If you plan to smoke in your kitchen then you have to read this post about indoor electric smokers because using a cooker inside carries more danger than smoking food on your patio or backyard.
Due to that, you have to know the requirements you have to meet before you buy a smoker. You have to be aware that you can’t turn any electric smoker into an indoor electric smoker.
I want to show you why our indoor electric smokers so special and why you mustn’t use outdoor electric smokers inside.
At A Glance: Our Top 3 Indoor Electric Smoker Picks
Table of Contents
Best Indoor Electric Smokers Reviews:
I want to show you the best indoor electric smokers on the market at the moment, but before I do that I want to say that there are differences between outdoor and indoor electric smokers.
The indoor smokers are smaller and you can’t prepare the same amount of food in them as you can with the outdoor smokers.
Their performance is good, but they can’t produce the same amount of heat and smoke as the outdoors.
That is logical because I have shown you what can happen if the smoker produces too much smoke.
When you are picking the indoor electric smoker, make sure that you are aware of what you are getting.
The indoor electric smoker is the smaller unit which produces less smoke and gives your food less smokey flavor. Those are restrictions on indoor smoking you have to be aware of.
Now, that doesn’t mean that indoor electric smokers aren’t good. They can make pretty amazing meals, but those meals will be lighter versions, and sometimes that is all you need.
1. Nordic Ware Stovetop Smoker
The first indoor electric smoker I want to share with you is the Nordic Ware smoker. You can see it is an indoor electric smoker in the name – stovetop.
That means you can use it on any stove you have (gas, induction, electric, or ceramic) and it will do the job. This means you can also use it as an outdoor stovetop smoker as well.
What makes this indoor electric smoker so great is the fact that you can put so many foods inside. You can make the whole chicken, pork, sausage links, beef brisket, fish, and even pizza in it.
The design of this indoor electric smoker is great because it is adjusted to the shape of food. For example, it is big enough to fit pizza inside and high enough to fit a whole chicken.
They have achieved that by designing a dome lid that gives you double the space – enough for the whole chicken.
This indoor electric smoker consists of the base, water pan, smoking rack, and thermometer (which is also a temperature gauge), and a dome lid.
The dome lid has small vents at the top so you can control the smoke and the heat in the smoker.
There are two smoking methods with this indoor electric smoker. The moist and dry method.
The moist method you can make just by adding 1 cup of some liquid (water, beer…) in the water tray and the dry method is even more simple. Just leave the water tray dry.
This is a great indoor electric smoker that is versatile and has great moist and dry smoking performances.
I would recommend it to people who can’t use outdoor smokers but they are very interested in smoking.
This indoor electric smoker gives you a chance to try smoking different food and that is its big perk.
PROS
- Good quality
- Dome lid to fit a whole chicken
- Vents to control the smoke
CONS
- The paint can fall off
2. Weston Brands 2 in 1 Electric Smoker and Slow cooker
Weston Brands indoor meat smoker is even more interesting than the Nordic Ware I have reviewed above because it is also an over and a slow cooker.
That means you can use it for hot smoking, cold smoking, and as a slow cooker.
With this unit, you will get an enamel-on-steel slow cooking pan, 3 tier rack, good quality lid, and thermometer.
The best part about this indoor electric smoker is that it has cool-touch handles which means it is safe and easy to handle.
slow cooking pans and 3 tier racks are removable which means it is very easy to clean the entire unit hassle-free.
If you don’t feel like cleaning, this is a unit for you because you will be done with it quickly.
The Weston Brands Indoor Smoker has a temperature range of 100F to 200F which is perfect for low and slow as well as cold smoking and slow crockpot cooking.
There are many wood chip flavors to choose from that add instant flavors, such as hickory and mesquite.
The only problem with this smoker is that it can produce more smoke than other indoor electric smokers.
That means that you have to be careful while using it or your fire alarm may turn on so just be sure that the smoker is not overproducing smoke.
PROS
- Big to fit one turkey
- Smoker, over and roaster
- Removable rack and pan
CONS
- Can produce too much smoke
3. Camerons Stovetop Smoker
This is not an actual indoor electric smoker but it is a great unit that you can carry wherever you go.
It means you can use absolutely any heat source to prepare food. You can use it in your home, you can use it on a camping fire or in the cabin on the old stove.
It is practically a stainless steel pot with a matching lid and a smoking rack. It looks basic but the performance is great.
