Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control, 40 inch, Black review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Masterbuilt |
| Model Name | Propane Smoker |
| Power Source | Propane |
| Color | Black |
| Item Weight | 92 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 22.8 x 28.7 x 53 inches |
| Fuel Type | Liquefied Petroleum Gas |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- Temperature sensor controls burner to maintain desired temperature
- Safety valve shuts off burner if flame is extinguished
- Tank fuel level gauge indicates the amount of propane in the tank
- Four chrome-coated smoking racks
- 15,750 BTU stainless steel burner
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
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THERMOSTAT CONTROLPatented thermostat controlled to maintain desired temp – no more monitoring or adjusting temperature. | CAPACITYFour chrome-coated smoking racks for 961 square inches of cooking space. | SAFE SHUT OFFSafety valve shuts off burner if flame is extinguished. |
product description
Style:40-inch
The 40-inch ThermoTemp XL Propane Smoker makes smoking simple and safe. No more monitoring or adjusting temperature. Patented ThermoTemp innovation lets you set the temperature and walk away. The safety shut-off valve provides a safe smoking experience while the four smoking racks provide plenty of room to smoke up to 16 chickens, 6 turkeys, 8 racks of ribs, or 8 pork butts. Master the art of smoking with Masterbuilt.
product details
important information
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Questions about Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control, 40 inch, Black
Q:
How is the water pan? My smoker now will come off rack holder when i pull it out and water will spill all over inside the smoker.
Answer: Really do not clearly understand what the problem is. But pull the rack out until it stops. Gently lift the water pan out at a slight angle towards your self and you should not have a problem. I f water is spilling then reduce the amount of liquid in the pan before starting.
Answer: I didn’t get as far as seeing the water pan because I sent the unit back before I unpacked it. Huge dent in the side of the box & the smoker & I didn’t want to bother with it.
Answer: The water pan is a little tricky to remove, but manageable. The key is not to fill it more than about 2/3 full. Then, when pulling it out it doesn't spill.
Q:
Is there any major assembly required?
Answer: I wouldn’t call it major but there is some assembly. It doesn’t take long and the pieces like the wheels and legs are well made and everything fit well. Maybe a half hour if you take your time.
Answer: No, its pretty straightforward follow the directions may take about 30 to 40 minutes and there is a video on YouTube for this smoker assembly.
Answer: It has to all assembled. No more assembly than a normal gas grill. Not bad.
Q:
I've noticed that my smoker gets too hot - the chips catch fire, and the internal temp of the cabinet reaches 500 degrees or more. How to fix this??
Answer: The unit will require full cleaning the interior. Presoaking your chips will raise their ignition temperature. Ensure the burners are clear and burning an even blue flame.
Answer: Buy a 13" cast iron skillet without a handle. I.e. get the one with ear type handles and place it over the useless chip tray. Also get a needle valve and place it online before the grill valve. Those 2 items will tame your flame thrower
Q:
What is the width of the racks?
Answer: The dimensions are WIDTH
Answer: I'm not 100% certain, but I'm pretty sure it's 19 inches.
Answer: The shelves are 19 x 12". We love the smoker, use it for everything.
Q:
Can you use charcoal on this one
Answer: This is designed for propane use only.
Answer: yes
Q:
What are the shelf dimentions?
Answer: 14x18 i think. My husband can cook a lot of pork buts in that thing. He LOVES this smoker, I can tell you that.
Q:
can this smoker be coverted to natural gas?
Answer: No, no Masterbuilt smoker should be used with natural gas, as they are specifically manufactured for use with propane.
Q:
Does this come with a regulator?
Answer: It does come with a regulator that connects to the standard propane tank you can get at Wal-mart, Home Depot, etc. It does not have a gauge on it to tell you how much fuel you have.
Answer: Hi Christina, this unit does come with a regulator.
Answer: Yes, if you mean the gas line from the smoker to the propane tank. It doesn't have a second regulator besides the main gas valve.
Q:
Were i can get replacement racks for masterbuilt smoker 230s
Q:
What happened to the $118.00 expert assembly option?
Answer: Not sure, It was mostly assembled, it took about 30-40 mins to put the rest together.
Q:
Anyone know were you can get hooks to hang ribs with
Answer: Unfortunately, we do not offer hooks to hang ribs however, we offer rib racks, 9909150005.
Q:
Did david e waterbury look at the product's description? doesnt it clearly state that the material in stainless steel?
Answer: It is not stainless steel
Q:
What is the temperature range of this smoker and can it be used for cold smoking?
Answer: This is a great smoker with an internal thermostat. It will maintain relatively even temps, I says plus/minus 15 deg. F. However, cold smoking by definition is roughly between 65 and 85 deg. F. This Masterbuilt smoker is not designed to even come close to those temperatures.
Answer: Temperature range is 175 to 325 degrees.
Q:
Can this smoker handle a brisket?
Answer: If it's size you're worried about, I'd say yes. There are adjustable shelves and some can be removed to handle a larger piece of meat. I smoked a 13lb turkey in it last Thanksgiving.
Answer: Easily, multiple.
Answer: Yes.
Answer: Of course.
Answer: Yes
Q:
Temperature range?
Answer: 175-325
Answer: Whatever the integrated “automatic” regulator decides to set it as. Typically faulty
Q:
how can i get customer service? im reading it is very bad. smoker wont stay lit. bad parts. just got this in december.
Answer: We only have trouble staying lit when we get lots of wind. Usually we haven't had trouble. We get wind because we live by open field farms.
Q:
Is the propane tank that is shown in the picture actually included with smoker??
Answer: No it is not
Answer: No
Answer: No
Q:
What guage stainless steel is used?
Answer: This is made with 93% cold rolled steel and 4% Stainless Steel
Answer: There's no stainless steel as far as I can tell.
Q:
Do you have to open the whole door to add wood chips?
Answer: Yes, to add more wood chips the door will have to be opened.
Answer: You have to open the lower door to add wood chips.
Q:
What is the max temp
Answer: Will reach 400, but not setting on control knob.
Q:
Which cover fits this smoker?
Answer: Masterbuilt MB20080118 54-Inch Propane and XL Pellet Smoker Cover, Black.
Q:
Were i can find Replacement inside racks for masterbuilt smoker 230s
Answer: I would che k at the store you bought it from. Like Lowe’s or Home Depot. It might be part of their online inventory. I would also check Masterbuilt.
Q:
what is the temperature range of this unit
Answer: 175-325
Q:
Can extra shelves be added?
Answer: Yes, with the purchase of additional racks and supports.
Q:
Where is it made ?
Answer: The smoker is manufactured in China; it is NOT manufactured in the USA. I have one and it is clearly marked on the box.
Answer: Masterbuilt is based in Columbus, GA
Answer: Sorry I don’t know the answer before it’s at our vacation home but my husband absolutely loves it!
Answer: I believe China.
Answer: Hi, I believe it's made in the USA.
Q:
How come this comes with "crome covered" racks which are the worst why can't thay be stainless or proselin or even cast iron?
Answer: We have owned this unit for about 2 months and are very happy with it however we are not ready to go on TV Pitmasters quite yet. We do not put meat directly on racks. That would be too much of a clean up mess. We put brisket, pork butt and ribs in metal pans with rack underneath. Size of unit is good. Put a thermometer inside for accurate temp. Smoke favor is exceptional. Finish cooking meat at higher temp on grill.
Answer: Have had mine for close to 2 years , I use It in the rain and snow all the time. Racks and smoker haven't rusted at all and they don't stick.
Q:
How does this do smoking outside in the winter? I live in Michigan and would like to use it year round.
Answer: Well we’re in California however my husband says it should work year-round in cold weather too. It’s a propane tank he loves that smoker!
Answer: This is an insulated unit and temperature controlled. It will smoke well in winter temperatures too.
