Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker with Char-Broil Performance Smoker Cover, Kettle Grill review and price compare 2025

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1 of Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker
1 of Char-Broil Performance Smoker Cover, Kettle Grill

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Questions about Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker with Char-Broil Performance Smoker Cover, Kettle Grill

If I want to use this smoker to smoke salmon do I need a cold smoking assembly? And if so do you sell one for this unit?

Answer: A cold smoking assembly would not be needed to smoke salmon in this Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker.

Answer: I think there is some confusion about the difference between hot and cold smoking. No way you can cold smoke with this unit...

How many amps does it run

Answer: This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is rated for 10 amps.

Do you put the wood chips in the small tray above the heating element? Do you have to put water in the other tray? First time smoker :)

Answer: Yeah the wood chips go in the bucket above the heating element. You don'y have to put water if you want, but it helps keep the food from drying out.

Answer: Yes, the water goes in the tray on the left and the wood chips on the right. Although the water may or may not be needed depending on what you are smoking.

Answer: In answer to your first question. Yes

Answer: That's the way i do it. and the water to catch the drippings

Is this product good enough to make texas brisket?? Is any one has tried it?

Answer: I love mine. I've made brisket, chicken, pork loin. And it does a wonderful job. If you smoke a chicken and make chicken salad out of that chicken you will never make un-smoked chicken salad again...

Answer: Haven’t tried Texas brisket but it is great unit and holds temperature well

Answer: Yes yes yes. Cooked the brisket like a pro

Answer: I've smoked a couple briskets in mine. I've done ribs , pork butt and chicken. it works well .

Where is this smoker made?

Answer: Unfortunatly.......China. But it is well made and maintains the temperature perfectly. I did major research on smokers and all the digital ones crap out after a short time. I’ve had this one for a few months and cooked a brisket and several batches of jerky and it’s awesome. Still getting the duration down pat for jerky, but overall it’s great.

Answer: you're kidding, right? It's made where everything else is made. And I don't mean Iceland. If it could talk it would be able to converse with Mao Tse Tung

Answer: Not sure but it works great!

Can this smoke a whole brisket and/or does it need to be cut in half?

Answer: This depends on the size of your brisket. The body of this Analog Electric Smoker measures 28.54" x 16.9" x 13.66".

Do the drippings collect at the very bottom and the exit the smoker into the drip pan? If so, how much liquid can the drip pan hold?

Answer: This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker has two grease boxes that can easily be removed. The holding area of each measures 4"length x 4"width x 1.7"height.

Answer: The drippings collect at the bottom but do not exit the smoker, they stay in the drip pan which collects about 12 ounces of liquid.

Answer: Are use an aluminum pan so I get no drippings

Need a new power cord thermostat control assembly, where can I find one. Thanks

Answer: The thermostat kit for this Analog Electric Smoker is model # AVES1058. Give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to assist with ordering.

Can this smoker be used on a wooden floor?

Answer: I use it regularly on a wooden deck and have had no issues whatsoever. It is fairly well insulated and you can touch the outside of the box without burning your hand while in use.

Answer: yes. It has metal legs that you must attach for air flow.

Wondering why I put it on 5 and the tempature gauge on the outside didn't move at all.. Had it on for 2 hours? Nothing in it but the trays.

Answer: The tempature gauge might not be working right try to get a oven tempature gauge that sit on the racks in side the smoker or the oven and try it

Answer: We're very sorry to hear of the frustrations. We value you as a Char-Broil customer and want you to enjoy using this Analog Electric Smoker. Please give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to best investigate and assist.

Answer: Did the thermostat control have a red light illuminate when you turned the thermostat to 5? If yes, then make sure you have the thermostat control assembly fully plugged into the socket on the side of the smoker. If it still doesn't heat, the heating element might be defective. I would call the tech support phone number listed in your instruction manual.

Answer: Just to clarify, are you saying the unit was hot but the outside temperature gauge was not registering?

Answer: Something must be wrong. My has to be plugged directly in the outlet . I tried it with extention cord , but it would not work.

Answer: sounds like heating element is not working

I'm getting a hard black residue above my wood chips pan, is this normal?

Answer: It's creosote from burning wood

Answer: Did you burn the paint prior to using the first time? That’s will explain your black residue

Answer: This may be carbon buildup. Please give us a call at 1-866-239-6777 and we'll be happy to investigate this and help.

Answer: Yup.....shove the pan up ur butthole and that should correct the issue

Answer: Yes. mine does the same. Still works as it should and I’ve had it for over a year now

how often do you refill chips during a smoke? is it hard to get back up to temp after closing the door?

Answer: Used it twice. Made bacon and smoked the meat and smoked ribs. Filled the chips and did not replace them. Temp goes back quickly. Food was delicious. Great flavor

Can wheels be attached to the bottom of the smoker instead of the supplied legs?

Answer: i cut 4 blocks of wood and bolted them to the insides of the legs then put casters from harbor freight on mine, so yes but leave the legs on the smoker it makes it easier

Answer: It is not set up for that, but one could drill holes in the legs and attach wheels purchased separately.

Answer: I’m not sure, but I will say this unit is not super heavy. I’m not very strong and I can lift up and carry it from inside our garage out to our deck.

Answer: i built a frame from angle iron and added wells from an old lawnmower

Answer: Maybe with a drill and nuts n bolts

Answer: Try it and let us know...

Can I use 220-240 v electricity

Answer: No! This unit is set up for 110-115 volt single phase. (common american house wall outlet power.

