Cabela's 40"MES

[smokin sid]

Greetings Everyone!

  For this last Christmas my husband asked me what I wanted. I thought for a while and

a Masterbuilt 40" Electric Smoker came to mind. I know they are not all the same.

The one I like is Cabela's Item # IK-552046. There is no rating for this particular model as of

yet. It has a lot of features that I like. I wish It had a window, but that is the only feature that

It dose not have that would like to have. It's the cooking space that is very important to me.

With 1,462 inches of cooking space.

Did any one in the forum by chance get this model for Christmas? If so how do you like it?

Any feed back would greatly be appreciated.

                                                                                           Many Thanks

                                                                                            Smokin Sid

 

[themule69]

I have the 1st generation MES 40 and it works great. I don't know what your model number.

Happy smoken.

David

 

[daricksta]

That's a really expensive model because it's the latest one. Just so you know, Masterbuilt makes special versions of their smokers for retailers to sell under their own brand names. These smokers offer slightly different features from the regular MB line. I don't know much about the new models but they seem to be an improvement over the last version, which was called Generation 2. I'm concerned that this 40-inch model has an inadequate heating element. It has an 800 watt element which is typical used in the smaller 30-inch models. The 40-inch smokers typically come with a 1200 watt heating element.

I would look on Amazon or another online retailer for a better price on a MES 40 Gen 1. And you should decide how big a smoker your hubby needs. How many people will he be smoking for? A 30-inch model can still handle a lot of food (730 sq.in. of cooking space) but is more narrow and shorter than the 40-inch model. I'd also go with the electric digital over the analog and propane gas models, unless you're OK with using propane gas canisters. I prefer the ease of electricity.

It's a little difficult to find the 40-inch Gen 1 models since the 30-inch MES Gen 1 is Masterbuilt's most popular model. You can find that MES 30 for anywhere from under $100 up to $190 depending on the merchant and the sale price. The basic model MES 30 (model number 20070910), which is what I own, comes without a window, remote control, and meat probe. It's been great for my purposes but many smokers like the window, which you can still find with 30 and 40 inch Gen 1 models. Just hunt around online.

 

[jted]

daRICKsta has those facts right. I will add that I also have a Gen 1 30" smoker. When I switched from wood to electric I thought I knew it all. Boy was I wrong.  I bought the right brand and type(gen1) but I bought the 30". The kids have left so I thought a 30 inch was big enough. My wife wanted a even smaller model . I am forever cooking for 4, 5, or even 6 folks.  When you fill  the 30 you have to crowd trays. Just bite the bullet and get a 40 inch model. The window thing is a another matter. Just get a GEN 1 40 hinged on the right, exhaust  in the back right corner near the controller. If you don't like the prices wait for a sale. But that is time you are not smoking.

 That's just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.  Jted

 

[daricksta]

I searched for MES 40 Gen 1 machines online and there's almost none to be had. Maybe Masterbuilt is out of stock and having new ones built in China to replenish their supply. But check out Amazon and places like Cabela's. What you primarily see are the MES 30 Gen 1, MES 40 and 40 Gen 2, and the new Bluetooth models. That's why I recommended buying a MES 30 Gen 1 if Smokin Sid wanted to buy a MES Gen 1 at a good price.