Answer: I've used it for multiple briskets in the winter in NY. I remember having the same concern but learning that propane works down to -25 or something I believe. The cold NY wind did make it take a bit longer and probably use a lot more propane than you'd expect though.
Answer: Sorry, we can't help you. We live in Arizona so we can use it year round.
Answer: It did fine. Cooked the turkey at Thanksgiving and the ham on Christmas. My son loves his smoker and we use it all the time, all year around
Answer: I used mine a few times this winter. Worked great.
Answer: Haven''t tried it yet but expect it will work well. I'm in NH so this was also important to me. My previous (electric) smoker couldn't keep up. This one has a big gas burner in it and is double-walled. You will go through more propane but I think it will do it.
Q:
What type of insulation blanket would work with this model?
Answer: We do not recommend an insulation blanket with a propane smoker.
Q:
wood chip/burner cover has burned out is there a replacement
Answer: Not that I know of. My first one did the same thing and bought a new smoker.
Answer: I’m sure there is, google it.
Q:
This model gets great reviews by reviewers but not so many good reviews from owners. What is the deal with that?
Answer: Reviews are hidden (from owners) by the marketing company they’ve hired. Took less than 5 minutes for my comments to be removed and blocked.
Answer: I’m total convert to this. Used to be fanatic, smoking only with elaborate stick burner and so on. This this just plan works. Like just as good as a big green egg or pellets burner. In distant past I tried electric smoker and it wasn’t good. I think the combustion gas from propane is the secret...
Answer: I don't know why there is a difference. I took that into consideration and bought it anyway. I have used it 4 times. I've had no problems and love it so far. It doesn't produce as much smoke as I am accustomed to. But it's sufficient. I have bought a pellet tray so I can get more smoke if i desire. And I'm not tending to a fire all night anymore.
Answer: I use mine all the time and it makes the best smoked turkey ever. As well as ribs.
Answer: I've used it four times since I purchased it, for ribs, pulled pork and brisket, and I'm quite happy with its performance.
Q:
The dimensions appear to be listed incorrectly. Does anyone know the actual inside dimensions of this Masterbuilt smoker?
Answer: No
Q:
Can the regulator and hose be removed so I can attach my own and hook it up to my propane quick disconnect port?
Answer: This should not be done. The hose and valve are connected to the whole control panel. That said, a quick connect style has not been tested and is not suggested, and use with such will invalidate warranty.
Answer: My husband says yes but you’ll have to put a new burner in it. He loves his smoker
Q:
Natural gas version ?
Answer: Ours is propane
Answer: I use propane
Q:
Does this have wheels on the back end?
Answer: No, this does not have wheels on the hind legs
Answer: No
Q:
Can you use pellets instead of wood chips?
Answer: No, this unit should be used with large wood chips or chunks. Pellets are a fuel source and will ignite which may cause damage to your product.
Answer: Yes but to a certain extent, if you put too many at a time they will just flame up and burn. If you do use any pellets, I’d recommend about 5-6 at a time, anything more will produce too much smoke
Answer: I suppose you could. I never have and don't use wood chips either. I prefer wood chunks. still working from some bags I got at Bass Pro. Amazon probably sells them too.
Answer: I see no reason why not
Answer: I would not attempt it.
Answer: Yes I have used both in it
Q:
Is there an insulated cover for this model?
Answer: Cover sold separately.
Answer: No, I bought mine separately.
Q:
Can this smoker be used as an oven to bake breads?
Answer: I don’t see why not. 350 max temp. And you don’t have to use the smoke chips.
Q:
Manufacturer's dimensions are showing 28.7 width...seems wide...is that with the door open or something?
Answer: This appears to be the same model that I have, but mine measures 21 1/2 inches in width on the door, about 25 inches at the widest point by the wheels. Either they've changed it since I bought mine or that's a typo.
Answer: The width of the body.
Q:
why did it stop working? i cannot light this anymore. worked 3 times and now it will not light. i press the dial, it fires up. i let the dial go.dead
Answer: You have to hold the dial down long enough the flame sensor heats up. About 10 seconds. It a safety so that if the flame ever goes out it shuts the gas off. It’s right in the directions.
Answer: Obviously, I can't be sure, but you should double check/retighten the flame sensor connection tube. Personally, I would disconnect it, then reconnect and tighten it down securely using a wrench. If this tube isn't sufficiently tight, the cooker will not stay lit.
Answer: Based on the information provide, we would recommend completing our Contact Us from featured on our website so our Customer Service team can further assist you.
Answer: probably a bad thermocouple.
Q:
Does a cook book come with it
Answer: No, the cookbook can be purchased separately.
Answer: I did not get a cookbook with mine but there are so many resources for recipes it’s not a big deal. I can share some great ones if you’re interested.
Answer: No.
Answer: No. I go online for new recipes
Answer: No
Q:
What is the assembled size of this smoker?
Answer: about 16 x 16 x 40
Q:
Mine keeps turning off why?
Answer: Is it the wind? Or does the thermocouple need to be nearer the flame or is the gas valve faulty. Mine works flawlessly!!
Answer: Check the thermo couple
Q:
Does it have ports/holes for temperature probes?
Answer: There are vent holes in the back you could run probes through. I just close the door on mine.
Q:
I am having trouble keeping it lit. Didn't know what if someone might help? Im about to file a complaint as i can't get help from Masterbuilt.
Answer: I built air blocking panels to close off under the legs. Seems like any mild breeze blows out the flame. The panels seem to have helped a little, but still a pain. I'll probably give mine away or retire it if I can't get it dialed in better. The while reason I got a propane was so I didn't have to monitor it as much as my offset stick smoker.
Answer: A few things can cause this, the flame sensor must be nearly touching the burner, when pressing the knob to temperature hold in a little harder and longer, approximately 30sec and release slowly. If you still have issues, please visit one of our Social Media platforms, that team can direct your information directly to a representative for service.
Answer: Once you’ve paid- they won’t help. Sorry for your experience.
Answer: I bought some sheet metal and fastened between the legs Front / Back and one side. This will help a lot. On windy days you will have problems, I would try setting it close to a wall or some other wind break.
Q:
Can I buy more racks for this smoker ?
Answer: I'm sure you can buy new racks but, no you cant put more racks in this unit. There are brackets that hold a specific amount of racks
Answer: The smoker comes with 4 racks, which matches the smoker's capacity (the brackets are embossed into the inner sides of the cabinet and are not adjustable, likely due to the probe's location). However, it also comes with 2 auxiliary racks that sit on the regular racks, for six total. Those racks are good for, say, ribs, but since you lose height you are somewhat restricted on what can be loaded. Note, too, that the width of the smoker box may also mean needing to cut racks of ribs in half, depending on the racks.
Answer: Yes
Q:
Where can I get additional racks and supports?
Answer: Big Lots aprox $6. Have to cut the wire.
Q:
What is the range of temperatures it can be set too? What is the lowest temperature you can set it to?
Answer: Holds 175 to 350 accurately and reliably.
Answer: Varies on the mood of the temp regulator on that day- MB also will just tell you the “sensor is calibrated with a +- 25 degree swing so very little control to be had
Q:
Is MB20051316 smoker same as 340g?
Answer: The MPS340G is the style of smoker, the MB20051316 is the specific model, so yes. They are both 40" ThermoTemp smokers.
Answer: I think so
Q:
What's the temperature range?
Answer: I've never turned it all of the way up but well over 300. Lowest is about 180
Q:
How many BTUs?
Answer: I love this smoker! The temp control really works so I don't have to keep adjusting the gas flow. No idea about the BTU output but suffice to say that it has more than enough and I am running on natural gas My briskets are fabulous!
Product reviews of Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control, 40 inch, Black
Ashley L. : BUY THIS NOW!
