Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker Review
Masterbuilt makes vertical smokers in 30-inch and 40-inch sizes. These can be powered by propane, charcoal, or electricity. The 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker is a top pick among smoking fans. It’s known for being affordable and easy to use. It’s made in America and offers features like Bluetooth control and app monitoring.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Cooking Surface Area | 972 sq in |
Max Cooking Temp | 275°F |
Min Cooking Temp | 35°F |
Ease of Use | Bluetooth control, App monitoring, Digital controls |
Max Cook Time | 8 hours |
Fuel Types | Electricity, Wood chips |
Dimensions | 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 inches |
Weight | 66.3 lbs |
Material | Stainless Steel, Chrome-coated racks |
Additional Features | Grease drain system, See-through glass window |
This smoker is lightweight, only 66.3 lbs. It is 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 inches in size. It has four cooking racks, giving you plenty of cooking space. The design is perfect for outdoor cooking. It offers real smoke flavor.
But, be aware that the materials might not be the most durable over time. Still, it has cool features like a wood chip loader, a grease drain, and a window to see your food cooking. It also comes with a one-year warranty.
Including:
- The Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker offers a big cooking area. It also controls temperature well.
- It has smart technology, like Bluetooth and app monitoring, which makes it easy to use.
- Affordability is a big advantage. Yet, the long-term durability might be a concern due to material quality.
- It comes with a wood chip loader, a grease drain, and a clear glass window to check on your food.
- The design is simple, making it great for both new and experienced users with easy setup.
Key Takeaways
Masterbuilt’s 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker is awesome for outdoor cooking. It’s easy to control the temperature and has a big cooking space. The smart features, like Bluetooth and app control, make it really convenient. It’s budget-friendly but might need careful use due to some material concerns.
It’s made for simple use, great for beginners or those with experience. The design includes a wood chip loader, grease drain, and a window. This makes checking on your food easy.
Introduction to the Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker
I started looking into the Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker to find a smoking solution. I wanted something reliable, easy to use, and not too expensive. My focus was on a smoker that could handle a big group while still having great taste. I chose an electric smoker for its steady power, better flavor, and advanced temperature controls over propane ones.
Why I Chose This Smoker
This Digital Smoker was the perfect fit for my backyard grilling needs, after a lot of searching. Its features like the large cooking space and capacity for 16 chickens, 4 turkeys, or 8 pork butts caught my eye. Plus, it has four racks, digital controls, a removable water bowl, and a woodchip loader for adding smoke flavor continuously. All these features together made it the best choice for me.
Initial Impressions
The smoker looked sleek and modern when it arrived. Its stainless steel door and window are nice touches. They not only look good but help me watch the food as it smokes. The packaging was solid, keeping everything safe during shipping. Setting it up was surprisingly easy, thanks to its user-friendly design, even without reading the instructions.
My first impression of the smoker was very positive. Its mix of new design and useful features tells me it’s a smart pick for anyone’s grilling area.
Key Features of the Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker brings together traditional smoking and smart technology. It’s perfect for beginners and experts alike. This smoker is known for its innovation, making smoking easy and fun.
Wood Chip Loader
The Masterbuilt Wood Chip Loader lets you add wood chips. You can do this without opening the smoker door, keeping the heat consistent. It comes with a small tray for chips that’s great for most smoking times.
It helps keep the heat in, saving energy and time.
Bluetooth Controller and App
The Bluetooth controller and app take smoking to a new level. With them, you can watch and adjust the temperature from your phone. You can also set timers and get alerts, making smoking easier than ever.
It’s all wireless, so you don’t have to stay next to your smoker.
Grease Drain System
The grease drain system makes cleaning up easy. It funnels grease into a pan that you can take out and clean. This not only simplifies things but also takes care of your smoker so it lasts longer.
