On the other hand, electric smokers can be used anywhere you have access to an outdoor outlet, and they’re fantastic at short, quick smoke sessions. When it comes to electric smokers masterbuilt has been King of the Hill for quite a while. So if you are looking at a Pit Boss electric smoker then you need to compare them against the Masterbuilt products. Whether you are new to the smoker world or are a smoker master, you’ll love this simple Pit Boss smoked turkey with maple bbq rub. It’s easy, delicious, and great for a small gathering of friends or family. Likewise, the Camp Chef Woodwind WiFi 23 Pellet Grill ($800 at Camp Chef) performed much better in the smoking and searing tests than in the baking.
Setting it up was a bit of a pain, but once assembled, it performed well. The Ironwood has the same double-wall construction as many of Traeger’s other models and is feature-laden in the app and control departments. It fared well in baking in searing tests, but the Super Smoke feature didn’t impart the flavor we expected during testing. Still, it’s a good smoker grill that’s extremely easy to set up and operate. For our first test, we loaded each grill with chicken wings and covered them for smoking, noting the amount of smoke the grills produced. For our second test, we placed a frozen pizza at the center of each grill grate, baking according to package instructions.
The grill has an LCD display for controlling settings, and we found its app quite useful. Connected to probes, the app let us monitor and adjust the heat, and it prompted us when the time came to turn the meat. Finally, the EX4 costs about as much as the average pellet grill, which makes it a great value overall.
Fat will make your jerky spoil, so cut off as much as possible. Once you’ve found your grill, get it the protection it deserves with a range of grill covers designed to ensure you get long-term use out of your investment. For a more detailed rundown, check out pit boss pellets our guide on how to clean a BBQ grill. A great smoker is the key to making the best BBQ you’ve ever tasted. Click here to browse all the deals available at Walmart at the moment. Deal Stripe earns commissions from purchases made using the links provided.
From sweet and smokey to woody and classic BBQ, the type of wood that goes into your pellets can make a huge difference. And don’t forget to browse our BBQ sauces and rubs selection for even more mouthwatering flavor possibilities. The Kamado Joe Classic Joe Series II embodies all of those qualities. It’s a true combination grill-smoker that can handle any temperature from 150 to 700 F, while using less charcoal per cook than most non-Kamado grills. When we first fired it up to season the smoker, we took the opportunity to get familiar with setting the three air vents around the bottom, as well as the top vent, to hold a temperature.
After the brisket was done, we noted the amount of ash the grill produced and decided to clean out the fire pot and bottom of the smoke chamber once it cooled. Doing that was a simple process and should take you just a few minutes if you use a shop vac. We also smoked chicken leg quarters at 350, followed by beef jerky at 175, and were pleased with the results in both cases. The grill then pulls the heat from that into a large diffuser; the heat then rises to the grates. A digital thermostat sets the temperature and controls the fan that feeds the fire. Masterbuilt has an app that pairs with the grill to set and monitor cooking remotely.
We pulled the best brisket of this test off the Copperhead 5-Series, which accomplishes the rare feat of making smoking simple. The glass door is a nice feature, allowing you to monitor things without opening it and losing heat. It is a double-edged sword, though, because we had pit boss pellets to clean it after each use to see what was going on inside. When you read through the negative reviews for the Masterbuilt smokers you will see that both brands get very similar complaints. That really isn’t surprising given how similar the designs are between the brands.
After the pellets are loaded into the hopper, you can grill up your favorite foods with a simple touch of a button or turn of a knob. Many wood pellet smokers and grill models even include advanced technologies that help you maintain precise, consistent temperatures every time you use it. Beginners and expert grillers alike love the versatility and ease that a wood pellet grill provides.
If cleaning up ash has held you back from using charcoal, Masterbuilt managed to do away with that hassle. Because of the vertical hopper, the charcoal flows down as it burns, with the ash simply falling into a bucket at the bottom. There are many options out there, but you don’t need anything fancy. It’s wireless, with two probes and multiple settings for different types of meats.