Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

[hogsrolling]

Anyone have one?  If so what are your thoughts?  Thanks

[BR]

Have had one 7 years,  love it... Have it inside my Tiki Bar..

[DeltaBoy]

Nothing but good stuff.

[McKdaddy]

The wife bought be one in June '14.  Works really well for this terrible, terrible grill-cook.  Dummy proof.

[TomasPistola]

Absolutely awesome. Have the stand for it as well. Only wish I'd gotten the biggest one.

[HSVhogfan2]

Absolutely awesome. Have the stand for it as well. Only wish I'd gotten the biggest one.

Had one for 2 years and all of the sudden it started throwing my breaker. Then it went out completely. Found out it was a heating element problem with my particular unit. I loved it though while it lasted. Pretty much set and forget.

Thinking about getting a pellet smoke, but still researching them.

[TomasPistola]

Had one for 2 years and all of the sudden it started throwing my breaker. Then it went out completely. Found out it was a heating element problem with my particular unit. I loved it though while it lasted. Pretty much set and forget.

Thinking about getting a pellet smoke, but still researching them.

As I understand, replacing the heating elements on those are not that difficult. You might be able to repair it.

[rzrbk4life]

Absolutely love it. Would highly recommend it.

[Hogman24]

If you go this direction get the generation 1 which has the controls on the top back. The generation 2 with the controls on the front been having a lot of issues with the control unit going out and the way it's built. If you are looking for a great smoker for the the price you can't beat the Weber smokie mountain. I have both and prefer my Weber over my electric master built.

[HogCard]

Had one for 2 years and all of the sudden it started throwing my breaker. Then it went out completely. Found out it was a heating element problem with my particular unit. I loved it though while it lasted. Pretty much set and forget.

Thinking about getting a pellet smoke, but still researching them.

Mine is also throwing GFI.  If I plug into a non GFI, it works.

[BR]

Here is mine, inside my Tiki Bar.  Vented outside with heating duct.  Works perfect, only use AMAZING Smoke Pellets and sawdust inside, smokes for hours. Do not use chip tray.  Have a 12x12 Ceramic Tile over heating coil to even out hot spots... Have had for 5 years, have had to re do wires on heating element twice, but thats it..

[BR]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249515721871731/   A great Facebook group for Masterbuilt Smokers...

[baitshop]

I have had 3, the last 2 were like BR's. The first one I ordered online, and I had it for about 2 years, the element burned out and Masterbuilt told me that they no longer a carried the part and that they couldn't help me.

The second one I bought at Sam's because they told me that they guaranteed that I could get parts if I had problems. It lasted 2 years and the lower hinge on the door just rotted and the door would just hang by the upper hinge.

I bought a third one (like the one in BR's picture) and 6 months after I bought it the control unit went out. Each one of these Masterbuilt's was stored under a 24x15 patio cover and with a cover on them at all times that the unit wasn't being used. I will say that with all 3, when they were working they cooked what I thought was pretty good.

After the 3rd one I knew that I had to make a change and that I still wanted an electric smoker (just too easy compared to a stick burner) and spent about 6 months reading blogs, message boards, and reviews on every electric smoker that I could fine. When I finally pulled the trigger I spent $759 and bought a CookShack sm025. In my research I found that some folks had had their CookShack for 25 years with no problems. They are incredibly well made. It is basically a commercial grade smoker that they have sized down for residential use. It cooks fast and more consistently in both summer and winter than my 3 Masterbuilts. If you have problems, you just pick up a phone and call their offices in Ponca City and ask for Karen or (CEO) Stuart. They will talk to you about recipes, cooking times, temps, or techniques, and they are always interested in what and how your smoking experience is with their product.

It is twice the price of a Masterbuilt, but I think that it will be the last smoker that I have to buy.

[Duke of Swine]

Mine is also throwing GFI.  If I plug into a non GFI, it works.

Mine is doing the same thing. 

[DeltaBoy]

GFI plugs are not made for smokers,  deep Frezzers or Ice Box's.

[Grizzlyfan]

I know it's nice to see the food while it's cooking but does the glass door cause heat loss compared to the non-glass varieties?

And what about stainless steel versus regular(?) steel variety?