See-through Glass Window
The see-through glass lets you watch your food without losing heat. While you will need to clean it sometimes, it’s worth it for the great view. This way, you can keep an eye on your food without affecting the cooking.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Masterbuilt Wood Chip Loader | Minimizes temperature loss during wood chip reloads |
Bluetooth Smoker Control | Enables wireless monitoring via the Masterbuilt app |
Grease Drain System | Simplifies cleanup with a removable pan |
See-through Glass Window | Allows visual access without opening the smoker |
Unboxing and Setup Experience
Opening the Masterbuilt 40″ Bluetooth Electric Smoker was thrilling. It measured 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 inches and weighed 66.3 lbs. Clearly, I needed help getting it inside. But, the unboxing showed how well it was packed, keeping everything safe.
Packaging and Protection
I was impressed by the packaging. Masterbuilt made sure all parts were safe. Inside, it had everything from racks to a wood chip feeder, neatly packed.
Assembly Process
Putting it together was easy and tool-free. It only took about thirty minutes. The guide was clear, and the parts were easy to recognize. Everything just clicked into place.
Initial Setup Challenges
There were a few hiccups with setup. It could use better part labels for quicker assembly. Also, the wood chips need changing every hour at first. It’s not hard, just something to keep in mind. Still, I had a great time setting it up.
Build Quality and Design
The Electric Smoker Design of the Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker catches your eye right away. It blends stainless steel and chrome-coated cooking racks beautifully. This makes it a great addition to any backyard. It measures 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 inches and weighs 66.3 lbs. Plus, it has wheels and a handle for easy moving.
Materials Used
The Smoker Build Quality of the Masterbuilt 40-inch model uses top-grade stainless steel and aluminum with some plastic parts. It includes four sturdy chrome-coated cooking racks. These racks offer plenty of room for all sorts of meats. The stainless steel door has a glass window, adding both style and practicality. These top-notch materials ensure a Durable Smoking Equipment for regular use.
Durability Concerns
Yet, some durability issues have been noted. Some users have found that the plastic handles and knobs can break easily. Also, concerns have been raised about the long-term strength of the aluminum inside. These points are crucial for a smoker meant for outdoor use, where it faces the weather. Prospective buyers must consider these potential material flaws. Intensive use might challenge the roof of these materials, affecting their lifespan.
Visual Aesthetics
Visually, the Electric Smoker Design of the Masterbuilt 40-inch model stands out. Its sleek stainless steel look fits well in modern backyards. The glass door lets you watch the smoking process, improving the user’s experience. However, keep in mind that the glass door will need regular cleaning due to smoke buildup. It’s about finding the right balance between looks and function.
Feature | Description |
---|---|
Overall Dimensions | 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 inches |
Item Weight | 66.3 lbs |
Number of Cooking Racks | 4 |
Primary Material | Stainless Steel |
Additional Material | Chrome-coated, Aluminum, Plastic |
Performance and Temperature Control
The Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker is all about top-notch performance and keeping things just right in terms of temperature. It can go from 35°F to 275°F, perfect for cooking everything from fish to brisket. What’s great is how you can tweak the temperature by 5 degrees easily. This means your food will always be cooked just the way you like it.
Temperature Range and Control
This smoker lets you pick the exact temperature you need, in small 5-degree steps. This is usually seen on the fancy smokers. It’s vital for cooking different foods. You can make anything from cheese to beef, all due to this wide temperature range.
Maintaining Consistent Temperatures
People really like how this smoker keeps a steady temperature. It’s because of the insulated body. This body keeps the heat in well and spreads it evenly. Although, in really cold weather, some folks say it struggles to stay hot. But, most find it really easy to manage without having to fiddle a lot. This makes it perfect for folks new to smoking or those who want an easy time.
Cooking Experience and Flavor Quality
The Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker is a star in cooking different foods. Over six weeks, I tried it with ribs, turkey, pork chops, a whole chicken, and a pork shoulder. They all turned out great after cooking with this smoker.
Types of Food Cooked
Ribs were flavorful and soft, almost like the ones from traditional smokers. Turkey and chicken kept their moisture and got a great smoky taste. Pork chops and shoulder were juicy and perfectly cooked, thanks to even heating and smoke.
Flavor Comparison with Other Smokers
The smoked flavor from the Masterbuilt 40-inch stood out in comparison. Even though it needs wood chips changed every hour, the taste impresses. It matches up well with charcoal or wood fires. The reason is its temperature range from 35°F to 275°F that makes the smoke stick well to the food.
