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

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you

Product overview

product features

This fits your .

by entering your model number.
1 of Char-Broil Analog Electric Smoker
1 of Char-Broil Performance Smoker Cover, Kettle Grill

product description

Style:Smoker + Cover

product details

important information

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you

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

Mark L. Dodge : Solid little smoker for the money. Works great.

Best smoker for the money if you’re just starting out. Super easy to use and to clean. I ended up purchasing a ThermPro 4 probe meat thermometer so I would have a way of monitoring meat temp verses smoker temp. The analog thermometer that comes with this smoker is pretty close. I get smoke at around 180 degrees. Temperature is pretty stabile during hot or cold weather which is really nice. Well built. Door seal is solid. I recommend this smoker to anyone.

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.

Frederick Acerra : easy to use

it takes 10 minutes to put the legs on and 2 hours too burn the Factory smell off then you can start cooking . Bigger cuts of meat need no browning small cuts like pork tenderloins need too be browned before putting it to smoke . It takes a few uses too get a feel for it but when you do the results a great

jenjay1 : Works well!

I purchased this to replace the deluxe digital version of this model which kept shorting out. I rated it 4 stars because it has a small wood chip pan so I have to replace the chips about every 1 1/2 hours. I also miss having a window in the door.

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!

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...

Peter : Pay for what you get

Pay for what you get. It’s a great cheap smoker to get your feet wet. When I have food in it struggles to go past 300-310. The chip tray is small and won’t smoke bellow 300 either. Even if I’m able to get good chips and smoke at 250. Smoke escapes from the door crevices. It fits my needs for now, I will prolly upgrade in a few years for a better one.

The Riz : Look, Ma...no dents!

This Char Broil Analog electric smoker is exactly what I wanted. Solid, high quality, simple, basic with no frills. My big concern was the negative reviews about buyers receiving damaged goods. Mine came today in perfect condition. Dents and scratches? It wasn't even dusty. I spent many hours on Amazon, You Tube, Cabelas and at Lowes, Ace hardware, Walmart, Gander Mountain and Big R. I've also had two Masterbuilt smokers and at no place, no time, no how have I seen an electric smoker built as strong as the Char Broil Analog Electric Smoker. As for frills...OK...I confess. I use a few blue tooth probes with an app that lets me check meat and heat chamber temperatures on my smart phone. What a world we live in. Oh, if you're interested, the smartphone thermometer system I mentioned is the Nobebird blue tooth set you can order from Amazon. It works with either iPhone or Android. It's amazing.
Update: I wonder if some of the reviews concerning lack of smoke might stem from using the wrong pan? The grease drip pan and the wood chip pan are the same size. The wood chip pan has air holes. The grease drip pan does not. If wood chips are put in the wrong pan, I can see where there would be a lack of air. Before I used mine, and based on the reviews, I made the six holes already in the wood chip pan larger using an 11/64 drill bit. It's a smoke monster. Can't help but think it would have been fine the way it came.

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!

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!

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.

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.

adrian : Great smoker

The reason for 4 stars is the fact that the smoke box is small, and I have to open to change the wood chips about every hour or hour and a half, depending if you soak your chips before hand. Besides that, it works awesome! Smoked ribs, 2 whole chickens with 4 russet potatoes, and smoked a 14 lbs brisket. I had to trim the brisket a lot for it to fit, but it came out amazing! It’s a really sturdy, starter smoker, or could be someone’s forever smoker if you don’t smoke a lot. Seasoning before hand was simple, and this thing holds up heat well if you don’t open the door constantly to change out the chips.

The Riz : Look, Ma...no dents!

Gourmet Knight : Grease trap does not function properly

Jed : Solidly built

It's a little early for a real review, but I was impressed on how solid the smoker is. Weighs a ton, and everything is made of very heavy metals. We're seasoning it right now.

Christmas day my bride cooked a London Broil and a roast to try out the smoker. If you are going to cook in this you have to have a thermometer and you'll have to experiment. It cooked faster than we thought as we had the thermometer set wrong; it was done way earlier than we thought it would be done. The London broil turned out a little too cooked, but the roast was perfect. She did well for her first time on a smoker. I'd recommend this smoker to anyone who wants to try smoking meat and not just barbecue.