Answer: 110 only.

Answer: No 110v only.

does grease drip onto the heating element?

Answer: No, there is a protective drip tray.

Answer: No, there's a metal tray above the coils.

Answer: I put my food in a tin foil pan to prevent that.

Can the electric coil be replaced?

Answer: The heating element for this Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is model # AVES1047. This part can be ordered directly from Char-Broil. Give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to best assist with ordering.

Can I smoke cheese in this smoker

Answer: Cheese is generally 'cold smoked'. This smoker, as designed won't allow you to cold smoke anything. I find it only starts really producing smoke at 225 or above. There are ways you can, however. But you'll have to google 'ways to cold smoke' for yourself.

Answer: You can if you get A-maze-n pellets. They generate a lot of smoke with their own smoldering minimal heat. No other heat needed.

What are inside dimensions?

Answer: Probably 12 inches deep by 16 inches wide. Plenty of room with 3 shelves. I love this thing. I’ve done a half of a brisket and a batch of jerky. The temperature maintains exactly where you want it. The brisket was perfect, but I left the jerky in too long and it dried out because the door seal works great and I didn’t refill the water pan. I’ll get it better next time.

Answer: 27" tall .....15" wide. ....13" deep ....built like a tank! Love it!

Answer: Read the specifications on it. They should be listed.

Answer: Don't know item was purchased as a gift.

Where can I get a screw for the rail at the bottom of smoker that cover the pans and element? Screw broke off and the left rail is leaning.

Answer: Not sure, my smoker came in damaged and I am still waiting for a new one to be shipped to me. ?? :(

Answer: You should be able to find all parts on the Char-Broil website. They do sell a hardware kit for $6.99

Answer: Contact Charbroil.

Is there an insulated cover that can be used for wintertime smoking?

Answer: The cover recommended for this model is model number 9496789P06.

Answer: Don’t really need one. It maintains temperature real good.

Answer: We live in a cold weather state and use ours all winter

Answer: I don't know, one did not come with the smoker.

Answer: Not included. However, this has worked well.

How many watts is the heating element rated at?

Answer: This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is rated for 1200 W. Give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to provide more details.

Answer: It says 120v 1600 watts on the bottom of the heating control. I didn't see anything else on it.

Answer: I looked through the manual that came with mine and I can't find the wattage for the element.

Answer: I looked at the product description on Amazon and it says 1000W.

Can this smoker be stored outdoors with the cover on? Will the warranty be void if stored outdoor?

Answer: With the cover used, this smoker can definitely be stored outdoors. Give us a call at 1-866-239-6777 and we'll be happy to provide details on using this Analog Electric Smoker.

Answer: I dont know about the warrantee but after reading a number of reviews, we have decided to store it outside with a cover. The electronics that unplug are kept in a zip lock bag inside of an outdoor sauna. We are in Buffalo, NY so it does get cold and snowy here.

Answer: Yes ....I store mine with a cover on my balcony of my gulf beach condo for a year at least and it’s held up excellent so far.

Answer: All I can say is mines on a covered porch, with this cover on it. Unless you have a garage, I wouldn't want that in the house after it's used more than twice. Follow the manufacturer warranty guidelines to be safe. Mine isn't getting wet but it's still not inside.

Answer: I don't know about warranty, but I keep mine outdoors with cover on. It stays quite well. Since it is an outside unit I would imagine it is covered under warranty

Answer: Moisture can make the heating element rust which can cause an

can you please give me the shipping weight and carton dimensions for this smoker ? Thanks.

Answer: 50 pounds - box is apx 16 x 23 x 38 inches

Answer: Sorry, can't answer you. I do know I had to have a neighbor help me get it to the garage where I've got it set up. (I'm 75 yrs old)

Answer: no i can't

How is this smoker with maintaining steady temperature above 300?

Answer: The smoker maintains well at temperature 300. For further information on this smoker you can contact us at 1-800-241-7548.

Answer: Mine holds at all Temps I have used from 225-300

Answer: I’m sorry, I usually only smoke at temps lower than 300. But it does hold at those lower temps very well.

Answer: perfect, i use it on 350 and 400 all the time, it will go up to 400 degrees, even in winter time, the temp setting is kinda hard to set at first but once you get it you will get it first try every time after, it will hold the heat good till you put wood chips in it. when the wood chips first start smoking you will get about a 5 degree temp increase but thats just for a few minutes it will return to normal soon enough

Answer: It maxes out around 400

Will pellets produce smoke for a longer time compared to wood chips?

Answer: I dont think pellets will get hot enough to start smoldering. They are very compacted . You would probably be better off with water logged wood chips.

Answer: personally In use a smoke tube which uses pellets. The larger ones will create smoke for around 6 hours. Bonus they can be used in your smoker for cold smoking also. I have found they work better than the chip tray that comes with the smoker. They last long enough you wont need to refill them. I have used different brands and shapes I have found the round 12 inch work best for me. If you don't need smoke that long adjust that by loading less pellets.

Answer: Yes...I use jack Daniels pellets

Answer: Yes pellets last longer

Answer: Based on our experience, they are about the same

what is the rack part number?

Answer: Each cooking grate for this Analog Smoker is model # FDES301084. This part can be purchased directly from Char-Broil. Give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to help.

Answer: all I have is that it is part # 10 on the parts list and is called "Cooking Grate"

So which is it 1200 or 1000W your add says both?

Answer: We apologize for the confusion. This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is rated for 1200 W.

