Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker, 202.9 lbs, Black review and price compare 2025
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Product overview
| Brand | Masterbuilt |
| Model Name | Gravity Series 1050 |
| Power Source | Charcoal |
| Color | Black |
| Item Weight | 202.9 Pounds |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 33.07 x 61.02 x 52.17 inches |
| Fuel Type | Charcoal |
product features
- by entering your model number.
- Reaches 225°F in 10 minutes or 700°F in 15 minutes
- Control temperature and cook time with the digital control panel or with smart device control using WiFi or Bluetooth
- DigitalFan for precise temperature control
- GravityFed hopper holds 10 lbs. of lump charcoal or 16 lbs. of briquettes for up to 8 hours of use
- Convenient fold out cord storage in back of side shelf to prevent loss or damage to the power supply
- Folding stainless steel shelf and stainless steel side shelf for extra preparation space
This fits your .
From the manufacturer
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GRAVITYFED CHARCOAL HOPPERRedefine charcoal cooking with the GravityFed Hopper that holds up to 8 hours of fuel using lump or briquette charcoal. No need to remove charcoal after each use! | DIGITALFAN CONTROLWith the push of a button, the digitally controlled fan moves air flow from the hopper to the cooking chamber and maintains desired cooking temperature. | SMOKE + SEAR VERSATILITYReach 700°F in 15 minutes to grill + sear or 225°F in 10 minutes for low + slow smoking. Includes reversible cast-iron grates to smoke + sear. |
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WIFI BLUETOOTH CAPABILITYSet it and go with your smart device. Learn to master the art of smoking, grilling and more with the Masterbuilt App. | FOLDAWAY RACKS + FOLDING SHELFThe FoldAway warming + smoking racks provide extra cooking space, while the stainless steel front shelf provides extra preparation space. | GRAVITY SERIES ROTISSERIE & COVEREnhance your experience with accessories. |
product description
Style:Gravity Series 1050 XL
With the Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker by Masterbuilt, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and so much more. Set the temperature on the digital control panel or your smart device and the DigitalFan maintains the desired cooking temperature. The GravityFed charcoal hopper holds up to 8 hours of charcoal and gravity ensures you have constant fuel to the fire. The reversible smoke + sear cast-iron grates and FoldAway warming + smoking racks add up to a total of 1050 square inches of cooking space. Master the art of charcoal grilling and smoking with Masterbuilt.
product details
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Important information
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Questions about Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker, 202.9 lbs, Black
Q:
Can you mix wood in with the charcoal?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in the grill and smoker Shelly. Yes, you can mix wood with the charcoal. We recommend for an On-Demand smoke, add 1-2 chunks (no larger than your fist) directly to the Ash bin, this will last approximately 2-3 hours. For a Controlled smoke we recommend, add four (4) pounds of charcoal and this one (1) wood chunk, creating layers of charcoal and wood chunks. We hope this information helps. If you have any additional questions, please contact us directly at 1.800.489.1581.
Answer: I run wood chunks in both the hopper and ash pan. I layer charcoal and chunks in the hopper and then throw in some wood chunks in the ash pan every few hours or so. Gives really good amounts of smoke, not overpowering at all.
Q:
What are the dimensions of the packaging?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in this grill. The box dimensions for this unit are 37.3 W X 21.7 L X 21.6 H. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Customer Support Team at www.masterbuilt.com.
Answer: Which model? Which size?
Q:
Can you shut the grill off with it full of charcoal?
Answer: Good Morning,
Q:
What are dimensions of the cooking area, Length and Width?
Answer: The cooking area dimensions for the two cast iron grates is 14" X 22". If you need any additional assistance, please contact our Customer Support Team at www.masterbuilt.com.
Answer: The main grate is 22.5"x14.5" and the upper grates are 22.5"x5.5" each. You can fit two of the small grates on each of the upper shelves - I bought two extra upper grates to give myself two additional shelves at roughly 22.5”x11”.
Q:
What's the minimum temperature for this gravity series masterbuilt smoke.? And/ or does it have a cold smoke accessory attachment?
Answer: Hello Patricia, 150° is the lowest temp setting for this grill and smoker. Currently we have not produced a cold smoke accessory attachment for this unit.
Q:
Is it made in the USA?
Answer: Thank you for your question. Our products are manufactured in China.
Q:
How big a brisket will fit on the cooker?
Answer: It will hold large brisket 20 plus pounds
Answer: Hello Rex Andrews, thank you for your interest in this grill plus smoker product. The cooking space of each main grate in this grill is 320 sq.in. We hope this information helps. If you need any additional information, please feel free to reach out to our Customer Support Team at www.masterbuilt.com.
Q:
Does it have a drip tray to collect meat juices as cooking? Also, is there somewhere to put a water pan when smoking?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in this grill. Yes, there is a grease tray that will collect liquids. There is not a designed area in the unit for a water pan. Along with the pictures of this unit in the description there are two videos as well that should help with the grill space and components. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Customer Support Team at www.masterbuilt.com.
Answer: The drip tray is on the bottom of grill that slides out is same size as grill as far as water pan would have to put next to food on great or put on great above grill great note there are some real good videos on YouTube hope this helped
Q:
Where do you get a closed lid sensor? Mine melted first burn can't find online parts
Answer: Wow. Definitely haven’t had that happen on mine (with 24+ cooks now). But, ping Masterbuilt customer service. They’ll take care of you. If you can’t reach them on their phone (lots of places shut down due to Covid 19), I’ve heard they respond quickly on Facebook messenger.
Q:
Can this smoker be used in the rain?
Answer: Thank you Eric for asking. We wouldn't recommend using this grill in the rain due to the electric controller on the unit. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Customer Support Team at www.masterbuilt.com.
Answer: I wouldn’t.
Q:
How much charcoal does this thing consume for something simple like burgers? Seems awesome for smoking and steaks - what about burgers?
Answer: Depending on the temperature you are using will depend how much charcoal will be used. It will also depend what kind of charcoal is in use. For a quick cook of burgers, it shouldn't use much. A full hopper can last for up to 15hr with lump or 11hr with briquettes, at 225F. This number will decrease as temperatures rise but, not aggressively. And, coal can be left in the hopper between uses, just keep the hopper lid and door closed, push the slides back in and it will cut off the oxygen.
Q:
How do you return this item?
Answer: You will have to contact the seller so that they can make preparations
Q:
Main grate size on 560 vs 1050?
Answer: The Gravity Series 560 cooking and sear grate is 14.5" x 22" while the Gravity Series 1050 is 28" x 18"
Q:
Cuando tendrán en existencia?
Q:
Can this grill be used in light rain? Are there any rain gaskets around the top of the electrical panel?
Answer: There are a lot of safety features to make this a useable outdoor product. It is not suggested to use any electrical appliance in any rain. If there is a place the unit can be used and covered during rain, that would be ideal.
Q:
Temp readout showing 0000timer when increasing temp from 250 to 400 is tis normal
Answer: The controller will scroll through your time and temperature throughout the heating and cook cycle, this is a normal operation of the unit.
Q:
How wide is the unit? The description says 24.6“ but I want to confirm with someone who has the unit. Is that the width from the widest point?
Answer: From the widest points, the width is 54.13", depth is 24.65", and height is 51.96"
Answer: Dimensions
Answer: Not correct. The width is 54” the depth is 24.6”
Answer: What is the width with the bottom door of the stack opened? I have a spot for my grill that measures 67.5” wide.
Q:
Do you have a cook book for masterbuilt gravity series 560?
Answer: It's a digitally controlled smoking oven heated by burning wood and charcoal. Cook anything you want in it with any recipe, it's not unique.
Answer: No I do not have a cook book but if u need some recipes I am more than happy to help
Answer: Hello Vincent, thank you for your interest in this grill. We do have a cookbook designed for this grill yet, but we do have recipes for it. Please visit us at www.masterbuilt.com.
Q:
Do the fan / electronics run on 220v? or is it just 110?
Answer: Power source ia 110
Answer: This is manufactured for the 110v.
Answer: 110v
Q:
Would this work in the United Kingdom? Can it handle 220v without a converter?
Answer: There are units designed specifically for the United Kingdom 220v. These units will need to be purchased in the UK.
Q:
Does it flair-up
Answer: If grease builds up onr the cook is quite fatty. The unit should be cleaned after each use to avoid grease flair ups.
Answer: It flares up when cooking over 350 degrees if there's grease build up in the manifold or if the meat is very fatty. Inserting the 2 metal slides quickly chokes out most flare ups. To avoid flare ups, it's best to clean the manifold regularly.
Answer: three prong
Q:
How many meat probes com with 560
Answer: The unit comes with 1 meat probe.