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

B K : Won't smoke

Bonnie : Does not cook like the old one did

Bought this to replace one just like it...only it has been updated and not for the best. Rec'd it dented to start with. Does not keep temperature good, smaller cooking coil. Door does not shut good and is made a lot cheaper. hate it to be honest!! Wish I could find another older one.

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.

Bill : Affordable, easy to use, easy to clean, awesome results

I love this smoker. Historically I’ve been a fan of real wood and charcoal smoking. I’ve used the world famous “Big Green Egg” for well over a decade. That said, I bought this smoker on a whim to use while camping. It only weighs about 50 pounds so it’s easy enough to toss in the back of my truck and hit the road. After a few uses, I’ve got to say, I may not go back to my charcoal powered Big Green Egg. This little electric smoker is so incredibly easy to use that it’s a life changer. The briskets I’ve cooked have been top notch with a great smokey flavor. This little Charbroil smoker is so easy to use that I’m actually using it more than I ever used by BGE. No hassles and no obstacles to keep me from using it. It’s safe, easy to clean, affordable and so easy to use that literally anyone can produce great smoked foods and BBQ that will rival your best local BBQ joint. I love this thing.

Derek Rendahl : Decent Electric Smoker

This is great as a starter smoker, and since my apartment complex doesnt allow open flames near the building, having an electric smoker is extremely beneficial. Operation is simple, plug it in, dial the control to the heat that you want (you might have to adjust it to find the right temp for you), and I've noticed the thermometer on the door is relatively accurate compared to the digital thermometer I use to monitor the temp inside the cabinet. Assembly wasn't awful, it took maybe 20 minutes. When I recieved mine, the temperature dial was broken so I filed a warranty claim with Charbroil and by the next week they had sent me a new part at no charge.

Now for it's use/flavor. The woodchip tray is relatively small, but it still let's out a good amount of smoke. Unfortunately, I've yet to get any semblance of a smoke ring, and unless smoking meat with no seasoning, you really don't taste much smoke flavor, though it works great as an "outdoor oven". I think in order to get the true effects of a smoker, youd need a gas smoker or one you can continuously feed wood/woodchips into to keep the steady smoke going throughout the cooking process. Still a good product, prefer it over their digital unit that crapped out on me after a year.

Frederick Acerra : easy to use

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.

Old Texan : Works perfectly.

This smoker works perfectly. I'm 80 and trying to keep a wood fired smoker going is difficult.
This is the perfect solution for one person. My Mom owned a barbecue cafe many years ago. I smoke meat like her cook did.
I don't like a heavy smoke. The chip drawer is kind of small, and the pecan chips (unsoaked) lasted about an hour. I finished cooking the meat in the smoker as I only had two trays.
I smoke meat in pans, either resting on the bottom of the pan or on a rack in the pan. I don't like a black, greasy smoker.
The cabinet and hinges stay cool enough to touch. My toaster oven cabinet gets hotter.

armaraas : Hmm...quality control issues?

Alright...finally getting ready to set this up after 2 weeks of waiting. The first one I received had a hole in the box that dented the door and chipped the paint, so I sent it back. Not the manufacturer's fault likely, not sure when it happened. So waited for the replacement this week, finally unboxed today. The box was nice and clean, no damage. But upon opening it, the front door has a big dent near the top, where you can see the braces in the corner in the door now because they protrude around the dent...I'm thinking the goal should have been a nice smooth surface on the front...right?? And the edge of the door has another dent. The box appeared never opened so they packed it this way??? Sad comment on the quality you can expect. I cannot recommend this at its full price because it seems a crapshoot if what you will get does not come dented already. Been looking for a smoker for months now, so not sure what I'll do with this. What a hassle.

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.

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.

Frederick Acerra : easy to use

Lee : Great Smoker

After seasoning the smoker, I smoked three Thanksgiving hams, a Christmas turkey , and ribs on different days. I used pecan pellets without soaking and each time only replenished them one time and that was just the right smoke taste for us. I set the smoker on highest setting until it got hot, turned it down to 3 1/2 added the water and pellets, and that kept the temperature at 250 which I like to smoke my meat. Love my new smoker

Debra T : Char-broil smoker

Used it for the first time on Mother’s Day. It worked well. Cooked two slabs of ribs and a cornish hen on low heat at 200-250. Used hickory smoked chips. Smoked the ribs for about eight hours in the chicken for about four. Everything turned out perfectly. Just be sure to follow the directions regarding seasoning the grill and monitor your temperature to get the perfect time you want to cook your meat. It got hot very fast and I had to lower the temp. It was about 70 degrees outside. I recommend this smoker. Great value.

hear it live : So glad we didn't buy one of those expensive smokers.....

this electric smoker is great!! It is easy to set up and operate. Everything we have smoked in it has been terrific. Save yourself the $$$$ and buy this Char-broil smoker - it is just as good as the expensive ones!