Are there any ports to route digital thermometer leads?

Answer: Yes. It can pass through the door edge or through one of the side vents.

Answer: Yes, you can run them right through the vents on either side.

Can this smoker sit out in the weather ?

Answer: I would not allow it to sit in the weather without a good waterproof cover because the electrical connector on the bottom side and the glass temperature gauge on the door. As with any man made object, weather will break it down.

Answer: We keep ours in our shelter house. I just take the cord inside after use. As far as in direct weather, I don’t think you would want to use in the rain, but would probably be ok outside with a cover when not in use. However, it is light enough that it would be very easy to move inside to store after use.

Answer: I have mine on a covered porch so I'm not sure. But I did buy a cover for mine because it is slightly exposed to the elements because it's near the edge. We love it!

Are the vent ports on each side adjustable, i.e. Will they close/open?

Answer: The vents on the sides of this Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker are not adjustable.

Answer: The vents are slots and are open at all times. We've never had an issue with temp control. This is our 5th smoker and is our favorite!

Answer: No, the vents on each side are fixed openings, Not adjustable.

Answer: They do not have a cover to close those vents you could probably make something quite easily,but not really needed it works fine the way it is

Answer: No they are not adjustable.

Answer: No.

what is the temperature range on this unit? Can i choose an exact temp, or do i have to guess at it?

Answer: No exact gage, you have to guess. My experience is the the numbers on the dial represent the degrees in hundreds (1=100 degrees-ish and so on). I just bought a remote cooking thermometer and keep a probe on the inside to measure the temp. Once you get it dialed it works like a charm but a lot of trail and error however I am happy.

Answer: It has a pretty accurate analog thermometer on the door. Practice in usage will give you a good idea where to turn knob on heating unit to reach a certain temp range

Answer: I have found that the range is from about 175 degrees F. on the low end to about 350 degrees in warm weather. In cold weather, it tops out at about 300 degrees. This is an analog smoker -- it uses a control like the ones on electric frying pans. You'll have to experiment to determine where to set the dial to achieve a particular temperature, but it doesn't take long to figure it out. If you want set-and-forget convenience, pay more for a digital electric smoker.

how hot can it get?

Answer: This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is able to reach temperatures around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer: Mine tops out around 350F

Answer: Up to about 350F

Does anyone know how to order a 4th rack? The smoker is set up to handle 4 racks, but only comes with 3.

Answer: Call manufacturer. Good thing about this brand is they have parts.

What is the biggest turkey I can fit in this smoker?

Answer: The body of this Analog Electric Smoker measures 28.54" x 16.9" x 13.66". Please check the size of your turkey.

Answer: The smoker has removable shelves so it should be able to take a 16 to 20 lb turkey.

Can I use wood chunks instead of chips?

Answer: I have used my smoker just one time since I bought it a couple of months ago. Yes, I used wood chunks instead of chips. However, the container that holds the chips/chunks is not real large, so you may have to cut the chunks up a little to make them fit.

Answer: Yes, that's what i use. Need to use pieces that are not too high so the tray will slide in. One full tray is all you need for most smoking.

Is a basic cookbook included? can you spray nonstick spray like pam on grills for easier cleaning?

Answer: There was a small cooking inst. manual with it, but not really a cookbook. And I don't see why one couldn't spray the racks first, but mine clean up really well with only the drippings from the meat.

I looked at this at 1pm on primeday. it was listed at $99.00 i waited till after 3pm when prime day started and it juumped tp $127.00.why is this ???

Answer: On prime day items are offered for time slot, to benefit you need to buy during the slot

Can this smoker be used just as a warmer????

Answer: This Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker is able to reach temperatures up to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Answer: I think use as a warmer would work. You might need to test the setting of the thermostat control because it would be operating at a lower setting than the dial markings.

Answer: It can do low temperatures. It’s quite possible.

How big of a turkey will this hold, and can I do more than one at a time?

Answer: This depends on the size of the turkey. The body of this Analog Electric Smoker measures 28.54" x 16.9" x 13.66".

Will this hold a full size catering pan????

Answer: No it will hold half pans

How hot can this get to?

Answer: Max seems to be about 225 F

does the door come with a Gasket?

Answer: There is no gasket on or around door opening.

I do not see a handle to open the door...how does the door open?

Answer: Unlatch the two clips on the right side of the door and pull it open.

How do I get a replacement cord plug?

Answer: Call char broil.

It seems like this smoker kicks out a lot of smoke way more than Smoke Hollow electric smoker. Has anyone else noticed this?

Answer: If you are experiencing any issues with this Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker please give us a call at 1-800-241-7548 and we will be able to best investigate and assist.

What is the highest temperature on this unit?

Answer: I am not sure what the highest temp is because I use mine for smoking meat only. I never go over about 300 degrees which correlates to about a number 3 on the analog controller, which goes up to 5. based on that it MIGHT go to 500 degrees, just a guess.

Answer: The highest I have had mine is 300 F

Answer: I believe it will get up to 350 with most things cooked will need only 170 degrees.

Answer: they say 350 but mine will and has hit 450.

Answer: 350 degrees

Answer: 350

Answer: 400

Is their a stand for this smoker

Answer: No, we do not provide a stand for this smoker. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Answer: You attach the legs to the smoker as shown in the picture and then sit it on a flat surface. It works great!!

Answer: No stand. We just put it right on the grass. But 4 patio bricks would also work.

