How To Use Masterbuilt Electric Smokers: A Step-By-Step Guide

When you think of an electric smoker, you usually don’t think of cooking. In today’s world, smoking your food may appear to be an underrated method of cooking, but you can’t judge it until you give it a try. As a result, we’ll show you how to use Masterbuilt Electric Smokers to make the greatest picnic or backyard supper.

Masterbuilt is one of the most well-known brands in the United States when it comes to smokers and grills. The family business, which was founded in 1973, evolved fast to become a well-known corporation. If you own a Masterbuilt smoker from their incredible selection, you’re not alone. Millions of people use their products when it comes to grilling, frying, or smoking meat or other dishes.

Make sure you’re doing it right if you’re new to smoking or using a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker, or even if you’ve used one before and use it frequently.

As a result, let’s have a look at how to operate and maintain your smoker properly. Believe us when we say that it will make you appreciate technological breakthroughs that have made smoking food as easy as using a microwave oven.

How to Use Masterbuilt Electric Smokers

To make the tutorial as comprehensive and simple as possible, we divided it into three sections. In addition, we will go through the most crucial things to know in each part for your convenience.

There are a few things you should do before you begin cooking.

We’re all aware that there are a number of things to do before starting to cook. As a result, before you begin cooking, here is a checklist of things to do and consider.

1. Prepare the Smoker

The first step in utilizing a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker is to season it. It’s a crucial step in preparing your smoker for use.

The purpose is to clean the smoker and prepare the surface for food by removing any residue that has formed during the production process. Seasoning also helps to prevent it from rusting.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Set up the smoker according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
2. Connect the smoker to a reliable power supply and turn it on.
3. Preheat the smoker to 270 degrees Fahrenheit (133 degrees Celsius) to ensure that all of the contents within are thoroughly cooked. Allow three hours for the process to complete.
4. To finish the seasoning process, add wood chips and run for another 30 minutes.
5. Once the smoker has cooled down, use it for cooking.

2. Prepare Your Meat

As with many cooking recipes, we recommend marinating your meat before cooking. This is due to the fact that marinating the meat makes it more delicate and allows the spices and flavors to penetrate more deeply. As a result, the better the flavor and texture of the meat, the longer you marinade it.

Always prepare the meat ahead of time according to the recipe and seasonings of your choice. Marination has a lot of health benefits in addition to adding flavor and improving taste. Dry rubs are a great way to season the meat before or after it’s been marinated.

3. Choose the Right Temperature

The type of meat you want to cook determines the optimum smoker temperature. The ideal temperature for your meat is normally indicated in the recipe, so it varies depending on what you’re cooking.

Setting the right temperature is vital since it affects the flavor and suppleness of the meat. As a result, one temperature does not match all needs, and you must use the technique to figure out what temperature is appropriate.

4. Start by Preheating the Smoker

Because the food is cooked using the heat from the smoke, the smoker must be preheated. Let’s have a look at how to warm your smoker properly.

1. Fill the smoker with wood chips, making careful to do so before turning it on.
2. Begin with half a cup of wood chips and increase as needed if the previous batch isn’t producing enough smoke.
3. Allow 45 minutes for it to smoke, which is standard for preheating.

What to Do During Cooking

After all of your preparation, you are now ready to cook your cuisine. The less time you spend planning ahead of time, the easier it will be to cook.

Once the smoker has attained the correct temperature and smoke level, you must insert your marinated meat inside. Then, on a regular basis, check the heat or smoke levels, as well as the meat.

If you stay vigilant during the phase, you’ll be guaranteed a great dinner. So, let’s go through everything you need to know about meat preparation.

1. Maintain Your Meat’s Softness

Maintaining the flavor and tenderness of the food you’re preparing is vital; otherwise, you’ll end up with dry, tasteless meat. Basting, also known as mopping, is a way of keeping the meat moist and tasty when roasting or grilling to achieve this.

This method entails spreading a cooking fluid, such as melted butter or a variety of sauces, over the meat. When it comes to mopping, the recipe should be followed exactly.

Mopping should be done numerous times depending on the size and thickness of the meat, as well as the specifications of the dish. With that in mind, remember to clean your smoker immediately because opening it will result in a loss of heat and smoke.

This would need more time in the oven and the use of more wood. Basting your meat at precise times and intervals will help to flavor it while retaining its moisture.

2. Maintain a Close Eye on the Wood Chips

Maintaining the appropriate temperature is just as crucial as setting it, as previously said. Regularly check the wood level, and if the smoke level isn’t high enough, add more. It should be added in little amounts at a time to avoid temperature changes.

Keep in mind that just because you’re checking the wood chip level on a regular basis doesn’t mean the temperature will always be the same. Don’t worry; the temperature will climb as you add additional chips. The temperature control won’t need to be modified if you’re adding smaller amounts because it will cool down on its own.

3. Add a Dash of Sauce to Finish

When the meat appears to be about done, baste it one last time before taking it out of the oven. This last step ensures that your cuisine tastes great and that you can enjoy it.

