Electric Bbq Smokers — How Do They Work?

Electric Smokers

Electric water smokers are also easy to use and fairly portable. Their strongest suit is convenience. Simply add your meat, wood chips, and plug it in.
An added safety feature is no fire or flammable fuel concerns. This is great if you have kids or pets. The biggest drawback is the need for a nearby electrical plug or extension cord, so you will need to bear this in mind when choosing a BBQ smoker for your needs.
Expect to pay around $150.00 for a good quality unit.
Most electric smokers have no temperature adjustment. Nicer models may have a «high» and «low» setting. The heat level is preset and is determined by how much wattage the heat element draws.
The key in proper heat control is keeping the water pan full, the smoker will do the rest. When using the «Little Chief» electric smoker unit we keep monitor temperature with a good oven thermometer.
The Verdict: Electric water smokers are easy to use and clean. If you have concerns with fire or flammables in your area this is the smoker for you.
A heating element warms the air that heats the pit.  Wood chips or chunks are placed on or near the heating element. The wood slowly burns producing the smoke flavor in the meat.  The most common electrical pit is the water bullet type smokers. Spend the money on a unit that comes with an adjustable heating element. The Char-Broil Electric Water Smoker comes with one.
Vertical Smokers
Vertical smokers have a water pan acts as a buffer between the heat source and the meat. It also serves as a heat sink evening out temperature spikes. To move up in the world of sealed smokers check out Cookshack smokers, premium  electric sealed smokers that use wood chips for the smoke flavor.
Brinkmann Smoker —  The Brinkmann water smoker will run you around $85.00. We prefer a model with an adjustable heat control, however it’s hard to beat the good value a Brinkmann offers. The key is monitoring the water pan to make sure it does not get to hot. Also keep in mind that without a heat controll you will probably use more electricity, so your cost savings may not be as big as you think.  
Luhr Jensen Smokers — Luhr Jensen Big Chief electric box smokers are simple and fun to use. We have one and find it great for smaller jobs like fish, venison jerky, and sausage. Large pieces of meat don’t do as well, you may find the need to «finish it off» in your oven. This is due to the preset temperature staying well under 200 degrees. Their Big Chief has a fifty pound capacity and Little Chief takes 25 pounds. Expect to pay about $80.00.
Bradley Electric Smokers — Versatile and can be used for cool smoking or hot smoking it also doubles as a roaster oven. Initial heat and smoke are produced by a patented «smoke generator.» Inside the smoker a seperate heating element will let you smoke at up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit. A nice unit, our only con is that Bradley wood briquettes are required in the smoke generator.
Cookshack Smokers —  Very nice sealed home smokers with adjustable temperatures, from 100 to 250 degrees. For the extra money you get a very efficient unit that uses minimal electricity and wood. Cookshack also features a line of commercial smokers.