[BR]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249515721871731/  A GREAT Masterbuilt Facebook Group page..... Any Problem I have ever had, called Masterbuilt Customer service and it was took care of...

[Filthy_McSwine]

I had a MES a few years ago and I used to go to this forum a lot...

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/f/110/electric-smokers

[Grizzlyfan]

I know it's nice to see the food while it's cooking but does the glass door cause heat loss compared to the non-glass varieties?

And what about stainless steel versus regular(?) steel variety?

What anybody be willing to offer some opinion?  For the same dollars spent, smaller capacity stainless steel versus larger capacity regular steel?  Glass doors or no?

[arkhogball]

Got one about two months ago.  Absolutely love it.  Wish I would have gotten on sooner.  I would say, make sure to to get a digital thermometer for best results.

[baitshop]

What anybody be willing to offer some opinion?  For the same dollars spent, smaller capacity stainless steel versus larger capacity regular steel?  Glass doors or no?

My 3 Masterbuilt's did not cook as fast as my CookShack, especially in the winter. I don't have to keep water inside my CookShack to maintain moisture in the meat. I miss having the glass door but find that it was more of a convenience than a necessity.

[majestic]

What anybody be willing to offer some opinion?  For the same dollars spent, smaller capacity stainless steel versus larger capacity regular steel?  Glass doors or no?

I would (and did) get a pellet smoker/grill combo.  A lot of the champion BBQ teams are using them now.  So, so simple to use.

[majestic]

What anybody be willing to offer some opinion?  For the same dollars spent, smaller capacity stainless steel versus larger capacity regular steel?  Glass doors or no?

But to answer your question, sort of, directly.... what can you "see" with glass doors, anyway?  If there is any appreciable amount of smoke, you can't really see the meat anyway.  And what are you going to judge by looking at it? You are going to get the bark you want by leaving it alone for the first 3 or 4 hours, so just get the temp right and leave it alone. 

[95_alum]

Goin' on 4 years now. I like it a lot. I mainly smoke pork butts with it. 245° for 12 hours. I've been using hickory, but I'd like to try mesquite when my current stash is used up.

[PorkRinds]

Goin' on 4 years now. I like it a lot. I mainly smoke pork butts with it. 245° for 12 hours. I've been using hickory, but I'd like to try mesquite when my current stash is used up.

Try some cherry.  I love the combo of hickory and a bit of cherry with ribs and pork butts.

[bigstyx]

Haven't used mine since I got the BGE, but i think I'm going to use it to dry and smoke peppers. I did go to a brunch this weekend where the guy had the same model as BR. He smoked 3 trays of bacon candy, using brown sugar and cayenne, which is a little different recipe than i've used. It was out of this world, so props to the Masterbuilt.

[95_alum]

Try some cherry.  I love the combo of hickory and a bit of cherry with ribs and pork butts.

Cherry it is! Will do. Thanks.

[Lanny]

Use mine all the time for briskets.  The glass in front does not hurt the temperature, I like to see how much smoke is circling around the meat.  Highly recommend

[DeltaBoy]

I want to get one some day.

[bobbybouchet]

I had the same problem with the heating element on mine at only about 1 year and only about 10 uses.  Now, if I can get it to stay on, I have to use an oven temp gauge to try to measure the actual smoker temp.  When I set it to about 180, it is actually about 250 inside.  I ruined a couple of expensive cuts of meat figuring out it was cooking at about 350 when I had it set at 225.  Seems the heating elements are a VERY common problem...which is obviously a big problem. And I really liked it when it was working.  It would seem to be running fine, then I would go check it 45 minutes later to add wood chips and it had shut off.  I won't buy another unless Masterbuilt announces they have fixed the heating element problem, I will just use this sparingly until it craps out completely.  For 4-6 hour meats, I have just started using my weber kettle grill for most smoking.  It is much easier to control temp than I expected, but don't get as much smoke flavor by putting wood chips on the coals.  But at least I know it will be cooking at the temp I need and not just shut off.  Someday I would like to get a barrel smoker and use the actual wood as the heat source.  It may require a lot of trial and error to get to know the smoker, but in the end it will be the most reliable source.  The only problem is that I won't be able to travel with it, which is why I liked the electric.

[BR]

Great Masterbuilt Page... Lots of great stuff on here...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/249515721871731/