Answer: Only one probe. This is an awesome piece of equipment.
Answer: I got only one with it. You’ll have to purchase them separately.
Answer: 1
Answer: It comes with one.
Answer: Just 1 but you can buy more.
Q:
i this set it and forget it? I set the temp for say 250, walk away and never have to adjust? It will keep 250 constant?
Answer: As long as you have enough fuel (charcoal/wood) yes it will keep the same temp within a range of the target
Answer: You still have to feed it add charcoal or wood chunks but for the most part it maintains temp for a couple hours
Answer: The unit can be monitored by your phone for temperature control. Variances can occur due to amount of food and outside temperature. Please let us know if we can be of any further assistance.
Answer: For 8-10 hours yes. You have to check your hopper level occasionally. Otherwise it’s the taste of charcoal with the ease of a pellet.
Answer: As long as there is charcoal in the bin it should. As with any barbecue cooking it will be +/- 10%. Very easy to use.
Answer: You need to read and follow the instructions that comes with your package. At this time you will familiarize yourself with the grills operation,if not your results my not turn out to be they should be
Answer: Yes, as long as you still have coal in the hopper.
Answer: Yes
Q:
14 cooks old - the walls of the firebox is disintegrated to the extent that the insulation in the walls is visible - is this covered by the warranty?
Answer: According to Masterbuilt, those walls are sacrificial and are just there to hold the fire bricks in place during shipping, so the answer would be no.
Answer: The metal plates in the lower portion of the hopper hold the firebrick in place and protect it during shipping. These burn out and drop into the ash pan. They are not necessary for the grill to function and we’re not offering a replacement part, since they are meant to be temporary
Q:
How do you clean the ash out? Does it fall thru to the ground? Can this be used on a wood deck?
Answer: No grill should be used on a flammable surface. The ash falls to the bottom of the hopper, in a enclosed chamber into an ash bucket.
Answer: The ash goes into a pan that you dump after you are done and it cools. Yes it can be used on a wood deck, everything is contained. To be safe you could use fire brick under it or a fire proof mat. We love ours.
Answer: There is a ash catcher with a latched door at the bottom of the charcoal stack.
Answer: Get a grill mat. For sure. I dont really think there will be a problem but Id be leary about leaving it alone for any period of time without a grill mat under grill and maybe even one in front of grill for you to stand on.
Q:
Where can I purchase additional meat temperature probes?
Answer: There aren’t generic probes yet, so the only option is to purchase the Masterbuilt probes. I bought mine from their website.
Answer: I have never trusted the "onboard" meat thermometers on grills/smokers. They are never very accurate. Buy yourself a good set of bluetooth/wifi thermometers. I have the Tappecue Touch. It's Wifi and I can check grill and meat temps from anywhere on my phone. A bit pricey but well worth it.
Q:
Bought getting error codes V001 and R0 11 won’t work ?
Answer: I had to hook mine up to the internet and update it. Works better with apple products
Q:
How do I contact the seller for replacement parts that were damaged in delivery?
Answer: I registered it on their webpage and then used the support link.
Q:
Where can you buy an additional meat probe?
Answer: MASTERBUILT .COM
Q:
Is this delivered by semi truck?
Answer: Due to weight this unit, it will be delivered through a freight carrier.
Answer: Mine was delivered by semi, unloaded with a pallet Jack and wheeled up onto my deck… I took it from there.
Answer: Yes it was. They took it off the truck and put it in my garage. They were great. BTW it is a great smoker. It is the best gift I’ve given to hubby. ????????
Q:
does it come with Alexa?
Answer: It does not come with alexa
Answer: WOW....does it come with alexa?....just wow. You don't even deserve to have a grill
Answer: No, it features wifi and bluetooth connection with an app, so you can control grill temps and check meat temps and alarms from anywhere.
Answer: No, this feature is not available with the Gravity series Grill.
Q:
Is it Insulated
Answer: This grill is not insulated. For additional questions. please visit us at www.masterbuilt.com.
Answer: No but double walled in hopper
Q:
Does this smoker put out a lot of smoke or is it contained with in grill
Answer: As with any charcoal grill/smoker you’re gunna have smoke come out of the grill and that’s a good thing. If smoke can’t escape it sits over the meat and becomes bitter. That’s why this grill has about a 10-12” vent that runs along the back to help keep the smoke fresh. It smokes more on initial startup but once you’re up to temperature you get that nice thin clean blue smoke.
Answer: It does put out a lot of smoke. I typically add a couple chunks of moist wood to increase the amount of smoke. I love mine! I have two smokers, this one is very easy to clean( I can put most of the pieces in the dishwasher), it has WiFi (I done use it often) and was really easy to assemble ( I put mine together—only needed my husband to assist in moving it). Hope this helps. Oh, I would look at Home Depot - the one in our area had this on sale for $350.
Answer: It smokes. That’s probably why they call it a smoker. :)
Answer: This unit gives a good deal of smoke within the confines of the cabinet.
Answer: It put out a lot up smoke both outside and inside evenly
Answer: Both but does give a good smoke ring add wood chunks to ash bin just made baby backs yesterday and came out best yet
Q:
Why does it say it reaches temp of 700 when that burns the meat?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: high temp grilling is for searing such as with steaks.
Answer: This is for searing feature. Please visit our website for more details.
Q:
How many racks come wth it.
Answer: Has a main grate and a middle rack and a top rack. So 3 tiers. Thats on my 1050. The video will show you.
Answer: The grill comes with 2 smoking and sear grates and warming racks.
Answer: Well there are two bottom racks, then there is an upper one, plus a rotissary mount.
Answer: 2 racks along with the 2 grates.
Answer: Main grilling area and two warming racks.
Answer: One shelf.
Q:
I have been having a difficult time trying to get in touch with customer service, any help?
Answer: To get responses I had to make sure I registered the product first via their website. After that I was able to submit an online form for my issue. It did take 3-10 days for them to respond but I did get a response. I have not tried their Facebook group. Hope this helps.
Answer: It's a knock on them during COVID. The only way to reach them is by email. Keep trying - it took a while but they got back to me
Answer: There is a Facebook group for the gravity series. Lots of folks there may help
Answer: I’ve emailed them and they responded. Contact them on their brand FB page also. Many have had luck with that.
Q:
Does you have to use an outlet for the digital temp or is it battery?
Answer: I know that masterbuilt answered that it needs to be plugged into an outlet to this question, but some of us in the MB560 group are using this with just your standard battery pack that you’d use to charge your phone. If you buy a DC 5v to DC 9v or 12v Adjustable Step Up Voltage Converter, you can plug it into the grill and then the usb side to the battery pack, you can essentially use this on the go! A 20,000 mah battery pack should give you over 20 hours of cooking time.
Answer: Thank you for your interest in this grill. Yes, this product needs to be plugged into an outlet.
Q:
So just bought the 1050 and received the code ERR 1, it says temperature switch not fully comnected but everything seems to be not changing
Answer: Check your connection on the underside. Even unplug and replug it. You should join the Facebook group ‘Masterbuilt Gravity Series Fans’. Lots of help in there.
Q:
What happens if you use fast acting charcoal to season the grill?
Answer: Are you asking what will happen if you fill the hopper? If so, they will all light up and potentially damage the hopper. One or two in the bottom to light regular charcoal would be fine, but a hopper full of easy light charcoal could be disastrous.
Answer: Are you talking about match light charcoal? If so, you could have a problem. Since it burns from the bottom the entire hopper would probably ignite all at once. It is designed to ignite only the bottom layer and then ignite more as the layers burn away. It does this very well but with match light it would all burn at once causing extreme heat and possibly damage the grill.
Answer: Temperatures can be unstable and accelerants are not recommended in use with Gravity.
Q:
Just bought it, is it normal to have smoke coming from the top of the charcoal box?
Answer: Smoke will come from different areas but, ensure all your lids are closed and latched, and your air intake slides are completely removed, to avoid the "chimney" effect.
Answer: Yes. Mine does as well. I don’t think it was designed to be completely sealed, just pretty close.
Answer: Yes
Q:
Saw the assembly video - seems like very many steps to assemble - how long does it take?
Answer: Probably less than three hours with the help
Answer: Took me about 45 minutes. Most of it is put together, just attaching the larger pieces together. It’s pretty easy in my opinion.
Answer: About 1.5 hours but the grill is awesome best smoker I have ever owned
Answer: At least an hour and half.
Answer: Took me two hours.
Answer: Alone 2.5 hrs
Q:
Does the grill come with a cover and temperature probe? Also, can you get a rotisserie for this grill?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in this product. This grill does not come with a cover but comes with 1 meat probe. Our rotisserie will be available late spring.
