Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker $149.99 + FREE SHIPPING @Masterbuilt website

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03-05-2021 at 04:59 PM #16

Although people say they bought these from $90-$100, the typical price on Amazon is around $200. Here is a great forum to discuss these smokers.

(9) Masterbuilt Electric Smoker (MES) Owners | Smoking Meat Forums - The Best Barbecue Discussion Forum On Earth!

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03-06-2021 at 05:05 AM #17

Quote from Slickfeelsonly

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Good deal, but their shipping delay disclaimer was very generic. Reported price to Amazon to see if they will PM.

Any luck with the Amazon PM?

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03-06-2021 at 08:46 AM #18

I know they're very different but is there any reason a smoking newbie should consider this Masterbuilt over this Camp Chef pellet grill for only $100 more?

https://www.sportsmans.com/outdoo.../p/1654385

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03-06-2021 at 10:16 AM #19

Quote from 1oakproductions

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I know they're very different but is there any reason a smoking newbie should consider this Masterbuilt over this Camp Chef pellet grill for only $100 more?

https://www.sportsmans.com/outdoo.../p/1654385

Well for starters, operation cost is a difference. Average cost with an electric to include the chips would be around 5 to 10 cents per hour. Pellet grill can range from 35 to 95 cents per hour at smoke temps, just from the pellets. Which going with the cheapest pellets I've found, being from pit boss, don't really add much smoke flavor due to the pellets being mostly filler for the purpose of heat.

So, smoking for half a day in operating costs would be less than $1 vs $8. Depending how often you want to smoke, cost can quickly add up. Also, if pellets won't be used within maybe a week or 2, they need to be removed from the pellet grill. Otherwise the outdoor conditions and being outside the bag will ruin them.

What's also a huge thing is you would want a pellet grill with PID controller. Which this model doesn't say it has. Those are usually only models a few hundred more. If you're interested in a pellet grill, and want to get a decent one as a beginner, expect to pay around $500 average, before any sales. Electric, you can go cheap such as this one because it's such an extremely basic system compared to a pellet grill.

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03-06-2021 at 11:55 AM #20

Quote from mrcuba

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Well for starters, operation cost is a difference. Average cost with an electric to include the chips would be around 5 to 10 cents per hour. Pellet grill can range from 35 to 95 cents per hour at smoke temps, just from the pellets. Which going with the cheapest pellets I've found, being from pit boss, don't really add much smoke flavor due to the pellets being mostly filler for the purpose of heat.

So, smoking for half a day in operating costs would be less than $1 vs $8. Depending how often you want to smoke, cost can quickly add up. Also, if pellets won't be used within maybe a week or 2, they need to be removed from the pellet grill. Otherwise the outdoor conditions and being outside the bag will ruin them.

What's also a huge thing is you would want a pellet grill with PID controller. Which this model doesn't say it has. Those are usually only models a few hundred more. If you're interested in a pellet grill, and want to get a decent one as a beginner, expect to pay around $500 average, before any sales. Electric, you can go cheap such as this one because it's such an extremely basic system compared to a pellet grill.

Ah, ok I didn't realize they use that much more pellets than chips. I checked and that controller is PID. I guess the appeal of the pellet grill was being able to set it and occasionally check up on it and I've heard dedicated smokers require more babysitting. Have you found that to be the case? Thank you.

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03-06-2021 at 01:06 PM #21

Quote from 1oakproductions

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Ah, ok I didn't realize they use that much more pellets than chips. I checked and that controller is PID. I guess the appeal of the pellet grill was being able to set it and occasionally check up on it and I've heard dedicated smokers require more babysitting. Have you found that to be the case? Thank you.

Save for refilling chip tray electric smokers like this one are relatively hands off. Set the temp and it keeps it there. You can also look into an A-MAZE-N smoker tube as an add-on. It lets you use slower burning pellets instead of the Masterbuilt's chip tray, so you don't have to keep refilling it. Yields better flavor, too.

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Last edited by JeffJ5926 March 6, 2021 at 01:08 PM.