I purchased this as a gift to my husband for Father’s Day…. It is the gift that keeps on giving! He isn’t very advanced when it comes to smoking, and this beast has remained a well oiled machine! Great results every time! Highly recommend!
wmwirtz : Rip off
Ordered 340GXL masterbuilt propane smoker March 3 it showed up March 18 also did not send what I paid for was a very cheap electric smoker
Edmun : Dissatisfied with smoker as a whole
When I open the box and revealed my smoker there was a good-sized ding in the back the handle to the top part spring was busted off and my container that holds the wood chips is scratched look like somebody hit it with sandpaper hard time aligning the screws up to the frame half of them didn't line up and then one of the set screws sheared off installing the thermostat wire when you turn the gas knob from 175 to 325 the gas stays the same does not lower does not hire turns off and turns on so I'm going to try this and hope it works right if not I will be liking my money back
Ken Harrison : great value
So far I like everything about it. I live off the grid so this is perfect
Yoblight : Excellent
After struggling with temperature control using other propane smokers, this seemed like a good idea.
The assembly is quite involved, but not difficult. The first one I received was damaged and had to be returned, and the packaging not so good (thin Styrofoam that was in pieces) and is very difficult to repack. The box was damaged, and I should have refused delivery. So, make note as you unpack, because you may find damaged pieces, and need to repack to return. If the damage had been to deeply buried parts, I do not think I could have repacked it.
The second one was in better shape, and it assembled well with some slight door alignment issues that I was able to fix.
Operationally, this is nearly perfect. Because I use an electronic thermometer, I was not too concerned with temperature accuracy of the knob markings as long as temperature was stable. I was pleasantly surprised by how accurate the knob settings were. I can now set the temperature and it will remain stable all day.
My only complaint is the dimensions. I wish this was wider and shorter , like my Smoke Vault.
The assembly is quite involved, but not difficult. The first one I received was damaged and had to be returned, and the packaging not so good (thin Styrofoam that was in pieces) and is very difficult to repack. The box was damaged, and I should have refused delivery. So, make note as you unpack, because you may find damaged pieces, and need to repack to return. If the damage had been to deeply buried parts, I do not think I could have repacked it.
The second one was in better shape, and it assembled well with some slight door alignment issues that I was able to fix.
Operationally, this is nearly perfect. Because I use an electronic thermometer, I was not too concerned with temperature accuracy of the knob markings as long as temperature was stable. I was pleasantly surprised by how accurate the knob settings were. I can now set the temperature and it will remain stable all day.
My only complaint is the dimensions. I wish this was wider and shorter , like my Smoke Vault.
Catherine : Harder to assemble
Harder to put together than the directions indicate
Michael J Flynn : Really Disappointing!!!!
I bought this in May, 2021 because of the supposed "temperature control", unique among propane smokers. I find it totally unreliable. A previous review states things like this are "user error"! Baloney! I have to dial below 175, almost to off to get the temp to even approach 225. Even then it increases the flame by itself and, unless I constantly check it, the temp will go to 300!
Also, forget getting any real support from the company. Their "Contact Us" form requires the SAME information be entered EVERY FREAKING TIME you have a question - EVERY TIME!!! No place to reference an account you may have created to register your product!!! When did you buy it, model number, place of purchase - every time! Really the pits when it comes to customer service!
Unless you have money to throw away, I suggest you find another brand and don't fall for this "temperature control" lie!
Also, forget getting any real support from the company. Their "Contact Us" form requires the SAME information be entered EVERY FREAKING TIME you have a question - EVERY TIME!!! No place to reference an account you may have created to register your product!!! When did you buy it, model number, place of purchase - every time! Really the pits when it comes to customer service!
Unless you have money to throw away, I suggest you find another brand and don't fall for this "temperature control" lie!
Harry Neevus : A Great First Smoker – Happy BUT READ CAREFULLY - Updated!
Amazon robots call this model the MB20051316 with thermostat control – 40 inch, Black. The box is labeled somewhat more appropriately, “Masterbuilt 340G XL.” It doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as it works. This was my very first smoker and my out of box experience has been excellent so far - but - because of some reviews, I almost didn’t buy it.
THE GOOD:
Many reviewers complained about build quality, damaged or missing parts and trouble with the burner assembly lighting and staying lit. Even more complained about getting customer support from Masterbuilt. I didn’t experience any of this. I didn’t need to contact Masterbuilt, in part, because I did a lot of research before making this purchase.
ASSEMBLY:
I’m not the most “handy” guy but, I found the instructions (and a Masterbuilt Youtube video) to be sufficient during the build. I won’t say it was easy but it wasn’t bad. I took my time, and that methodical approach meant I had no issues during the assembly process. I probably spent 4 hours on the build. I was completely alone and had no trouble standing it upright once the bulk of the construction was complete.
I built, bubble tested all gas connections and seasoned the unit all in one single day. Not a bad out-of-box experience! Usually, my wife has to come out of the house to remind me not to swear at least 45 times during a project like this - but for some reason, there was no swearing! My wife was more than a little suspicious. A few neighbors stopped by to ogle the debris field in my driveway from all the packaging and of course, they invited themselves over for brisket or pulled pork once they realized what I was building, indicating my next purchase may have to be a fence… with some razor wire on the top.
MODIFICATIONS:
I purchased Lavarock sealing tape to enhance the door seal and a separate dead-simple interior oven thermometer as a simple way to double check temperatures. Don’t freak out over temperature variations. There have to be dozens of ways to monitor your smoker temp as well as your meat. Expecting this smoker to automate that effectively is unrealistic. It may be a “smoker” but YOU are the pit boss. Don’t get mad at the machine if you get lazy with your cook.
During our first smoke, (a whole chicken and an 8lb pork shoulder) our old iGrill meat thermometer proved to be about as useless as the day we bought it. It did provide feedback but it kept dropping the signal. We wished we had something “better” for our next smoke (More on that in minute.)
YES IT HOLDS TEMPS:
During our first smoke, we saw temps rise and fall constantly. Because of this, I was out there fooling around with the controls constantly. All I managed to do, was keep things in constant turmoil. During our second smoke, I let the thermostat do its job. That worked much better.
The thermostatic control built into this smoker works very well. You can set a temperature and verify that with any thermometer – once you’ve achieved the desired range, it will keep and hold that range very well. Huge variations will occur when you open the main door and smaller variations may occur when you change chips or add water to the pan. Let the unit adjust itself to your desired range before you try adjust the burner.
Water is the key to holding temps. Fill the pan ¾ full and check it every hour or so. The water helps regulate temps while providing moisture.
Surprisingly, this does not use that much propane. The little gage isn’t all that helpful but it’s better than nothing.
THE BAD:
It’s not really bad. If you’re used to smoking with an offset grill, electric smoker or your regular old gas grill – there may be a learning curve. Every smoker has its quirks. Keep that in mind when you read other reviews.
For me, the two worst things to complain about are: The hose for the propane tank isn’t long enough to allow the tank to be mounted on the smoker during use. No big deal - but 3 inches of hose can’t be the much of cost savings to the manufacturer. Also, the metal edge on the inside the door where the glass is fitted needs to be filed down. It’s got razor sharp burrs or jagged edges that will chew up your sponge, hand or cloth during cleaning. This in no way affects function so it’s minor. I’ll hit it up with a Dremel tool next cleaning.
THE UGLY:
Cleaning. You’ll need to be ready to do a lot of this. The idea of putting glass in the door seemed attractive to me. I hadn’t had a smoker before. Five minutes in and I’m partially blind to what’s happening inside. 4 hours in and I might as well have no glass at all. Don’t get me wrong – the glass is convenient but it’s mostly for luring in new smoker buyers. The pros know this is a gimmick. It still looks impressive, and I am in no way dissatisfied. Just plan to clean this thing more than you think.
CONCLUSION:
My second smoke is well underway and I’m loving this unit. My neighbors are eyeballing me with hunger in their eyes. I’m not sure how long I can keep them at bay with just a pitchfork. If you’ve gotten this far – send reinforcements! Please!