Answer: The grill does not come with a cover. but you can order one on the Masterbuilt web page. Yes it does with a probe. but I have not been able to connect with it.
Answer: No cover, 1 meat probe, it seems ready to accept a rotisserie but it isn't currently available.
Q:
What size of wood chunks can be used for this grill?
Answer: Standard wood chunks can be used.
Answer: Any that fit into the charcoal drop area, I soak 2 - 4 inch chunks and then add them to the ash box as needed, the dropping charcoal starts these smoldering and is very effective at producing smoke. In my opinion, the larger the better. But I would say anything less than 8 inches you would be fine.
Q:
How durable is the fire box /What gauge steel ,any stainless steel in this grill ?
Answer: This unit is very heavy duty. Double insulated back wall and single walled on the other three. There is brushed stainless steel within the interior of the grill.
Answer: The firebox is a dual walled vertical chamber. Don't know the actual metal thickness but it should be ok for the life of the grill. The metal at the bottom of the firebox where the burn is hottest is thicker metal. A metal slide thst you put the starter material in appears to be SS.
Answer: Have not used it yet so don't know
Answer: IT IS MADE TO LAST IF YOU TAKE CARE OF IT
Q:
Can i use a water pan ?
Answer: Thank you for your interest in the grill. Yes, you can put a water pan in this grill. If you have any additional questions, please contact our Customer Support Team at 1.800.489.1581.
Answer: I believe you could next to food on great or on upper great
Q:
Why don’t you ship to Hawaii?
Answer: Probably not worth it for Amazon...
Q:
We just got the 560 today and its throwing error code 001 something to do with the temperature probe. We tried calling Masterbilt and they are closed
Answer: Have you connected it to WiFi? You might need to download the latest firmware and need a WiFi connection to do that
Q:
When is the rotisserie accessorie coming out ?
Answer: It is available
Answer: I DONT KNOW I WOOD LIKE TO KNOW
Q:
is this the 2020 model or 2021
Answer: this model has no changes year to eyar so far. the only difference you can search for is the size. 580 (580Sqin) the 1050 (1050Sqin) and now a new one 800 (800Sqin).
Answer: We would need the serial number to identify the manufacturing year.
Q:
The charcoal grate holes look pretty wide. Do that fall through before burning?
Answer:
Answer:
Answer: Smaller pieces of burnt charcoal do fall thru the grate holes. Your choices are: 1. discard the ash and small charcoal pieces before firing up the grill the next time or 2. separate the ash from the small charcoal pieces then dump the small pieces back onto the top of the unburned charcoal.
Answer: I’ve modified mine slightly to hold charcoal better. Lump’s little pieces fall through a lot. If you use the char logs from royal oak or B&B it’s no problem.
Answer: You want lit coals to drop through and help ignite wood in the ash pan. Some people have modified the grates to a smaller hole. Works for some, others have ash build up and trouble lighting and/or getting to higher temps. I’ve left mine as is and it works fantastic. Zero complaints.
Answer: No, the ash will fall through after burning.
Answer: It burns probably 3/4 of the charcoal piece before it’s small enough to fall through.
Answer: Haven't cooked a lot on mine yet but this doesn't seem to be a problem. My main issue is that the you will waste a lot of charcoal if you fill up the hopper and are only cooking burgers etc. I thought there was some kind of "slide" that would separate the unburned charcoal but doesn't appear to be so.
Answer: Yes. Most users have modified it by placing another grate over it with narrower gaps.
Answer: A couple of pieces may get through but there is no reason to panic everything will still run normal.
Answer: No, this grill is the best grill I ever owned
Product reviews of Masterbuilt MB20041220 Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Grill + Smoker, 202.9 lbs, Black
Runner : Really good
Product came damaged. Masterbuilt sent a new main body right away. It took about 1.5 hrs to put together by myself. The temp controller is easy to use and works well. The app sometimes loses its connection. I have found I go through quite a bit more charcoal than Masterbuilt stated, but it is winter. Overall I Like it a lot. The smoke flavor is awesome!
Arnie : Found a great hack!
I don't often write reviews but since I relied on other's reviews before purchasing this I think it's only fair to contribute to the conversation. I waited to test it out before writing.
First, as most reviews have stated, it is a time consuming challenge to assemble, especially alone. Once done it's an impressive piece of cooking equipment. Per the manual, using regular charcoal briquettes I burned it in to remove any manufacturing oil and grease residue. I then seasoned it as well. I was anxious to test it out but I started too late in the day so I had to wait. I looked in the freezer for something to smoke or grill and found I pack of wild Canada Goose breasts that I had overlooked from last year. They were a perfect candidate for overnight brining.
The next day I removed them from the brine, dried them, brushed them with avocado oil and an herb and pepper rub. I added one chunk of alder wood to the ash catcher for a lite smoke and did a "low and slow" cook to 150 degrees internal and then a quick sear to finish. Delicious and tender! Could not believe they had been in the freezer for 15 months! I look forward to many meals on this.
Now the hack: Many reviews mention how easy it is to lose the screws and washers inside the lid when attaching the handle. Assembly was time consuming enough that I didn't want to waste time trying to fish out dropped hardware. Turns out a 12 gauge plastic shotgun shell (empty hull) fits into the access hole perfectly and prevents a dropped screw from falling into the lid. I used a 2 3/4" but a 3" might be better. Just cut off the base and you have a rigid tube that you don't even have to hold in place. You will remember this when you get to this point in assembly and either be glad that you listened or annoyed that you didn't. ;-)
Enjoy!
First, as most reviews have stated, it is a time consuming challenge to assemble, especially alone. Once done it's an impressive piece of cooking equipment. Per the manual, using regular charcoal briquettes I burned it in to remove any manufacturing oil and grease residue. I then seasoned it as well. I was anxious to test it out but I started too late in the day so I had to wait. I looked in the freezer for something to smoke or grill and found I pack of wild Canada Goose breasts that I had overlooked from last year. They were a perfect candidate for overnight brining.
The next day I removed them from the brine, dried them, brushed them with avocado oil and an herb and pepper rub. I added one chunk of alder wood to the ash catcher for a lite smoke and did a "low and slow" cook to 150 degrees internal and then a quick sear to finish. Delicious and tender! Could not believe they had been in the freezer for 15 months! I look forward to many meals on this.
Now the hack: Many reviews mention how easy it is to lose the screws and washers inside the lid when attaching the handle. Assembly was time consuming enough that I didn't want to waste time trying to fish out dropped hardware. Turns out a 12 gauge plastic shotgun shell (empty hull) fits into the access hole perfectly and prevents a dropped screw from falling into the lid. I used a 2 3/4" but a 3" might be better. Just cut off the base and you have a rigid tube that you don't even have to hold in place. You will remember this when you get to this point in assembly and either be glad that you listened or annoyed that you didn't. ;-)
Enjoy!
RDaletto : Broken cast iron grate
One of the cast iron gates came completely broken!!
Jeffrey Watterworth : Review of Shipping Only
Very disappointed in the damage that this had after shipping. Didn’t notice it until I started to put the legs on and one wouldn’t fit because of how bad the grill was bent. I had to straighten it out as best as I could to get the final screw in place. Masterbuilt cut corners in packaging for shipment and Amazon must have used guys that dropped the grill off the truck.
rick : Minor modifications needed for more efficient burn
Easy to assemble plenty of cooking space. Tastes great with wood chunks mixed in the charcoal. The only drawback is that the factory grate allows for half burnt charcoal to fall into the ash can. Cut a grate and lay it in and it will burn up all the coals before they fall out.
AB123 : Leaks grease. A bear to put together
I really wanted to love this grill. I mean charcoal heat that smokes and sears, what is not to love? I was excited like a kid on Christmas when it came. I read the reviews about the challenges with switches. I looked at the design and thought..."that's a lot of things to break" especially with a 1-year warranty, but I went for it anyways.
It was a bear to build. Took me more than 2 hours. It wasn't so much that it was hard as it had some weird things like the handle if you dropped the bolt it got lost in the cover and you had to fish it out somehow.
Ok, but the build is temporary and we move on. Then I cooked with it the first time. I smokes a St. Louis rack of ribs for 7 hours. It leaked grease everywhere. No, not just some random rivet all over my patio, it also ran down all of the legs and around the wheels. Then there was the controller which just randomly would shut off for no reason and wouldn't warn you through the app (that's why my 5-6 hour cook turned to 7 hours). Ribs tasted great but I have a stain on my patio now.
