5 Best Electric Smoker Under $300 Reviews 2023 [Beginner’s Choice]

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Whether you are a beginner or a pro barbeque chef, an electric smoker is always the most convenient option. No more hassle with chimney or firebox. Just plug your smoker, set the temperature, and go to rest.

But, the easier is the cooking process of an electric smoker, the more difficult is to find the best budget electric smoker from the overwhelmed models and brands.

In this article, I will review the best electric smokers under $300 to make your purchase easier.

If you don’t want to go through all the reviews, let me recommend you the best electric smoker under 300 here.

Our Top pick on best electric smoker under 300 here.

Our Top Pick
Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30
  • Digital panel controls on/off, cooking temperature and time
  • Electric Smoker dimensions – 20.47" W x 19.88" L x 33.26" H | Max temperature setting – 275ᵒ F | Inside capacity – 2 Turkeys, 4 Pork Butts, 4 Racks of Ribs, 6 Chickens
  • Patented side wood chip loading system allows you to add wood chips without opening door
  • Thermostat-temperature control for even, consistent smoking
  • Fully-insulated body retains heat

Considering overall performance, construction, cooking area, and temperature control Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker seems the best budget electric smoker to me.

Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch vertical cooker is the best electric smoker for a larger family or small business owner for its extra-large cooking space, sturdy construction, and convenient design.

Now, if you have the time, go through the detailed reviews to learn more about what these electric smokers have to offer.


Best Electric Smokers Under 300 Dollars for 2023|Comparision Table

ImageProductFeaturesPrice
Our Top Pick
1. Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker
1. Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker

Dimensions:

19.88 x 20.47 x 33.2 inches

Item Weight:

45.9 lbs

Check Price
2. Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker2. Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker

Dimensions:

20 x 21.69 x 40.15
inches

Item Weight:

49.86 lbs

Check Price
3. Char-Broil 18202077 Analog Electric Smoker3. Char-Broil 18202077 Analog Electric Smoker

Dimensions:

5 x 20.7 x 33.5
inches

Item Weight:

49.5 lbs

Check Price
4. Landmann MCO 32954 Smokey Mountain Smoker4. Landmann MCO 32954 Smokey Mountain Smoker

Dimensions:

6.7 x 16.6 x 13.2
inches

Item Weight:

33 lbs

Check Price
5. Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch vertical cooker5. Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch vertical cooker

Dimensions:

20.83 x 21.45 x 49.73 inches

Item Weight:

56 lbs

Check Price

Top 5 Best Electric Smoker Under 300 | Reviews

1. Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker

Masterbuilt MB20071117 Digital Electric Smoker, 30 inch, Black

If you are searching for an electric smoker for your porch or deck, Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker can be the best electric smoker under $300.  Whether you are a beginner and looking for a user-friendly electric smoker or want a low-budget but functional smoker for your small business, this one just goes perfect.

This stainless-steel smoker resembles a mini-fridge and doesn’t come with wheels, so this smoker is not a wise choice for outdoor cooking, camping, or picnic.

The fully insulated body of the Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric smoker traps the heat inside regardless of the outer weather. The door locks seamlessly with an air-tight seal.

It has a built-in side wood chip loading chamber that can be opened without opening the grill door. This is great to maintain a constant temperature throughout the cooking time. You will have the option of using wood pellets with this smoker, so you won’t miss that smokey woody flavor anymore.

The smoker comes with 4 chrome-plated racks. The cooking area is large enough to accommodate a large batch of food at a time. You can smoke 6 chickens at a time.

The temperature range of this electric smoker is from 100-275 F which is suitable for most of the common smoked dishes and cold-smoking as well.

The racks of this smoker are easy to remove, so you can put them in a sink and clean them. This is also very convenient when you are going to smoke a very large chunk of meat or a whole turkey. The smoker comes with a drip plate that is very easy to clean after cooking.

The digital control panel on the top of the smoker is easy to maneuver. But, since it sits on the top, you have to make sure that you always keep it covered from rain or snow.

