stuck in traffic
Member since May 2021
7631 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 8:31 am to
I have had a Masterbuilt for about 5 years. had to replace the control panel once (free through warranty) and the heating element (Amazon parts for $29) so it's not my favorite to take care of, but it is a great starter smoker if you want to see how far you are willing to go with it. At the time it was about $250 after tax. Box style smoker so it's not the same as some grill style smokers. I would recommend looking up the differences as it pertains to how heat is managed between the different types. It's not a massive difference, but it will help you when you are figuring out where to place difference foods if you are smoking multiple
Posted by Thecoz
Member since Dec 2018
3778 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 3:13 pm to
Sorta open topic..
Old school brinkman water smokers if just wanting to smoke the occasional chicken turkey ribs .. gotta load the wood chips every few hours.. works great.. low cost and smoker option.. what I started with .. that and a gas grill.. still have a decent shape one in garage somewhere ..

Pellet smoker… would stay with a lower end one… I have a few traegers. Not sure you really get any bank for your buck with these smokers. I have A tailgate one for use like a grill and smoking small stuff like steaks. Fish.. pork tenderloin .. a bigger one for briskets and racks of ribs..

Imo just buy a basic offset smoker at tractor supply and learn to use charcoal and wood chunks.. once you figure it out the charcoal gives stable heat.. wood for smoke.sorta the fun of smoking.. loading fuel , loading wood every once in a while and measuring time by beer counts .

Not sure I will replace my electric pellet smokers when they go..



Posted by Loup
Ferriday
Member since Apr 2019
15518 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 3:39 pm to
quote:

Very interested in the Weber searwood though. It's $100 off now but still $900


I have the Weber Smokefire and its been nothing but trouble
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16187 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 3:40 pm to
Maybe that one is discontinued. They aren't cheap. Thanks for responding. Seems like a crapshoot.
Posted by Lazy But Talented
Member since Aug 2011
15018 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 4:13 pm to
quote:

Weber searwood though. It's $100 off now but still $900


Another poster swore by this searwood a few months back when I was doing research.

I ultimately went with the campchef woodwind pro 36 so I can utilize the sidekick flat top.

Had a pitboss comp series before this and had no complaints, was just ready to upgrade.
Posted by Don Quixote
Member since May 2023
3928 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 4:22 pm to
quote:

Old school brinkman water smokers


I have one of these and still use it for when I want to lay on heavy smoke. They're really cheap but I've had amazing results from it. I added some lava rocks at the bottom below the heating element to maintain steady, even heat. I planned to retire it when I bought my Pitt Boss pellet grill a few years ago; that one works well enough for light smoking but while I can control the temp, I found I couldn't manage the amount of smoke I like at the beginning of a long smoke like pork butt.
This post was edited on 11/11/25 at 4:29 pm
Posted by papasmurf1269
Hells Pass
Member since Apr 2005
21333 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 5:07 pm to
I have a masterbilt and it works pretty well
Posted by Shotgun Willie
Member since Apr 2016
4148 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 5:18 pm to
Rec Tec, had a bull since 2020 and thing is awesome. Always holds temp exactly where you set it. Easy to do long smokes etc. Have a pork butt on it as we sit here for tacos tonight.
Posted by Bayou
Boudin, LA
Member since Feb 2005
41159 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 7:31 pm to
quote:


I love my Masterbilt.

Strongly considering this one. Rated very high. Out of stock on Amazon.

Anyone use or have experience with the East Oak?
This post was edited on 11/11/25 at 7:51 pm
Posted by FMtTXtiger
Member since Oct 2018
4881 posts
Posted on 11/11/25 at 8:20 pm to
i also have a electric masterbuilt and i had the control box go out as well. I thought maybe it was the weather so i disconnect it every time and keep it in garage.

They replaced mine as well and sent me free gloves and a small rib rack.

A+ by customer service.
Posted by tigerbaiter
Member since Dec 2006
615 posts
Posted on 11/12/25 at 7:38 am to
Love my Z grill. Bare bones, but it does exactly what I want it to. 7 years and still rolling strong
Posted by The Mick
Member since Oct 2010
44825 posts
Posted on 11/12/25 at 7:47 am to
I can't recommend Recteq. Food comes out incredible, but constantly having issues with the digital display/ temp settings. Sometimes after I open the lid to flip food or whatever, if temp drops it will continue to drop until I shut it off completely and restart/ reset the desired temp.

Maybe all brands have quirkiness but if I ever get a new one, it won't be this brand.
Posted by LEASTBAY
Member since Aug 2007
16187 posts
Posted on 11/12/25 at 2:16 pm to
Recteqs just went on sale. I think I'm going to buy the patio legend. It's $150 off.
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