I expected to have to work through problems on this grill, but with the way it is built I think just about every other cook is going to bring a challenge. I'm really bummed because I can't find anything else on the market that will take its place. This isn't going to work though and with the problems I am facing now I do not want to deal with durability problems that I know will come in the future based on the build quality.
It was a bear to build. Took me more than 2 hours. It wasn't so much that it was hard as it had some weird things like the handle if you dropped the bolt it got lost in the cover and you had to fish it out somehow.
Ok, but the build is temporary and we move on. Then I cooked with it the first time. I smokes a St. Louis rack of ribs for 7 hours. It leaked grease everywhere. No, not just some random rivet all over my patio, it also ran down all of the legs and around the wheels. Then there was the controller which just randomly would shut off for no reason and wouldn't warn you through the app (that's why my 5-6 hour cook turned to 7 hours). Ribs tasted great but I have a stain on my patio now.
I expected to have to work through problems on this grill, but with the way it is built I think just about every other cook is going to bring a challenge. I'm really bummed because I can't find anything else on the market that will take its place. This isn't going to work though and with the problems I am facing now I do not want to deal with durability problems that I know will come in the future based on the build quality.
Arnie : Found a great hack!
I don't often write reviews but since I relied on other's reviews before purchasing this I think it's only fair to contribute to the conversation. I waited to test it out before writing.
First, as most reviews have stated, it is a time consuming challenge to assemble, especially alone. Once done it's an impressive piece of cooking equipment. Per the manual, using regular charcoal briquettes I burned it in to remove any manufacturing oil and grease residue. I then seasoned it as well. I was anxious to test it out but I started too late in the day so I had to wait. I looked in the freezer for something to smoke or grill and found I pack of wild Canada Goose breasts that I had overlooked from last year. They were a perfect candidate for overnight brining.
The next day I removed them from the brine, dried them, brushed them with avocado oil and an herb and pepper rub. I added one chunk of alder wood to the ash catcher for a lite smoke and did a "low and slow" cook to 150 degrees internal and then a quick sear to finish. Delicious and tender! Could not believe they had been in the freezer for 15 months! I look forward to many meals on this.
Now the hack: Many reviews mention how easy it is to lose the screws and washers inside the lid when attaching the handle. Assembly was time consuming enough that I didn't want to waste time trying to fish out dropped hardware. Turns out a 12 gauge plastic shotgun shell (empty hull) fits into the access hole perfectly and prevents a dropped screw from falling into the lid. I used a 2 3/4" but a 3" might be better. Just cut off the base and you have a rigid tube that you don't even have to hold in place. You will remember this when you get to this point in assembly and either be glad that you listened or annoyed that you didn't. ;-)
Enjoy!
First, as most reviews have stated, it is a time consuming challenge to assemble, especially alone. Once done it's an impressive piece of cooking equipment. Per the manual, using regular charcoal briquettes I burned it in to remove any manufacturing oil and grease residue. I then seasoned it as well. I was anxious to test it out but I started too late in the day so I had to wait. I looked in the freezer for something to smoke or grill and found I pack of wild Canada Goose breasts that I had overlooked from last year. They were a perfect candidate for overnight brining.
The next day I removed them from the brine, dried them, brushed them with avocado oil and an herb and pepper rub. I added one chunk of alder wood to the ash catcher for a lite smoke and did a "low and slow" cook to 150 degrees internal and then a quick sear to finish. Delicious and tender! Could not believe they had been in the freezer for 15 months! I look forward to many meals on this.
Now the hack: Many reviews mention how easy it is to lose the screws and washers inside the lid when attaching the handle. Assembly was time consuming enough that I didn't want to waste time trying to fish out dropped hardware. Turns out a 12 gauge plastic shotgun shell (empty hull) fits into the access hole perfectly and prevents a dropped screw from falling into the lid. I used a 2 3/4" but a 3" might be better. Just cut off the base and you have a rigid tube that you don't even have to hold in place. You will remember this when you get to this point in assembly and either be glad that you listened or annoyed that you didn't. ;-)
Enjoy!
Amazon Customer : Amazing Grill. You have to own one!!!
I ordered this grill and when I received it, it looked like the shipping company kicked it across 4 states. I unboxed it and it was damaged to the point that I could not even assemble it. BUT! I found the 1050 at Walmart and bought it while waiting for the return to be picked up.
This grill is amazing. I have had it for 2 weeks now and have only not used it 2 days. Pork ribs, seared ribeyes, beef back ribs, rotisserie chicken, tri-tip (twice) and others have already been cook on my grill. All I can say is Wow! Everything came out better than my pellet grill ever dreamed of.
I have now tried lump charcoal, regular charcoal, and charcoal with chuncks of wood in the bin for smoking. All are fantastic.
This unit is double walled and insulated. It will hold the temperature within 5 degrees. Closer to 3 most of the time.
I live in a windy area. This can cause a lot of issues with all other grills I own. But not this one.
They have taken the majority of the mess, and all of the pain, out of using charcoal. Easy to light. Takes a little longer than the one to two minutes to ignite the charcoal than the book says, but that could be because of the lighter squares I am using.
Clean up of the entire grill took 5 minutes.
Assembly of the grill is not difficult, but quite time consuming. It is handy to have a helper as it is not exactly light weight. But if you follow the instructions, they are very well put together.
This is my favorite grill ever.
This grill is amazing. I have had it for 2 weeks now and have only not used it 2 days. Pork ribs, seared ribeyes, beef back ribs, rotisserie chicken, tri-tip (twice) and others have already been cook on my grill. All I can say is Wow! Everything came out better than my pellet grill ever dreamed of.
I have now tried lump charcoal, regular charcoal, and charcoal with chuncks of wood in the bin for smoking. All are fantastic.
This unit is double walled and insulated. It will hold the temperature within 5 degrees. Closer to 3 most of the time.
I live in a windy area. This can cause a lot of issues with all other grills I own. But not this one.
They have taken the majority of the mess, and all of the pain, out of using charcoal. Easy to light. Takes a little longer than the one to two minutes to ignite the charcoal than the book says, but that could be because of the lighter squares I am using.
Clean up of the entire grill took 5 minutes.
Assembly of the grill is not difficult, but quite time consuming. It is handy to have a helper as it is not exactly light weight. But if you follow the instructions, they are very well put together.
This is my favorite grill ever.
Michelle : Have just had this smoker for a few days but I think the following will help others
Last edit / comment on this purchase. If required we will review on the replacement unit. As mentioned below the smoker failed. Would not power on. Masterbuilt stopped responding for help on facebook. I called Amazon who provided a replacement unit. WE APPRECIATE THE HELP & SUPPORT FROM AMAZON. Hoping that the second unit is better. If the second unit fails we will return not replace.
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0 I put this at the top (this is new vs original review) since it is the most important comment. I have used the smoke two times. Three times counting today. one brisket, 2 pork shoulders, 2 racks of ribs. All in prep for friends coming over to celebrate July 4th and it stopped working. NO POWER.
1 Time to put together is at least 3.5 hours. Mine was longer. Lots of parts and it will be a pain to put it together. You could hire someone but if you want it done right better to do it yourself. If I were to rate this from 1-10 it would be a 2, maybe a 3, They can / should make this easier
2 Instruction manual is ok. Part of the reason it takes so long to put together is the amount of time you will spend trying to figure out how to do the next step. Using that 1-10 scale this is a 5, maybe a 6.
3 Delivery from amazon was flawless. From the moment it was ordered to the delivery in our garage they were outstanding. I do know others did not have this experience. Seeing the comments on support from others this might be something that you want to buy from a good store to get around the manufactures support issues. A perfect score 10 out of 10
4 Nothing bent, nothing broken, no damage. Everything inside the box was perfect. Another 10 out of 10 and one of the two perfect score Masterbuilt gets.
5 Wireless app is no better and no worse than other wireless apps. Don't buy it for the app. On the other hand do not avoid it because of the app. 5 out of 10
6 Price. This is expensive. Hoping it was worth the cost. Still early. No score
7 Temperature control. Still early but the temperature control is outstanding. This could be why you buy this grill. Lots of warnings about fan failures. If the fan fails this turns into a big pile of trash. Still from our perspective 10 out of 10
8 We were warned about the smoke during burn in but this was not an issue for us. No score
9 The glue they use for the advertisement posters is a big problem. I like the fact they try to protect the grill, this makes a lot of sense. But removing the paper and glue pulls the paint off the grill. You read it right removing the paper will remove the paint from the grill. Support don’t want to address the problem but I’ve seen this type of thing before (I'm old). It showed signs of rust when the paint got pulled off. This might not be a problem now but it will be a problem in the future. Right now it should be their problem and they should send a replacement part. In a couple of years when I am sure I will be calling for help it will be my problem. Makes me think we will have other quality issues 0 out of 10
9A (Addition since the original review. They did provide a new lid vs me sending it back. An agreeable solution to a problem that should not happen.
