Using an electric smoker can be a great way to get into smoking your meats at home. Unlike traditional charcoal smokers, which have to be monitored closely, electric smokers make it possible to slow-cook meats without checking on them constantly. Just season the item you’re smoking, choose your preferred time and temperature settings and let the smoker take care of the rest. Your meat will be smoked to perfection within a few hours.
Season your electric smoker if it’s your first time using it. “Seasoning” an electric smoker involves running it while it’s empty to cut dust, odors, and solvent residue leftover from the manufacturing process. First, rub the smoker’s interior surfaces, including the racks, with cooking oil (any variety will do). Then, turn it on and let it run for 2-3 hours at 250–275 °F (121–135 °C).[1]
After seasoning your electric smoker, turn it off, open the door or hood, and allow it to cool off completely before using it or handling any of its components.
Different smokers will have slightly different seasoning rules. Some newer models don’t need to be seasoned at all. Be sure to follow the specific instructions outlined in your smoker’s user manual.[2]
You should only have to season your smoker once when it’s brand new. After that, repeated use will help keep the protective oil layer on the interior surface.
HOW TO SMOKE LIKE A PRO USING YOUR ELECTRIC SMOKER
If you love smoked food, but you’re not that experienced in the world of BBQ, there are hacks that the pros use that will make you look like a pit-master in no time at all.
And some of the best smokers to use are electric smokers, perfect for amateur smokers or BBQ enthusiasts who don’t like all the tinkering about that wood or charcoal smokers must. Crucially, electric smokers are the ideal “set-and-forget” appliance; you don’t have to tend to them or your food for hours, monitoring temperatures, smoke levels, or the oneness of your smoked foods. All that’s required is to set the time and temperature controls, and then leave the electric smoker to work its magic!
This article will give you electric smoker tips to help you prepare fantastic smoked meals that’ll make you look like a pro. With these tips, we’re confident that you’ll get the hang of using your unit. You’ll also earn valuable food smoking tips to avoid the expensive mistake of overcooking premium cuts of meat or delicate fish.
Let’s dive right in!
PRESEASON YOUR ELECTRIC SMOKER BEFORE THE FIRST USE
An electric smoker is like any other electrical cooking appliance. It must first be “cured” or “seasoned” for the best performance and to yield most flavor from food. This process removes odors, residues, and dust accumulated during the manufacturing process. It also gives your appliance an oil layer that will later protect your food in later smokes.
Rub all the interior surfaces of your electric smoker, including the cooking racks, with cooking oil or non-stick spray. As much as possible, use a “neutral oil” like canola or peanut oil as opposed to the more expensive olive oil. Turn your smoker on and run it at 270-275 Fahrenheit for 2-3 hours. 45 minutes before the curing process ends, add your wood chips.
Once this time is up, turn off your unit, and open the door, and then allow your unit to cool before using it. It’s always important to follow manufacturer instructions during the seasoning process, and you should only have to season your appliance once.
Check out the video below for top tips on how to preseason a new Masterbuilt Electric Smoker.
LEARN TO CONTROL SMOKER TEMPERATURES AND VENTS
Finding the perfect vent positions can be a challenge, especially for BBQ amateurs, or if you’re using charcoal, electric pellet, or wood smokers. This process is pretty straightforward, though when it comes to electric smokers. Digital electric smokers especially have a control panel that only needs you to select the “+” or “–” settings to increase or decrease the temperature as needed.
Temperature controllers, probes, and monitors also aid in the process. These devices come either in-built into your electric smoker or separately. Probes help you to measure internal meat temperature especially important to gauge doneness and avoid incidences of food poisoning.
Monitors and controllers monitor internal smoker temperature, gauge temperature accuracy, and can measure two temperatures at once. Both have wireless access too for the final convenience, but controllers – found in many electric smokers – go one step further by being able to control smoker temperature.
You should note, however, that electric smokers are renowned for ‘swing’ especially at the beginning of smoke, and this can register up to 20°F above or below the set temperature. Therefore, if you are aiming for an internal temperature of 220°F, try setting your electric smoker to between 205-210°F.
Observe as the temperature rises. Once the internal temperature hits the desired 220°F, above the temperature, you set of 210°F, quickly reset the temperature to 220°F on the temperature controller. Always aim for electric smokers that are well insulated to cut swing. We have the latest best electric smokers guide to help you make your choice.
One of the best electric smoker tips to apply is to leave vents fully open as you smoke meats to avoid the risk of creosote build-up on your meat. Creosote is a compound found in smoke that gives smoked foods that desirable BBQ flavor, but in large amounts can make the food taste bitter. The only time you should close your vents is when you have finished smoking your meat.
BRINE PORK OR POULTRY BEFORE SMOKING
Using a brine solution to soak meats such as turkey, chicken, and pork gives these meats tons of flavor. Mix salt and sugar in cold water, and add seasonings like celery salt, whole white or black peppercorns, fresh parsley, bay leaves, carrots, clove-studded whole onions, and citrus-fruit slices, and then soak overnight or preferably for 24 hours.
Bringing tenderness and moisturizer the meat while adding many flavors and giving your meat a delicious taste. This tip might be the one tip that differentiates your BBQ from a run-of-the-mill BBQ.
Start cooking
Find the temperature and timer gouge on your device.
Most temperatures range from 100 °F to 275 °F, set the temperature and timer of your choice, and start grilling.
Tips for getting the best usage of your device
Always make good use of your electric smoker and imply as many good tricks as possible to make sure the smoker is long-lasting and effective always.
Plug connections are important
If the plugs do not fit into your plug connection at home, you can have the plugs changed to suit you or use a multifunctional socket to aid with this.
Multifunctional sockets must be able to handle the smoker’s voltage before being used else you will cause a blow-up.
Don’t poison yourself
Do not use your grill indoors due to carbon monoxide poisoning. While using your smoker, you may not burn fuel very well, however, airflow outdoors creates enough ventilation to blow any form of poisoning away.
Hence, if you use your smoker indoors, we need not say further.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Modern electric smokers are a great tool for beginner BBQ enthusiasts to up their
postmaster skills.
The more you use your electric smoker, the your BBQ skills will develop. These electric smoker tips are just the beginning, to get you smoking meat and other foods like a pro. Following these tips when using your electric smoker, will guarantee a difference in the quality and flavor of your BBQ, and mark you out as more than a beginner.
We hope you found these electric smoker tips and tricks useful. Check out some grilling recipes to try out at your next BBQ, and be sure to read our electric smokers’ guide to make sure that you get the perfect electric smoker. We would love to hear all about how these tips helped you to up your grilling game. Happy smoking!