UPDATE & MODIFICATIONS
After the 2nd smoke (11+ hours ) I have some observations. The temp control works within reason. I do not expect this to hold at any precise temperature. However, it held temps within 5-10 degrees throughout the day. It did adjust itself after opening doors but the temps would spike as high as 330 - 350 before returning to 275. This is normal.
After another successful smoke, I cleaned the unit and noticed some small modifications can be made to extend the life of the smoker. Please note: I am not responsible for any modifications YOU MAKE based on these suggestions.
1.) Trapped water was discovered in both the upper (main) and lower door after cleaning. To prevent this, I drilled a 5/16ths hole into the right-hand bottom (underside) of the lower door. (When the door is installed, and you are facing the unit. The hole will be located on the underside near the far-right corner.) This will release any trapped water after cleaning. This hole should allow water to escape without any sacrifice to functionality. I filed the edges of the hole(s) with a Dremel tool to help protect the powder coat.
2.) I repeated these steps on the main door. When facing the smoker with the door closed, a 5/16ths hole in the right-hand bottom (underside) of the main door will allow any trapped water to escape after cleaning.
3.) Water Tray Rack: After inspecting this rather difficult to remove tray, I could see the sides were slightly bowed outward. A quick tap in the middle of each outside bar (with a hammer) made the tray slide in and out of the smoker MUCH EASIER. Use caution when removing, filling, and replacing this tray, especially during use. About ¾ full should do it.
4.) You may not need to do this - but my unit had a very rough inside edge around the glass in the door. I was able to use a Dremel tool to carefully file down all the burrs and edges so that all edges are now smooth – and no long snag a sponge or cloth.
5.) After a thorough cleaning, I left the unit sitting in full sun with the doors open to allow the unit to dry completely. Because I installed Lavarock sealing tape around the doors, extra precautions were taken. This tape absorbs and holds some water. I wanted the tape to be completely dry before closing the doors and putting the smoker away in my garage.
THE GOOD:
Many reviewers complained about build quality, damaged or missing parts and trouble with the burner assembly lighting and staying lit. Even more complained about getting customer support from Masterbuilt. I didn’t experience any of this. I didn’t need to contact Masterbuilt, in part, because I did a lot of research before making this purchase.
ASSEMBLY:
I’m not the most “handy” guy but, I found the instructions (and a Masterbuilt Youtube video) to be sufficient during the build. I won’t say it was easy but it wasn’t bad. I took my time, and that methodical approach meant I had no issues during the assembly process. I probably spent 4 hours on the build. I was completely alone and had no trouble standing it upright once the bulk of the construction was complete.
I built, bubble tested all gas connections and seasoned the unit all in one single day. Not a bad out-of-box experience! Usually, my wife has to come out of the house to remind me not to swear at least 45 times during a project like this - but for some reason, there was no swearing! My wife was more than a little suspicious. A few neighbors stopped by to ogle the debris field in my driveway from all the packaging and of course, they invited themselves over for brisket or pulled pork once they realized what I was building, indicating my next purchase may have to be a fence… with some razor wire on the top.
MODIFICATIONS:
I purchased Lavarock sealing tape to enhance the door seal and a separate dead-simple interior oven thermometer as a simple way to double check temperatures. Don’t freak out over temperature variations. There have to be dozens of ways to monitor your smoker temp as well as your meat. Expecting this smoker to automate that effectively is unrealistic. It may be a “smoker” but YOU are the pit boss. Don’t get mad at the machine if you get lazy with your cook.
During our first smoke, (a whole chicken and an 8lb pork shoulder) our old iGrill meat thermometer proved to be about as useless as the day we bought it. It did provide feedback but it kept dropping the signal. We wished we had something “better” for our next smoke (More on that in minute.)
YES IT HOLDS TEMPS:
During our first smoke, we saw temps rise and fall constantly. Because of this, I was out there fooling around with the controls constantly. All I managed to do, was keep things in constant turmoil. During our second smoke, I let the thermostat do its job. That worked much better.
The thermostatic control built into this smoker works very well. You can set a temperature and verify that with any thermometer – once you’ve achieved the desired range, it will keep and hold that range very well. Huge variations will occur when you open the main door and smaller variations may occur when you change chips or add water to the pan. Let the unit adjust itself to your desired range before you try adjust the burner.
Water is the key to holding temps. Fill the pan ¾ full and check it every hour or so. The water helps regulate temps while providing moisture.
Surprisingly, this does not use that much propane. The little gage isn’t all that helpful but it’s better than nothing.
THE BAD:
It’s not really bad. If you’re used to smoking with an offset grill, electric smoker or your regular old gas grill – there may be a learning curve. Every smoker has its quirks. Keep that in mind when you read other reviews.
For me, the two worst things to complain about are: The hose for the propane tank isn’t long enough to allow the tank to be mounted on the smoker during use. No big deal - but 3 inches of hose can’t be the much of cost savings to the manufacturer. Also, the metal edge on the inside the door where the glass is fitted needs to be filed down. It’s got razor sharp burrs or jagged edges that will chew up your sponge, hand or cloth during cleaning. This in no way affects function so it’s minor. I’ll hit it up with a Dremel tool next cleaning.
THE UGLY:
Cleaning. You’ll need to be ready to do a lot of this. The idea of putting glass in the door seemed attractive to me. I hadn’t had a smoker before. Five minutes in and I’m partially blind to what’s happening inside. 4 hours in and I might as well have no glass at all. Don’t get me wrong – the glass is convenient but it’s mostly for luring in new smoker buyers. The pros know this is a gimmick. It still looks impressive, and I am in no way dissatisfied. Just plan to clean this thing more than you think.
CONCLUSION:
My second smoke is well underway and I’m loving this unit. My neighbors are eyeballing me with hunger in their eyes. I’m not sure how long I can keep them at bay with just a pitchfork. If you’ve gotten this far – send reinforcements! Please!
UPDATE & MODIFICATIONS
After the 2nd smoke (11+ hours ) I have some observations. The temp control works within reason. I do not expect this to hold at any precise temperature. However, it held temps within 5-10 degrees throughout the day. It did adjust itself after opening doors but the temps would spike as high as 330 - 350 before returning to 275. This is normal.
After another successful smoke, I cleaned the unit and noticed some small modifications can be made to extend the life of the smoker. Please note: I am not responsible for any modifications YOU MAKE based on these suggestions.
1.) Trapped water was discovered in both the upper (main) and lower door after cleaning. To prevent this, I drilled a 5/16ths hole into the right-hand bottom (underside) of the lower door. (When the door is installed, and you are facing the unit. The hole will be located on the underside near the far-right corner.) This will release any trapped water after cleaning. This hole should allow water to escape without any sacrifice to functionality. I filed the edges of the hole(s) with a Dremel tool to help protect the powder coat.
2.) I repeated these steps on the main door. When facing the smoker with the door closed, a 5/16ths hole in the right-hand bottom (underside) of the main door will allow any trapped water to escape after cleaning.
3.) Water Tray Rack: After inspecting this rather difficult to remove tray, I could see the sides were slightly bowed outward. A quick tap in the middle of each outside bar (with a hammer) made the tray slide in and out of the smoker MUCH EASIER. Use caution when removing, filling, and replacing this tray, especially during use. About ¾ full should do it.
4.) You may not need to do this - but my unit had a very rough inside edge around the glass in the door. I was able to use a Dremel tool to carefully file down all the burrs and edges so that all edges are now smooth – and no long snag a sponge or cloth.