10 Quality Other people’s reviews mentioned high heat melting the switches. We will heed the warning and never use this for high heat cooking. We have a gas grill (Kitchen Aid) for high heat. Still this is disappointing. Wondering if this will be a problem for us? No score for now.
11 Support. Reading the reviews and our experience so far tells us support is going to be a problem. It is all web based. Very disappointing. Given the cost they should provide outstanding support. Support in the past from other manufactures with less expensive smokers (green Keg) has been nothing less than outstanding. Kitchen Aid on the other hand has support issues too. It is still early and I reserve the right to review and edit this review over time but right now it’s a 2 disappointing 2 out of 10. If I had seen the comments on bad support earlier it is unlikely we would have made this purchase. Support, especially on expensive products like this is a reason to purchase / not purchase.
11A (an addition since the original review) no phone support. On a day like today, a major event for my family, for it to fail with no phone support is unacceptable. Do I try to return it? If I had purchased from a big box retailer the answer is yes. Not sure how this will work but might be where it all ends. This is sad.
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0 I put this at the top (this is new vs original review) since it is the most important comment. I have used the smoke two times. Three times counting today. one brisket, 2 pork shoulders, 2 racks of ribs. All in prep for friends coming over to celebrate July 4th and it stopped working. NO POWER.
1 Time to put together is at least 3.5 hours. Mine was longer. Lots of parts and it will be a pain to put it together. You could hire someone but if you want it done right better to do it yourself. If I were to rate this from 1-10 it would be a 2, maybe a 3, They can / should make this easier
2 Instruction manual is ok. Part of the reason it takes so long to put together is the amount of time you will spend trying to figure out how to do the next step. Using that 1-10 scale this is a 5, maybe a 6.
3 Delivery from amazon was flawless. From the moment it was ordered to the delivery in our garage they were outstanding. I do know others did not have this experience. Seeing the comments on support from others this might be something that you want to buy from a good store to get around the manufactures support issues. A perfect score 10 out of 10
4 Nothing bent, nothing broken, no damage. Everything inside the box was perfect. Another 10 out of 10 and one of the two perfect score Masterbuilt gets.
5 Wireless app is no better and no worse than other wireless apps. Don't buy it for the app. On the other hand do not avoid it because of the app. 5 out of 10
6 Price. This is expensive. Hoping it was worth the cost. Still early. No score
7 Temperature control. Still early but the temperature control is outstanding. This could be why you buy this grill. Lots of warnings about fan failures. If the fan fails this turns into a big pile of trash. Still from our perspective 10 out of 10
8 We were warned about the smoke during burn in but this was not an issue for us. No score
9 The glue they use for the advertisement posters is a big problem. I like the fact they try to protect the grill, this makes a lot of sense. But removing the paper and glue pulls the paint off the grill. You read it right removing the paper will remove the paint from the grill. Support don’t want to address the problem but I’ve seen this type of thing before (I'm old). It showed signs of rust when the paint got pulled off. This might not be a problem now but it will be a problem in the future. Right now it should be their problem and they should send a replacement part. In a couple of years when I am sure I will be calling for help it will be my problem. Makes me think we will have other quality issues 0 out of 10
9A (Addition since the original review. They did provide a new lid vs me sending it back. An agreeable solution to a problem that should not happen.
10 Quality Other people’s reviews mentioned high heat melting the switches. We will heed the warning and never use this for high heat cooking. We have a gas grill (Kitchen Aid) for high heat. Still this is disappointing. Wondering if this will be a problem for us? No score for now.
11 Support. Reading the reviews and our experience so far tells us support is going to be a problem. It is all web based. Very disappointing. Given the cost they should provide outstanding support. Support in the past from other manufactures with less expensive smokers (green Keg) has been nothing less than outstanding. Kitchen Aid on the other hand has support issues too. It is still early and I reserve the right to review and edit this review over time but right now it’s a 2 disappointing 2 out of 10. If I had seen the comments on bad support earlier it is unlikely we would have made this purchase. Support, especially on expensive products like this is a reason to purchase / not purchase.
11A (an addition since the original review) no phone support. On a day like today, a major event for my family, for it to fail with no phone support is unacceptable. Do I try to return it? If I had purchased from a big box retailer the answer is yes. Not sure how this will work but might be where it all ends. This is sad.
Amazon Customer : BUY THIS!!!!!
Please get this smoker/grill!!!! I’ve smoked with pellet, charcoal, and electric. I love this thing. Gives you the charcoal smokey flavor but you don’t have to sit around all day tending the smoker because the digitally controlled fan regulates the temperature for you. It connects to WiFi and Bluetooth. Temperature range that lets you smoke delicate foods or sear a amazing steak. I don’t work for Masterbuilt, I’m just a happy customer that bought this amazing grill.
Janettte Perez : Not reliable
It worked like a charm the first few times i used it. It still works good whenever i can get it to turn on and not give the R011 and N001 codes along with the OPEN code even though i have everything closed. Little life hack, if you can turn on the fan manually and control the temperature you can keep using it even after this crap goes haywire.
Dang Lucky Nerd : Rusted Parts and Unable to Contact Customer Support
I was so excited to get this new smoker but when I opened it and started taking everything out of the box, I saw that the heat manifold assembly piece was covered in some kind of oil. I looked at the assembly videos on their website to see if maybe it is meant to be this way. Nothing looks like it has oil on it. So, I cleaned off the oils but it was full of rust (see the picture). So, I need a new part. The phone number in the book for customer support has a message that basically says they don't do customer support over the phone and directs to the website. Got to the website and it says you can't do anything until you register the product. I tried to register and and error comes up that says I need to log into Oracle Netsuite before I can complete it. Oracle network is not for customers as far as I can tell but there is not a way to sign up an Oracle Netsuite account. Shame on you Masterbuilt!
Ruaidhri Jackson : Cheap manufacturing, avoid
Was very excited to order this and seeing the mainly positive reviews. I have ordered this twice now and have had to return it twice. Opened box (damaged in both deliveries) and found that a number of the stainless steel parts like the heat manifold assembly were covered in grease (maybe from the manufacture process). Worst still was that these prices also had rust around their bolts. Thought first time was just a bad batch, but got a second delivery and problem was still their. Wasn’t as bad as the first time but still a disgrace to be shipped. I would avoid this product, $500 is too much for how poorly built this grills comments are.
Heath : Do not buy this through Amazon
DLB : Disgraceful
Is this a practical joke? Right out of the box, the hopper latch was busted/rusted off, which means nothing else much matters. Several of the parts were covered in some type of muck - feels like a combination of grease and rust. Other parts had water in them. Manufacturer should be embarrassed for shipping out an absolute piece of junk like this. Masterbuilt's phone service is suspended due to COVID, and the website has a tech issue that prevents me from even submitting a claim (it demands an answer from a drop-down menu, but the menu doesn't actually have any content). Now I've got like 30 pieces of this thing scattered all over my patio and have to figure out how to return when there is literally no way to contact the manufacturer. This is a giant disaster.
Jay Long : Worst buyers remorse I’ve ever had
Where to start.
Want temp control? Mine is usually 26 degrees (F) over for the duration of the cook.
Like the advertised heat up speeds? Takes an hour to get the charcoal going.
Like the built in thermometer? I have to use a different one. It just stops working for 5 minutes at a time.
All charcoal left in the hopper is unusable after each cook. It won’t ignite at all. I do full shutdown, replace the slides. It won’t ignite again, hence the hour to start comment. We finally figured out if we fully replace all charcoal, we can light it.
Also half the time we finally get the charcoal going, the fan won’t start.
I’m an engineer that used to build houses and assembly was awful for me.
The ONLY reason I wanted this over our $100 acorn grill was the temp control, and it’s worse here.
Want temp control? Mine is usually 26 degrees (F) over for the duration of the cook.
Like the advertised heat up speeds? Takes an hour to get the charcoal going.
Like the built in thermometer? I have to use a different one. It just stops working for 5 minutes at a time.
All charcoal left in the hopper is unusable after each cook. It won’t ignite at all. I do full shutdown, replace the slides. It won’t ignite again, hence the hour to start comment. We finally figured out if we fully replace all charcoal, we can light it.
Also half the time we finally get the charcoal going, the fan won’t start.
I’m an engineer that used to build houses and assembly was awful for me.
The ONLY reason I wanted this over our $100 acorn grill was the temp control, and it’s worse here.
