Yes, there are electric pellet smokers available on the market. Electric pellet smokers allow you to smoke meat and other foods using wood pellets and electricity, without needing propane or charcoal. They are powered by electricity and have precise temperature controls, allowing you to easily set and maintain a consistent temperature when smoking foods. Electric pellet smokers combine the convenience of an electric smoker with the wood fired flavor of a pellet smoker.
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How do electric pellet smokers work?
Electric pellet smokers work by feeding wood pellets from a storage hopper into a burn pot using an electric auger system. The pellets are ignited using a heating rod, and the resulting smoke and heat from the burning pellets are circulated around the smoker box by a fan. A thermostat regulates the temperature by feeding more pellets when needed to maintain the set temperature. So with just electricity and wood pellets, electric pellet smokers can precisely regulate temperatures and produce smoke to infuse foods with a delicious wood smoked flavor.
What are the benefits of using an electric pellet smoker?
There are several notable benefits to using an electric pellet smoker compared to other types of smokers:
- Precise temperature control – Electric pellet smokers allow you to dial in and maintain a precise temperature using digital controls. This level of precision is hard to achieve with charcoal or propane smokers.
- No babysitting – Once you set the desired temperature, electric pellet smokers will hold that temp steadily without needing constant monitoring or adjustment.
- Ease of use – With digital controls and automatic pellet feeders, electric pellet smokers are very simple to operate. You don’t need to constantly replenish fuel or make adjustments.
- Consistent, even heating – The distribution of smoke and heat is very uniform in an electric pellet smoker, leading to evenly smoked foods.
- Wood fired flavor – Burning wood pellets imparts a delicious smoky flavor that is hard to replicate with gas or electric only smokers.
- Versatility – Electric pellet grills can be used to smoke, roast, grill, bake and more. Their precision temperature controls make them highly versatile.
So in summary, electric pellet smokers combine the convenience of an electric smoker with the great wood smoke flavor and versatility of a pellet smoker. The precise digital controls make managing temperatures easy.
Types of Electric Pellet Smokers
There are two main types of electric pellet smokers available:
Pellet Smoker Ovens
Pellet smoker ovens have a box-like cabinet design, resembling a traditional oven with a smoke box off to the side or back. They operate just like an oven with a digital thermostat to regulate temperatures ranging from 150°F to over 400°F. Pellet ovens excel at slow smoking large cuts of meat at low temperatures as well as high heat searing and baking. Leading brands like CampChef, Green Mountain Grills, Z Grills, and Traeger offer popular electric pellet smoker oven models.
Pellet Smoker Grills
Pellet smoker grills have a barrel-shaped smoker cabinet paired with a grill lid and flame broiler for direct grilling. The grills feature a chimney, Grease management system, and pellet hopper. Having both a smoker box and grill grates allows you to either smoke low and slow or grill hot and fast. Top electric pellet grill brands include Z Grills, Camp Chef and Traeger.
Key Features to Look for When Buying
Here are some key features and factors to consider when shopping for an electric pellet smoker:
Cooking Area
The overall cooking surface you need will depend on your smoking needs. Smaller models offer 300-500 square inches of rack space, while larger capacity smokers offer 700+ square inches. Make sure to get a smoker with ample room for the quantities you plan to smoke.
Temperature Range
A larger temperature range allows for more versatility. Look for a max temp of at least 450°F so you can sear or grill. Lower end temps around 150°F enable proper cold smoking.
Build Quality
Look for heavy duty steel construction with good welds and fittings. Porcelain coated grates hold up better over time. Make sure the door seals tightly to contain smoke. Quality materials ensure better heat and smoke retention.
Hopper Capacity
Bigger pellet hoppers allow for longer unattended cook times. Look for hopper size from 10 to 20+ lbs of pellets. A pellet dump or clean out feature makes changing pellets easier.
Digital Controller
Accurate digital controllers allow you to dial in and maintain precise temperatures throughout your smoke. PID controllers work better than basic controllers. Look for large displays with meat probes included.
Brand Reputation
Stick with proven pellet smoker brands like Green Mountain Grills, Camp Chef, Z Grills and Traeger who have history building quality units. Check reviews and look for longer warranties.
Portability
If you plan to move your smoker around frequently, look for units with wheels and handles designed for convenient transport.
Top 5 Electric Pellet Smokers
Here are 5 of the best electric pellet smokers across different price ranges:
Z Grills 700E
– Cooking Surface: 694 sq in
– Temperature Range: 180°F – 450°F
– Hopper Capacity: 20 lbs
– Stainless steel build, digital controller with meat probe
– Great mid-range price electric pellet smoker
Traeger Pro Series 780
– Cooking Surface: 780 sq in
– Temperature Range: 180°F – 500°F
– Hopper Capacity: 20 lbs
– WiFIRE technology, downdraft exhaust
– Premium smoker from the top brand
Camp Chef SmokePro SG Pellet Grill
– Cooking Surface: 573 sq in
– Temperature Range: 160°F – 500°F
– Hopper Capacity: 18 lbs
– Slide and grill feature, Gen 2 digital controller
– More budget friendly option
Green Mountain Grills Davy Crockett
– Cooking Surface: 219 sq in
– Temperature Range: 150°F – 550°F
– Hopper Capacity: 10 lbs
– Portable with foldable legs, wifi control
– Great small space electric smoker
Masterbuilt MES 130B
– Cooking Surface: 548 sq in
– Temperature Range: 100°F – 275°F
– Hopper Capacity: 18 lbs
– Budget priced electric smoker
– Simple dial controls, side pellet loading
How Much Does an Electric Pellet Smoker Cost?
Electric pellet smokers range widely in price from under $300 up to $2000 or more. Here is an overview of what you can expect to pay:
| Price Range | Features |
|---|---|
| $200 – $400 | Small, portable electric smokers typically in the 200-400 square inch range. Basic controllers and features. |
| $400 – $800 | Mid-size electric pellet grills in the 400-700 square inch range. Better construction and digital controllers. |
| $800 – $1200 | High capacity pellet smokers over 700 square inches. Premium controllers and build quality. |
| Over $1200 | Top of the line pellet smokers featuring stainless steel construction, commercial grade components, and the most advanced digital control systems. |
As with most appliances, you typically get what you pay for in terms of cooking capacity, build quality, precision controls and overall craftsmanship. Consider what features are most important for your needs and budget.
Conclusion
Electric pellet smokers provide an excellent combination of the convenience of electric smokers with the wood pellet flavor of traditional offset smokers. They allow for precision temperature control using digital controllers and automatic auger feeds. Leading brands like Traeger, Camp Chef and Green Mountain Grills make high quality electric pellet smokers in grill, oven and portable configurations. Use the criteria and recommendations in this article to select the best electric pellet smoker for your barbecue needs and budget. With minimal fuss, an electric pellet smoker can infuse your food with delicious wood fired flavor.