6 Primary Reasons to Buy An Electric Smoker – FaveGrills
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Are you looking forward to investing in an electric smoker, but first, you want to explore the significant reasons that make it a top-notch cooking appliance and why it can be more suitable for you than some of the other smokers.
Well, you are in the right spot. Today, I will take you through a comprehensive guide highlighting the primary reasons to buy an electric smoker that can elevate your cooking experience.
Also, you’ll come across the potential drawbacks to consider before making your buying decision. So, let me discuss every key point in detail.
Key Takeaway
Prominent reasons to invest in an electric smoker include user-friendly digital controls, affordability, ideal cold smoking results, effortless cleaning, and the convenience of indoor use without any safety concerns.
Reasons To Buy An Electric Smoker
If you deeply inspect an electric smoker, you’ll understand that there are several reasons why investing in it can be a game-changer for your outdoor cooking activities.
So, allow me to move forward and highlight some of the top reasons that could make this cooking appliance an evident option for you.
The Ultimate Choice for BBQ Newbies
If you’ve just entered the world of food smoking and looking for a suitable cooking appliance that can help you achieve the desired results from the beginning, an electric smoker is the way to go.
It becomes more easy to use and suitable for those beginners who’ve been cooking on electric ovens before because it offers similar features. In other words, you can say that it is a big vertical-shaped electric oven.
But what are the features that make an electric smoker an ideal pick for newbies? I will tell you. It allows you to easily set and maintain the desired cooking temperature effortlessly through its user-friendly digital controls.
Also, you can set the cooking duration digitally on such smokers and cook your favorite food items to perfection.
The best part is that after getting familiar with this type of smoker, you can confidently start using technical smokers like charcoal and offset ones.
Using Them Is Just A Breeze
By now, you have an idea that an electric smoker is an ideal cooking device for a newbie, but what features make it that effortless and convenient? Let’s find out.
The ease of using any grill or smoker depends on its heat regulation system, interface, and the ability to monitor the cooking session. Luckily, an electric smoker excels in these aspects. But how?
For example, it usually provides you with a control panel featuring plus and minus or up and down arrows, through which you can effortlessly set and regulate the required cooking temperature.
Some of them can also have dampers and vents, but it depends on the smokers’ model.
My favorite thing about these smokers is their advanced and understandable interface which allows you to set temperature and cooking duration and receive real-time updates on the progress of your smoking.
Using it is as simple as plugging it in, adding water inside the pan and wood chips in the tray (if available) for a smoky flavor, setting the required temp, and beginning to smoke your food to perfection.
A real set-and-forget style of cooking experience, isn’t it?
Affordable Outdoor Cooking Appliance
Another primary reason why you might like bringing this smoker to your home is that it does not cost you as much as other smokers.
Suppose you are stuck between a pellet and an electric smoker, no doubt a pellet one also offers maximum convenience and an enjoyable smoking experience, but it also costs very much, starting at approximately $400 to $1000 or even more.
In contrast, an electric smoker offers the same convenience and a good smoking adventure but is available at a significantly lower price tag. You will find several best electric smokers under $500.
Also, as they operate through electricity, I believe their running cost is low if you compare them with a smoker who cooks food through charcoal, wood pellets or wood chunks. But sometimes, it depends.
Do you know what’s the best part? These smokers are energy-efficient and consume less energy while smoking.
To conclude, investing in an electric smoker is a smart choice, especially if you are on a budget. It promises the same level of convenience as other higher-priced smokers, all while saving you money both upfront and in the long run.
Living In An Apartment With Smokers Restrictions? No Problem
It is highly recommended not to use smokers or grills indoors or in the garage because they produce harmful gasses that can be lethal.
Therefore, apartments often have strict restrictions on using such cooking appliances due to safety concerns and potential fire hazards.
This is where electric smokers come to the rescue. They cook efficiently and don’t produce any kind of gasses that could cause health risks, fire hazards, or safety concerns.