Bob : Be ready to straighten up some metal
Box was in perfect condition. But this is what the grill looked like when I opened it. I guess I can try and fix it myself. The metal is thin enough
Jenifer : The will get us a new one but is it going to be dented too?
The grill itself is awesome, but the grill was dented bent and squished when we opened the box. What a bummer.
DLB : Disgraceful
Is this a practical joke? Right out of the box, the hopper latch was busted/rusted off, which means nothing else much matters. Several of the parts were covered in some type of muck - feels like a combination of grease and rust. Other parts had water in them. Manufacturer should be embarrassed for shipping out an absolute piece of junk like this. Masterbuilt's phone service is suspended due to COVID, and the website has a tech issue that prevents me from even submitting a claim (it demands an answer from a drop-down menu, but the menu doesn't actually have any content). Now I've got like 30 pieces of this thing scattered all over my patio and have to figure out how to return when there is literally no way to contact the manufacturer. This is a giant disaster.
Runner : Really good
Product came damaged. Masterbuilt sent a new main body right away. It took about 1.5 hrs to put together by myself. The temp controller is easy to use and works well. The app sometimes loses its connection. I have found I go through quite a bit more charcoal than Masterbuilt stated, but it is winter. Overall I Like it a lot. The smoke flavor is awesome!
T Hestand : Where have you been all my life???
First off... I've been smoking for about 40 years on just about every kind of smoker you can imagine. I saw the reviews and videos of the Gravity Series and ordered the 1050. Assembled it today and did the seasoning.
Truthfully, I have been in awe all evening after what I saw during the seasoning. For smoking "Low and Slow" temp management has always been a struggle. Bouncing back and forth between "Too Hot" and "Too Cold" is the norm. Even on a pellet grill with PID it still sometimes was a struggle.
Today I lit of the Gravity series to do the seasoning and set it for 250° and it shot to about 325° (Rookie Mistake... Didn't remove the slides). It quickly settled back to 250° and my Tappecue (Clipped under the warming rack center) read 256°. I watched for an hour as this thing bounced between 253° and 259° (Tappecue). This thing was rock solid on temp control.
Then bumped to 400° and it too about 4 minutes to top off at 410° then back down to 403° and held for 30 minutes. Again Amazing temp control.
Then shut down and put back the slides and the charcoal went out without wasting any. Greased it up and relit it. set for 350°. It took about 4 minutes to get there and then for 30 minutes I watched it vary by +/-3°.
The assembly wasn't too hard (even one handed because of a torn rotator cuff) and took me about 4 hours (again... One handed). They even gave an extra set of screws/bolts incase you dropped one (which I did).
Startup was simple and again Temp Control was nothing less than Amazing. How they can do that with a charcoal grill/smoker is awesome. Time to sell my pellet grill/smoker and never look back.
The graph shows temp changes at 250° then bumped to 400°
Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for anyone in the market and if you're thinking about a pellet grill.... STOP and take a look at this! You won't be sorry.
Truthfully, I have been in awe all evening after what I saw during the seasoning. For smoking "Low and Slow" temp management has always been a struggle. Bouncing back and forth between "Too Hot" and "Too Cold" is the norm. Even on a pellet grill with PID it still sometimes was a struggle.
Today I lit of the Gravity series to do the seasoning and set it for 250° and it shot to about 325° (Rookie Mistake... Didn't remove the slides). It quickly settled back to 250° and my Tappecue (Clipped under the warming rack center) read 256°. I watched for an hour as this thing bounced between 253° and 259° (Tappecue). This thing was rock solid on temp control.
Then bumped to 400° and it too about 4 minutes to top off at 410° then back down to 403° and held for 30 minutes. Again Amazing temp control.
Then shut down and put back the slides and the charcoal went out without wasting any. Greased it up and relit it. set for 350°. It took about 4 minutes to get there and then for 30 minutes I watched it vary by +/-3°.
The assembly wasn't too hard (even one handed because of a torn rotator cuff) and took me about 4 hours (again... One handed). They even gave an extra set of screws/bolts incase you dropped one (which I did).
Startup was simple and again Temp Control was nothing less than Amazing. How they can do that with a charcoal grill/smoker is awesome. Time to sell my pellet grill/smoker and never look back.
The graph shows temp changes at 250° then bumped to 400°
Would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for anyone in the market and if you're thinking about a pellet grill.... STOP and take a look at this! You won't be sorry.
Kelly Neff : Cheaply made product
I bought this product with high expectations. I took it out of the box got all the parts ready , read instruction number one and could not pull the tray out. Watched a YouTube video and it should be easy to do. Well then I noticed the entire lower right side of the grill was smashed in causing the tray to stick. Could not get it out. The metal is very cheaply made. Needless to say I have no idea how it cooks. I am going to give it another try and will rerate the product if I ever get to use it and it does not come smooshed.
chris c. : works great needs better controller wifi
Makes great smoked meat!!! Please make a controller that works with WIFI. Mine connected once the never connected again, The smoker is within 20 feet of my wireless router and I have signal in my shop over 100 feet away but this controller cannot connect.
Charcoal, temperature control is great, this has all the things that i wanted... the only pain is the WiFi. So i just keep my phone within Bluetooth range and all is good.
Love this thing.
Charcoal, temperature control is great, this has all the things that i wanted... the only pain is the WiFi. So i just keep my phone within Bluetooth range and all is good.
Love this thing.
Halborges : Looks good but the fire box is a concern.
The product arrived timely, is easy to assemble and looks really good with a lot of real estate for grilling.
The reason for the low review is that after 1 use, yes a single use, the area where the coal burns showed significant degradation an worst, the fumes from the walls going to the meat. Not the type of smoke I want my family and friends to taste.
The reason for the low review is that after 1 use, yes a single use, the area where the coal burns showed significant degradation an worst, the fumes from the walls going to the meat. Not the type of smoke I want my family and friends to taste.
Amazon Customer : Used twice and broke. Cant easily get ahold of masterbuilt.
I was really excited to get this unit. I did a great deal of research and overall it seemed to be positive. The second time I tried to use this it threw out error codes and the fan would not turn on. I go online and find out you cannot contact master built for help until you register the product. So I'm in the middle of a cook with everything prepped and I can't get any answers? No phone number to call in for tech support, nothing without registering. Second, even tho I bought my unit brand new not everyone gets their grills new. Some people might have for example inherited a unit or bought it used and they won't register you unless you upload a receipt of purchase so don't buy one of these used because you won't be able to get any information or tech support. That basically, tells me Masterbuilt is more interested in getting information to add you to marketing lists then they are about actually just providing help for anyone who owns one of their grills regardless of how they came about owning it. I don't want to spend close to 800 dollars on something that breaks the second time you cook with it. Very disappointed. I returned it and am looking into other options.
phil : AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PRODUCT
I have used my Masterbuilt Smoker 3 times and in the middle of using it to make a meal for guests it just quit working. There is NO support for a breakdown. They will only support through a website that wants photocopies of reciepts and other information submitted before they will even review an issue. THEY STATE THAT THEY WILL NOT CALL AND WILL NOT TAKE A CALL ON THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. Is that some sort of oxymoron? The worst.
Nullism : Smoker stopped working after 8 smokes and less than a year.
So many problems with this smoker, but here are the primary issues:
1. As others have mentioned, the seal on the smoke box lid came loose after less than a year. This leads to smoke leakage.
2. The sensor on the main box stopped working after the sixth smoke, so the smoker display just says "open", after some trial and error you can still get it to smoke, but you no longer get a temperature display on the smoker so you have to use your own thermometer. The sensor does not have any signs of damage.
3. The build quality is really poor for the price. The metal is pretty thin and can bend easily.
4. The drip tray is awkward to reach and pull out / put in the bottom slot, and it's fairly small so has to be changed often.
5. The top airflow cutoff insert is really stiff and is a PITA to put in and out, especially after the smoker has been sitting.
6. The power connection pops out frequently. The entire weight of the cable is held by a small connector, so it can rip the power connector from the circuit board if you're not careful. I added a mounted cable tie to hold some of the weight and that seems to help.
7. As others have mentioned, the glue inside the lid is very hard to remove and offgasses periodically. Doesn't seem to impact the flavor after a few smokes though.
Pros
1. The flavor is pretty good. On part with a nicer gravity smoker.
tl;dr - The build quality is terrible and there are several design decisions that make this a poor choice for your next smoker. The flavor is good, better than a pellet grill without a smoke tube, but definitely not good enough to warrant the price.
1. As others have mentioned, the seal on the smoke box lid came loose after less than a year. This leads to smoke leakage.
