If you love the smell and taste of smoked food but hate the mess of grills, then an electric smoker might be just what you need. With their advanced technology, electric smokers are getting more and more popular, and any day can be smoked food day.
If you’re used to charcoal grills, you might be wondering if an electric smoker can give you the same smoky taste and juiciness. Die-hard charcoal grilling fans might put you off the idea of purchasing an electric smoker, but with their numerous features, electric smokers really get the job done by cooking almost any food, from roast turkey to chicken wings, to barbequed ribs, over a low temperature. Besides, you might be living in an apartment or condo where you’re not allowed to use conventional smokers, which makes investing in a good electric smoker a great idea.
Main components of an electric smoker
Let’s start by taking a closer look at the main parts of an electric smoker. Every smoker comes with a smoking chamber, heating element, wood chip tray, smoker drip pans, and smoker racks. The smoking chamber is the biggest part. The chamber or unit is where all the action happens, so you want to make sure it’s well-insulated and that its door fits perfectly to trap the smoke and heat. Depending on the model you choose, there will be either one or two heating rods. These rods can range between 250 watts and 1500 watts.
The wood chip tray holds the wood chips that create the smoke, which gives your food that smoky flavor. Smoke is created by putting wood above the heating rod and letting it smolder. The most important thing to keep in mind about the wood tray is that it’s used throughout the process, with you adding around a cup or two of wood chips to have steady smoke produced.
Drip pans may or may not come with the entire unit. Their main job is to collect grease. The water bowl stops the moisture in the smoker from diminishing quickly, which can dry the food. You’ll want a pan that can hold at least one or two cups of water at once. And finally, the racks are where the food is placed.
How to choose your electric smoker
Some people might want to throw barbecue parties for large groups of people, while some just want one for the family. You’ll want to check these main factors out while choosing the most suitable electric smoker for yourself, to enjoy it for many years to come.
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Size
The capacity of the smoker is going to be one of the first things to take into consideration. If you plan to use it often for regular family meals, a small-sized one will do, with less power consumption. But you’ll need a bigger one to produce more batches of food at once for larger groups.
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Price
Like most things, there’s a smoker to suit every budget. You can always find cheaper options that are still quite sophisticated when it comes to their features and functions. “Cheaper” here means less expensive smokers, but not cheap in the way they’re made, so they will last you for a long time. Generally, you don’t want to go less than $200 for digital electric smokers, and it’s better if you stay in the range of $300 – $500; you can even find a few brand names in this price range.
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Features
The whole point of an electric smoker is that it does all the work with minimal intervention from you. All you really need to do is set it to the right temperature, and the smoker regulates the temperature so you end up with perfectly smoked food each time.
Features of smokers are getting more and more sophisticated. They could range from having an internal temperature regulator, screen window, and radiofrequency sensor, digital temperature control, wheels to easily move around, and easy-to-clean cooking trays. Identify the features you need the most, and that will help you decide on the right model.
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Portability
An electric smoker can be more sensitive to outdoor weather, which is why finding a place inside the home to keep it is usually recommended. You can find plenty of models with wheels to move them around easily.
With long winters and no chance to grill outdoors, an electric smoker is the solution. They’re especially great for beginners, because they’re so easy to adjust and use. With a wide range of options to choose from, you really can’t go wrong. With a durable electric smoker, you can enjoy smoked food anytime, anywhere.