The lid fits the pot perfectly which means that the heat and the smoke stay inside the smoker which makes the food taste great.
I know that it is not the most impressive indoor smoker, and people behind it are aware of that.
That is why it is a budget-friendly product which means that for the money you can get a good quality smoker.
I like the fact that it is so portable and simple. It doesn’t have any special gadgets attached to it which means you set the heat source, you fill the smoker and you wait.
The problem may be that the smoker doesn’t have a temperature gauge or a thermometer, which means you have to know how long to prepare food, but that is something you can easily learn through the process.
I would recommend this product to people who love camping because I think it is great for that, but if you aren’t a fan of that, then I would suggest you take a look at other indoor electric smokers I have reviewed because you will be more satisfied with them.
PROS
- Budget-friendly
- Simple to use
- Great for any heat source
CONS
- Can’t offer any special features
- Too basic
4. Emson indoor smoker pressure cooker
Kitchen smoker 8303MO is considered to have the most essential specifications for an electric indoor smoker you can get. It provides top-quality smoking performance with a unique smoker ring within the package.
Compared to other electric smokers, this unit comes with 15 psi internal pressure to minimize cooking hours by a large margin. But the smoker’s cold smoke detail is what we call its show-stealing feature.
This indoor smoker can handle about 4 pounds of food while in its regular setting but you might need to cut your food down in order to fit in this smoker’s circular cooking space.
It offers a digital control system that allows you to set the smoking time according to your need.
The drawback of this indoor smoker is that it’s digital control system can often produce some weird error messages when it’s not cleaned properly, but its stainless steel ultra-durable structure makes up for it.
This part of this smoker is not pre-assembled but via its instruction manual, it can be easily fit within no time.
Emson’s smoker heats up well on wood chips and hence can offer the most delicious food you’ve got to taste ever.
PROS
- Quicker cooking time compared to other smokers.
- Features cold smoke option.
- 2-years warranty on the product by manufacturer.
- Hard stainless-steel design that prevents scratches
- Requires little wood chips to smoke
CONS
- Doesn’t come pre-assembled and have to be fixed before smoking
- Wood chips storage area isn’t in the center. So, possibly one side of your food might contain a smoky flavor.
5. Presto Indoor Electric Smoker
Enrich with classy specifications, this Presto Indoor Electric smoker comes with a viable cold and combo smoking option along with providing hot smoke food to its users.
This electric smoker offers a power rating upto 500 Watts, which can prove to be budget friendly.
Unlike other smokers with regular digital controls, this smoker has an built in option to count down how much time is remaining for your food to cook and a bell rings off to inform you that your food is ready.
One of its drawbacks is that it comes with a limited cooking space, although it can house 6 quarts of food but fitting a whole turkey into this cooker won’t be possible.
But with its three-tier plan, you can slice the large chunks of the turkey and place it in this cooker’s rack.
What makes it a best indoor smoker is that this indoor smoker can be used as a slow cooker and contains a non-stick dishwasher pot which makes this cooker easy to wash.
If you’re looking for a best indoor smoker within a fixed budget then this smoker by Presto can be a good pick.
PROS
- Affordable within a limited range, indoor smoker cooker.
- Wide range of digital controls.
- Features cold smoke option.
- Contains an alarm to signal when the meal is ready to serve.
- Relatively lightweight to carry.
CONS
- Smoking temperature can not be adjusted
- Water vapour can’t escape under the smoker’s lid.
6. KitchenQue Indoor Stovetop Smoker
Kitchener comes with four major parts, a drip tray, a base unit, a steel base, and an uplifted cover. Its steel base helps it to be compatible with electric and gas stoves.
This cooker’s lid and base consist of a silicon handle to make it easy for the cooker to handle the smoker with ease.
This smoker comes with a built-in thermometer to tell you what temperature you’re cooking your food on. As guaranteed by its manufacturer, this stove top can handle heat up to 400 F. With this, a chicken can be cooked in an hour with ease.
Its specifications include Hickory Instasmoke wood chips which produce a smoke that can be a little too much for your meal but provides the best flavorful taste to your food which makes up for it.
PROS
- Can be washed easily via dishwasher.
- Sturdy compatible design and texture
- Compatible with electric, gas and induction stoves
- The product provides up to 400 degrees temperature, which is high enough to cook meals.
- Has high storage for large chunks of food.
- The best kitchen indoor smokers for meat you can possibly find.
CONS
- Produces a great amount of smoke.