2. The sensor on the main box stopped working after the sixth smoke, so the smoker display just says "open", after some trial and error you can still get it to smoke, but you no longer get a temperature display on the smoker so you have to use your own thermometer. The sensor does not have any signs of damage.
3. The build quality is really poor for the price. The metal is pretty thin and can bend easily.
4. The drip tray is awkward to reach and pull out / put in the bottom slot, and it's fairly small so has to be changed often.
5. The top airflow cutoff insert is really stiff and is a PITA to put in and out, especially after the smoker has been sitting.
6. The power connection pops out frequently. The entire weight of the cable is held by a small connector, so it can rip the power connector from the circuit board if you're not careful. I added a mounted cable tie to hold some of the weight and that seems to help.
7. As others have mentioned, the glue inside the lid is very hard to remove and offgasses periodically. Doesn't seem to impact the flavor after a few smokes though.
Pros
1. The flavor is pretty good. On part with a nicer gravity smoker.
tl;dr - The build quality is terrible and there are several design decisions that make this a poor choice for your next smoker. The flavor is good, better than a pellet grill without a smoke tube, but definitely not good enough to warrant the price.
DK : Follow instructions closely
This product stands by its name. It’s built to do everything that experts have said it could.
Be mindful and follow the instructions,do so and you will create your own positive view of what this awesome grill can do.
Be mindful and follow the instructions,do so and you will create your own positive view of what this awesome grill can do.
Mike : Arrived broken…maybe?
This grill seemed great in theory and that’s where the good ends. I haven’t actually used it since the fan will randomly shut off before the grill hits the target temperature set. I’ve been trying to work with Masterbuilt’s customer support, but they only work via email and their website’s chat during the week. They are currently making wild leaps in logic to troubleshoot this problem and have held off on any further support until Monday because they were waiting for a new ambient temperature probe to be sent out to me.
Since this grill is now outside the return window, I am left with a unusable chunk of metal on my deck. Save yourself the hassle and go with something from another company that has better customer support.
Since this grill is now outside the return window, I am left with a unusable chunk of metal on my deck. Save yourself the hassle and go with something from another company that has better customer support.
robert : Lots of value for the money. Super convenient, Real BBQ taste.
I’ve been on the fence about getting a new smoker. I know I wanted temperature control but that limits your options to few. pellet, thermo-temp propane, or convert a kettle using a fan and controller. To me this was win/win. All the other options have shortcomings that this unit addresses. Propane is flavor. Pellet , flavor and heat.
1) Temperature control. Unit comes up to temp fast and maintains very well. I have done low and slow (225) as well as (700) for searing ribeyes. Fan is variable speed. Not just on/off witch is nice.
2) cooking chamber is double wall. I’ve already added an additional rack. Lots of nice touches, like a rubber grommet on the side to run your probes thru. Provisions for a future rotisserie. Grates have a smoke/sear side.
3) App is a little quirky but very helpful. I ran several errands during my cook without worry as I can just check the status of the pit temperature and the meat remotely.
4) I have been smoking for 20+ and after three cooks my overall impression is very good. Lots of value for the money. The main reason I bought this is for the same reason I’ve looked at pellets grills for years. Convenience. Doing a 15 hour smoke overnight or babysitting the smoker all day is not very convenient. I have used multiple smokers over the years. Electric, Gas, Pellet, charcoal. The best flavors all seem to come from charcoal and wood. My old Weber kettle and slow-n-sear can produce some really good BBQ.
So, is this better? Yes and no. Convenience , temp control, high heat, connectivity. it’s amazing.
Flavor. No. I know how to make good BBQ. I’ve got years of experience. But, for someone with less experience, this things a slam dunk. It allows you to cook at a high level right out of the box. If you’ve been looking at a pellet grill , I’d say you are much better off with this. Way more versatile and better real BBQ flavor.
1) Temperature control. Unit comes up to temp fast and maintains very well. I have done low and slow (225) as well as (700) for searing ribeyes. Fan is variable speed. Not just on/off witch is nice.
2) cooking chamber is double wall. I’ve already added an additional rack. Lots of nice touches, like a rubber grommet on the side to run your probes thru. Provisions for a future rotisserie. Grates have a smoke/sear side.
3) App is a little quirky but very helpful. I ran several errands during my cook without worry as I can just check the status of the pit temperature and the meat remotely.
4) I have been smoking for 20+ and after three cooks my overall impression is very good. Lots of value for the money. The main reason I bought this is for the same reason I’ve looked at pellets grills for years. Convenience. Doing a 15 hour smoke overnight or babysitting the smoker all day is not very convenient. I have used multiple smokers over the years. Electric, Gas, Pellet, charcoal. The best flavors all seem to come from charcoal and wood. My old Weber kettle and slow-n-sear can produce some really good BBQ.
So, is this better? Yes and no. Convenience , temp control, high heat, connectivity. it’s amazing.
Flavor. No. I know how to make good BBQ. I’ve got years of experience. But, for someone with less experience, this things a slam dunk. It allows you to cook at a high level right out of the box. If you’ve been looking at a pellet grill , I’d say you are much better off with this. Way more versatile and better real BBQ flavor.
Bob : Be ready to straighten up some metal
Box was in perfect condition. But this is what the grill looked like when I opened it. I guess I can try and fix it myself. The metal is thin enough
B. Kim : Never received from AMAZON scheduled Delivery
I did not receive this item from amazon because it took over 2 weeks of the run around for a scheduled (specified time and date a week out from order date) before I had to cancel my order because no one could tell me when or where my order actually was. Ordered and picked up same day from Walmart.
Now down to the smoker
If your are looking for something as simple electric smoker and want the taste and flavor for a charcoal smoker this is the Smoker for you. I suggest getting your own Blutooth thermometer probe, i use it to monitor my meat temps and cooking temps since my smoker is too far from my router to use the app for the smoker.
Pros
It smokes about 12 hours with my setup without needing a refill.
Electric Fan control and built in meat and inside thermometer
Great cast iron racks for searing
Cons
Wifi range is quite short,
no blutooth,
wifi antenna is under the metal shelf plate (loss of signal range)
Random error codes during cooking
Now down to the smoker
If your are looking for something as simple electric smoker and want the taste and flavor for a charcoal smoker this is the Smoker for you. I suggest getting your own Blutooth thermometer probe, i use it to monitor my meat temps and cooking temps since my smoker is too far from my router to use the app for the smoker.
Pros
It smokes about 12 hours with my setup without needing a refill.
Electric Fan control and built in meat and inside thermometer
Great cast iron racks for searing
Cons
Wifi range is quite short,
no blutooth,
wifi antenna is under the metal shelf plate (loss of signal range)
Random error codes during cooking
James In DFW : Do yourself a favor
I haven't had time to use this yet because it took all day to build. Do yourself a favor, if the box your grill shows up in is not in pristine condition, don't accept the shipment. Mine had what I thought was minor damage yet it resulted in bent and scratched parts throughout the build. I hope to upgrade my review once I get through the initial burn and use it a bit, but right now I hate the darn thing.
Amazon Customer : Cheap materials
I love this grill as far as functionality but it's too cheaply made, grate in bottom of charcoal chamber is too large charcoal hunks drops straight into ash pan and it uses more charcoal than i thought it should cause it so thin not much heat retention and the charcoal compartment is warping because of the heat but very good food off this grill
Jeffrey : NO RAGRETS!
The easiest way to cook with charcoal! Assembly wasn’t bad just kind of weird how the instructions are written, I cooked for 8 hours on one hopper and still had 1/4 hopper left over (cooking between 225&250) definitely worth it! Mine was kind of banged up on delivery though my only complaint for sure it looked like someone hit it with a forklift, Amazon took the return and brought me a new one but the second one was also damaged on the inside the drip tray slides were bent and the drip tray itself was dented but other than that best grill I’ve ever used. Loved my Treager but it can’t sear or reach temps anywhere near as fast or maintain like charcoal can I still use my Treager for smoking but this grill does it all and more and the app is an awesome bonus temps vary between 5-10 degrees give or take
phil : AWFUL CUSTOMER SERVICE AND PRODUCT
I have used my Masterbuilt Smoker 3 times and in the middle of using it to make a meal for guests it just quit working. There is NO support for a breakdown. They will only support through a website that wants photocopies of reciepts and other information submitted before they will even review an issue. THEY STATE THAT THEY WILL NOT CALL AND WILL NOT TAKE A CALL ON THERE CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE. Is that some sort of oxymoron? The worst.
chris c. : works great needs better controller wifi
Makes great smoked meat!!! Please make a controller that works with WIFI. Mine connected once the never connected again, The smoker is within 20 feet of my wireless router and I have signal in my shop over 100 feet away but this controller cannot connect.
