Your new Masterbuilt smoker is probably one of the best electric smokers you can find on the market today. A reputable name, quality design, and functionality all built into one standing smoker. With this in mind familiarizing yourself with it, finding the best smoker thermometer to use with your new smoker, and understanding the basics of smoking, will allow you to have the best experience with smoking meats. You are thinking, how to use Masterbuilt electric smoker? These are a few basics to consider when you are starting out with your new smoker.
Understanding your smoker
It is fairly self-explanatory, but you should familiarize yourself with the type of smoker you have. Masterbuilt has several models, but they are designed similarly to a standing refrigerator (in size and height). It is vertical so you will find it very safe to use and that it is easy to keep balanced in virtually any setting.
Setting up your smoker
When using your new smoker it is ideal if you set it up in an open space for proper ventilation and air flow. Adding water to the drip pan is also a good practice. Doing this, alongside using the best wireless meat thermometer, ensures even temperatures, even internal cooking temperatures, and also helps prevent starting a fire due to grease dripping.
Adding wood chips to your new smoker is simple to do because it has a sliding door design so you won’t have to open the smoker doors to add more fuel.
Pre-seasoning
Although it is not required, it is a good idea to pre-season your new smoker prior to actually using it to smoke meats. This will help ensure the best rich, Smokey flavor, and ensure top performance from your new smoker as well.
Simply set the smoker to 275 to 300 degrees F and let it run for 3 to 4 hours. During the final 45 minutes to 1 hour, add wood chips to your tray. At the end of the 3 to 4 hour span, simply shut off your smoker and allow it to cool completely before you use it to smoke meats.
Preheating your smoker
When time finally comes for you to smoke the meat of choice, you want to preheat your smoker prior to putting anything in it. Doing this is not only going to help ensure even internal cooking temperature, but also help prevent overcooking your meat.
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As a new griller, one of the most common mistakes people make is putting meat in prematurely. You want to give the smoker time to fire up and heat up, before you put anything in it.
Turn the smoker on to the desired temperature. This number will differ based upon the type of meat you are smoking. Depending on the type of Masterbuilt smoker you’ve purchased, there might be a preset high temperature, so familiarize yourself with this prior to smoking, and also know what the ideal internal temperature is for the meat you are smoking.
You also want to make sure the smoke coming out of the smoker is “good smoke.” This simply means that it has a slightly blue color or tone to it, and isn’t just white smoke coming out of the top of your smoker.
Using the built in thermometer, alongside your wireless thermometer, is good practice when smoking meat. It allows you to ensure even cooking throughout, and the perfect internal temperatures when smoking meats.
Preparing the meat
Now that you are allowing your smoker to preheat, you might want to prepare your meat, if you haven’t already done so. Your meat should be seasoned prior to being placed in the smoker. A dry rub is best if you are applying it right before placing it in the smoker.
Ideally you should season the meat at least one night prior to smoking it, but if you are pressed for time, using a dry rub will help with flavor enhancements, and help with moisture retention during smoking.
Patience is key
There is really no secret to it now. Once the preheat temperature is reached, and you are ready to put the meat in the smoker, it is truly a waiting game. You don’t want to keep opening the smoker doors as this will allow the temperature to decrease.
You need to allow the smoker to do its job, and simply wait for the food you are smoking to reach the desired temperatures while smoking.
You should check the meat every once in a while, and having a thermometer handy is the best way to do so. Keep in mind that some meats smoke faster than others, so using a dual-temperature thermometer is also handy if you are using a single base temperature when smoking meats in your Masterbuilt smoker.
While smoking the meat, you can add water over the drip pan every 45 minutes to 1 hour. Doing this will help with moisture retention and help with even cooking as well. Consider what the recipe calls for, and make sure you give it time to work if you want your smoked meats to be tasty and at the perfect consistency when they are finished.
Cleaning regularly
After each use, it is best for you to clean out your smoker. A warm water and dish-soap solution will usually do the job just fine. It is not only advised to clean the smoker after each use, but also to clean the exterior doors, racks, and internal removable parts routinely, to elongate the lifespan of your smoker
There truly is no guesswork to using a smoker. Of course depending on which model of the Masterbuilt series you purchase, there are a few nuances you should familiarize yourself with. For this reason it is wise to have your manual handy and read up on the design features of your new smoker. But apart from that, there really is nothing to it.
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Conclusion
Whether you are new to smoking in general, or are just new to using the Masterbuilt series products, you won’t have a hard time figuring out how to use your new smoker. These are a few basics to consider for the best results, taste, and consistency, regardless of what type of meat you will be smoking in your new smoker.