5.) After a thorough cleaning, I left the unit sitting in full sun with the doors open to allow the unit to dry completely. Because I installed Lavarock sealing tape around the doors, extra precautions were taken. This tape absorbs and holds some water. I wanted the tape to be completely dry before closing the doors and putting the smoker away in my garage.
bugger : worked 3 times and now i press the dial, it fires up. i let the dial go. dead - BUYER BEWARE
why did it stop working? i cannot light this anymore. worked 3 times and now it will not light. i press the dial, it fires up. i let the dial go. it shuts off. as all the other reviews state, it will stop working. i cannot use this anymore. BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LIGHT. NEW TANKS DID NOTHING TO HELP. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.
Amazon Customer : Doesn't produce as much smoke as my offset barrel smoker
I bought this smoke because it requires less effort than my offset barrel smoker. I can set the temp and not have to constantly monitor it, allowing me to get other things done while smoking. And in that it works great.
Assembly wasn't particularly difficult for me. But then I am pretty good at such tasks.
The one downside is that it doesn't produce as much smoke as my offset barrel smoker. I may try experimenting with blocking vents to increase the smoke inside.
Assembly wasn't particularly difficult for me. But then I am pretty good at such tasks.
The one downside is that it doesn't produce as much smoke as my offset barrel smoker. I may try experimenting with blocking vents to increase the smoke inside.
Amazon Customer : Great smoker for the money.
The only thing that needs changed it the tray on top of the burner. It starts the wood on fire fast and you can’t regulate the heat. I took a cast iron skillet and set on the tray with wood in it and it works like a charm.
Robert mcCullum : The best smoker I've owned
This smoker is the best I ever owned it smoked the meat to perfection, I've owned electric in the past and barley could get smoke out of them but this smoker smoke like a chimney - gas is better love my smoker.
wmwirtz : Rip off
Ordered 340GXL masterbuilt propane smoker March 3 it showed up March 18 also did not send what I paid for was a very cheap electric smoker
wayne short : Door Latchs
The door latches have come apart on first use. Tried to fix and have come apart again. Having trouble getting to Masterbuilt
D.H : Happy with my purchase
Temperature on the dial was close to a separate temp Gauge
zzman : Excellent smoker !
Excellent upgrade from my masterbuilt pro . This smoker holds twice the amount of meat . Will hold a full size Brisket on one shelf . Can hold up to 2 full size pork butts on one shelf . Unit has 4 shelves . Temperature control is spot on . Low : 175 degrees , high at 375 degrees . I checked with a thermometer to verify these Temps. I'm sure it can go higher than 375 depending on the weather . It took 3 seperate cookings to get the inside seasoned the way I like it . This is a very nice Smoker and worth the money.
Michael J Flynn : Really Disappointing!!!!
I bought this in May, 2021 because of the supposed "temperature control", unique among propane smokers. I find it totally unreliable. A previous review states things like this are "user error"! Baloney! I have to dial below 175, almost to off to get the temp to even approach 225. Even then it increases the flame by itself and, unless I constantly check it, the temp will go to 300!
Also, forget getting any real support from the company. Their "Contact Us" form requires the SAME information be entered EVERY FREAKING TIME you have a question - EVERY TIME!!! No place to reference an account you may have created to register your product!!! When did you buy it, model number, place of purchase - every time! Really the pits when it comes to customer service!
Unless you have money to throw away, I suggest you find another brand and don't fall for this "temperature control" lie!
Also, forget getting any real support from the company. Their "Contact Us" form requires the SAME information be entered EVERY FREAKING TIME you have a question - EVERY TIME!!! No place to reference an account you may have created to register your product!!! When did you buy it, model number, place of purchase - every time! Really the pits when it comes to customer service!
Unless you have money to throw away, I suggest you find another brand and don't fall for this "temperature control" lie!
Robert mcCullum : The best smoker I've owned
This smoker is the best I ever owned it smoked the meat to perfection, I've owned electric in the past and barley could get smoke out of them but this smoker smoke like a chimney - gas is better love my smoker.
Bennie L. Carter : Good unit for the price
Solid unit , you will need a cast iron skillet it helps control the wood burning and keeping a consistent temperature . The temperature gauge is pretty accurate there was a 5 to 7 degree higher reading between the unit gauge and the digital gauge I had in the unit . There is some smoke lost from the door, I don't think it that big of a lost you can buy sealant tape if you want.
J. Bright : Arrived Damaged - Manufacturer Does Not Respond
I have emailed and filled in support forms to get the Manufacturer to help me get a replacement part but so far they have not replied.
Jerome W Moody : Takes time to learn to use
Had to purchase gaskets as smoke leaks around doors. Took a while to learn the basics for smoking. Can be messy to clean. Yet I am satisfied after several trials.
D G : Very low quality, total waste of money and time.
I've owned at least 6 smokers, this is hands down the most disappointing. Why didn't I pay closer attention to other reviews? Temperature control is a joke. On a good day it will work within 20 degrees, most it's off by more than that, sometimes 100 degrees. Very unreliable, likes to extinguish itself. You cannot rely upon a consistent temperature, so plan on babysitting. In less than a month, all the bolts were rattling apart and falling off the smoker. I've had to purchase new hardware and lock washers to repair it. The thing started falling apart in no time. It's light gauge metal, so be careful handling it. Overall a huge waste of my time and equally huge disappointment. Want to save yourself aggravation and money? Avoid this model entirely.
Bennie L. Carter : Good unit for the price
Solid unit , you will need a cast iron skillet it helps control the wood burning and keeping a consistent temperature . The temperature gauge is pretty accurate there was a 5 to 7 degree higher reading between the unit gauge and the digital gauge I had in the unit . There is some smoke lost from the door, I don't think it that big of a lost you can buy sealant tape if you want.
Stephanie Shumway : Great smoker
My husband starting smoking meat on our Weber grill last summer. He did a great job, but I wanted to make the process easier for him. I purchased this smoker for husband at Christmas. I did not know a thing about smokers, but after doing some research, it came down to this smoker. The article under this product in the Amazon website was a huge help!! My husband LOVES it. It took some time to assemble, but it is easy to use. I would recommend this unit to anyone looking to get in to smoking.
wmwirtz : Rip off
Ordered 340GXL masterbuilt propane smoker March 3 it showed up March 18 also did not send what I paid for was a very cheap electric smoker
Matthew J. : Total Junk
Assembly was a complete pain on this product. What a piece of absolute junk.
Bruce Dollar Miller : Great purchase for the money
Assembly not the easiest, but not too difficult, but definitely a two person job. So far so good on two smokes; however, the “chip tray” is way too close to the flame and not deep enough in my opinion. Take off the “lid” of the chip tray and use chunks of your favorite wood vs chips. Why? Chips caught on fire really quickly(even if you soak chips-although I don’t like soaking chips-I want more smoke). I’m thinking of getting a cast iron, 8” pan for the wood chunks but not sure if I can find the perfect fit.
The size of the smoker is unbelievable. I did 10 Turkey Legs last weekend and it didn’t look like anything was in there. Small to medium size brisket, will be no problem.
I do wish it had an electronic temp gauge on the outside, not just the dial you set your smoker too.
I did find the temperature to be off a little. I think 265-275 is a little more than that. It says that in the booklet, so be aware.
Clean glass after each smoke is another pointer btw.
Overall I recommend this smoker to anyone deciding between electric or propane. Propane will hold heat or get to your desired temperature way better then electric from what I have seen.
The size of the smoker is unbelievable. I did 10 Turkey Legs last weekend and it didn’t look like anything was in there. Small to medium size brisket, will be no problem.
I do wish it had an electronic temp gauge on the outside, not just the dial you set your smoker too.
I did find the temperature to be off a little. I think 265-275 is a little more than that. It says that in the booklet, so be aware.
Clean glass after each smoke is another pointer btw.
Overall I recommend this smoker to anyone deciding between electric or propane. Propane will hold heat or get to your desired temperature way better then electric from what I have seen.