Lost instructions. How do we season our new electric analog smolker?

Answer: Run it on the highest setting for 3 hours. Make sure all the racks and pans are in it. Don’t put chips in it, just run it empty.

Answer: Place all internal accessories inside the smoker and latch the door. Turn on high heat for 2 to 3 hours and then let cool.

How hot will this unit get?

Answer: A lot of variables to that question, but we haven't had any trouble getting it to 350F

Is it already assembled?

Answer: It is about 97% assembled. Just install the racks and the burner and drip trays. Good to go.

Answer: No, some assembly is required. The legs must be put on, but each only have 2 bolts. The electric element has 3 bolts, and then the drip tray, wood chip tray, water tray, and grates just have to be slid into place. So, assembly is fast and easy.

Answer: Minimal assembly (i.e. feet and burner)

Answer: No. Some assembly is required.

Answer: You have to put on the feet, handles, and the element shelf.

Product reviews of Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker with Char-Broil Performance Smoker Cover, Kettle Grill

Don Frazier : Not a good choice

I purchased this smoker awhile back and have used it some. Only "some" because it was never reliable and ruined some good meat. After several attempts at using this smoker and not having a more than marginal result, I decided it was probably operator error. I found several brisket recipes and followed the one I liked very carefully. I brought the smoker up to temp and let it sit for an hour to make sure the temperature was right, put the brisket in and at the end of required cooking time, discovered the meat was almost jerky. In desperation I bought a Veken temp. monitor and put some ribs in(3-2-1) and discovered that the temperature set at 240 varied by as much as 20 degrees either above or below 240. Should have returned the machine after receiving it with a bad hinge and the box out of square. Customer service replaced the hinge. Nice try Charbroil. It's pretty but doesn't work.

JJ S : Great Ability & Control @ Inexpensive Price

First smoker that I've ever owned; but had smoking buddies for years. Most have some automatic puck-dispensing or egg things that cost $500+ and they are limited to their supplies based on the manufacturer. At 1/3 of the price, my wife bought me this one that allows me to use any type of chips that I want. Provided at this lesser cost, the performance isn't as good in terms of the smoking capability & flavoring (although I do not have the innards completely 'seasoned' yet; but I've got this thing dialed in on the controller to whatever I want & it is pretty consistent on temp. I like the industrial look of the box, handles & latches- makes think that I could turn it into a vault, if I ever needed to. Make sure you get a cover for it to keep the elements & critters out. I am pleased with this purchase & would recommend it to anyone that is an occasional smoker & not a snob about it...

Bob S : Strong and heavy build

I am impressed by the quality of this product, i used only once but it was a good experience
Temperature control it was good, it reach temp of 300F whiteout any problem and i was capable to keep constant 100-150F for cold smoke
I smoked cheese, fish and sausages at different temperature with good results
Good product

Samantha L : Arrive damage but looks like it will be okay

Arrived damaged, the front door was dented on the side and a rivet was loose on the inside and a piece of the sheet metal didn't come all the way down in the back of the unit, looks like it wasn't cut to fit correctly. We haven't used it yet we bought it for smoking our Thanksgiving turkey. I will update this once we use it. I can't wait to start smoking stuff.

Clint : really good for the money

it is built really sturdy. It came with a big dent in the top corner and two small dings in the door. thanks UPS. I didn't complain about it cause it doesn't keep it from working at all. since it doesn't have wheels I put it in my wagon to pull it from the garage to my back patio. I have cooked sausages, chicken, and a pork roast. they all came out very tasty. one thing that I noticed is that doesn't start smoking until you get up close to 250F and if you try turning it down the smoke stops. I have only gone by the gauge on the door. I will test it with a probe and if that is the case I will have to rig something up to dampen the temp and keep the smoke.

Julia A. : Dented upon arrival but still a good purchase . . .

After reading reviews from others that mentioned dents and dings upon arrival, I was prepared for the same. Sure enough, ours arrived with an edge dinged with chipping/peeling paint. Oh well - for the cost and ease of use I can get over the blemishes, which are merely cosmetic. This smoker is super easy to set up, use and clean. Our first several meals from this hot box have turned out well. The temperature gauge is accurate enough but for a true reading of the meat inside we also purchased a separate meat thermometer to use in conjunction. Compared to our previous gas smoker, this is far easier to use and the temperature is more consistent. We won’t be winning any state fair prizes for meat smoked with this, but for the casual backyard grill master, I would recommend this smoker. For the fair price and ease of use it was a good purchase, even with the dents and dings upon arrival.

DT : Product was damaged

I purchased this for my husband for his birthday. He wanted just a simple smoker, nothing fancy. He has smoked chicken and a trip-tip so far and it worked perfect. The meat was excellent. It held its temperature very well. Very well insulated.
The only negative was it has two dents in the door. The packaging box was (in his words) mutilated when it arrived. It has a slight gap in the door, and hopefully it doesn't effect the performance. So far it hasn't.

Tim F : Good smoker. Consistent temperature.

Solidly built. Easy and fun to use. Easy to control proper temperature. Closer to old school, fun to actually take part in smoking your food instead of just waiting for an automatic, digital, app controlled, auger fed machine to do it all for you. I highly recommend this smoker.

b.geppert : Temperature cooler than indicated

This is my second review because now I realize the internal temp is actually 35 to 40 degrees cooler than the analog temperature gauge indicates sooooo be aware when using this smoker. I think part of the problem might be that I am trying to smoke two large racks of ribs. I smoked about 8 boneless chicken thighs and those seemed to cook much easier. I am also going to try and experiment by closing off one of the side vents - seems like they let out a lot heat.