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03-06-2021 at 01:31 PM #22

Quote from 1oakproductions

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Ah, ok I didn't realize they use that much more pellets than chips. I checked and that controller is PID. I guess the appeal of the pellet grill was being able to set it and occasionally check up on it and I've heard dedicated smokers require more babysitting. Have you found that to be the case? Thank you.

I'm just wondering, but where do you see it say it has PID? This specific model doesn't show up on Camp Chef's website. The one on their site is PG24STX. The one on the website you posted is PG24STXX, the extra "X". Which has me thinking it's specifically made for them, with whatever cost saving options. Because neither website says PID on them. I only see reviews say they do or don't without proof. If you look at their more expensive models, they specifically say it has PID. It's a feature that no manufacturer would keep quiet about. And for $250, no way it has it.

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03-06-2021 at 02:05 PM #23

Quote from mrcuba

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I'm just wondering, but where do you see it say it has PID? This specific model doesn't show up on Camp Chef's website. The one on their site is PG24STX. The one on the website you posted is PG24STXX, the extra "X". Which has me thinking it's specifically made for them, with whatever cost saving options. Because neither website says PID on them. I only see reviews say they do or don't without proof. If you look at their more expensive models, they specifically say it has PID. It's a feature that no manufacturer would keep quiet about. And for $250, no way it has it.

Camp Chef's new pellet grills either come with the Gen 2 controller, gen 2 WiFi or the gen 2 WiFi with color display on their flagship Woodwind models. All of them have PID. This was a $450 smoker that was just recently marked down to $250. Go look at the pellet grills on Camp Chef's website, scroll past the WiFi models and read the description for the Smokepro DLX.

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03-06-2021 at 02:12 PM #24

Quote from 1oakproductions

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Camp Chef's new pellet grills either come with the Gen 2 controller, gen 2 WiFi or the gen 2 WiFi with color display on their flagship Woodwind models. All of them have PID. This was a $450 smoker that was just recently marked down to $250. Go look at the pellet grills on Camp Chef's website, scroll past the WiFi models and read the description for the Smokepro DLX.

Yeah, I see where it says the DLX is PID. But not the model you listed. Which this model is from 2016, so it's not the new ones that have it. I'd probably email them and ask about the model# on that website and they can confirm something that isn't advertised.

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03-06-2021 at 02:43 PM #25

Quote from goblueguy11

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Looks like a good deal! Does anyone have this?

I also have the original model with the dial on the bottom, these are great entry level smokers and a good place to start for ribs, pork shoulder, brisket, etc before moving onto the big boys like a Traeger.

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03-06-2021 at 03:23 PM #26

I had a similar masterbuilt smoker and sold it off because the results were so disappointing. I would have thought it was pretty great if I had never used a charcoal smoker.

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03-06-2021 at 09:39 PM #27

Quote from mrcuba

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Yeah, I see where it says the DLX is PID. But not the model you listed. Which this model is from 2016, so it's not the new ones that have it. I'd probably email them and ask about the model# on that website and they can confirm something that isn't advertised.

It is the Gen 2 and it does have it. All Gen 2s are PID.

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03-06-2021 at 10:00 PM #28

Quote from bcralph

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I have this one. Love it. The chip tray is small, so you will refill chips often.

Get a pellet tube. Best $15 I've spent, especially for longer smokes.

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03-08-2021 at 07:58 AM #29

Quote from caveman017

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Get a pellet tube. Best $15 I've spent, especially for longer smokes.

I actually got the Cold Smoker kit add-on that replaces the chip tray with a much larger tube. Can't really find those anymore though.

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03-08-2021 at 08:27 AM #30

Quote from bcralph

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I actually got the Cold Smoker kit add-on that replaces the chip tray with a much larger tube. Can't really find those anymore though.

Yeah, I remember looking 2 years back and couldn't find it. People were doing a mod using a mailbox and a dryer vent.

It's been a great smoker for me, though I'm probably moving up to a Rec Tec pellet smoker this summer. The 275 max temp makes it hard to do chicken and I really want to do wood fired pizza

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