Mike H : Smoker works well and holds temperature fine. It arrived with dents on top.

Smoker does a great job of making smoke and holding temperature which is basically what you need for good smoking. The drip tray could do a better job of containing the drips so that it doesn't make such a mess which means cleanup issues (thus the 4 star), but as far as producing good smoked meats, 5 star.

Regarding the dents on top that it arrived with, I contacted Amazon and they were very nice and worked out a resolution I was happy with.

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.

john heath : language

I am an American. I read write and speak English ["American"] I refuse to write a review about a product that the owners manual is printed with a bunch of other FOREIGN languages. Want to know how I feel about your product, change your manual to American. "ONLY"

Spotted One : Best way to go

My wife bought me an analog smoker a few tears back to see if I liked it. I loved it. I use smoke tubes to supplement the amount of smoke. But I will say the analog is the way to go. I have friends that have digital and it seems they all have problems with the components at one point or another. The analog and a good thermometer is hands down the best way to go. Once you get to know your smoker its as easy as set it and forget it.

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.

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.

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.

Mike H : Smoker works well and holds temperature fine. It arrived with dents on top.

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.

Steve : Great smoker for high-heat smoking projects

I love this smoker! It is a marvel of simple, easily repairable design and smoking efficacy. Assembly is super-easy and quick. The only parts likely to fail (the heating element and analog controller) are very easily replaced and readily available at a reasonable cost when the smoker is out of warranty.

But this smoker's biggest advantage is the ability to reach higher temperatures than most electric smokers, which I wanted for some of my high-heat smoking projects such as brisket. It will easily get to 350 degrees F. in warmer weather and 300 in colder weather. Most electric smokers top out at 275.

The one disadvantage compared to some other electric smokers is that you have to open the door to replenish wood chips. However, I have found that once this smoker is heated up, it recovers very quickly after the door is closed again. Also, the chip tray is larger than you'll find on some other smokers, so it's not necessary to replenish chips as often. Once the wood chips start smoldering, you'll see smoke rolling out of the vents.

Because this smoker is analog, not digital, I was concerned at first about monitoring the smoker's temperature, but it turns out not to be a big issue if you have at least a two-port remote thermometer setup – you can use one probe with a rack clip to monitor the smoker temperature and the other probe to monitor the meat. If the remote tells me the smoker is too cool or not hot enough, I just go out and adjust the analog controller. I have found that the built-in analog thermometer on the door of the smoker is fairly accurate – it reads only a few degrees higher than my probe thermometer does. I did have to drill out a larger hole in one of the vents so I could run my probe wires through the vent rather than possibly damaging the wires by routing them out the door.

The tray that protects the water pan, smokewood pan and heating element will accumulate a lot of cooking debris. Therefore, it's a good idea to foil the tray, making sure to poke holes through the foil where the tray has holes. Also, even when doing a high-heat smoke, it's advisable to keep at least a little water in the water pan because grease will drip through to that pan, and the water makes it easier to clean; too much water inhibits higher temperatures if that's your goal.

Hen : Good smoker!

I have the charbroil digital smoker as well and this one is starting to be my go to when I want to smoke something. I set the dial on three about mid-way and it gets the job done. I would recommend purchasing this smoker.

adrian : Great smoker

John T. : Doesn't smoke at lower temps and temp gauge inaccurate

I seasoned the smoker as suggested, and I'm trying to smoke some salmon. I put the smoker on high, the smoke started, and I turned it back to where my thermocouple showed 140. The smoke stopped. I have it up to 200 on the thermocouple, and it still isn't smoking. Also, the door temp gauge shows 250, when the thermocouple is 200. All temps in Fahrenheit. Might be a good entry smoker for the casual user, but not good for a person who smokes a wide variety of fish and meat.

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.

Chase : Do not purchase!!!!

