Have you thought about purchasing an electric smoker but have been struggling to find the right model?
If so, read this review on the best vertical electric smokers where you may find the one.
In this article, you will find some top models that are available for purchase currently on the market, in some stores and online as well. You can learn more about their technical specifications in this post so you can choose the best model for your needs.
Buying A Vertical Electric Smoker Guide
What Is A Vertical Electric Smoker?
A vertical electric smoker has the same meaning as an upright electric smoker. These terms are used for traditional electric smokers that have a vertical smoking system with leveled smoking racks inside the smoker and a vertical design.
Vertical Electric Smoker Sizes
The vertical electric smoker comes in different dimensions, from the small-mini models to bigger ones. The average size of a vertical electric smoker is 26, 30 or 40-inches of height which will usually fit about 3 to 5 smoking racks.
Analog Or Digital Vertical Electric Smoker
More basic vertical electric smoker models most of the time are analog. This means that you set the temperature using a temperature controller and the temperature gauge to check on it. Digital vertical electric smokers are a bit more modern and have a digital control panel with push-buttons to set up the time and temperature.
What Is The Best Material?
If you want the most durable vertical electric smoker, your best bet will be to go with a stainless steel model. However, these can be more expensive than those made out of steel or aluminum. Still, the stainless steel models aren’t necessarily better in performance but are in durability most of the time.
Online Purchasing
Vertical electric smokers can be purchased in some physical stores and through some online retailers. One of these is Amazon that has a wide offer of vertical electric smokers that are often discounted more than elsewhere. You can also check other customer reviews and see related products.
Best 5 Vertical Electric Smoker Models
Best Analog Vertical Electric Smoker
Char-Broil Vertical Electric Smoker 18202077
External Design
Looking at the exterior of this Char-Broil vertical electric smoker there is not much to see. But this is a good thing since it makes it very user-friendly and sleek looking so it can easily fit in with your other outdoor living products. We are talking about a black steel construction with legs on the bottom for practical reasons.
Internal Design
The interior is also a classic vertical electric smoker cooking chamber. It has 544 square inches of cooking space distributed through 3 cooking/smoking racks. Also on the inside, you will find a grease tray, wood chip box, and water pan as with most electric smokers.
Good Insulation With Latches
A great thing about this vertical electric smoker is that it has a double-wall well-insulated cooking chamber. Also, two heavy-duty door latches ensure that the door stays well sealed and that no extra smoke and heat get out during the cooking process.
Large Wood Chip Box
On the inside besides the grease pan and water tray, there is a semi-large wood chip box. It is big enough that once you fill it up, you will have enough wood chips to last you hours before having to refill. You can also buy the electric smoker in a kit with wood chips and a smoker cover.
Analog Smoker
Char-Broil vertical electric smoker is an analog model. A temperature controller is attached to the power cord that you use to set the temperature settings. Once the smoker heated up enough, you can check the temperature using the built-in frontal gauge.
- Elevated legs
- 544 square inch cooking area
- Dual door latches for insulation
- 1000 watt heating element
Best Digital Vertical Electric Smoker
Masterbuilt Vertical Smoker 30-inch MB20073519
Upright Electric Smoker With Window
Masterbuilt MB20073519 30-inch vertical electric smoker is made out of black steel. An important pro about this electric smoker is that it has a large viewing window in the front that adds that extra something to the whole look but also for practical reasons. You won’t lose any excess heat because there won’t need to open the main door.
Digital Control Panel
This vertical electric smoker uses a digital control panel for settings. It has a few pushbuttons: power button, Bluetooth button and the buttons that set time and temperature. Also, there is a small LED screen where you can verify the settings.
Meat Probe Thermometer And Bluetooth Connection
This is an example of an electric smoker that uses Smart Bluetooth technology to control cooking temperature and time. All of this is also enabled through the built-in meat probe thermometer that allows perfect results and accurate temperature reading.
Smoker And Broiler
Masterbuilt vertical smoker also has a broiler feature. There is a patent-pending top element that serves for grilling or broiling meats. For example, you can use it to crisp up chicken wings or finish off and sear ribs and burgers.
Side Loading Wood Chip System
This vertical electric smoker is very well developed. Masterbuilt made sure to incorporate a side loading wood chip system where you add wood chips without opening the main electric smoker door. Masterbuilt also has a wide selection of wood chip flavors for different sorts of food.