What We Like
  • Easy to operate with the digital touch control panel.
  • Large cooking area.
  • A built-in thermostat helps to monitor the internal temperature and control it accordingly.
  • Included water pan for adding moisture to the smoked dishes
What We Don’t Like
  • Not portable
     

2. Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker

Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker with 3 Smoking Racks, 30 inch, Black

Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker is a traditional electric smoker from Master built. The temperature of this analog electric smoker can be easily controlled by just turning the dial.

Masterbuilt Analog Electric Smoker has a steel body that is solid and durable. It comes with three chrome-plated racks and a larger cooking area of 548 square inches. This space should be enough for a small family gathering.

The fully insulated body retains the temperature and flavor of food and cooks the food faster while the powerful 1500 watts heating system can smoke any dish providing consistent heat.

The temperature range is from 100°F to 300°F. Therefore, you have the luxury to switch to different types of dishes.

This analog electric smoker comes with a temperature gauge on the front of its door. Therefore, you can keep track of the inner temperature of the smoker from outside and maintain the right temperature without opening the door.

This electric smoker comes with a water and grease tray which will save you from the hassle of cleaning the dripping oil and dirt from the interior of the smoker.

What We Like
  • Sturdy.
  • Comes with a water bowl to add moisture and flavor to the smoked dishes.
  • Convenient temperature gauge.
What We Don’t Like
  • The temperature gauge is not always accurate.
  • You have to open the door to access the wood chip box. Thus, the heat and smoke escape every time you reload.

3. Char-Broil 18202077 Analog Electric Smoker

Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker

When you are looking for the best electric smoker under $300, Char-Broil 18202077 Analog Electric Smoker can be the right choice with its well-insulated steel body, powerful heating element, and large cooking area.

What I have liked more are its sturdy structure and double-wall insulated cooking chamber. The dual latches keep the door completely sealed.

Therefore, the smoker unit locks the heat and flavor efficiently while the 1200-watt heating element does a decent job of smoking. You will have to open door to add more wood chips more frequently (after every 40 minutes or so) which causes a temperature drop. Therefore, you have to give some effort to get the sweet spot again.

You will get 544 square inches of cooking area with three sturdy chrome-plated rust-resistant grates that should be enough for feeding a small crowd. The cooking grates can be removed and cleaned easily with warm soapy water.

It comes with an included temperature gauge on its door for keeping track and maintaining the right temperature. You will also get an aluminized steel water pan that will lock the juicy flavor in the meats and a grease cup to catch up the oil and grease.

What We Like
  • Retains the heat and flavor effectively if you don’t open the smoker box too frequently.
  • Large cooking area.
  • Sturdy unit.
  • Carry handle for moving it from one place to another.
What We Don’t Like
  • The wood chip box can be quite small.

4. Landmann MCO 32954 Smokey Mountain Smoker

LANDMANN MCO 32954 Landmann Smoky Mountain 26" Electric Smoker-Black-OPP w/Viewing W

The Landmann MCO 32954 Smoker is an update over the previous model the Landmann USA 26 inch electric smoker.

If you are looking for the best cheap electric smoker within $200, the Landmann USA Smokey Mountain Electric smoker is the best option. With a glass window on the door, it stands out from the other electric smokers on this list. Therefore, you can observe the whereabouts of your food during the whole cooking process.

The Landmann MCO 32954 Smoker unit is made of thick steel. The door is double-walled and the whole unit can trap the smoke and heat efficiently. This smoker features a three-in-one tray that holds the wood chip box, water pan, and grease-catching pan.

The 443 square inch cooking surface may not afford to feed a very large gathering, but for a small get-together, it should be just okay. It comes with three chrome-coated cooking grates.

The temperature range of this electric smoker is from 100-260 degrees Fahrenheit. Thus, you can do cold smoking and other common smoking recipes efficiently. With its 1500 watt powerful heating element, it smokes any dish efficiently.

It has an external variable temperature controller which is great to maneuver for reaching the sweet spot for your smoked dishes. The iron side handlecomes in handy when you move the smoker to another place.

This smoker has also a built-in temperature gauge that shows you the inner temperature. The smoker stays straight with the leg levelers on uneven grounds and is quite portable.

What We Like
  • Sturdy.
  • Clear glass door.
  • Convenient temperature control.
What We Don’t Like
  • The door doesn’t seal seamlessly.
  • The legs are very short.

5. Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch vertical cooker

Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36" Vertical Charcoal Smoker

If you need a larger cooking chamber for smoking a lot of foods at a time, Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch Vertical Cooker may be the right one. Its 784 square inches huge smoking area is enough for smoking foods for a larger crowd.

The porcelain-enameled steel cooking chamber of Dyna-Glo 36 inch Vertical Cooker is rust-resistant and easy to take care of. It retains and regulatesheat more efficiently.

The two-door design of this smoker helps to retain the heat as you don’t have to open the top door during the smoking process.

When you will open the bottom door, you can access the large charcoal chamber with minimal heat loss. On top of it, there is a wood chip box. There is a large removable ash pan below the charcoal chamber for easy and quick disposal.

The upper chamber of this electric smoker has four grates that you can adjust to the convenient height depending on the small or large meats you are smoking. If you finish cooking one dish, you can remove it and place another. Therefore, you can cook more foods within a short time.

On the bottom sides, you will find two adjustable vents. With these vents, you can reach the optimum temperature more easily.

A built-in stainless steel thermostat on the top of the smoker unit shows the inner temperature. Since it is made of stainless steel, it can withstand high temperatures.

What We Like
  • Convenient dual-door design to access the dishes and charcoal.
  • Three different temperature modes.
  • Smoke-zone indicator on the built-in stainless steel thermometer.
  • Large charcoal chamber.
What We Don’t Like
  • Doesn’t come with a dripping pan.
  • Some users have commented that the door should be sealed more tightly.

How To Pick The Best Electric Smoker Under $300 For Your Needs?

Look for the following criteria to pick the best electric smoker under $300 for smoke beef:

(a) Power

The wattage of the heating element of an electric smoker normally ranges from 400-1500. The wattage determines how fast the smoker will heat up and reach the sweet spot regardless of cool or cold weather.

As you will use the smoker for outdoor smoking, I will recommend you for getting a powerful smoker with more wattage.

Otherwise, it will take longer to warm up, use more power, and need a longer time to retrieve the previous temperature after opening the door for adding wood chips or checking foods. 

(b) Insulation

You should also check if the smoker’s body is thick and well-insulated and the door can be sealed seamlessly. Because it will determine if your smoker will retain the temperature to provide constant heat to your foods.

Inadequate insulation and unsmooth door sealing will cause the heat loss and will use more watts as a result.

(c) Material

Electric smokers are generally made of metal and coated with other materials. The most common metal that is used for it is steel. You should check the grade of the steel. If the smoker is made of thin material, it will not be able to retain the heat and will use more watts. The porcelain-coated

(d) Temperature control

With most electric smokers you can regulate the temperature with digital or analog temperature control.

Whatever may the system is, you should choose an electric smoker where it is easy to control the temperature so that you can maintain the sweet spot for your dishes. To make sure of it, you can rely on the user’s review.

The temperature range is normally between 100-300 Degrees Fahrenheit where the ideal temperature of most smoked dishes is 225-250 degrees Fahrenheit. If you want to do cold smoking you can do that at 100-160 Degrees Fahrenheit.

(e) Thermostats

Some modern electric smoker units have built-in thermostats that can regulate the electric element to maintain a suitable temperature. This is great for relaxed cooking. You have to just connect the smoker with the power source and forget about it.

You can look for both analog or digital. They both work accurately, but with the analog thermostats, you need to calibrate the temperature periodically.

(f) Size

Larger electric smokers are not essentially the best smokers. When you are looking for an electric smoker under $300, most of them will be pretty small in terms of the cooking chamber. You may have to remove one rack to place a whole chicken or turkey.

If you don’t have to smoke a bunch of food at a time, these smaller units will be great for small spaces.

The size of the smoker has nothing to do with the taste of the smoked foods. Moreover, larger units will cost some more effort to clean.

(g) Design

An electric smoker with a side door is convenient for checking the foods or adding extra wood chips for longer smoking. If there is only the main cabinet door, you will allow the smoke and heat to escape when you open it.

You should also check if the racks and shelves parts are removed easily for effortless cleaning in the sink. Fixed racks are inconvenient when it comes to customizing the space for different size meats and clean. Chrome-plated steel racks are more durable and rust-resistant.