- Side handles can often get very hot after prolonged heating.
7. MITBAK Portable Handheld Cold Smoking Gun
This Easily portable hand smoker from MITBAK can be the smoking unit you’ve been searching for. It features a dome lid, wood chips, detachable hose, burn chamber and a smoke infuser to smoke your meal and cook it to be super delicious.
Though this unit is made for indoor use, with its ultra power , this smoking gun can be used in an outdoor area and can be useful to smoke food like Turkey, cheese, beef, fish, vegetables and chicken. This indoor smoker comes with a low maintenance rechargeable battery which is much cost effective.
Coming with a comfortable grip and stable base, this smoker provides three smoking speeds, all of which are essential to deliver a lot of smoke.
If you’re looking to taste the best smoked meal ever, we recommend you to try this amazing MITBAK smoker.
PROS
- Relatively lightweight to carry.
- Easy to use to smoke.
- Firm handle grips provide premium handling.
- Relatively have a long hose.
- Features a dome lid.
CONS
- Needs a large amount of wood chips to smoke food.
8. TMKEFFC Portable Smoking Gun
TMKEFFC indoor smoking gun is often considered to be a functional unit and carries a rating of 4.4 out of 5 on popular B2C sites.
This Handheld smoker is considered to be a top indoor unit once can have, being offered in different colors, it never fails to maintain its shiny amber version and hence providing a classic look to its exterior.
This smoker gun can be used on multiple meals like meat, chicken, fish, vegetable, and cheese, and makes your food extremely delicious.
Although this doesn’t have a rechargeable battery, it’s the built-in battery is enough to provide you with maximum durability.
This product carries all the features a best indoor smoker should have and hence becomes a good choice for cookers to use this gadget for elite smoke.
PROS
- It cooks and smokes food quickly.
- Small and easily operable
- Low maintenance required to operate this product.
- Ultra max fitting for great smoke.
- Has a large storage area for wood chips.
CONS
- The unit does not feature a temperature check.
- You can’t find a way to know the level of wood chips in the burn chamber without finishing the smoking process.
9. Breville Smoking Gun Food Smoker
This indoor electric smoker is manufactured by breville. This is one of the well-known companies in the USA.
This company came up with a variety of products. The products include espresso machine, nespresso machine, ovens, coffee machine, and coffee grinder.
Moreover, the company also sells kettle & tea makers, cookers, food processors, juicers, blenders, and bread makers, etc.
This Breville Smoking gun indoor electric smoker adds cold smoke flavor very fast in the food.
It features a built-in stand that gives support for standing accurately. It has an easy to use function. It is very light. It has a dual air speed that spreads the smoke throughout the food quickly.
It does not sound a lot, like we usually see in other indoor electric smokers. There is a removable silicon extender. It quickly adds aroma in the food. The size of an extender is up to 17.5 inches.
It is portable. You can use it both inside and outside the house. You can carry it for travelling. It does not take a lot of space to settle. The extender is detachable.
Fish, sauces, cocktails, and vegetables, you can use it for all of these. The burner is made up of stainless steel that enhances the durability of this smoker.
To smoke the food there are a lot of options available in it. For example, you can use wood chips, tea spices, and herbs. A good choice for home chefs. You can also use dried flowers.
The accessories that you get with it are hickory wood chips, tools for cleaning, catlog, and batteries.
A good choice to grab it for family vacations. You can even take it for the camping or picnic. It will enhance your experience of smoking.
PROS
- It does not sound a lot, like we usually see in other indoor electric smokers.
- Made up of stainless steel that enhances the durability of this smoker.
- It has a dual air speed that spreads the smoke throughout the food quickly.
- It does not take a lot of space to settle.
CONS
- A little bit expensive as compared to the other conventional smokers.
10. Cocktail Smoker Gramercy
This appliance is a great substitute of huge size gas and electric smokers. To smoke food by this smoker, you need to buy wood chips separately.
It is a good choice to grab to smoke your food such as burgers, meat, fish, mutton, and vegetables, etc. You will be getting replacement parts with this electric smoker.
This Gramercy’s indoor electric smoker adds cold smoke flavor very fast in the food. It does not sound a lot, like we usually see in other indoor electric smokers.
It is portable. You can use it both inside and outside the house. You can carry it for travelling. It does not take a lot of space to settle.
It comes with a bag to keep all the equipment that comes with this cocktail smoker. A cleaning brush is included in the kit of this indoor electric smoker. The brush is very useful to clean it. The brush perfectly cleans it from inside and outside.