EAK : We really enjoyed using this smoker...until we couldn't
We received this smoker about 6 months ago and had really great luck with it. About three weeks ago we started having issues with a leaky propane line. After three weeks of regular calls and email to customer service (with the promise of a 2 business day response time) we have heard nothing. Should we buy a new smoker? Should we wait until we hear from them? Should we try and fix it ourselves and void the warranty?
Barbara B. : Great smoker
This is the second Masterbuilt I have owned and I love the new temp control feature. For everyone complaining it won't stay lit.....guess what? Wind blows out flames. I simply made skirts out of luan to go around the legs and stop the wind from blowing out the flame. Works like a charm. The temp stays pretty much within 5 degrees of what you set it at. I also use a Maverick temp probe and the smoker is pretty much spot on.
Glad I bought it. It did come missing the two pieces used to hold the propane bottle on the side but since I built the skirts I couldn't have used it anyway.
Glad I bought it. It did come missing the two pieces used to hold the propane bottle on the side but since I built the skirts I couldn't have used it anyway.
Vic : Masterbuilt MB20051316 Propane Smoker with Thermostat Control, 40 inch, Black
The smoker pan is too small to keep a good smoke going. In addition, the igniter stopped working after two uses. The bad thing is that I used the grill twice prior to recognizing that it was not the quality that I expected, but it was past the 30-day window to return the item.
bonnie : Still smoking!
Love my smoker! very sturdy and smokes my food very evenly no matter what rack its on!
Harry Neevus : A Great First Smoker – Happy BUT READ CAREFULLY - Updated!
Amazon robots call this model the MB20051316 with thermostat control – 40 inch, Black. The box is labeled somewhat more appropriately, “Masterbuilt 340G XL.” It doesn’t matter what you call it, as long as it works. This was my very first smoker and my out of box experience has been excellent so far - but - because of some reviews, I almost didn’t buy it.
THE GOOD:
Many reviewers complained about build quality, damaged or missing parts and trouble with the burner assembly lighting and staying lit. Even more complained about getting customer support from Masterbuilt. I didn’t experience any of this. I didn’t need to contact Masterbuilt, in part, because I did a lot of research before making this purchase.
ASSEMBLY:
I’m not the most “handy” guy but, I found the instructions (and a Masterbuilt Youtube video) to be sufficient during the build. I won’t say it was easy but it wasn’t bad. I took my time, and that methodical approach meant I had no issues during the assembly process. I probably spent 4 hours on the build. I was completely alone and had no trouble standing it upright once the bulk of the construction was complete.
I built, bubble tested all gas connections and seasoned the unit all in one single day. Not a bad out-of-box experience! Usually, my wife has to come out of the house to remind me not to swear at least 45 times during a project like this - but for some reason, there was no swearing! My wife was more than a little suspicious. A few neighbors stopped by to ogle the debris field in my driveway from all the packaging and of course, they invited themselves over for brisket or pulled pork once they realized what I was building, indicating my next purchase may have to be a fence… with some razor wire on the top.
MODIFICATIONS:
I purchased Lavarock sealing tape to enhance the door seal and a separate dead-simple interior oven thermometer as a simple way to double check temperatures. Don’t freak out over temperature variations. There have to be dozens of ways to monitor your smoker temp as well as your meat. Expecting this smoker to automate that effectively is unrealistic. It may be a “smoker” but YOU are the pit boss. Don’t get mad at the machine if you get lazy with your cook.
During our first smoke, (a whole chicken and an 8lb pork shoulder) our old iGrill meat thermometer proved to be about as useless as the day we bought it. It did provide feedback but it kept dropping the signal. We wished we had something “better” for our next smoke (More on that in minute.)
YES IT HOLDS TEMPS:
During our first smoke, we saw temps rise and fall constantly. Because of this, I was out there fooling around with the controls constantly. All I managed to do, was keep things in constant turmoil. During our second smoke, I let the thermostat do its job. That worked much better.
The thermostatic control built into this smoker works very well. You can set a temperature and verify that with any thermometer – once you’ve achieved the desired range, it will keep and hold that range very well. Huge variations will occur when you open the main door and smaller variations may occur when you change chips or add water to the pan. Let the unit adjust itself to your desired range before you try adjust the burner.
Water is the key to holding temps. Fill the pan ¾ full and check it every hour or so. The water helps regulate temps while providing moisture.
Surprisingly, this does not use that much propane. The little gage isn’t all that helpful but it’s better than nothing.
THE BAD:
It’s not really bad. If you’re used to smoking with an offset grill, electric smoker or your regular old gas grill – there may be a learning curve. Every smoker has its quirks. Keep that in mind when you read other reviews.
For me, the two worst things to complain about are: The hose for the propane tank isn’t long enough to allow the tank to be mounted on the smoker during use. No big deal - but 3 inches of hose can’t be the much of cost savings to the manufacturer. Also, the metal edge on the inside the door where the glass is fitted needs to be filed down. It’s got razor sharp burrs or jagged edges that will chew up your sponge, hand or cloth during cleaning. This in no way affects function so it’s minor. I’ll hit it up with a Dremel tool next cleaning.
THE UGLY:
Cleaning. You’ll need to be ready to do a lot of this. The idea of putting glass in the door seemed attractive to me. I hadn’t had a smoker before. Five minutes in and I’m partially blind to what’s happening inside. 4 hours in and I might as well have no glass at all. Don’t get me wrong – the glass is convenient but it’s mostly for luring in new smoker buyers. The pros know this is a gimmick. It still looks impressive, and I am in no way dissatisfied. Just plan to clean this thing more than you think.
CONCLUSION:
My second smoke is well underway and I’m loving this unit. My neighbors are eyeballing me with hunger in their eyes. I’m not sure how long I can keep them at bay with just a pitchfork. If you’ve gotten this far – send reinforcements! Please!
UPDATE & MODIFICATIONS
After the 2nd smoke (11+ hours ) I have some observations. The temp control works within reason. I do not expect this to hold at any precise temperature. However, it held temps within 5-10 degrees throughout the day. It did adjust itself after opening doors but the temps would spike as high as 330 - 350 before returning to 275. This is normal.
After another successful smoke, I cleaned the unit and noticed some small modifications can be made to extend the life of the smoker. Please note: I am not responsible for any modifications YOU MAKE based on these suggestions.
1.) Trapped water was discovered in both the upper (main) and lower door after cleaning. To prevent this, I drilled a 5/16ths hole into the right-hand bottom (underside) of the lower door. (When the door is installed, and you are facing the unit. The hole will be located on the underside near the far-right corner.) This will release any trapped water after cleaning. This hole should allow water to escape without any sacrifice to functionality. I filed the edges of the hole(s) with a Dremel tool to help protect the powder coat.
2.) I repeated these steps on the main door. When facing the smoker with the door closed, a 5/16ths hole in the right-hand bottom (underside) of the main door will allow any trapped water to escape after cleaning.
3.) Water Tray Rack: After inspecting this rather difficult to remove tray, I could see the sides were slightly bowed outward. A quick tap in the middle of each outside bar (with a hammer) made the tray slide in and out of the smoker MUCH EASIER. Use caution when removing, filling, and replacing this tray, especially during use. About ¾ full should do it.
4.) You may not need to do this - but my unit had a very rough inside edge around the glass in the door. I was able to use a Dremel tool to carefully file down all the burrs and edges so that all edges are now smooth – and no long snag a sponge or cloth.
5.) After a thorough cleaning, I left the unit sitting in full sun with the doors open to allow the unit to dry completely. Because I installed Lavarock sealing tape around the doors, extra precautions were taken. This tape absorbs and holds some water. I wanted the tape to be completely dry before closing the doors and putting the smoker away in my garage.
THE GOOD:
Many reviewers complained about build quality, damaged or missing parts and trouble with the burner assembly lighting and staying lit. Even more complained about getting customer support from Masterbuilt. I didn’t experience any of this. I didn’t need to contact Masterbuilt, in part, because I did a lot of research before making this purchase.
