Masterbuilt Smokers (Bear’s Thoughts & Findings)

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Theres a maze smoking unit you can put in the smoker. I have not gone that route yet, though I plan to. It will be the mailbox version, be on the outside of the smoker. What I do not know is does this unit upset the thermocouple of the smoker? IS this why they burn out on the MAsterbuilts? Also, by disconnecting the original smoke box, how does the heating element turn off and on? I see it working real hard without ever stabilizing, and thus will burn out? People say theres no issues but I have my engineering hat on too much.

I am going to get all the parts for the add on smoker and install - keeping all the pieces to put back once something goes awry. I love this smoker and don't want to ruin it
An AMNPS will make your smoking so easy and much better quality, you won't believe it.

It will not effect the thermocouple one bit.

You won't be disconnecting your built in chip burner-----You will just stop feeding it. The heating element will keep working exactly like it has been.

You will never want to return to using the MES chip burner. I haven't used mine in 6 years.

And the heat loss through the glass is not noticeable. I would never get another smoker without the window in the door. It has spoiled me.

Bear
 
yes - the 40 would be worth it to cook more meat. There is only me , the wife and leftover requirements for me, so 30 is all I need.
 
Hey Bear - First of all thank you for your service! Nothing more important than veterans!

I will order my unit today then. I am torn a little between the maze unit, and ths stick units. Also investigating the mailbox set up. Any feedback on the three?
 
 
Hey Bear - First of all thank you for your service! Nothing more important than veterans!

I will order my unit today then. I am torn a little between the maze unit, and ths stick units. Also investigating the mailbox set up. Any feedback on the three?
Thank You!!

If you are not at high altitude, the 5 X 8 AMNPS works best.

People at high altitude pretty much need the Tube smoker.

I would try the AMNPS in your smoker first. Then if you have problems go to the mailbox.

I've been using my AMNS and AMNPS for 6 years without needing a mailbox. It's nice to not have to mess with anything other than my smoker.

Bear
 
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Wow! Bear that was a reall good history of the MES 30 and 40.
My next door neighbor bought a generation 1 30 about 5 years ago and uses it a lot in the summer months here in Minnesota. I have never known him to have a problem with it. I had a WSM 22.5 that I love but wanted something that was less of s hassle for things like burgers and chicken. But what I really wanted one for was to finish my briskets and butts after smoking them on the WSM for a smoke a ring and that unbeatable bricket flavor that an electric smoker can't naturally produce. Moving those large cuts of meat from the WSM to the MES would alow me to set it and forget it but, a MRS 30 was not going to work with out cutting the brisket and ribs. So I used the oven in the house until I discovered the MES 40" I was about to buy one when the Generation 2 came out but acted some investigating I discovered that it had all sorts of problems. Then the generation 2.5 came out. I felt confident in buying one because Masterbuilt was willing to redesign the Generation 2 eliminateing the problems and adding some new features. I am going on my second year with my generation 2.5 40" and have only had to replace the meat prob. Other than that it preforms great and I couldn't be more pleased. I like it even more now that I have gotten into cold smoking and smoking at low temps using the MES smoke generator or the A-MAZE-N pellet smoker.
This is what my MES 40 looks like.

 
That box on the right side is the MES smoke generator that will smoke for 6 or more hours on one filling. It works great and I have only one complaint. The paint they used melts and makes a mess. I used paint remover to remove the paint from the hopper, but I should have removed the paint on the inside of the unit as well. Maybe Masterbuilt has corrected this??? If you want lots of good clean smoke fast it beats the A-MAZE-N pellet smoker. I use both I just did some hams last week using the A-MAZE-N 5X8 pellet smoker and they came out real smoky. I like both ways of generating smoke for different reasons.
 
Thank You for your comments, REMSR !!!

So far my Gen 2.5 is doing real good too!!

I looked at those MES Smoke generators, but my Amazing Smokers work so good, I'll just stick to them. That way I don't have to have any more toys to deal with, which is also why I'm glad I never needed to go to a Mailbox Mod.

Thanks Again,

Bear
 
Truth be told if I had bought the Amazing smokers (I have 2 of them the 12" tube and the 5x8 tray) I would have never had a reason to buy the Masterbuilt cold smoker. But I bought the Masterbuilt cold smoker first and have to justify having it now.[emoji]129300[/emoji]
It does work well and it is simple to use. The cost was only $29.00 because of a discount for signing for a Cabela credit card. The draw back is that it is pretty much a one trick pony dedicated to my MES 2.5. I can use the Amazing smokers in my grills or in any inclosed space. I started out 20 years ago smoking on a All in one el chepo $59 gas smoker. I turned out lots of good food in it befor it carped out on me. The reason I tell you this is that I miss that bacon like flavor of my ribs produced by a mix of propane gas and steem. The amazing smokers will alow me to once again accomplish that in my gas grills.
 
