Before you can start using your electric smoker, you first have to learn how to season an electric smoker. Just like all the other best smokers for camping, your new electric smoker needs to be seasoned before you get to fire it up and start smoking your favorite meats.
There are important reasons why seasoning is essential and one of those is so that your smoker will not accumulate rust and last long.
In this RV camping resource guide, we will walk you through how to season your new electric smoker properly.
Do I Need To Season Electric Smoker?
YES, and to put it in a simpler term, “seasoning” an electric smoker is like a practice run of the unit. Keep reading to know some of the important reasons why you should season your new electric smoker.
1. To remove any residue left behind from the manufacturing process
Electric smokers are made in factories that are exposed to hazardous chemicals like solvents, industrial oil, paints, cleaners, adhesives, and dirt. You wouldn’t want these unpleasant chemicals to come in contact with your food.
2. To protect and add years to your smoker
The process of seasoning helps in curing the coating or paint inside your electric smoker. Seasoning your smoker will also help prevent rust from forming inside the smoker especially during wet climates.
You don’t have to worry about seasoning your electric smoker every now and then as this is only done when it is brand new.
Sure, it may take you a few hours to be done with it, but at least you only have to do it once.
What Is the Best Oil to Season a Smoker With?
While standard vegetable cooking oil is commonly used oil when seasoning an electric smoker, you can also use the following oils in your smoker.
- High-temperature palm
- Lard
- Grapeseed oil
- Peanut oil
- Bacon grease
- Corn oil
- Sesame oil
- Canola oil
Now that you know what “Seasoning” is and its importance, it’s time to jump in on the actual process of how to properly season your electric smoker.
How To Season An Electric Smoker?
- Prepare and assemble the parts of your electric smoker
Unpack your smoker and check for any irregularities. Carefully assemble the unit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
If it comes pre-assembled, make sure the screws are tight and check for parts that are not securely attached to one another.
2. Wash or wipe the inside of the smoker
If you wish to do this, you can wipe it with a damp cloth or wash the inside of the smoker using soapy water. Make sure that you do it carefully so as not to scratch or damage anything in the process.
3. Coat the inside of the smoker with a thin layer of oil
Use cooking oil to coat the inside walls of your smoker. You can do this using cooking oil spray or a small amount on a soft cloth. Remember to apply only a thin or light coating of oil on the walls.
Remove and do not to coat the following parts: chip tray, wood tray, grease tray, and water tray and heating element
4. Put back all the tray and racks inside the smoker
Keep everything empty, do not put water or wood chips on the trays.
5. Start your smoker for the first time
Plug in your smoker and power it on.
Extension cords are not recommended but if necessary make sure you use a heavy-duty extension cord with a three-pronged grounded plug.
6. Open the top vents all throughout the process
This allows the burnt residue to escape from the inside of your smoker chambers.
7. Set the temperature to 275°F and timer to 3 hours
The maximum temperature for most Masterbuilt smokers is 275°F. Max temperatures can be varied so make sure to check what is the maximum temperature your smoker has.
Set the timer to three hours, it’s okay to exceed this time a little, but make sure that you start with a minimum of 3 hours.
8. Add wood chips
This step is done in increments
- Add 8-12 chips into the wood chip tray
- After 20 minutes put another batch of 8-12 chips to the wood chip tray
- After 20 minutes again, add load another batch of wood chip to the tray
- Leave it smoking and wait until you reach the 3-hour mark.
9. Finish it off with one last step
Turn off the electric smoker and carefully open the smoked-filled chamber. Use a cloth to wipe off the chamber walls and you’re all done!
With these simple steps, you can be sure that you are going to have the best smoked meat you can imagine without worrying about the chemical residue sticking to it.
Once you completed it, you can begin smoking meats and won’t ever have to repeat this process, as this is only done once.
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Best Electric Smokers
Masterbuilt consistently receives top marks for its outdoor barbecue products, from grills and fryers to smokers and grill accessories. Our favorite electric smoker features 730 square inches of interior space for smoking your favorite foods over four racks. That’s enough space to cook mouth-watering barbecue for a large gathering, and perfect for a budding grill master who is ready to take their barbecues to the next level.
Other features of the Masterbuilt Electric Digital Smoker include an accurate thermostat control for even cooking from 100 to 275 degrees Fahrenheit, digital temperature and timing controls, a removable drip pan for easy cleanup, and a side-loading wood tray. A powder-coated steel outer body, fully insulated interior, and auto shut off make this 30” Masterbuilt an energy-efficient, easy-to-use smoker for meats, veggies, fish, and cheese.
Pros
No glass door means less heat loss during smoking.
Thermostat controlled for accurate cooking.
Removable drip pan.
Large capacity.
Easy to clean.
Side-loading wood tray means less heat loss if you have to add wood chips during cooking.
Cons
One-year warranty for manufacturer defects. Consumer must pay shipping for new parts.
Not very portable.
Some reviewers have had trouble with the control panel malfunctioning after the warranty is up. We definitely suggest purchasing an extended warranty.
The Landmann Smoky Mountain 26" Electric Smoker is perfect if you need something small that still packs a punch on quality.
The Landmann has a lightweight design with handles which makes moving it to different locaitons a snap. Perfect for RV Camping!
Pros:
Lightweight
Easily transportable
Budget Friendly
3-in-1 combination tray for wood chip box, water pan and grease pan
Temperature gauge on door
Separate heating element
Removable variable temperature controller
3 chrome plated steel cooking grates
Door includes adjustable door latch and viewing window
Rear damper port
Adjustable feet for accurate leveling on uneven surfaces
Cons:
Complaints that the seal on the door is not adequate which decreases temperature optimization as well as smok flavoring.
Cooking for a crowd of barbecue lovers? With this 1,000 square inch digital electric smoker, there is enough space for all your goodies and four adjustable smoking trays, making the Char-Broil 1,000-Square Inch Deluxe Digital Electric Smoker the best large-capacity electric smoker suitable for residential use. With such a large capacity smoke box, you can fill it with wood chips and then leave it for four to seven hours before coming back to check on it and add more chips.
Features include insulated double-wall construction, a remote control, wheels for great portability, and a digital thermostat for accurate cooking. An integrated meat probe will alert you when your food has been cooked to whatever predetermined temperature you set it to, and a high-capacity drip tray makes for easy cleanup.
Some reviewers have reported that the door doesn’t seal well, but they also note that Char-broil customer service is top notch as far as dealing with any issues that arise.
Pros
Large capacity for big gatherings.
Remote control.
Temperature probe for accurate cooking.
Thermostat controlled.
Wheels make it more portable.
The large capacity makes it easier to set it and forget it.
Cons
Large window is great for viewing, but also promotes heat loss.
Some reviewers complain that the door doesn’t seal properly.
One-year warranty.
Pros
Very affordable model with similar features to other more expensive models
Easy to use and clean up.
Positive reviews for customer service
Cons
Some reviewers complain that the smoke chips burn too quickly requiring frequent replacement
Some complaints that the digital panel broke after only a few uses
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