Please help? Confused on which one to buy..

[brittany25]

Hello all! I've been doing alot of research online and through this website but I am still confused on which electric smoker I should buy my husband?? Looking to spend no more than 400 as this will be his first electric one.. It's a Christmas gift that's why I am seeking opinions.. Thank you in advance

 

[workman215]

I'm just getting started myself but I would recommend the Masterbuilt 40" electric smoker.  Sam's has the newest model (the one with the LED readout) online for $299.  That's what I decided to buy after researching and all of the recommendations from the others here.  I've only used it a couple times but it's been great so far.  Good luck, he's getting a great gift no matter which one use choose.

 

[orlandosmoking]

 

[roadkill cafe]

X2

 

[ptcruiserguy]

I have had the MES 40" now for 2 yrs. I have smoked everything conceivable in it.

For the money I believe this would be your best bet. Ease of use, option of smoking

devices (Built in Tray), AMNS, AMNPS.... great cold smoking with last two options.

Couldn't be happier, and makes great food.

Happy Smokin'

Mike

 

[bobbygee]

As the others have said... MES 40" is a good choice. I've had mine for 3 years and I'm very happy with the results.

 

[biteme7951]

On my 3rd year with my MES 40 and no issues. I did buy the Amaz-n-smoker to go with it and have no regrets.

Barry.

 

[mike johnson]

Must agree with the MES40. Make sure to get him an AMNPS also, its a time and sleep saver.

 

[tpalshadow]

I am very new also, but after a few uses I would say get the Gen 2 40" Masterbuilt smoker, along with AMNPS and a proper thermometer as the internal thermometer with the unit is not very accurate.

 

[brittany25]

Thank you all!! You made this very easy for me ;) appericate all the help and feedback

 

[beernuts]

One more for the MES 40. Works really well and it's easy to use. As said before get the AMNPS for it. The two together make great smokes. Don't forget to get the Maverick ET-732 thermometer with it. It has two probes to measure the smoker temp and the meat temp and it has a remote. That is a great setup.

 

[deltadude]

Brittany25, how nice your guy has a wife willing to pop for such a nice gift.  My wife bought me a Weber gas BBQ grill, and I have appreciated and used it a LOT in the past 12 years.

Brittany IMHO you have two choices, like the majority of SMF members who participate in the electric forum (this forum), I highly recommend the MES 40".  There are a lot of reasons to buy it, extra capacity, features that make it almost "set n forget" which any busy guy who works hard would really appreciate, and of all types of smokers electric smokers are the most economical to operate.  An MES 40 depending on your cost of electricity average per hour is 11 - 15 cents an hour, no other fuel source even gets close.  The MES produces Q that many will tell you rivals the Q coming out of very expensive smokers (results vary dependent on the cooks abilities).

The 2nd choice and by no means a 2nd or lower tier option, is the Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5", you can find it for around $370+.  The Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5" is a charcoal briquette smoker so a more expensive fuel.  The reason to consider this smoker is it's track record for producing world class championship BBQ.  If you go to a BBQ competition you will find many teams using the Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5" or have it as a backup incase something fails with their "wood smokers), a couple of years ago the KCBS BBQ Team of the Year competing in dozens of competitions won team of the year using only the Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5".   It is true that the Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5" requires more attention and a little steeper learning curve, but the results are worth the effort, there are accessories available that can make the Smokey Mountain Cooker[emoji]8482[/emoji] 22.5" as much a "set n forget" smoker as the MES.

When I bought the MES 40  years ago I had a very demanding job, I wanted to have a family BBQ every Sunday. 10 years ago our kids were almost college age and I knew that good food especially BBQ would make them show up every Sunday, it worked!  Today they are all college grads, one married and every other week we still have our family BBQ, some Sundays it's grilled some it's smoked, they still show up, and my wife and I luv it.
 

 

[linguica]

Deltadude, Your post covers the question with 100% accuracy. You should have a cut & paste copy of it to post as the question seems to be asked every week.

                 I have a MES 30 and it's so easy to use, stick burning is starting to sound good.

        

 

[deltadude]

Deltadude, Your post covers the question with 100% accuracy. You should have a cut & paste copy of it to post as the question seems to be asked every week.

                 I have a MES 30 and it's so easy to use, stick burning is starting to sound good.

        

Thanks, for the nice comment. 

I have more time now semi-retired, but I'm even less inclined to want to fiddle with fires and smoker management, instead I like working on the rubs and sauces and ways to round out the meal with great tasting side dishes and appetizers.  It all takes energy, should my limited energy be applied to keeping a smoker going or making great tasting food, I choose food, the MES takes care of smoking I don't even have to think or worry about it.  The AWNPS keeps the smoke on, and a Maverick 732 dual probe wireless thermometer keeps me informed about whats going on with the temps, heck I can even take naps now.

 

[linguica]

Yes, being retired also I've realized how nice naps are. I have a leather recliner in front of a sunny window. When it's nap time the dog jumps in my lap and hangs over the side in the sun. Later my wife will tell me that " both of you guys were snoring". As to stick burning i think it goes back to caveman days and the need to tend to the fire. Sorry, WSM people , IMHO.