What Brand

danred · Nov 28, 2014

Hello,

I am new here and want to buy an electric smoker. I really don't want to spend more than 300 and under 200 would be better. What brand do you recommend? I see a lot of folks have the Masterbuilt but I see a lot of threads indicating problems. I want the most reliable brand for the money. Thanks for your help.

Rafter H BBQ · Nov 28, 2014

Danred said:
Hello,

I am new here and want to buy an electric smoker. I really don't want to spend more than 300 and under 200 would be better. What brand do you recommend? I see a lot of folks have the Masterbuilt but I see a lot of threads indicating problems. I want the most reliable brand for the money. Thanks for your help.

Take a look on Sportsmans Guide website, they have the MES for a great deal right now ! Only thing with the MES is the stock therm is not accurate, so ya may look into getting a therm like a Maverick ET-732 !

wolfwebb · Nov 29, 2014

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home...tegoryId=463687380&WTz_l=Unknown;cat463687380

Is this a generation 1 Masterbuilt?

danred · Nov 29, 2014

Anybody have an opinion?

jted · Nov 29, 2014

wolfwebb said:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home...tegoryId=463687380&WTz_l=Unknown;cat463687380

Is this a generation 1 Masterbuilt?

Yes! Controller in the back, hinges on the right. Some one posted a Sam's club Masterbuilt Gen 1 smoker with 10" legs for about the same money. Jump jump fast these are great prices.

Danred said:
Anybody have an opinion?

Danred, at your price point the gen 1 Masterbuilt is a good place to start.

dave from mesa · Nov 29, 2014

wolfwebb said:
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home...tegoryId=463687380&WTz_l=Unknown;cat463687380

Is this a generation 1 Masterbuilt?

As far as I know the Gen1 have the controller on top at the back. So the answer is yes.

Sorry Danred I have a MES and have only used electric smokers. Lots of MES users here so if I were to recommend one a Gen1 30" would be it considering your price range.

Good luck o your decision

dave

that's what I get for being a slow typer

themule69 · Nov 29, 2014

I have a generation 1 MES 40 and it works great. Then I have the AMNPS for smoke. That is a good setup and I would recommend it.

Happy smoken.

David

azbohunter · Nov 29, 2014

That is a great price at Cabela's. It is what I and many others use. I have added the AMNPS also like many others but even after that you are still under the $200 budget price.

I'd go for it then later add a good thermometer like a Maverick 732...

Dick

daricksta · Nov 29, 2014

Danred said:
Hello,

I am new here and want to buy an electric smoker. I really don't want to spend more than 300 and under 200 would be better. What brand do you recommend? I see a lot of folks have the Masterbuilt but I see a lot of threads indicating problems. I want the most reliable brand for the money. Thanks for your help.

I own a Masterbuilt 30-inch Electric Digital Smokehouse Gen 1 (there are two generations and even the Gen 1 had a slight remodel). I bought mine over two years ago on Amazon for $189 and you can find them cheaper than that. Places like Cabela's, Lowes, Tractor Supply Co., and others also sell them. From my experience, if you're looking for a good, reliable electric smoker for $200-300 I'd stick with a Masterbuilt. Only the guys who don't own them say they're read a lot of complaints from MES owners. If you check out the electric smoker forum you'll find a whole lot more of us love our Masterbuilts than complain about them. Yes, I've read that the Gen 2 (you can get more info on the differences between Gen 1 and Gen 2 later) have had their problems but since I own a Gen 1 that's all I comment on. If you check the forums you'll see that the most popular electric smoker combo is a MES 30 or 40 (40-inch being bigger and wider than the 30) with the A-MAZE-N Pellet Smoker. Many of us have found it easier to smoke with wood pellets and have found the AMNPS the best thing to use for hot and cold smoking. Yes, you'll read complaints about it but, again, many more of us use and greatly enjoy it.

frobro · Nov 29, 2014

Any opinions on the Bradley original? You can buy a four rack for under three hundred. looks convenient as heck.

old sarge · Nov 29, 2014

frobro- Here is a link to the Bradley postings at SMF.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/newsearch?search=Bradley+smokers

danred · Nov 29, 2014

Thanks for the help.

old sarge · Nov 29, 2014

For the budget minded, there is the Old Smokey:

http://www.oldsmokey.com/products/electric-smoker?variant=350587737

Nothing fancy here. It just works.

frobro · Nov 30, 2014

Thanks,everyone!

old sarge · Nov 30, 2014

Be sure to let us know what you get.

Happy smoking!

daricksta · Dec 2, 2014

frobro said:
Any opinions on the Bradley original? You can buy a four rack for under three hundred. looks convenient as heck.

I wouldn't buy a smoker that used a motorized "bisquette" loader required me to buy their own bisquettes and determines the rate at which these bisquettes are loaded into the smoking chamber. With a Masterbuilt I can choose what wood smoke source to use, either chips or pellets, and there are no motors to burn out.

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