On the downside, you have to reload the smaller wood chip tray more often than a 30-inch model. This could be a hassle in long cooking sessions. I got the Western BBQ Smoking Wood Chips – Variety 4-Pack Bundle to add different smoke flavors. It really expanded what the smoker could do.
The Masterbuilt smoker proves it’s great for many cooking styles with its rich flavor. This makes it a solid choice for outdoor cooking fun.
Bluetooth and App Integration
The Masterbuilt Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker adds modern tech to outdoor cooking. With Bluetooth, you can control and check the smoker from your phone. It makes smoking food easier and more fun.
Ease of Use
Setting up the Bluetooth is easy. You pair the smoker with the app in no time. Then, you can control the smoker from anywhere. This means you can change the temperature or set alarms without standing next to it.
Features and Functionality
The app lets you check the meat’s temperature and manage the smoking process from your phone. It’s simple but very useful. You can control when the food smokes and check if the water tray needs topping up.
Range and Connectivity
Your phone can talk to the smoker from anywhere in a normal house. This means you can keep an eye on your food even when you’re not next to it. People have found it works well up to 100 feet away. This is perfect for times when you’re busy with other things at home.
Adding Bluetooth to the smoker is a big step forward. It turns a basic way of cooking into something modern and easy. Now, smoking food is a breeze and a lot of fun.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Maintaining an electric smoker like the Masterbuilt 40-inch Digital Electric Smoker might seem hard, but it’s actually simple. Thanks to my past in the Makerspace Contest 2017 and the Before and After Contest 2017, I know a lot about taking care of smoking devices. Here’s a close look at how to clean and care for this model.
Ease of Cleaning
The Masterbuilt Smoker is easy to clean, and this is a huge plus. The cooking racks stay free from rust and damage even after many uses. They remain strong, which helps make cleaning easy. The grease drain system is also top-notch, guiding drippings into a pan you can remove. This smart design lessens the trouble of cleaning up after cooking.
Durability of Racks and Trays
The cooking racks are strong and stay in good shape. But, some parts like the water pan and wood chip tray wear out a bit faster. They might need replacing eventually. Yet, these replacement parts are not costly. Getting new parts for fixes is easy and cheap. Overall, this smoker is well-built and will last a long time.
Component | Initial Condition | Post Usage Condition |
---|---|---|
Cooking Racks | Rust-free, Smooth | Resilient, No Rust |
Water Pan | Sturdy, Clean | Moderate Wear, Requires Care |
Wood Chip Tray | Intact, Functional | Wear Signs, Possible Replacement Needed |
This smoker is priced between $150 and $250. For what it offers, including easy cleaning and durability, the price is worth it. Especially now on Amazon, where it’s just $150. This makes it a good buy for anyone who loves smoking food.
Pros and Cons of the Masterbuilt 40-inch Electric Smoker
The Masterbuilt 40-inch Electric Smoker stands out among smokers. It blends usability and convenience in a unique way. It’s big and has several pros. These features help both new and seasoned users enjoy smoking food.
Advantages
This smoker is easy to use. You can control it with a Bluetooth controller and the Masterbuilt app. This lets you manage and adjust the temperature without being near the smoker. It has a grease drain system for easy cleaning. The design also stops temperature drops when you add more wood chips.
Its performance is top-notch, offering great flavors to foods like ribs, chicken, or fish.
Disadvantages
The Masterbuilt 40-inch Electric Smoker has drawbacks too. Some users worry about its build quality. They’ve mentioned weak parts and a plastic guard that cracks. These issues raise doubt about the smoker’s long-term use.
Another downside is it has room for just one meat probe. This might not be enough for the smoker’s size. Also, you’ll need to add more wood chips every hour. This might seem like a lot of work, especially since smaller models can go 90 minutes before needing more chips.
In summary, the Masterbuilt 40-inch Electric Smoker is a strong choice in the world of smokers. Despite its cons, it offers great features and tastes. It’s perfect for anyone who loves to cook outdoors and cherishes the classic smoky flavor.