Truth be told if I had bought the Amazing smokers (I have 2 of them the 12" tube and the 5x8 tray) I would have never had a reason to buy the Masterbuilt cold smoker. But I bought the Masterbuilt cold smoker first and have to justify having it now.[emoji]129300[/emoji]
It does work well and it is simple to use. The cost was only $29.00 because of a discount for signing for a Cabela credit card. The draw back is that it is pretty much a one trick pony dedicated to my MES 2.5. I can use the Amazing smokers in my grills or in any inclosed space. I started out 20 years ago smoking on a All in one el chepo $59 gas smoker. I turned out lots of good food in it befor it carped out on me. The reason I tell you this is that I miss that bacon like flavor of my ribs produced by a mix of propane gas and steem. The amazing smokers will alow me to once again accomplish that in my gas grills.
Sounds to me like you're doing great with whatever you use!!

Keep up the Great work!!
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Later,

Bear
 
 
Did you get one yet? I bought the mes 30 signature series. I absolutely love it. Cant do a full brisket on any of them, but you can do half at a time which .......ehhhh

I have no regrets, but I will add the mailbox option. I don't like the slanted pan leading to the water pan, I think it adds a shield to the heat unit? But never have a problem - and all the heating times are right on target.

I don't know if its a gen 1,2, or 3 - none of the descriptions match my unit. DEFINATELY DO NOT GET one with a window in it - glass is a horrible insulator
Seems you and I are about the only ones who bought the sig series. :)  Just got off the phone with Masterbuilt and was informed it's a gen 2.5
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.  It comes with the full angled drip tray, but, can be modded like the one Bear has (BT 2.5).  The parts and shipping cost me $14.  Now I'm chomping at the bit to do some smoked sausage (main reason for me buying this).  Pellet smoker doesn't get low enough.

@Bear

Thanks for a great write-up!  Answered a lot of questions and quelled some fears.  Thanks, again!
 
 
anybody has INTERNAL dimensions on inside of the 30 and 40 units?

thanks
I sold my MES 30 a couple years ago, so I can't measure it.

However I just measured one of my MES 40 grill racks, and they are 12 1/4" Deep X 19 3/4" wide.

I think the MES 30 is the same depth, but quite a bit less in width.

Bear
 
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Hello all. Failed a DIY electric build...wife is afraid I'll burn down the house now that i disabled the temp cut out on the hotplate. Good news is She insists I buy one now. Just wondering if at all possible you can identify which Gen the one below is, are all BT Gen 2.5? That does appear to be the best opotion, correct?

https://www.homedepot.ca/en/home/p.30-inch-bluetooth-smart-digital-electric-smoker.1000847115.html

Thanks in advance for your help
I answered you in the PM----The one in the link you posted is currently the best Generation-----> Gen #2.5.

Bear
 
That little guy on the right side is the Masterbuilt cold smoker that sells for around $60 it works great, but the coating inside melts and makes a mess on your deck if you don't remove the coating or put something under the unit to protect your deck. I have the amazing pellet smokers as well, the tray and the 12" tube that I use in my grills and my smokers. Today I will be doing Jeff's chicken quarter recipe using the side attached cold smoker. I will be brining them and smoking them then grilling them to crisp the skin. Can I then vacuum pack and freez them? I have 10 pounds of them that I got for $4.90 at Cub.
 
Now why did I post that as if you asked the question? I know you have a 2.5 40" the difference between your smoker and mine is yours has a window and mine doesn't.
My first MES was without a window, but now that I've had a window for over 6 years, I'm spoiled.

I would never get another one without the Window.

Kinda like when I got my first car with Air Conditioning.

Bear
 
That little guy on the right side is the Masterbuilt cold smoker that sells for around $60 it works great, but the coating inside melts and makes a mess on your deck if you don't remove the coating or put something under the unit to protect your deck. I have the amazing pellet smokers as well, the tray and the 12" tube that I use in my grills and my smokers. Today I will be doing Jeff's chicken quarter recipe using the side attached cold smoker. I will be brining them and smoking them then grilling them to crisp the skin. Can I then vacuum pack and freez them? I have 10 pounds of them that I got for $4.90 at Cub.
Sounds Great !!

Jeff has a lot of Awesome Step by Steps!!!

I wouldn't see why you couldn't Vac & Freeze those Chicken Quarters, or maybe even remove the meat from the bones & Vac & Freeze that??

Bear
 
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