Charcoal, temperature control is great, this has all the things that i wanted... the only pain is the WiFi. So i just keep my phone within Bluetooth range and all is good.
Love this thing.
Charcoal, temperature control is great, this has all the things that i wanted... the only pain is the WiFi. So i just keep my phone within Bluetooth range and all is good.
Love this thing.
Jeremy : Pretty good but could be better
The grill is great and works really well. However, the quality of some of the important parts is pretty bad. The little trigger switch that senses if the grill is closed has broke after about a year of use. I’ll be the first to admit that the lid has came down a lot harder then I should’ve let it a couple times. Might be my fault but the quality is still a bit cheap for what it costs. If you take real good care of the grill though I’m sure it can last years.
James In DFW : Do yourself a favor
I haven't had time to use this yet because it took all day to build. Do yourself a favor, if the box your grill shows up in is not in pristine condition, don't accept the shipment. Mine had what I thought was minor damage yet it resulted in bent and scratched parts throughout the build. I hope to upgrade my review once I get through the initial burn and use it a bit, but right now I hate the darn thing.
AB123 : Leaks grease. A bear to put together
I really wanted to love this grill. I mean charcoal heat that smokes and sears, what is not to love? I was excited like a kid on Christmas when it came. I read the reviews about the challenges with switches. I looked at the design and thought..."that's a lot of things to break" especially with a 1-year warranty, but I went for it anyways.
It was a bear to build. Took me more than 2 hours. It wasn't so much that it was hard as it had some weird things like the handle if you dropped the bolt it got lost in the cover and you had to fish it out somehow.
Ok, but the build is temporary and we move on. Then I cooked with it the first time. I smokes a St. Louis rack of ribs for 7 hours. It leaked grease everywhere. No, not just some random rivet all over my patio, it also ran down all of the legs and around the wheels. Then there was the controller which just randomly would shut off for no reason and wouldn't warn you through the app (that's why my 5-6 hour cook turned to 7 hours). Ribs tasted great but I have a stain on my patio now.
I expected to have to work through problems on this grill, but with the way it is built I think just about every other cook is going to bring a challenge. I'm really bummed because I can't find anything else on the market that will take its place. This isn't going to work though and with the problems I am facing now I do not want to deal with durability problems that I know will come in the future based on the build quality.
It was a bear to build. Took me more than 2 hours. It wasn't so much that it was hard as it had some weird things like the handle if you dropped the bolt it got lost in the cover and you had to fish it out somehow.
Ok, but the build is temporary and we move on. Then I cooked with it the first time. I smokes a St. Louis rack of ribs for 7 hours. It leaked grease everywhere. No, not just some random rivet all over my patio, it also ran down all of the legs and around the wheels. Then there was the controller which just randomly would shut off for no reason and wouldn't warn you through the app (that's why my 5-6 hour cook turned to 7 hours). Ribs tasted great but I have a stain on my patio now.
I expected to have to work through problems on this grill, but with the way it is built I think just about every other cook is going to bring a challenge. I'm really bummed because I can't find anything else on the market that will take its place. This isn't going to work though and with the problems I am facing now I do not want to deal with durability problems that I know will come in the future based on the build quality.
Amazon Customer : Used twice and broke. Cant easily get ahold of masterbuilt.
I was really excited to get this unit. I did a great deal of research and overall it seemed to be positive. The second time I tried to use this it threw out error codes and the fan would not turn on. I go online and find out you cannot contact master built for help until you register the product. So I'm in the middle of a cook with everything prepped and I can't get any answers? No phone number to call in for tech support, nothing without registering. Second, even tho I bought my unit brand new not everyone gets their grills new. Some people might have for example inherited a unit or bought it used and they won't register you unless you upload a receipt of purchase so don't buy one of these used because you won't be able to get any information or tech support. That basically, tells me Masterbuilt is more interested in getting information to add you to marketing lists then they are about actually just providing help for anyone who owns one of their grills regardless of how they came about owning it. I don't want to spend close to 800 dollars on something that breaks the second time you cook with it. Very disappointed. I returned it and am looking into other options.
C. Wolfley : Charcoal and wood flavor with Pellet control
I won’t pretend that it’s perfect. There are some quirks to it. But, it’s one of the best smokers I’ve used in the ~12-13 years I’ve been smoking.
There are a few things to do like put foil over the top of the hopper so the paint on the lid doesn’t peel.. rotate the fan 90 degrees so your fan wires don’t melt at high heat, and maybe mod the hopper grate at the bottom. Those are all fairly simple.
There’s after market mods you can do. I’ve done some of them for longevity sake, because I love it and want it to last.
Overall, I absolutely love it so far.
There are a few things to do like put foil over the top of the hopper so the paint on the lid doesn’t peel.. rotate the fan 90 degrees so your fan wires don’t melt at high heat, and maybe mod the hopper grate at the bottom. Those are all fairly simple.
There’s after market mods you can do. I’ve done some of them for longevity sake, because I love it and want it to last.
Overall, I absolutely love it so far.
James : The beast out there!!
Very good quality grill! Very impressed!! Came with detailed easy instructions, took about two hours to put it together, cause it was hot as out ????. I only have used it and will only use it as a smoker. And my lawd it’s awesomeness!! Purchase this!
DK : Follow instructions closely
This product stands by its name. It’s built to do everything that experts have said it could.
Be mindful and follow the instructions,do so and you will create your own positive view of what this awesome grill can do.
Be mindful and follow the instructions,do so and you will create your own positive view of what this awesome grill can do.
Halborges : Looks good but the fire box is a concern.
The product arrived timely, is easy to assemble and looks really good with a lot of real estate for grilling.
The reason for the low review is that after 1 use, yes a single use, the area where the coal burns showed significant degradation an worst, the fumes from the walls going to the meat. Not the type of smoke I want my family and friends to taste.
The reason for the low review is that after 1 use, yes a single use, the area where the coal burns showed significant degradation an worst, the fumes from the walls going to the meat. Not the type of smoke I want my family and friends to taste.
Bob : Be ready to straighten up some metal
Box was in perfect condition. But this is what the grill looked like when I opened it. I guess I can try and fix it myself. The metal is thin enough
Jeffrey : NO RAGRETS!
The easiest way to cook with charcoal! Assembly wasn’t bad just kind of weird how the instructions are written, I cooked for 8 hours on one hopper and still had 1/4 hopper left over (cooking between 225&250) definitely worth it! Mine was kind of banged up on delivery though my only complaint for sure it looked like someone hit it with a forklift, Amazon took the return and brought me a new one but the second one was also damaged on the inside the drip tray slides were bent and the drip tray itself was dented but other than that best grill I’ve ever used. Loved my Treager but it can’t sear or reach temps anywhere near as fast or maintain like charcoal can I still use my Treager for smoking but this grill does it all and more and the app is an awesome bonus temps vary between 5-10 degrees give or take
Amazon Customer : Cheap materials
I love this grill as far as functionality but it's too cheaply made, grate in bottom of charcoal chamber is too large charcoal hunks drops straight into ash pan and it uses more charcoal than i thought it should cause it so thin not much heat retention and the charcoal compartment is warping because of the heat but very good food off this grill
Runner : Really good
Product came damaged. Masterbuilt sent a new main body right away. It took about 1.5 hrs to put together by myself. The temp controller is easy to use and works well. The app sometimes loses its connection. I have found I go through quite a bit more charcoal than Masterbuilt stated, but it is winter. Overall I Like it a lot. The smoke flavor is awesome!
TC : Build quality needs a LOT of work
Waiting on MasterBuilt to get back to me but my unit arrived with a damaged shelf; specifically the compartment in the back of the side shelf is bent and sticks. It's the little spring-loaded pull out drawer for your probes, etc. The body of the cooker is also misaligned...the hood has overhang on the left side with the underhand on the right side. I've tried aligning and tightening the bolts on both sides of the hood to see if I could compensate...didn't work.
However, I knew what I was getting when I bought a product from MasterBuilt...their build quality has always been less than stellar. Yet, this product checked a lot of boxes for me so I decided to give them a shot. (Usually would've been a hard pass but a Wifi/BT temp controlled gravity-fed charcoal cooker was very intriguing.)
Will update when I get my new side shelf...I've emailed MasterBuilt's customer service...we'll see...
However, I knew what I was getting when I bought a product from MasterBuilt...their build quality has always been less than stellar. Yet, this product checked a lot of boxes for me so I decided to give them a shot. (Usually would've been a hard pass but a Wifi/BT temp controlled gravity-fed charcoal cooker was very intriguing.)
Will update when I get my new side shelf...I've emailed MasterBuilt's customer service...we'll see...
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