UPDATE: Char Broil customer was super nice and sent me a new themostat/burner assembly. I tried making ribs again and the temp was a little hotter. I think this fixed the problem

crystal collins : Love this smoker

Got this for my husband for Christmas. My hubby is a chef and loves to cook. It is now March and He has been using this almost every weekend and loves it. Holds the heat well and gives plenty of smoke flavor. We really enjoy this product and would definitely buy again.

william a crawford : temperature control

For me the main issue was maintaining a low slow for making sausages of all sorts. The temperature was easily maintained when you know the increments the dial like on an electric stove, medium low or medium is just 1 click.
Sausages start out at 160 F then to 175 F the larger smokers don't go that low very easily. The one thing that I had to manually light the wood is, temp to low to light it.I have 2 other smokers, a pit boss wood pellet/electric and a dyna-Glo and it is propane, great when loose power for 1 to 2 weeks during Hurricanes

Vietnam Vet 66 : good smoker

good smoker, easy to use, well insulated, good temp control. only draw back is you have to open door to add wood chips. to get enough smoke, chips have to be added about every 1 1/2 hr. I also drilled extra holes in the wood pan so it could get more air for the wood. I use temp probes in the meat to monitor cooking time and one for the smoker internal temp. I feel this is a good smoker for the money. I purchased a "Masterbuilt" stand to raise it up higher.

Amazon Customer : Great!

Perfect! I bought this for my fiance's birthday and he loves it! The wood tray is a bit small and we have to change wood periodically while smoking things but other than that, it is an amazing smoker!

sdshark : Produces a lot of smoke!

I really like this smoker. It produces a lot of smoke. It is well made and a cinch to assemble. The door is solid and the latches (2 of them) keep the smoke in the chamber. My only objection, like others, is that to add wood chips (which was necessary about every 30-45 minutes when I was smoking ribs for the 4th of July) you have to open the door to get to the box that the chips go in. That causes a temperature drop and subsequent fiddling with the temperature control to get the temperature back up to the 225-250 degree sweet spot. But the smoker produced a great product - my ribs were delish!

Bart Ritchey : A great entry level smoker

This smoker is reasonably priced and relatively simple to use, compared to gas or charcoal smokers. It is plenty big inside for the average persons needs. The only thing is that you will need to fiddle with the temperature control a little to keep it at the temperature you want, but since you are adding wood chips every hour or so, this isn't a big deal. Everything we have smoked in it from pork to chicken to beef... we even cold smoked cheese and nuts with it... has come out well.

Ron Hertel : Very good option for smoking and cooking

I've only used this once after breaking it in and had success with my first experience with it. I was used to using a Little Chief for many years. This is a big step up. I smoked a whole chicken and it turned out great. It will take some learning to understand settings for consistency for salmon which I look forward to trying. There are no temp numbers on the dial so you have to figure out how to gauge it with the numbers (1-5) on the dial. The one complaint that seems to be repeated over and over on these reviews is seeing damage to the unit itself after unboxing it; big dent on the side which doesn't affect how it smokes but it detracts from the looks of it sitting on my deck. For a few cents, Charbroil could protect the sides more than is done which would be to look more closely at packaging design to prevent damage to the unit. It looks unsightly but because of the size of it - too much hassle to send it back.

S. Dalton : Very Well Built!

After many hours of research to find a smoker, I decided on this one. So far it is exactly as described! The first batch of snack sticks are doing wonderful and the analog temperature control is maintaining the heat right on. I read too many bad things about the digital units and am very happy with this one. Thank you Char Broil for a well built product. The only drawback is “MADE IN CHINA”. Damnit!

Charlie : Great Smoker- easy to use, easy to control. Love this thing!

I really like this smoker. My 10 lb pork shoulder/Boston butt came out absolutely perfect on the very first try. If you are new to smoking, get an internal temperature probe for your meat so you can tell when the internal temp is reached. Other than that it was very easy to get this smoker working, and keep it at the temperature I wanted. Yes I wish it had a digital adjustment and not a turn knob, but it was actually surprisingly easy to adjust and I had no trouble keeping the temp exactly where I needed it for 12+ hours. I am extremely happy that I went with an electric smoker and not a traditional kind, this was so much easier and the results were fantastic.

Joe : Arrived damaged and defective

Didn't even get a chance to try it out once. As I was installing the legs, I noticed that there was both damage to the smoker and the holes on one corner weren't aligned. So, I couldn't even install one of the legs. Look at the pictures. It looks like the bottom panel just wasn't installed properly. As you can see, the two screw holes aren't even lined up with the panel. So, no way for me to screw on the last leg. On the other side, the panel wasn't even attached to the frame. It was flapped up as if something was jammed in there.

I expected much better from Char-Broil. This wasn't just damage from shipping. It was poor craftsmanship and quality assurance. This one is being returned, and I'm not sure if I'll trust a replacement from Char-Broil.

Joe : Arrived damaged and defective

LARRY WHITNEY : Good for price.

Assembled easy (neighbor did it). Holds heat consistently. One problem (one of the poprivets on one side holding the waterpan and chip pan rack was missing, so had to put a new poprivet in). Will try to smoke some pig wings today. No smoke escaping other than vents. Would like to have closeable vents, but that's just me. Good product for price.

