There’s nothing like unwinding on a weekend with a cold beer and a tender, mouthwatering, smoked rack of ribs. If you’ve been interested in the idea of smoking your own meat at home, but just don’t know where to begin, the Masterbuilt 30 Digital Electric Smoker is a great place to start.
Whether for competition-level ribs or just enough to feed family and friends, this electric smoker is a must-have for the budding grill master. It delivers tender meats with a distinct flavour, but with none of the hassle of a traditional charcoal smoker.
This review will look at the specs, features, and pros/cons of the Masterbuilt 30 to help you decide if it’s the best smoker for you.
Table of Contents
The Masterbuilt 30 Digital Electric Smoker Reviews: Updated 2024
The Masterbuilt name is so well-known and highly rated that it is practically synonymous with quality and innovation. Since it was established in 1973, Masterbuilt has proven itself to be one of the best manufacturers of outdoor and indoor cooking equipment.
The Masterbuilt 30 is one of their most popular products on the market, even though it’s a huge deviation from the usual charcoal or gas smokers. Designed for both meat smoking beginners and professional smoke masters, this electric smoker boasts incredible ease of use, large smoking capacity, and powerful flavours. It can be used to smoke everything from fish to brisket to even your next Thanksgiving turkey.
Package Inclusions
- The Masterbuilt 30 Electric Smoker
- 4 removable chrome-coated racks
- Removable drip pan
- Removable water pan
Product Specification
- Electric smoker
- Dimensions: 19.88 x 20.47 x 33.27 in.
- Weight: 39.31 lbs
- The top digital control panel
- 30” smoker for 730 sq. in. smoking capacity
- 800W heating unit
- 100F-275F temperature range
- Steel construction
- Black finish
Features
- “Set it and forget it” charcoal-free electric smoking
- Patented side wood chip loading system
- Integrated thermostat control with auto-shutoff timer
- Insulated smoking body
The Masterbuilt 30 Electric Smoker Reviews Amazon
We can’t deny that a well-smoked brisket or chicken beats most other things any day. Smoked meat is absolutely delicious, but because the traditional process can be confusing and complicated, many people are turned off from smoking their own food at home.
This is where the Masterbuilt 30 Electric Smoker comes in. Because of the straightforward digital controls, there’s no need to closely tend to your smoking machine. This makes it a perfect choice for people who are just starting out smoking and don’t want to mess around with more high-maintenance smoking procedures.
Here’s the full low-down on the Masterbuilt 30.
Performance
The biggest question is: does it smoke well? We’re glad to say that, yes, it does. Considering the size, cost, and the fact that it’s an electric smoker, the Masterbuilt 30 gives a pretty decent performance.
Electric smokers usually trade in flavour for convenience, but that isn’t really the case with this Masterbuilt. Sure, you might only get a light to medium smokiness (especially when compared to traditional charcoal smokers), but you do get an even, consistent, and thorough smoke all the way through. The adjustable air damper lets you control the smoke level, and you can maximize the flavour by using more distinctly flavoured wood chips like hickory.
The 100-275F temp range works well enough for a low and slow, but you won’t be able to do any hot and fast smoking. We’ve also heard that some users find that the smoker doesn’t work as well or as consistently on the lower end of the range.
Ease Of Use
Where the Masterbuilt 30 really shines is its convenience. The simple design is basically “plug it and smoke”. Thanks to the digital top panel, you can easily select the exact temperature and time you want. It’s a lot more forgiving than charcoal smokers, so it makes for a good introduction to the world of meat smoking. Even if you’ve never smoked anything in your life, you’ll find that you’ll have an easy time with the Masterbuilt 30 Digital Electric Smoker.
The patented side wood chip loading system makes it even easier for even smoke. Because you don’t have to open the front door to add wood chips, it keeps the heat in as it cooks.
Capacity
730 square inches of space is more than enough to feed you, your family, AND your friends. You can cook up to 64 sausages, 2 turkeys, 8 full racks of ribs, 4 pork butts, 24 burger patties, or 6 chickens on the 4 chrome-coated cooking racks.
It’s a great size, especially for the price, but it may be a bit too big and bulky for smaller spaces.
Design & Build Quality
One of the first things you’ll notice is that it’s a very simple and minimalist fridge-style smoker. While it is made in China, it’s American-designed, so you can still trust that it will last a long time. It’s made of durable steel and can handle pretty heavy use.
However, some people experienced the heating element being a little bit off. This is a common problem with electric smokers in general, though.
Cost
The Masterbuilt comes in the $150-$200 range, so it’s cheaper than most other smokers but pricier than entry-level machines. It’s still a pretty great value for its size, performance, and durability.
Masterbuilt 30 Pros And Cons
Pros
- Extremely simple to operate, even for beginners
- Delicious, mouthwatering meats for little effort
- Side-loading system
- Affordable yet large capacity
Cons
- Not good for heavy smoking
- The heating element and thermostat can malfunction
- Can’t smoke at higher temperatures
Tips For Using Your Masterbuilt 30 Electric Smoker
- Do not overload the smoker, it will compromise the quality of the flavour.
- Cover the smoker when not in use, especially if it’s placed outdoors.
- Buy a separate digital meat thermometer to get the most accurate reading.
Conclusion
There’s a lot to love about this smoker. The Masterbuilt 30 Digital Electric Smoker is straightforward and very easy to use. It produces quality smoked meats, especially considering that it’s an electric smoker. The large capacity is impressive for its affordable price.
The “set it and forget it” style is highly recommended for beginners who want to try their hand out at smoking or for those who have limited options, but hardcore smokers may want to try other alternatives.