Best Electric Smokers
The best electric smokers compared: Masterbuilt 710 WiFi, Masterbuilt 40-inch and Bradley Digital smokers, by capacity, temp range and smoke feed.
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The short answer
The best electric smoker for most people is the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker: 710 square inches across four racks, a 100–275°F range, app control and a side wood-chip loader so you don’t open the door to add smoke. For long, hands-off smoking of fish, jerky and cheese, a Bradley Digital 4 Rack or 6 Rack feeds pressed-wood bisquettes automatically. If you want electric convenience but also want to grill and get more bark, consider a pellet grill like the Traeger Pro 575 instead.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Model | Capacity | Smoke source | Standout feature | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital | 710 sq in, 4 racks | Wood chips (side loader) | WiFi app, up to 4 probes | Amazon |
| Best large budget | Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital | Large 40-inch cabinet | Wood chips | Digital controls, big capacity | Amazon |
| Best set-and-forget | Bradley Digital 4 Rack | 4 racks | Auto-fed bisquettes | Automatic smoke feed | Amazon |
| Best for big batches | Bradley Digital 6 Rack | 6 racks | Auto-fed bisquettes | Most racks in Bradley’s lineup | Amazon |
| Best simple Bradley | Bradley Original 4 Rack | 4 racks | Auto-fed bisquettes | About 9 hours of continuous smoke | Amazon |
| Alternative: grills too | Traeger Pro 575 (pellet) | 575 sq in | Wood pellets | Smokes and grills to 500°F | Amazon |
How we picked
We compared manufacturer specs, owner reviews and published reviews. For electric smokers, the questions are: does it hold temperature in cool weather, how often do you need to add wood, can you add wood without opening the door, how many racks fit your typical cook, and is the controller reliable. Electric smokers excel at low temperatures, which makes them great for fish, jerky, sausage and cheese.
1. Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Digital Electric Smoker — Best overall
The 710 is a 30-inch vertical smoker with four chrome-coated racks totaling 710 square inches. It runs from 100°F to 275°F, and the Masterbuilt app lets you set temperature and time, get alerts and monitor up to four meat probes (one is included). Masterbuilt’s patented side loader lets you add wood chips without opening the door, so you don’t lose heat and smoke every time you refresh the chips.
Good to know: the 275°F ceiling means poultry skin won’t crisp; finish chicken on a grill or in the oven. Chips need topping up every so often on long cooks.
Check the Masterbuilt 710 WiFi Electric Smoker on Amazon →
2. Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Electric Smoker — Best large budget
If capacity matters more than WiFi, the 40-inch digital smoker gives you a taller cabinet with more rack space for big batches of jerky, sausages or multiple pork butts, with simple digital controls. Masterbuilt also sells a version with a window and legs.
Good to know: check the listing for rack count and whether the version includes a viewing window, legs or a meat probe.
Check the Masterbuilt 40-Inch Digital Smoker on Amazon →
3. Bradley Digital 4 Rack — Best set-and-forget smoke
Bradley smokers use compressed wood bisquettes that an automatic feeder pushes onto a burner one at a time, then drops into a water bowl when spent. The result is steady, clean smoke for hours without feeding chips by hand. The Digital 4 Rack adds digital temperature and time controls.
Good to know: you need Bradley’s own bisquettes, which cost more over time than generic wood chips. Bradley sells alder, apple, cherry, hickory and variety packs.
Check the Bradley Digital 4 Rack on Amazon →
4. Bradley Digital 6 Rack — Best for big batches
The 6 Rack is the highest rack count in Bradley’s electric lineup, making it a favorite for fishermen and hunters smoking large batches of salmon, jerky or sausage with the same automatic bisquette feed.
Good to know: more racks means more space to keep evenly heated; rotate racks on long cooks.
Check the Bradley Digital 6 Rack on Amazon →
5. Bradley Original 4 Rack — Best simple Bradley
The Original 4 Rack uses the same automatic feed system and, according to Bradley, provides about nine hours of continuous smoking. It’s a simpler, lower-cost entry to the Bradley system.
Good to know: controls are more basic than the Digital models.
Check the Bradley Original 4 Rack on Amazon →
Alternative: a pellet grill if you also want to grill
Electric smokers are simple and excellent at low temperatures, but they can’t grill and they produce lighter bark. If you want one machine for brisket, ribs and burgers, a pellet grill like the Traeger Pro 575 (575 sq in, 165–500°F, WiFi) is just as easy to run and much more versatile.
Check the Traeger Pro 575 on Amazon →
Electric smoker vs pellet grill
| Factor | Electric smoker | Pellet grill |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature range | Low (about 100–275°F on the Masterbuilt 710) | About 165–500°F |
| Smoke flavor | Light | Moderate |
| Bark and crispy skin | Limited | Better |
| Can it grill? | No | Yes |
| Cold smoking cheese/fish | Easier (low temps) | Harder |
| Price | Usually lower | Usually higher |
Buying checklist
- Rack count and spacing: count how many racks of jerky or fish fillets you’ll smoke at once.
- Wood loading: a side loader or automatic feeder avoids heat loss from opening the door.
- Insulation: in cold climates, a well-insulated cabinet holds temperature better; an insulated cover can help.
- Probes and app: built-in probes and WiFi make long cooks easier.
- Electrical safety: use outdoors only, on a GFCI-protected outlet, ideally without an extension cord; if you need one, use a heavy-gauge outdoor-rated cord and keep connections dry.
Tips for better results from an electric smoker
- Preheat fully before adding food so the cabinet and chips are up to temperature.
- Use less wood than you think. A small handful of chips at a time gives cleaner smoke than a big pile.
- Don’t open the door to check. Use a probe thermometer; every opening dumps heat and smoke.
- Season it first. Run a new smoker empty at high heat with chips for a few hours to burn off manufacturing residue.
What to smoke first in an electric smoker
Salmon, beef jerky, chicken wings (finished on a hot grill for crisp skin), pork shoulder and smoked cheese are all great early cooks. Low and steady temperatures are an electric smoker’s strength.
FAQ
Are electric smokers any good?
Yes, for low-and-slow smoking with minimal effort. They hold steady low temperatures, which is ideal for fish, jerky, sausage and cheese. They produce lighter smoke and less bark than charcoal or pellet smokers.
Do you need to soak wood chips for an electric smoker?
Generally no. Dry chips produce smoke faster and cleaner; soaked chips mostly steam before smoking. Follow your smoker manual’s guidance.
Can you use an electric smoker in the rain or cold?
Cold, wind and rain make it harder to hold temperature, and water near electrical components is a safety risk. Use it under open-air cover away from structures, keep connections dry, and never use it in a garage or enclosed space.
Masterbuilt or Bradley: which is better?
Masterbuilt smokers offer more capacity for the money and app control on models like the 710. Bradley smokers automatically feed wood bisquettes for hours of steady smoke, which many fish and jerky smokers prefer, but bisquettes cost more than chips.