DA Chef. : "Bottom Line"

This smoker arrived 2 days early. I had exspected the box to have dents and tares on it, because of some of the reviews I read. My box was perfect. The packing was some of the best packing ive seen, Styrofoam top and bottom, the hardware was individually wrapped and placed in heavy duty industrial plastic bags sealed and, protected with Styrofoam. I got the smoker out of the box. I was was glad to see/ "Not one dent or scratch on it" "Total opposite of some of the reviews I read. It was simple to put all the hardware on, all I had to install was 4 legs, 2 handles and the electric heating element "Simple" once I got the stainless still water and chip box that slides into the stainless still shelve on the bottom I was ready for the heat test. Ive been smoking and curing all kinds of meats and cheese for approximately 27 years. I have 2 propane gas smokers, 1 smoker i use just for wood, and 1 charcoal smoker. This is the 3rd Electric Smoker ive had, I wont mention any names/ MB./SH. But, I might mention initials. Im not to keen on digital electric smokers, they tend to quit working after 4or5 smoking's, the digital quits digitalizing, or the heat temp gauge, starts spazzing out, and going up and down or stuck, in between. Plus they cost a arm and a leg. After doing a little research, I settled on the Char- Broil analog electric smoker, for half the price.! The Char-Broil is built solid, heavey duty door hinges and latches, interior insulated double walled stainless steel with 3 racks. It also comes with instructions in English of all things.! "Bottom line" This is a
"Great Smoker" for the price. Ive done 9 smokes in less than a month including the initial empty Smoke burn to burn out the assembly and paint smells. The Anolog thermostat is easy to control and stays at the temp you want. The meat smokes even, stays moist and tender. the temp gauge reads smoking temp and, dosent stick or spazz out. The rest is up to you.! For Me"
Everything, "So far-So good"
" Bottom Line"
I would recomend this Char Broil smoker to beginners, Semi pro, and "Pro smokin Chef's"... For $200 bucks, "You cant go wrong.

Soggy Bottom : There is a learning curve

A smoker takes some getting familiarity. The smoke needed is not a heavy thick smoke. Buy some inexpensive meats and give it a whirl. Once you know the thermostat setting it’s easy. And very good. Unlike most Chinese made stuff, this smoker was well made and well insulated. I’d recommend it.

B K : Won't smoke

Got my smoker in perfect shape and was excited to try it out. I got wood pellets by mistake the first time. Put them in anyway and turned the smoker to high as per the instructions, until I saw smoke, not a lot but a steady stream. Put my meat in and turned down to where I estimated I needed for 250 degrees. came back 15 minutes later to check temp and there was no more smoke.Temp was correct on the thermometer on the door but those are famous for being off. Put the portable thermometer in and the one in the door was very close. I wrote that off to my mistake of using pellets and ordered the proper chips. When they arrived, I tried again with the same results. Reread the instructions still thinking that I was doing something wrong. Tried again. Same results. Went to town and bought a different brand of wood chips. Same results. Pretty sure its the smoker!

Doug E. : Not very impressed

First off, it was only due to the great customer support I got that I am giving this product the stars it got. If the customer support would have been anything other than excellent, I would have only given this one star. To begin with, the smoker I ordered had a problem where one of the legs bolted on. The problem was that the threads were missing and I couldn't get one of the legs on. I called their support and they shipped out a whole new cabinet, no questions asked.

That being said, I've had nothing but problems with this smoker. First off, the wood tray is way too small and is not ventilated well enough. So first I filled the box up and adjusted the temperature to be within 225 and 250. The problem with that is the wood would not start smoking unless you turned the temperature knob up until the box got to 300 degrees. Then, if you could get it smoking, the five little tiny holes on the side of the wood tray are way too small to allow any good flow of smoke through the cabinet. I had to pull the tray out and drill bigger holes in the side to allow more smoke to flow out. However, I still couldn't get enough smoke to flow without turning the temperature up too high. Now, once you could get a good flow of smoke going, you will burn through the wood in about an hour. Meaning you have to open the cabinet up every hour or so, letting the temperature drop, just so you can dump out the old spent wood and replace it with new wood. Then you would have to wait for it to heat up enough to start smoking again which messes up cooking and smoking the meat. Here's the really stupid thing. The water tray, right next to the wood tray, is huge. They could have easily swapped the sizes of the trays to give you more smoking time and still have a tray big enough to hold plenty of water/liquid flavoring. And, just as a follow up, they could also add a handle to the door. It gets really hot so unless you have a glove or metal tool handling the door becomes hazardous. Over all, I am really disappointed that a brand like Char Broil would put their name on something so substandard. Knowing what I know now, I would have spent more money and gotten something else. Even after drilling in some extra holes into the smoke tray, it was still hard to get the smoke to flow and the brisket I was smoking ended up with almost no smoke ring at all. I pretty much could have cooked it in the oven with the same results and in fact kind of felt like I did. I am going to try and mod it a little more to see if I can get better smoke flow but in all honesty, no one should have to mod a brand new smoker, voiding the warranty, just to make it work properly.

sporadic : Great smoker for the money

Loving this smoker so far. Dinging it one star on value since there's space for 4 cooking racks and they only include 3. If you want the 4th rack, you're looking at ~$19 shipped from the manufacturer. Performance wise, I love it. Smoke box is a little small and I only get about an hour out of a load of chips, but that's to be expected on an electric smoker like this. The analog gauge was spot on when compared to my Maverick digital thermometer. Also, the probes for the Maverick fit right through the vents. If they would've included 4 racks, it'd be an easy 5 star. That's 72 poppers in the pictures. 3 dozen jalapenos halved, 72 slices of bacon, pounds of cheese, two hours, and tons of yumminess.

