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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Crankshaft : Overall it’s worth it

Fairly straight forward to use. It works poorly with chunks of wood, but smokes quite well with pellets. I had little to no issues holding it between 225 and 300 Fahrenheit. If you want 350 or above you will probably have trouble. It’s not great for cleaning but these things never are.

Ms. A : Father's Day Gift

Got it for my boyfriend on Father's Day, received it a week later...he had been smoking meat ever since. It's a good gift for a BBQ lover. The 1 thing that I didn't appreciate was the little dent in the door.

sally l corey : It was a gift and a good one

We purchased this for our son for Father's Day. He loves it and cooks on it all the time. It is portable so he can take it to anyone's house and use it. It's good value for the money. There are more expensive one and cheaper ones but this one is a good starter smoker. Our son is really happy with it and he is a professional chef!

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.

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.

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...

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.

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!

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.

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.

Kindle Customer : Great Gift

This was a gift for my husband. He absolutely loves it. He's used it twice so far and we've had no issues. I like others did receive the product slightly dinged in a couple of spots but it did not make a difference and is only cosmetic. Would recommend.

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.

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.

Pamela Richardson : A Great Choice

I've read the reviews for electric smokers. I went from the least expensive to the most expensive and I settled on this one and boy oh boy, was this the right choice. Easy to assemble, it holds the heat well and it's easy to use. My family loves it when I smoke meat, it comes out moist and flavorful. A pointer: wrap your meat in butcher paper. It come out so tender its scary. I smoked a turkey and it literally fell apart when I opened the bag. It tasted great.

JB : Smashed up just like others reviews said.

Top of smoker smashed in,both sides. More dents in cabinet and all of the rack slides inside have been hammered to make them work.
Tracking was useless, never knew if amazon or usps was bringing it and it arrived day late.
Absolutely looks like it was damaged before it was boxed just as other reviews stated.
Not returning because I have no reason to think the replacement would be any better.
Worst Amazon experience ever.

JB : Smashed up just like others reviews said.

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.

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"

Kirk : Great little smoker

Ok....let me see if I can help someone make a decision on which smoker to purchase. This is a great little smoker, I haven't had any issues with it. The biggest difference I see in the smokers is this one comes with a metal insert over the wood chip box and the water tray. This insert allows you to put an aluminum pan with whatever liquid you prefer to use in it and also allows for much easier clean up. How I use my smoker is.....I take out the water tray and the wood chip box. I place an aluminum pan on the metal insert with water or whatever mixture you want to use. For my smoke I use a pellet tray, once it's lit I place it on the bottom of the smoker and let it do it's thing. Everything I've smoked has come out great with great smoke flavor. The clean up is great just remove the aluminum pan and toss it....they're only about $1 each, take the racks out and put in dishwasher and replace with pans you removed during smoking for storage. My only complaint about this smoker is that it is very close to the ground.

Chris : Smokin Hot!!!

Smoker worked great on first use.
It sure beats doing a charcoal smoker that you had to monitor constantly.
Upon first use the paint did peel on the inside, but that can be expected I'm guessing.
Smoked Pork roast turned out awesome at 240 for 6 hours, with the use of hickory chips.

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.

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.

paul : Deff have to know its limitations

Great smoker for the money. It has a secure box to let all the smoke run through your meat. We have a good quality wireless thermo that shows us the temp inside the smoker and inside the meat. It DID NOT come damaged by the warehouse guys (we were one of the lucky ones even though people give it a 1 star rating because it came dented at no fault to CharBoil). It takes some time to fully understand the power level on the knob as it can be inaccurate due to your voltage and chips or pellets your are burning inside. Overall great intro smoker.

Felterstuff : Broke after 5 uses.

Heating element and controller went out on my unit pretty quickly. I called for support and charbroil wanted $55 for replacement parts before shipping. I'm not paying for something that's only gonna last 5 times. Go with a different brand.

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.

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.

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!

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...

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.

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

Brenda Sanchez : CharBroil Smoker

I just received the smoker, and it is all damaged. :( I have attached a few photos. The 1st is the box, the 2nd is the damage that matches the box which is on the back,, the 3rd is the upper left side, the 4th is the right top and the 5th is the left top. They might seem minor to you, but this is a gift.

:(

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.

Shannon R : Very consistent cook

I used to be a charcoal guy but I am dabbling in sausage production at some volume now and switched to electric for the consistency and low maintenance. I bought this unit to be my test kitchen and to use casually for cooking for my church. It's has a spacious chamber and is easy to put together. It's well made and solid. I've bought Charbroil before when I used charcoal smokers and was pleased with the brand.

Let me talk about my first cook. Even though I bought it for sausages and volume items like pulled pork and brisket, the first thing I cooked in it was a whole chicken. I read the manual beforehand, having never used an electric unit before. So, I followed the manufacturer's recommendations a day before to run for 2-3 hrs. to burn off the oils used in the manufacturing process. I had brined the chicken overnight and put it in the unit at about 11. I took it off to rest at 3:30 and it was well-cooked (and delectable). The unit produced consistent smoke and the temperature was rock steady. I was quite pleased.

My only suggestion would be to supply a fourth (the unit comes with 3) cooking grate, since there is room and even rails for it in the chamber and it would certainly be useful for ribs or smoked fish.

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.

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.

JB : Smashed up just like others reviews said.

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.

Kirk : Great little smoker

Peter : Pay for what you get

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!

old man : Makes good dinners

Arrived in good shape. Assembly took time but was well documented. I needed to bend one of the vents to get my thermometer probe through. Food is tasty. Cleanup is not too bad. Price was quite reasonable.

Amazon Customer : This is a great smoker for the money

This is a great smoker for the money. My only regret is that I wish I spent a little more and got the digital one because I use a smoke tube and it seems to cause temperature fluctuations. it would be nice if the unit automatically kept a preset temperature, but of course in order to have that feature you need the digital version. I cannot take away a star from the product because this is not meant to have a smoke tube in it, you are supposed to use the wood chip tray. Otherwise it holds the temperature perfectly.

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.

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.

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

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