Received with the right side pushed in. Not just dented. Box was in perfect condition so it wasn’t from shipping. Appears to be from originally assembly. When they screwed/riveted the inside panel. Heating element and shelves won’t fit. Not happy. A dent would have been fine but this is ridiculous. Including pictures but the black finish makes it difficult to see. Guess I’ll use it to weigh down the cardboard it came in for recycling.

Buddyjay : Good - Please read Updates!

Please read Update below as I have amended my initial review -

Initial - I was trying to decide between this smoker or the Masterbuilt 30”. Due to the many stellar reviews in the Char Broiler, I decided on this one...should have gone with the Masterbuilt.
But other reasons I chose this one is that it has a 1200 watt heating element where most Masterbuilts have 800. And it has double walled insulation which is rare for ovens in this price range.
Shipped and received quickly and I was lucky that I had no damage when delivered.

But go to any smokers forum and you will see the smokers that most buy are Masterbuilt. But they also have their own set of problems.
Since my GF has the high end MES, I decided to go a different route and try the Char Broil.

I had initially given this smoker only three stars as my complaint was that the chips did not burn consistently. The tray is pushed tightly up against the drip tray and impedes air flow somewhat. Sometimes the chips only partially burn. When I take the chips out into the open air they burn nicely which showed me that airflow is a problem.
UPDATE - Although I still believe their needs to be a little space between the chip tray and drip tray, I tried a different brand of chips that were smaller and they burned very well...even at 225*. Weber chips were a little too big but Kingsford and Western burned great.

Initially - the temps are VERY difficult to control. I have tested these temps with no food and the swing is vast. Am having trouble getting it to settle on a specific temp. I also use a dual probe digital thermometer that has been calibrated and tested to be accurate. 212* exactly at boiling water test. The door thermometer maxed at 235 during boiling water test. That’s a 13* difference!
I just cannot understand why mfg make these lousy inaccurate door therms. Makes no sense.

UPDATE - This is my fifth time using this smoker and I am happy to report that the temps are EXTREMELY stable. Not sure why I had problems in the beginning. I am smoking a chuck roast now and I set the temp at 225* and it held it perfectly. I then raised it to be at 250* and holding perfectly.
There are swings sometimes as when the desired temp is reached the element shuts off which drops the temps about 15*. It then comes back on and raises back up. The swing usually averages out to your desired temp and these swings are normal. But today, no swing at all. Holding at 250*!

People complain that although it can hold four racks they only give three. That’s because they are trying to control cost and make the initial price seem competitive. You can buy another rack. Others have complained about having to open the door to add chips. Some MES ovens have a side load chip tray BUT you have to add chips every 30’. If cooking something for 8-10 hours, do you realllly want to do that? I have no problem opening the door to load. The chip tray is larger than MES and the temps bounce back fairly quick. Plus the tray holds enough chips for about an hour.

Their is no door gasket on this model and some heat does escape. But it is minimal.
On a positive note, the unit is easy to put together. And a very surprising thing is that, the four different rack placements have temps that are very close to each other. The top shelf was at 250 AND SO WAS THE VERY BOTTOM SHELF! Probably because the bottom shelf sits near the metal drip shelf which is hot and thereby keeping the temps similar. But that’s a good thing.

I have also purchased the Amazen Pellet Tray and was very pleased about the production of consistent, steady stream of smoke. I tested it once and used it once. I was concerned about it may not getting proper air flow but works beautifully. A channel and a half of pellets gave over three hours of smoke! And as I mentioned...consistent smoke.

I felt compelled to amend my initial (poor) review of this smoker as it was becoming a disappointment to use. But is working great now (fingers crossed) and am pleased the way it is.

January 2021 - unfortunately I must go back to my original three star review as the smoker had now had its order coating peeling in the corners. No way should this happen at the low temps used for smoking.

Frederick Acerra : easy to use

Matt A. : Love this smoker

Was looking for a nice easy introduction to smoking meat and veggies and this did great! We've successfully smoked a chicken, brisket, corn, potatoes, and a DELICIOUS tri tip. It's easy to set up, easy to control the temperature, and makes delicious smoked food. It's a little difficult to clean but ultimately worth it.

you can compare the product price from Costco, wayfair, bestbuy, lowes, target, homedepot, Walmart, ebay, amazon to find the best price for you