Blue Ridge Naturally

BBQ parties with your family and friends are the best way to blow off some steam after a long hard-working week. But sometimes, preparing the party with perfectly smoked pieces of meat is not easy at all, especially if you are not familiar with vertical smokers.

Today, in this article, we will walk you through every step on How to use a vertical propane smoker. Let’s dive right in!

How to use a vertical propane smoker

Let’s cut right into the chase. To answer the question above, I will show you every single step that you need to know. Keep this in mind, and you are good to go.

Step 1: Prepare the propane smoker

Obviously, you need to get yourself a propane gas bottle first. It can be found anywhere, in local stores or gas agencies. But please make sure that your gas tank is completely new, with no scratching and no leakage, or else it could cause severe accidents such as burns or explosions.

Next, use the gas line that comes with the propane smoker, connect it with your gas tank, and secure it firmly. Then, slowly open the valve, you just need to turn it in for 1 or 2 rounds, don’t ever open the valve completely because it can cause a gas leak, which can be deadly. 

Use a piezo lighter and turn the flame on. Set the controller to 200 or 255 degrees; this would heat your smoker tank and smoke your meat evenly. A small note for you is that if the flame doesn’t light immediately, close the valve right away and wait for a few minutes, then try again.

Complete Tips On How To Choose The Best Electric Smoker Under 300

Step 2: Load wood chips into the smoker box

At this step, we will light up the smoker box with our chips or chunks, or both. Poultry and pork are more suited with your fruitier apple and cherry wood, while hickory and mesquite are perfect for red meats.

One small problem with the smoker box is that it burns down pretty quickly due to its direct contact with the fire. Therefore, you will have to replace a new smoker box regularly.

Step 3: Add water in the water pan

Once you have got your chunks in the propane smoker, fill the water pan with pure water and some drops of apple juice or whatever you like. This will add steam and flavor to the air inside so that when you are done with smoking, your meat is still rich and moist.

Step 4: Cook the meat

Last but not least, load the meat to the rack.

All barbecues have a hotspot. For a vertical barbecue, the heat source is at the base, which creates a higher temperature at the bottom. So, it is best to place your heavier pieces of meat down the bottom, lighter ones at the top.

All you need to do now is use your vents to regulate the heat, close the door, and wait. Using gas as a heat source means the unit comes up to temperature quickly. Therefore, it will only take you about 10 minutes to finish the dish.

There is a vent at the top so you can adjust the amount of smoke you want inside the smoker.

Tips on how to use the vertical propane smoker properly

First, always remember to read the manual instructions. Many of you may consider this unnecessary, but in reality, there are many features of a smoker that we don’t know how to use effectively. Therefore, reading the instruction book may prevent you from ruining the oven before using it for cooking anything.

One other thing is that when you first get the smoker from the store, you need to add water inside the water pan and start smoking without any chunks or meats. This would help you get rid of any excess oil or chemicals from the manufacturing process.

Some of the best vertical propane smoker brand

There are hundreds of brands out there making vertical smokers. If this is the first time you choose a smoker, you may consider some of our suggestions from famous brands:

1. Masterbuilt MB20050716
2. Dyna-Glo DGW1904BDP-D
3. Dyna-Glo DGW1235BDP-D
4. Smoke Hollow PS40B Propane Smoker
5. Cuisinart COS-244

Conclusion

A vertical propane smoker is easy-to-use and convenient equipment that makes your smoking process a lot easier and creates some of the best dishes ever. This is perfect for home cooks looking for a new flavor to their dishes.

I hope that you now know How to use a vertical propane smoker. Thank you for reading.

If you are looking for the best electric smoker under 300, you have come to the right place!

We all know that barbeque parties are like any other parties – the more, the merrier. But if you are on a tight budget, it might be quite challenging to find a smoker that suits your price range. 

Well, rest assured! We are here to help you select a good machine with the comprehensive guideline below. 

Let’s get started, shall we?

What To Consider To Choose The Best Electric Smoker Under 300?

Size

Since most of the electric smokers in this price range offer a relatively small capacity, you must consider if it accommodates the number of ribs you plan to put in.

But is bigger really better? There are some downsides to a large smoker that we have discovered. 

For example, it might be the difficulty in cleaning upcoming after, and the large quantity of energy used to heat the smokers. Are they worth the amount of beef you are smoking in a meal? Keep in mind that the smokers’ size will not change the taste and quality of the smoked ribs you make. 

Power

Besides, power is a critical part of an electric smoker. Most electric smokers under $300 have a wattage range from 400 to 1200. This power range will largely decide how long the tool takes to heat up and how good it is to keep the temperature in cold weather. 

Materials

All smokers are made of metal. The key difference between each machine is the quality of steel. To be more specific, it can largely determine the ability of your smoker to keep the temp.

Most notably, you won’t have many options in this $300 price range, but it’s still worth checking out carefully. Remember that it’s really annoying to use a smoker that cannot maintain temperature.

Temperature Controller

There are various temperature controllers for an electric smoker on the current market. But generally, it all comes down to two basic types: the old-school analogs and the high-tech proportional-integral-derivative (PID). 

Are you looking for a basic mechanism? If yes, the former will definitely satisfy you. Rest assured that you will find it quite simple to control it, just dial the temp and get back to whatever you are doing.

On the contrary, if you want a more precise and multi-setting temperature controller, let’s consider the PID one. Although it takes a bit of time to get accustomed to, the outcomes will never fail to amaze you. 

The Climate In Your Area

Another important aspect you have to consider is the climate in your area. Why? Nobody wants to wait hours under the cold weather for the grill to heat up, right?

Nowadays, some of these electric smokers are not built for below-freezing temperatures. As a result, it will take more time and energy to heat up. It is even much more challenging to regain the temp every time you open the door.

Because the outer environment might have a big effect on the operation of these machines, you should consider carefully to find the most suitable option. 

Bluetooth Compatible

You have to take advantage of this Bluetooth capability, one of the best technologies an electric smoker under 300 can offer. 

It not only allows you to control the temperature but also to turn the smoker on and off from far away. You don’t have to wait around your smoker all day, just connect it to your smart device, and do other things.

Lightweight

It would be best if you have a lightweight electric smoker. Do you know the reason why? Well, there are some occasions when you might need to move it, including:

• Outlet space
• Weather-related problems that you need to bring it inside
• Lending it to a friend

As a result, you will find a lightweight model much more effortless to transport. 

Insulation

You might also want to look for an electric smoker with adequate insulation. It will be useful enough to keep the temperature steady and reduce smoking time.  

Moreover, a well-insulated electric smoker will give your meat the superior flavor, which we’re all aiming for, right? 

Wood Chip Tray

One of the most common problems that everybody encounters is: “How to add more wood chips without opening the door?”. 

In this case, a wood chip tray will be beneficial. Adding more fuel on the outside will maintain the temperature and the amount of smoke, which is basically our ultimate goal here. 

Our Best Picks

Still unsure of which electric smoker to pick up? Well, we’ve got you covered. Here is our list of five best electric smokers under 300: 

Name	Image
Masterbuilt MB20070210 Analog Electric Smoker
Masterbuilt MB20073519 Bluetooth Digital Electric Smoker
Dyna-Glo DGU732BDE-D
Char-Broil 17202004
Cuisinart COS-330 Electric Smoker

Conclusion

We have just provided you a list of detailed tips on how to find the best electric smoker under 300. We do hope that it will be of great help to you the next time that you hit the store.

No doubt, a great smoker will aid you in grilling that tasty meat. Thus, take your time considering all aspects, and you will be able to select an electric smoker that ticks all your boxes.