This is an optional step, but we recommend it since it assures that your meat is ready to eat as soon as it comes out of the smoker. Barbecue is great, but it’s much better when the weather is scorching.

What to Do After Cooking

Before delving into the meal once it’s finished, there are a few things to complete. The following will make a considerable difference in the longevity of your smoker. People frequently neglect these processes, which leads to future issues.

1. Turn-Off the Smoker

After you’ve finished using your smoker, let it dry for 15 minutes. The smoker can be dried by removing the wood chips, water, drippings, and any foil trays.

Lowering the temperature to 235 degrees might help your smoker dry out and avoid overheating, which can damage it and make cleaning more difficult. After you’ve switched it off, let it cool down before cleaning or storing it.

You’ve just discovered how to get the most out of your smokers. Having said that, we aren’t quite done yet.

2. Clean Up

Because the fat and debris from cooking are still fresh and easy to wash away, cleaning the smoker right after usage is substantially easier than cleaning it weeks later. To remove residue from your smoker’s interior, you don’t need to scrape it.

Furthermore, mold thrives in the moist, dark interior of the smoker. If you don’t clean your smoker right away, they can infest it, especially over the winter. Poisonous and difficult to remove, these growths are a nuisance.

How to Clean Your Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

Cleaning your smoker is critical for its longevity as well as the safe preparation of sanitary meals in it. We’ve already seen how cleaning the smoker immediately after use saves time and work. The technique remains the same regardless of when you clean your smoker.

There are various components to a smoker, including racks, windows, and the inside. As a result, you should clean each section independently for best results.

Let’s look at how to clean a smoker quickly.

1. The Equipment You’ll Require

We’re sure you’re wondering if the products you need are hard to come by, but guess what? They aren’t. The majority of the items are standard. In addition, not everything will be used to clean all of the smoker’s components, as some are easier to clean than others.

You’ll need a metal container, a soft brush, a cleaning cloth, a spray bottle, and sponges for the most part. To avoid scratching your smoke, we recommend using a soft bristle brush rather than a metal brush.

Additionally, we recommend using diluted apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle if possible to clean your smoker. Use half and half water and apple cider vinegar to make the perfect acidic natural cleaning solution. Apple cider vinegar eliminates bacteria, but to get rid of the vinegar odor, you’ll need to re-season your smoker after cleaning.

2. Clean the Interior

The first step is to take out all of the inner components, as you’ll need to clean them separately. First, we’ll clean the interior chamber and remove any leftovers from previous cooking attempts.

To begin, sweep any residual particles into a metal can using a brush. Make sure you’ve covered every inch of the chamber. Lightly sprinkle the inside of your smoker with the diluted apple cider vinegar and scrub the chamber. Finally, wipe the chamber off with a cleaning cloth to finish.

3. Clean the Individual Parts

The portions listed below are some of the most critical parts of most Masterbuilt models that must be cleaned after use.

• The Racks

During the seasoning process of a smoker, such as the Masterbuilt MES 140s Digital Electric Smoker, it is necessary to oil the racks. It prevents food from adhering to the racks and rusting them. However, leftovers of cooking liquid can build during basting, prompting cleanup.

The first step is to remove any leftovers with a brush and a cleaning cloth. Scrub it with apple cider vinegar after that, but soapy water will suffice.

This helps to get rid of all the grease on the racks. Scrubbing them with hot water is recommended since it is more effective at eliminating grease.

After a pre-clean, many people will throw food racks and drip trays in the dishwasher. For best results, use a high heat setting and a minimal amount of dishwasher soap.

• The Ashtray

When wood chips are used, ashes collect in the ashtray. You should wipe the ashtray before using it again to avoid it being overcrowded. You’ll need a metal container, apple cider vinegar, and hot water to clean it.

Begin by collecting all of the ashes in a metal can and cleaning the tray with a water-apple cider vinegar combination. After you’ve sprayed the liquid on the tray and let it dry, finish it up with a brush or cleaning cloth. Always remember to clean the ashtray since if it is left out for too long, the soot will blacken it.

• Water Pan

Cleaning this part of the smoker is the most straightforward. The water pan does not get too dirty throughout the cooking process. Using a cleaning cloth, wipe away the excess water and dry the area. You can also wash the pan in clean water before drying it.

• Clean the exterior

The most significant components of your smoker’s exterior that must be cleaned on a regular basis are the windows. Don’t worry; along with the water pan, it’s one of the easiest pieces to clean.

All you have to do now is scrub it with a brush after spraying it with an apple cider vinegar and hot water mixture. Then wash it in cold water and dry it with a cleaning cloth.

Note: We prefer to prepare a disposable foil tray for the bottom food rack. The majority of the cooking liquids will collect in the foil pan, making cleaning a snap.

Conclusion

You now know how to use a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker as well as how to clean it. Because you have all of the necessary knowledge, you are ready to throw a spectacular BBQ party.

Keeping this in mind, keep the smoker’s instructions on hand in case you’re ever unsure and need help. Finally, both newbies and experienced users will benefit from this lesson.

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