Bart Ritchey : A great entry level smoker

LARRY WHITNEY : Good for price.

JimAchatz : I am very disappointed with this since the website said it would work ...

This product the first time was exceptional. Second time the temperature outside was 60 degrees and the wind was blowing. We could NOT get the temperature up higher than 250 even with it set on 400. The website said it would work in 30 to 40 degree weather. I guess we will only be able to smoke food on hot days. Otherwise it worked great. food was cooked well.

Cindy Coombs : What to do when Covid keeps you home? Smoke, of course!

During a video meeting with my co-workers we asked what each person was doing for fun while working from home due to the coronavirus and I said "I took up smoking!" then added "meat" after a pause. I had been contemplating an electric smoker for a couple years and with Covid forcing us to be home 24x7 this was the time and the Charbroil Analog Smoker has not disappointed. I have smoked nearly every weekend since and - after tiring of filling the Charbroil wood tray every hour which is my only gripe - purchased an A-MAZE-N wood pellet tray and it has been smooth smoking since. Looking forward to smoking a whole turkey for Thanksgiving. Very pleased with this purchase.

VJK : Good smoker-poor prep for shipping!

The smoker is easy to set up-took maybe 20 min at the most. Calibrated temp gauge against a digital thermometer and found unit temp gauge to be right on. Smoked salmon and temp remained within 2 degrees over a 6 hour period. Takes a little time to find right setting, but once there it holds very nice. I used 160 degrees. It is unbelievable to me that a name brand like Char Broil can't ship a unit without dents! Read many reviews of people who received dented units- my unit was also dented-not bad enough to impact performance, but still noticeable. The unit had to be dented BEFORE prepared for shipping-the unit was wrapped in styrofoam and cardboard and there was no damage to either-only to unit. There is no excuse for this- company needs to concentrate on origin to solve the problem. There are way to many negative comments on this subject.

Clint : really good for the money

DL : Good smoker but damaged in transit, twice

I was so excited to order my first smoker! Then I got an email from Amazon saying my order was cancelled because it arrived damaged to the warehouse. But I could reorder if I was still interested so I did! This one arrived in a slightly damaged box. After unwrapping it, we noticed the outside of the smoker was damaged but the inside appeared to be fine so we will keep it. We aren't into the outside cosmetics anyway. It was a little hard to fit one of the racks in so I guess the insides got damaged as well but I jammed it in. For the price, I'm fine with it. So far, it seems to be working great! We are smoking jalapeno poppers inspired by another review here, and a big sirloin! Will update review upon most completion.

*EDIT* The food turned out perfectly! The temperature was easy to maintain. For first time smokers, this unit was easy to set up and get smoking!

Eric T. Cole : Great for a beginner like me

This is a great smoker for a beginner like me. The temperature holds nicely, it couldn't be easier to use. Pro-tip. I tried using pellets in this and didn't have great results keeping the pellets burning. Instructions say to use wood chips and it does work much better with those. Had some great results, the chef needs to get better but the smoker works great.

Gourmet Knight : Grease trap does not function properly

This is a great starting point for any meat-smoker with the exception of the grease/dripping collection tray. Every time I've used this smoker the grease traps does very little and I have grease running outside of the intended area.

If you use this over concrete I advise putting a ground cover under it first to protect your outdoor flooring space.

sporadic : Great smoker for the money

Sherwood D. : So happy I bought this smoker!

The product arrived on time and in good shape. Well packed and easy (only 16 screws) to put together. I called service center and the lady was very knowledgeable and easy to speak with. I've done ribs and a brisket, with great results. I used my own recipe dry rub and mesquite chips. I thought that it would take a long time to do but the brisket was done in about 6.5 hours and the ribs were done in about 7. Temperature was well maintained, but it is summer. We'll have to wait for winter to see if the cold weather affects it or not. Right now, I'm very happy though.

K. Avery : My dad told me this is the best present anyone has ever gotten him

Man crush alert! This product has more than likely saved my relationship with my boyfriend and my father.

We are living at home for free while we gather up our post-education savings and try to move out together. My parents were, initially, not wild about him - not because he isn't wonderful, but I'm the only daughter and I think they were expecting Prince Harry himself to show up and sweep me away. I think they've gotten over that at this point - after anecdotes from both of us, they are beginning to realize that I am NOT, in fact, Meghan Markle - but I would be lying if I said this smoker didn't have a lot to do with it.

Since we are really appreciative of them letting us build up our finances, the two of us pinched pennies and wanted to get my dad a really awesome, memorable Father's Day present. I was worried this would read as an "improving gift" - he already had a tiny grill-top smoker box - but my boyfriend, in his infinite wisdom, convinced me that no REAL man would be able to resist the allure of a big box to smoke expensive cuts of meat in. I don't have a dick, so I capitulated.

He is a genius. My dad is thrilled. He and my BF have subscribed to multiple YouTubers who do competition barbecue, and it's the first time in a long time that I have seen my dad speak to another human being so animatedly, let alone the boyfriend he's allowing his princess to run off with. We've had nothing but smoked haunches, ribs, fish, salsas, and the like for weeks on end. I will frequently come home to the two of them putting their heads together and complimenting each other's prowess with their meat (fortunately, not a euphemism). The front porch constantly smells like hickory or maple, and the smoke is keeping the bitey bugs away.

