- Very inexpensive
- Easy to use
- Uses regular wood chips
- No water pan to deal with
- One-year warranty
- No thermometer
- No door; must load food from the top
About.com's Derrick Riches describes the Old Smokey Electric Smoker as "basically a tin can with a heat element[,] a drip pan and a couple of racks for the food." It looks more like a coffee run than a smoker. Riches includes it on his list of the top 10 smokers for under $400, however, and owners rave about how easy it is to use and how moist and tasty food smoked in it is. It uses regular wood chips rather than proprietary briquettes, and there is a drip pan (for easy cleanup), but no water pan. Two 15-inch stacked racks hold the food; in fact, Riches cites as a negative the "top load design," which he says "can be a little awkward." If you want an inexpensive smoker but want to access the food more easily, the Brinkmann Vertical Gas Grill (*Est. $150) gets good reviews.
We found the best review of the Old Smokey Electric Smoker at About.com, where barbecues and grilling guide Riches writes a full review. Owner reviews at Amazon.com and Northern Tool and Equipment offer a look at how it performs over time.
Our Sources
1. About.com
Derrick Riches rates the Old Smokey Electric Smoker 4.5 out of 5, writing, "Old Smokey has been making smokers since the 1930's and [has] been one of the most popular brands in and around Texas. This electric version is [a] heavily tested unit and has proven to be highly durable and easy to use." (Note: ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com, but the two don't share an editorial affiliation.)
Review: Old Smokey Electric Smoker, Derrick Riches
2. Amazon.com
Close to 70 owners rate and review the Old Smokey Electric Smoker at Amazon.com; the average rating is 4.5 out of 5 stars. Almost all the owners rave about the food cooked in the Smokey Mountain smoker, though a couple complain that they couldn't get it to smoke food at all.
Review: Old Smokey Electric Smoker, Contributors to Amazon.com
3. Northern Tool and Equipment
About 45 owners have posted reviews on this site, and like those at Amazon.com, they give the Old Smokey Electric Smoker very high ratings; all but three of them give it either 4 or 5 stars. One writes, "This is the smoker for the beginner as well as a seasoned pro. You really can't miss with this unit."
Review: Old Smokey Electric Smoker, Contributors to Northern Tool and Equipment
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