ASSEMBLY:
I’m not the most “handy” guy but, I found the instructions (and a Masterbuilt Youtube video) to be sufficient during the build. I won’t say it was easy but it wasn’t bad. I took my time, and that methodical approach meant I had no issues during the assembly process. I probably spent 4 hours on the build. I was completely alone and had no trouble standing it upright once the bulk of the construction was complete.
I built, bubble tested all gas connections and seasoned the unit all in one single day. Not a bad out-of-box experience! Usually, my wife has to come out of the house to remind me not to swear at least 45 times during a project like this - but for some reason, there was no swearing! My wife was more than a little suspicious. A few neighbors stopped by to ogle the debris field in my driveway from all the packaging and of course, they invited themselves over for brisket or pulled pork once they realized what I was building, indicating my next purchase may have to be a fence… with some razor wire on the top.
MODIFICATIONS:
I purchased Lavarock sealing tape to enhance the door seal and a separate dead-simple interior oven thermometer as a simple way to double check temperatures. Don’t freak out over temperature variations. There have to be dozens of ways to monitor your smoker temp as well as your meat. Expecting this smoker to automate that effectively is unrealistic. It may be a “smoker” but YOU are the pit boss. Don’t get mad at the machine if you get lazy with your cook.
During our first smoke, (a whole chicken and an 8lb pork shoulder) our old iGrill meat thermometer proved to be about as useless as the day we bought it. It did provide feedback but it kept dropping the signal. We wished we had something “better” for our next smoke (More on that in minute.)
YES IT HOLDS TEMPS:
During our first smoke, we saw temps rise and fall constantly. Because of this, I was out there fooling around with the controls constantly. All I managed to do, was keep things in constant turmoil. During our second smoke, I let the thermostat do its job. That worked much better.
The thermostatic control built into this smoker works very well. You can set a temperature and verify that with any thermometer – once you’ve achieved the desired range, it will keep and hold that range very well. Huge variations will occur when you open the main door and smaller variations may occur when you change chips or add water to the pan. Let the unit adjust itself to your desired range before you try adjust the burner.
Water is the key to holding temps. Fill the pan ¾ full and check it every hour or so. The water helps regulate temps while providing moisture.
Surprisingly, this does not use that much propane. The little gage isn’t all that helpful but it’s better than nothing.
THE BAD:
It’s not really bad. If you’re used to smoking with an offset grill, electric smoker or your regular old gas grill – there may be a learning curve. Every smoker has its quirks. Keep that in mind when you read other reviews.
For me, the two worst things to complain about are: The hose for the propane tank isn’t long enough to allow the tank to be mounted on the smoker during use. No big deal - but 3 inches of hose can’t be the much of cost savings to the manufacturer. Also, the metal edge on the inside the door where the glass is fitted needs to be filed down. It’s got razor sharp burrs or jagged edges that will chew up your sponge, hand or cloth during cleaning. This in no way affects function so it’s minor. I’ll hit it up with a Dremel tool next cleaning.
THE UGLY:
Cleaning. You’ll need to be ready to do a lot of this. The idea of putting glass in the door seemed attractive to me. I hadn’t had a smoker before. Five minutes in and I’m partially blind to what’s happening inside. 4 hours in and I might as well have no glass at all. Don’t get me wrong – the glass is convenient but it’s mostly for luring in new smoker buyers. The pros know this is a gimmick. It still looks impressive, and I am in no way dissatisfied. Just plan to clean this thing more than you think.
CONCLUSION:
My second smoke is well underway and I’m loving this unit. My neighbors are eyeballing me with hunger in their eyes. I’m not sure how long I can keep them at bay with just a pitchfork. If you’ve gotten this far – send reinforcements! Please!
UPDATE & MODIFICATIONS
After the 2nd smoke (11+ hours ) I have some observations. The temp control works within reason. I do not expect this to hold at any precise temperature. However, it held temps within 5-10 degrees throughout the day. It did adjust itself after opening doors but the temps would spike as high as 330 - 350 before returning to 275. This is normal.
After another successful smoke, I cleaned the unit and noticed some small modifications can be made to extend the life of the smoker. Please note: I am not responsible for any modifications YOU MAKE based on these suggestions.
1.) Trapped water was discovered in both the upper (main) and lower door after cleaning. To prevent this, I drilled a 5/16ths hole into the right-hand bottom (underside) of the lower door. (When the door is installed, and you are facing the unit. The hole will be located on the underside near the far-right corner.) This will release any trapped water after cleaning. This hole should allow water to escape without any sacrifice to functionality. I filed the edges of the hole(s) with a Dremel tool to help protect the powder coat.
2.) I repeated these steps on the main door. When facing the smoker with the door closed, a 5/16ths hole in the right-hand bottom (underside) of the main door will allow any trapped water to escape after cleaning.
3.) Water Tray Rack: After inspecting this rather difficult to remove tray, I could see the sides were slightly bowed outward. A quick tap in the middle of each outside bar (with a hammer) made the tray slide in and out of the smoker MUCH EASIER. Use caution when removing, filling, and replacing this tray, especially during use. About ¾ full should do it.
4.) You may not need to do this - but my unit had a very rough inside edge around the glass in the door. I was able to use a Dremel tool to carefully file down all the burrs and edges so that all edges are now smooth – and no long snag a sponge or cloth.
5.) After a thorough cleaning, I left the unit sitting in full sun with the doors open to allow the unit to dry completely. Because I installed Lavarock sealing tape around the doors, extra precautions were taken. This tape absorbs and holds some water. I wanted the tape to be completely dry before closing the doors and putting the smoker away in my garage.
Glenn : Wish i knew how to post pictures. I have them to prove this review.
I bought this smoker to use on mothers day weekend. It arrived on time. Upon opening and starting assembly noticed rear left corner was dented. I really needed to use this smoker so i hammered the dent out the best i could using a piece wood so i didn't caused more damage. Then the pre drilled holes would not line up. It was real pain in the arse. After all that the gas line looked like it had been crimped with pliers so i used vise grips and opened the line. Oh and the temp control wire would not go in hole so i rerouted it. Would have sent back but needed it for mothers day and i'm handy enough to make it work.
R&R : Hey, this is a great smoker despite some negative reviews!
Hubby and I wanted a smoker for years. We don’t cook for more than 3 people, so we didn’t require a monster smoker. We wanted something easy to use, and portable. I had read many negative reviews, so I was skeptical when my husband ordered it anyway. All I can say is that this smoker is awesome! We’ve used it a lot, and it’s perfect. We don’t use much propane. A few tips: get a cast iron skillet to put the water and wood chips in, and get one that will fit, not too big. We bought a gauge for the propane tank, get a digital thermometer, and watch a few YouTube videos on smoking. This wasn’t a lot of money, and we love it. Btw, my husband is a retired firefighter, and he’s the one that bbq’s and smokes the food. He likes how the design is safe and easy to use.
Bug3 : Enjoying using this smoker
Only have used this once... so far so good. Assembly took (an experienced tool person) 2.5hrs. Some assembly parts are extremely tight spaces. Where the nuts and bolts go (near the wheels in particular). One improvement could be a temperature gauge on the outside of the unit.
Sugar : Fantastic Smoker
This is my third smoker, and I love it.
My first was a Bradley, what a piece of crap, the heater is too small. I called tech support because it was not gettin above 115 degrees, they said it was too cold outside to allow it to get higher temperature. I bought a bigger heater from Amazon, but it helped a little. I'm not a summer Smoker.
My second one was an Oklahoma Joes reverse, which is great. However I needed a vertical smoker for sausage so I bought the Master Built, and am very happy about it.
My first was a Bradley, what a piece of crap, the heater is too small. I called tech support because it was not gettin above 115 degrees, they said it was too cold outside to allow it to get higher temperature. I bought a bigger heater from Amazon, but it helped a little. I'm not a summer Smoker.
