topic Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker in Kitchen

Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Jackyl — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:13:37 GMT

I bought my husband a Masterbuilt smoker several years ago and never tried it. I have no confidence in my cooking skills. I'm forcing myself to do it this weekend. I thought we lost the manual so I emailed Masterbuilt and asked for a replacement because it wasn't coming up in a search on their site. They told me basically, tough, we won't send you a manual because it's out of warranty. Nice huh? Luckily, we found the manual anyway. Plus, this smoker temps are low, medium, high and the recipes are all in degrees. I have no idea what 250 degrees is, is that low or medium heat? I really screwed up buying this smoker from QVC. Big regret here. I see they aren't on QVC anymore, but too late for me.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Kachina624 — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:21:08 GMT

@Jackyl Just a guess, but I'd say 250° is low.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

PA Mom-mom — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:26:42 GMT

@Jackyl What model do you have. We have had two Masterbuilt smokers over the years and loved them. They both had temperature gauges. But, you can get an in-oven thermometer connected to a digital readout outside of the smoker. Smoking can be pretty easy. I would suggest you start with sausages and mac and cheese. Just take your favorite sausages and stick them in the smoker at 225 (that would be medium) and smoke for about 1 1/2 hours (check them with a meat thermometer at 1 1/4). The mac and cheese is already cooked, so you are just adding a smokey flavor. Everyone LOVES it! You put a pan of water or apple cider vinegar in the bottom for moisture. You add wood chips every hour. The smoker takes about 20 min to come up to temp. Once you have done the simple things, you can branch out. We love pork butt, trout, ribs, etc. One of our favorite smoking/bbq websites is amazingribs.com.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Sooner — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:30:30 GMT

My guess would be 225; 275 and maybe 325 or 310? Most bbq is ideally smoked at 225.

You need thermometers in the meat that you can read outside without opening the smoker, and another one to read the temperature in the smoker.

Ribs are fairly quick, pork butt takes longer, and brisket takes until the end of time. Have fun! It's a great hobby and you get good eats!

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Jackyl — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:32:14 GMT

I have no idea, but it's an electric smoker. If I was a better cook, I'd probably feel better about this whole thing. I already have chicken quarters bought, so we'll give those a go. I hope this works out. I'm on YouTube trying to get some information, but they all have temperature gauges on theirs.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

PA Mom-mom — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:39:25 GMT

@Jackyl I forgot to add that our smoker ranges from 190 degrees to 275 degrees. That's why I said 225 is medium.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

hopi — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:40:46 GMT

@Jackyl It is not you it's really a clumsy and poorly made smoker.
Q has put out some really dreadful items. I used to trust their models but no more. Simple items like Lock and Lock are made so poorly then previously. The list can go forever.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

qualitygal — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:44:43 GMT

I don't even remember what kind it is. We got 2 cookbooks to go with it. The cover is torn on one side, It sets on the deck. Large paperweight, kind of like the exercise machine covered up in the basement.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Sooner — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:55:02 GMT

@Jackyl Read about it. Don't go to YouTube. You need to know the temp inside your smoker, so try to get a thermometer for that. Hopefully one you can leave in without opening. AND judge meat doneness by temp. not time.

This is pretty good gauge:

When smoking meat in an electric smoker, the internal temperature is more important than how long you smoke. But it is nice to know when to start the smoker, so that you know when dinner will be ready to serve. Follow these time estimates next time you get ready to smoke with your electric smoker.

Remember depending on the weather and other external factors, exact time may vary.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

GenXmuse — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 19:55:41 GMT

Maybe you could sell it?

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Foxxee — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 20:02:53 GMT

I use 200-300 degrees is low. 350-400 medium. 450-550 high.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

FlowerBear — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 21:33:11 GMT

Can you look online for possible information or on youtube?

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

Nightowlz — Sat, 04 Jul 2020 02:32:20 GMT

@Jackyl

We really like ours & used it a lot but DH bought a Pit Boss & has been using it.

The Masterbuilt is nothing more then a smoker with heating element like your oven. Things will cook the same in it as it does your oven. The only difference is you add some wood chips & has a temperature range of 100° to 275°. You don't have to use the chips if you don't want any of the smoke flavor you get from using them.

If you are making chicken put a digital thermometer in it so you can keep tabs on temp during cooking so you will know when it's ready.

Guess you must have the analog controller since you say low, medium, high. I found this online.

An analog temperature controller has a dial that can be turned to “High, Medium, Low” settings. You can not set a specific temperature with this controller.

If you want to smoke ribs at 225F then you need to dial the controller to somewhere in the Low/Medium range and wait 30 minutes to see where the temperature settles. Then you will need to adjust the dial up or down and wait another 30 minutes and see where you land.

Once you get the temperature exactly where you want it you can take a permanent marker and mark the spot on the controller for next time. Of course, if the weather is different (windy, cold) then you are going to need a different amount of power and will have to go through the whole dance again.

Re: Regret Buying Masterbuilt Smoker

jannabelle1 — Fri, 03 Jul 2020 23:05:32 GMT

We don't have a Masterbuilt Smoker, but we do have a Trager smoker. Here's what I know (or have learned through experience)!

Most smokers are meant to be used for slowly smoking meats such as ribs, pork butt, chicken, etc. 225 is generally low heat, and that's ideal for smoking for several hours. 325 to 350 is medium (generally) and a temp above 400 is generally high. If you're looking for a grill to quickly cook something, a smoker might not be the right product. My favorite on the smoker are ribs that have been dry seasoned and left on the smoker on low for at least 4 hours or so. The meat will be so tender and flavorful!

Smokers take awhile to heat up. When I grill a steak, I start heating up the smoker plenty early because it takes awhile to get it on high so that the steak gets nicely seared.

Try a few things, and you'll learn as go. Good luck!