- Bluetooth compatible
- Built-in meat probe
- Broils and finishes recipes
- Side wood chip loading system
Best Portable Vertical Electric Smoker
Pit Boss Vertical Electric Smoker Hammertone 2
Dimensions And Weight
Pit Boss Hammertone 2 smoker measures 21.5 x 23 x 41 inches which are typical for a medium to a large vertical electric smoker. The smoker weighs about 60 pounds but it is portable since it has four locking caster wheels on the bottom for easier moving around.
Large Temperature Scale
Pit Boss electric vertical smoker allows you to smoke almost any type of meat, seafood or vegetables. This is because of its wide temperature range that goes from 100 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Since almost every type of meat has its recommended smoking temperature this feature is appreciated.
Good Construction
This smoker is one of the best vertical electric smokers especially because of its durable construction. It has double-walled blanket insulation on the inside which ensures that all temperature stays inside the smoker.
Heating Element And Smoking Racks
If you purchase Pit Boss Hammertone 2 smoker you will also get three porcelain coated cooking racks. There is a multiple position racking system so you can put the racks as close or as far from each other as possible. This way you can purchase more cooking racks and also smoke larger pieces of meat.
- Wheels and tall elevated stand
- Digital control panel
- Wide temperature range
- Double-walled blanket insulation
- 1 650 watt heating element
Best Bluetooth Vertical Electric Smoker
Dyna-Glo Digital Bluetooth Upright Electric Smoker
two-door design
Dyna-Glo vertical electric smoker has a well made two-door design. It is designed to offer you an easy and facilitated access to the food that is smoking as well as to the bottom where you have the water and grease pans and wood chip loader.
large cooking area
Dyna-Glo 40-inch electric smoker is one of the vertical electric smokers with the biggest cooking area. It has a total of 951 square inches of cooking space that is distributed within four cooking grates and allows you to cook for larger groups of people.
easier mobility
While Dyna-Glo 40-inch electric smoker is a heavy-duty model that weighs slightly over 60 pounds, it has a few elements that help with mobility. It has a rear handle and also well made heavy casters that are made for convenience.
more cooking options
If you buy Dyna-Glo 40-inch electric smoker you will have more smoking options than only with smoking racks. Here you will also get sausage hooks and removable rib racks so you can up your barbecue and smoking game.
some more information
Dyna-Glo is another digitally operated electric smoker that has a control panel on the front. Also, the integrated meat thermometer helps track the inside meat temperature. The heating element has 800 watts of power.
- Two-door access
- Abundant cooking area
- Removable rib rack and hooks
- Internal light
Best Beginner Vertical Electric Smoker
Big Chief Front Vertical Electric Smoker
Best Vertical Electric Smoker For Years
Big Chief isn’t a new vertical electric smoker model on the market. This company has been selling it since 1980. What shows the quality of the smoker is that the manufacturer didn’t change almost anything since the smoker first came out and they still have new satisfied customers.
Dimensions And Materials
Even though the name says it is a big electric smoker, it is indeed much smaller than most traditional ”big” electric smokers. It measures only 24.5 by 18 by 12 inches (H x W x D) and weighs just around 20 pounds. This was made possible with an all-aluminum construction that made the smoker lightweight and portable.
Low-Temperature Setting
This vertical electric smoker is a good model for barbecue pros but also for beginners. It is very easy to use. For example, it has only one temperature setting of 165 degrees Fahrenheit which is an ideal low temperature for consistent smoking.
Removable Front Door
To place the meat or seafood into this vertical electric smoker, you need to remove the front door which isn’t the most practical way, but once you close it you won’t need to open it again. You can fit up to 50 pounds of food at once.
Well-Made Smoke Ventilation
The inventors of Big Chief electric smoker wanted to make a product that will leave your food the ultimate smoked flavor. This was made possible by developing engineered smoke ventilation that includes smoke circulation and high dehydration of food.
- Smokes up to 50 pounds of food
- Consistent low temperature
- Durable and lightweight construction
Conclusion: What Would Be The Two Best Vertical Electric Smokers?
Now that you read about each of the five vertical electric smokers, I can narrow down my recommendations to two best. If you are a beginner and are looking for a good performing affordable smoker go with Char-Broil vertical electric smoker. Pit Boss Hammertone 2 smoker is another great model that is more portable and also has a digital control panel and great reviews.
If this article wasn’t enough and you want to find out more, you can also read another one called top electric smokers. If you want to save money and space you can also check out small electric smokers for sale. For more digital models, read the best digital smokers.