I had previously believed that there is no amount of money in the world that could buy two men this amount of joy. I was wrong. I think this smoker box is the answer to world peace.

Joe : Arrived damaged and defective

Jeff A. Carlson : So far I like it a lot

The analog smoker seems built to last and my first meat project was a major success.. I'm a veteran fish smoker with the little chief, but wanted to get into smoking meats. 1 1/2 pan of hickory chips for a roast cooked at 220, about 3 1/2 hours left a very smokey flavor. I'm glad I didn't add another pan. Always use 2-3 times the chips in my mini chief to get the right amount of smoke.

B. Gill : Time for rehab!

Since I bought this smoker, I can’t stop! My family says I have a problem, but I can quit any time I want. They also say it’s odd for me to ask neighbors if they have anything I can smoke. I’m just being polite!

Gregory O. McVey : High Heat 2-3 Hour break-in period cycle issue, however Alderwood Salmon turned out Great!

During the initial 1st out of the box, High Heat 2-3 Hour break-in period cycle, black paint coating began to peel back on the bottom surface located immediately underneath the electrical heating element...Not pleased with this cosmetic look of peeled back black coating on the 1st Time using this product...The first run of alderwood smoked salmon came out Great, just have to ignore the cosmetic appearance of the peeling black coating underneath the electric heating element. The front door is closed most of the time anyway. Would also recommend “user adjustable” louvre covers be added to the two side smoke vents.

B Johns : One small tweak makes this a great smoker!

Purchased June 2020. Used 4 times since. I'm impressed so far! This has a sturdy construction, the two heavy duty latches on the door are certainly a pro. Mine did come dented but didn't affect it working. Temperature is spot on and is very easy to control. You can fit a good amount of meat on it but if you're looking to smoke larger brisket, racks of ribs you may need to turn your ribs diagonal to make them fit. The trays (3) include are fairly close together so removing one helps in smoking a whole chicken or pork shoulder. If your looking to smoke large cuts or a lit if meat definitely suggest stepping up in size. Regarding smoke output the chip tray sits too close to the heat and will burn up your chips (soaked or not) in less than an hour. I found a perfect solution by purchasing a 12" pellet tube for $17. This produces amazing smoke for 5-6 hours. In summary this would be the perfect smoker if it came with a pellet instead of a small chip tray and had a few more square inches of smoking capacity. Overall, very happy with it.

jmarsh : Great smoker - Not so good customer support.

Great smoker. Customer support kinda lacking
First, the smoker...
This is a great smoker. It works very well and produces excellent food. Two things though... One, I have to use a wireless temperature gauge to judge how hot it is inside the smoker. The gauge on the front is not accurate plus after one rain, its so fogged up you can't read it anymore. Wish they would have taken more time with that. Second issue is the customer support.

Customer support
My smoker came with the wrong wire racks. I have tried multiple times to contact support but have not had much success. It seems that the technology they use is terrible. Can't click support replies and they insist on a picture of the racks they sent. I guess, they don't believe me and assume I am just looking for more free racks??? However, the website wont let me upload anything. Just gives me an error saying to try again later. The support people don't seem to care and closed my ticket instead of helping me figure it out.

So, I found some adjustable racks at the hardware store and am using those.

I expected more...

Dan H : Great Starting Smoker for a Fair Price!

I've never owned a smoker until now and my only real regret is not buying one sooner. I live in an apartment so a cheap electrical smoker is perfect for me. I've used it several weekends in a row and everything I put in there tastes delicious. I've made sausages, chicken breast, ribs, jalapeño poppers and chicken wings. I love the way it crisps the skin on chicken. It took 2-3 times using the smoker to understand how the analog input affects the temperature output. It's a minor inconvenience, but for the price, its worth putting up with.

I've seen some complaints about handling damage and lack of smoke - Mine came with little to no damage. Based on packaging and weight, it's really hard to imagine this thing getting moved around a warehouse WITHOUT getting damaged. In my opinion, if you zero damage, go buy one in a store. It took about 20 minutes to assemble, the instruction manual is very good. As far as the lack of smoke, it think it works just fine.. I've used soaked and dry chips. Hickory and applewood so far. Everything I've eaten has been plenty smokey. That said, I may experiment with additional holes in the chip tray, but I really don't think that's necessary for a smoker.

TN BOB : I love this smoker!!

My brother is a smoke chef and recommended the high end smokers. Being a novice, I was pretty intimidated about how to smoke meat and felt like it would take a while before we figured out how to get a tasty product we would enjoy. We read the instructions that came with the smoker, and bought chicken legs as our first try. It was 34 degrees outside but after following directions and keeping the temperature around 200F, we got exceptionally good, smoke infused legs that lasted one meal. We have used it two other times on fish and more chicken and both times we obtained great results. I will not be getting a Traeger because this was priced very well and works perfectly for our needs. I would highly recommend it. We keep it cleaned after each use and hope it will last a long time.

Bart Ritchey : A great entry level smoker

Michael C : Learning Curve

Nice smoker, but it takes awhile to learn where to set the temp for smoking. I've used various smokers for 40 years and never had an issue with them getting too hot. It seems the "smoke" setting on the Char Broil is not hot enough to provide a good smoke, but you go just beyond the "smoke" setting and it starts cooking. Guess I just need to experiment more.

Cindy Coombs : What to do when Covid keeps you home? Smoke, of course!

crystal collins : Love this smoker

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