So, if you live in a society that does not allow you to use a pellet, charcoal, or propane smoker, an electric one is the way to go for a smoke-free and indoor-friendly BBQ experience.
Minimal Mess Means Quick And Simple Cleaning
One of my personal favorite features about electric smokers is that they cook gently, ensuring that there are minimal food particles or residues left behind at the end of the smoking session.
Ultimately, this gentle cooking process not only results in deliciously smoked dishes but also ensures a quick and straightforward cleaning process.
Most importantly, its cleaning not only saves you time and effort but also ensures that your smoking adventures remain a joy from start to finish.
It is important to note that if you don’t clean your electric smoker for an extended period, it can become very messy (shown in the image below) and require more deep cleaning.
The Best Cooking Device For Cold Smoking
We all know that there is a huge fan base of cold smoking as it allows you to preserve your food items for an extended period while infusing them with rich smoky flavors.
Electric smokers stand out as the ideal choice when it comes to the best cooking device for cold smoking. But why?
The reason is that they are capable of maintaining low and consistent temperatures for a long time without generating excessive heat.
Ultimately, they become ideal for cold-smoking foods like cheese, fish, and bacon without even cooking them.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cold smoke.
Top Tip by FaveGrills
I recommend using a water pan when cooking on an electric smoker as it regulates the heat, retains moisture, prevents the meat from drying out, and makes the cleaning process easier.
What Are Some Of The Disadvantages Of An Electric Smoker?
No doubt, these smokers have plenty of advantages, but like any other outdoor cooking appliance, they also have some disadvantages, and understanding these drawbacks helps you know whether you should invest in them or not.
Temperature Limitation
One of the primary disadvantages of having an electric smoker is its limited temperature range. Unlike other types of smokers, it may not offer a wide temp range, which can limit the versatility of your cooking options.
On average, 100 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit is the temperature range that these smokers offer, making them suitable for baking, smoking, and cold smoking but not for grilling or searing.
Electricity Dependent
I believe these smokers don’t weigh too much, and you can move them easily, but a prominent concern is that they operate through electricity.
So, if you want to use them on camping trips or picnics without any access to electricity, they might not be the ideal choice, and you may prefer investing in a propane smoker.
Recommended Post: Here’s a detailed electric vs propane smoker comparison.
Limited Cooking Capacity
Compared to other smokers like pellet ones, they offer less cooking space mainly because they usually come in vertical shapes, while others can have horizontal shapes.
Therefore, it can restrict you from cooking multiple food items at once. Also, when smoking a large meat cut like brisket, you may need to split it into two pieces or remove one rack for a perfect smoking session.
Less Smoky Flavor
Let’s be honest. An electric smoker can’t infuse as much smoky flavor into your meat as other smokers like charcoal, offset, and pellet. The reason is evident as it uses electricity instead of pellets, charcoal, or wood chunks to cook food.
No doubt, the wood chips you add to the tray impart some smoky flavor, but still, it can’t compete with the smokiness that other smokers would add.
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Conclusion
There are several exciting reasons why you might like bringing an electric smoker to your home, such as easy heat regulation, simplicity of usage, outstanding cold smoking results, etc.
However, they also have some drawbacks, like limited temperature range and less smoky flavor, that you must consider before deciding whether it suits your cooking requirements and preferences or not.
Your Opinion Is Valuable To Us
I deeply researched and mentioned some amazing facts about electric smokers. If you know of any other feature that I missed here to mention, kindly do share that below. You can also add your valuable suggestions in the comments section.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can we use an electric smoker without wood chips?
Yes, you can use an electric smoker without wood chips. They cook food through electric heating elements and don’t necessarily require wood chips. However, using wood chips can add a smoky flavor to your dishes, which many BBQ enthusiasts prefer.
How much water do you need to put in the water pan?
The amount of water you put in the pan varies on the size of the pan and the duration of your cooking session. Generally, it is recommended to fill the water pan with enough water to cover the bottom.
What are the best meats to smoke in an electric smoker?
An electric smoker can give you excellent smoking results when you choose to cook brisket and different kinds of ribs.