My second one was an Oklahoma Joes reverse, which is great. However I needed a vertical smoker for sausage so I bought the Master Built, and am very happy about it.
Amazon Customer : Temp droop is large but will help if smom
Temp setting is off. I mounted a dial gauge next to the latch. Seems to be 25-40 degrees off.
I obviously know there is a temp swing(17 degrees with jerkey, higher with large cuts) but that is expected. ( your house typically has a 3-5 degrees droop)
I double checked it with my digital thermo.
Not huge making jerkey but a big deal when making a prime rib.
Still love it once I figured out the finesse like any other smoker.
The thermostat is going to help alot when I start smoking below -10f. Excited!
I obviously know there is a temp swing(17 degrees with jerkey, higher with large cuts) but that is expected. ( your house typically has a 3-5 degrees droop)
I double checked it with my digital thermo.
Not huge making jerkey but a big deal when making a prime rib.
Still love it once I figured out the finesse like any other smoker.
The thermostat is going to help alot when I start smoking below -10f. Excited!
WVSmokinMeats : Engineering and quality is sub par and temp control is a novelty for this model- JUNK
First things first- Believing that the "automatic temperature control" is gonna work will be your first observed flaw. There is NO cabinet temperature gauge to let you know what the actual inside temp is, Instead you are supposed to trust the temp on the gauge as part of the "automatic flame control"
Should be able to run from lowest selectable temperature (wont go below 200) and then when dialing in- should stay at the temperature and not move when it sees fit.
Even on first fire and seasoning the smoker- temp was off by over 30 degrees. I chalked it off as break in and tried to run a couple test batches through and monitor the actual temperature in several locations throughout the smoker with digital temp probes. There is no consistency or even relative proximity to the "selected" temp. As a result I get to spend however long my food takes, running back and forth trying to tweak till it will stick.
Take it one step further- Initially Masterbuilt CS tried to give me tech support for a totally different model even though I have gone through their absurd registration/support process. Once I let her know that it was bad info- I got pushed off and suggested things that had already been tried. End of the day- I was sent the fine print warning that IS NOT PUBLISHED for anyone to find out BEFORE buying- and here it is for you. The smoker is "calibrated" to have a +/- 25 degree swing with adjustments often required to obtain target temp. Meaning you get to rely on faulty automation (the temp control) to do its job.
Would NOT suggest this smoker for anyone. Trash.
Should be able to run from lowest selectable temperature (wont go below 200) and then when dialing in- should stay at the temperature and not move when it sees fit.
Even on first fire and seasoning the smoker- temp was off by over 30 degrees. I chalked it off as break in and tried to run a couple test batches through and monitor the actual temperature in several locations throughout the smoker with digital temp probes. There is no consistency or even relative proximity to the "selected" temp. As a result I get to spend however long my food takes, running back and forth trying to tweak till it will stick.
Take it one step further- Initially Masterbuilt CS tried to give me tech support for a totally different model even though I have gone through their absurd registration/support process. Once I let her know that it was bad info- I got pushed off and suggested things that had already been tried. End of the day- I was sent the fine print warning that IS NOT PUBLISHED for anyone to find out BEFORE buying- and here it is for you. The smoker is "calibrated" to have a +/- 25 degree swing with adjustments often required to obtain target temp. Meaning you get to rely on faulty automation (the temp control) to do its job.
Would NOT suggest this smoker for anyone. Trash.
wayne short : Door Latchs
The door latches have come apart on first use. Tried to fix and have come apart again. Having trouble getting to Masterbuilt
Christopher J. Amatulli : Great smoker for the price
Overall really happy with the Smoker. It maintains a consistent temperature from top to bottom along with great humidity for that long slow cook. Width is great in that i can put full trays in and still get the smoker to work well.
I would give it 5 starts, but i have a few issues that i have run into (though not major issues).
First, regulator is prone to freezing. keep it dry. if it freezes, disconnect it and bring it indoors to defrost (dont hit it with a heat gun).
Second, Doors need to be tighter. they adjust, but the setup is prone to loosening. This would be an overall design change, but it's easy to tighten them back up so not much of an inconvenience.
Third, Dont bother using wood chips in the chip tray. this unit lets the tray get to hot for chips. they dissapear in min if they dont catch on fire. I've switched over to chunks for this smoker, which last longer and maintain a good level of smoke. no level of wetness/moister survives the chip tray. I'd like it if they would make a deeper chip tray so i could switch between as chunks keep the lid up a bit.
I would give it 5 starts, but i have a few issues that i have run into (though not major issues).
First, regulator is prone to freezing. keep it dry. if it freezes, disconnect it and bring it indoors to defrost (dont hit it with a heat gun).
Second, Doors need to be tighter. they adjust, but the setup is prone to loosening. This would be an overall design change, but it's easy to tighten them back up so not much of an inconvenience.
Third, Dont bother using wood chips in the chip tray. this unit lets the tray get to hot for chips. they dissapear in min if they dont catch on fire. I've switched over to chunks for this smoker, which last longer and maintain a good level of smoke. no level of wetness/moister survives the chip tray. I'd like it if they would make a deeper chip tray so i could switch between as chunks keep the lid up a bit.
NickyBee : Great
Good heat control and easy to use - love the glass - takes some effort to install (heavy)
bonnie : Still smoking!
Love my smoker! very sturdy and smokes my food very evenly no matter what rack its on!
Amanda Schmackel : Liked the cheaper 1 better.
This product is in pieces completely and has to be assembled part by part which wasn't horribly bad but The igniter isn't working. The tray for wood chips is pretty small so not good if you've been smoking and put time into it for great flavor. We previously had the standard smoker made by master built which was half the price that was awesome. However since this 1 isn't working properly and was in so many pieces, I don't know how to begin to return it.
Superduty : Masterbuilts customer service sucks
I've been waiting almost two months for replacement parts, still no time frame of when I will receive them. Right from the get go this smoker hasn't worked. Spend your money elsewhere.
David West : Smoker modification
I like this smoker, it’s very easy to use. The chip pan that comes with the smoke has big holes in it to let the heat into the smoker. The wood chips catch fire and burn up. I did an upgrade modification to fix the wood chip problem and bonus can use charcoal also. The picture is I put two metal rods across the burner heat shield and put a 10 cast iron frying pan on top. This allows you to use charcoal and still put your wood chips in the pan without them catching fire
Amazon Customer : Great smoker for the money.
The only thing that needs changed it the tray on top of the burner. It starts the wood on fire fast and you can’t regulate the heat. I took a cast iron skillet and set on the tray with wood in it and it works like a charm.
Bill R. Schindler : Smoker
Add 45 minutes to putting it together.
Keith Wallace : A reasonable compromise...
I have had three Masterbuilt gas smokers. I prefere gas smokers in lieu of charcoal or electric versions. I have learned over that time that while they offer a reasonable benefit/cost compromise in comparison to the big green egg (which is charcoal fired), the smokers are built with thin sheet steel that eventually diminishes their effectiveness to the point that they fail the test of time. The bottom area heat shield, wood chip pan, and lower metals corrode due to heat and drippings. This time I plan to use a supplemental drip pan to extend its service life. I bought this third smoker knowing that after about three years I will have to replace it. Even so, I have many years to go before the replacement costs equal the cost and charcoal configuration of a big green egg.
bugger : worked 3 times and now i press the dial, it fires up. i let the dial go. dead - BUYER BEWARE
why did it stop working? i cannot light this anymore. worked 3 times and now it will not light. i press the dial, it fires up. i let the dial go. it shuts off. as all the other reviews state, it will stop working. i cannot use this anymore. BECAUSE IT WILL NOT LIGHT. NEW TANKS DID NOTHING TO HELP. PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS. YOU WILL BE DISAPPOINTED.
D.H : Happy with my purchase
Temperature on the dial was close to a separate temp Gauge
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