There should be a drip tray to catch the oil and grease and get that out easily. An included water pan will be a plus for tenderizing your meats a bit more.

(h) Wheels

While you are searching for an electric smoker for backyard smoking or camping, you should choose one that has wheels. If possible, choose a smoker with large wheels that lock in place.

What are the benefits of using a heating element?

The heat source used in electric smokers is called heating elements. It works by generating heat that is then released to the food being cooked via metal elements or rods. There are a few benefits of using a heating element in your electric smoker:

  1. Consistent heat distribution – One of the main benefits of using a heating element is that it provides consistent heat distribution. This means that your food will be cooked evenly, resulting in perfectly smoked meat every time.
  2. Faster cooking time – Electric smokers equipped with heating elements are also able to cook the food faster compared to those without a heating element.
  3. Flexibility and convenience – Another benefit of electric smokers with heating elements is that you can cook different types of food through the use of different heat settings. This flexibility and convenience are what set electric smokers apart from traditional smokers.

Frequently Ask Questions:

Q. ARE ELECTRIC SMOKERS SAFE?

Answer: Electric smokers have been gaining a lot of popularity in recent years because it is easy to use, more convenient, and budget-friendly. When using an electric smoker, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully to ensure safety. Electric smokers are considered safe as long as they are used correctly.

Q. ARE ELECTRIC SMOKERS AS GOOD AS OTHERS?

Answer: There is no simple answer to this question. It really depends on what you are looking for in a smoker and your own personal preferences. Some people may find electric smokers to be good enough, while others may feel the need to purchase a more expensive model.

Q. DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS COOK FASTER?

Answer: Yes, electric smokers equipped with heating elements are able to cook the food faster compared to those without a heating element. This is because the heating element makes the food cook from all sides.

Q. DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS COST MORE?

Answer: Electric smokers are usually more expensive compared to other types of smokers. However, there are many benefits to using an electric smoker that make it worth the added cost.

Q. DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY?

Answer: No, electric smokers do not use a lot of electricity. In fact, they are very energy efficient and can be plugged into any regular outlet.

Q. ARE ELECTRIC SMOKERS EASY TO USE?

Answer: Yes, electric smokers are easy to use even for those who have never used a smoker before. They are very user-friendly and come with detailed instructions that are easy to follow.

Q. DO THE METALS IN AN ELECTRIC SMOKER GET HOT?

Answer: The metals in an electric smoker do not get hot. However, the heating element does generate heat that is then released to the food.

Q. HOW TO LOOK AFTER YOUR ELECTRIC SMOKER?

Answer: You may need to take extra care of your electric smoker especially if you are using it often. Wash the interior and drip tray regularly with water and soap. Wipe the outside with a damp cloth and dry it thoroughly before putting it away. Some owners like to season their electric smokers every once in a while to keep it in good condition. This can be done by spraying a light coating of cooking oil over all the surfaces and then using a paper towel to wipe it off.

Q. DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS USE A LOT OF WATER?

Answer: Electric smokers don’t use much water at all so you don’t need to worry about constantly refilling the water reservoir.

Q. DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS HAVE A TEMPERATURE CONTROL?

Answer: Yes, most electric smokers have temperature controls that you can use to set the appropriate heat for your food.

Q. HOW MUCH DO ELECTRIC SMOKERS COST?

Answer: Electric smokers vary in price, but you can generally expect to pay around $100-$300 for a good quality model.

Conclusion

Therefore, finding the best electric smoker under $300 for your needs is very much possible if you concentrate on your need and look for the practical features. Considering the performance, control, and built-in quality, I will recommend both Masterbuilt MB20071117 Electric Smoker and Dyna-Glo DGX780BDC-D 36 inch vertical smoker as the best budget smokers.

Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker for its powerful 1500 watt heating element is a great choice when it comes to heating up quickly. I liked the Char-Broil 18202077 Analog Electric Smoker for its double-wall well-insulated cooking chamber and tightly sealed door. With its 1200 watt heating element, it does a decent job of smoking various dishes.

Landmann MCO 32954 Smokey Mountain Smoker will be the best cheap smoker with its convenient temperature control, double-wall door, and a see-through window.

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