You can even use this smoke for your drinks that increase the flavor of the drink to make it more tasty.
It smokes the food and drinks in just a couple of minutes. It comes with a rechargeable battery set. There are four cells used in it.
If you are planning to go camping at some mountainous area then we prefer you to grab this. You will be getting delicious food by utilizing this appliance.
The use of this smoker is very simple. You need to cover the food with a plate or a big size bowl.
Smoke the wood chips that you put inside the chamber at the top of this smoker. It does not take a lot of time to spread in the dome. When the dome is filled up with smoke, put the dome inside the bowl and cover it completely.
Make sure that the smoke will not release from anywhere. Then, after 2 to 3 minutes you can enjoy your delicious meal.
PROS
- It smokes the food and drinks in just a couple of minutes.
- It comes with a rechargeable battery set.
- Can even use this smoke for your drinks that increase the flavor of the drink
- It does not sound a lot, like we usually see in other indoor electric smokers.
CONS
- There is no stand in this smoker.
How to Choose the Best Indoor Electric Smoker? – Buyer’s Guide:
Choosing the best smoker is a difficult task indeed. There are a variety of models available in the market that different companies are offering.
But how to figure out which one is best for you?
If you want to get the best one then consider these features when you are buying.
Temperature Controls:
When you are looking for the perfect smoker for yourself then make sure that it has temperature control. If rheostat can control the temperature of the smoker throughout the smoking then it is best for you.
Heat Distribution:
The heat distribution is another feature of smokers if they can distribute heat evenly then these are the best ones and you should buy that one.
Layering Structure:
Next, we will talk about the layering structure of smokers. The smokers come in both vertical and horizontal layers. The recommendation is that get yourself one that has thick hollow grids and can absorb most of the meat.
Versatile and Functional:
Electric smokers are those that are versatile they are not only using to smoke food but also can be used as grill and oven. So get one that is multifunctional and according to your need.
SmokeBags are a great addition for people who love to smoke, but can’t use outdoor electric smokers. They are basically bags filled with wood chips. You can pick a bag by the wood chip flavor it has inside and I think that it is great.
They work on a simple, yet ingenious principle. The wood chips are in a special chamber of the bag which separates the food from the wood chip.
You can put the food in the bag, close it and the smoke is released into the bag through small holes during the process.
When you are done with smoking, the only thing you have to do is open the bag to grab the food. Then, just toss the bag in the trash, and you are done with the cleaning too.
You have to put the bag in the smoker or any other appliance like the oven or grill. The great thing about these smoker bags that you can use them with any heat source, which means that you can use them while camping too.
Smoker Bags are a great temporary solution for indoor smoking but you can’t compare the meat prepared in the Smoker Bag with the indoor electric smoker, just like you can compare indoor smokers with the outdoors.
What Is an Indoor Smoker and What Is It Used for?
When it comes to smoking then BBQ the smoky flavor is a priority and we are familiar with different ways. And by pallet smoking as well.
But you know, what is the most effective way?
indoor electric smokers are the best in their job. They are used not only for making BBQ but also for multiple cooking.
If you do not know what electric smokers are then no need to worry because I am here to tell you that what exactly they are.
What Is Indoor Electric Smokers?
If we talk about the main attraction of electric smokers then it is “ one you set it then forget about it”.
This is an important feature of electric smokers as well. No mess of lightening of wood or charcoal, no checking of fuel at all, and also no extra mess to clean up.
You just need to turn it on, crack the drink, and relax on the chair. Electric smokers are the one that needs one or two ounces of wood to get the smoky flavor on your food.
These indoor electric smokers are quite easy to use.
Uses Of Indoor Electric Smokers:
If you want to eat a BBQ and do not want to go outdoor then indoor electric smokers are best for you.
Do you know why?
Because these are the ones that will help you in doing BBQ in your backyard. They are used not only for smoking but also you can make sausages, grill sandwiches by using these.
It is just that place the food, turn it on and sit until it prepares food for you. you do not need to check them again and again.
They are smaller in size and can easily be placed in your kitchen. If we compare these indoor smokers from traditional ones then we will find that they use fewer utilities.
Last but not least, another thing that needs to look at is it produces less smoke that is why it is a choice of many.
How Do Indoor Smokers Work?
As you get familiar with what indoor electric smokers are and what are their uses, now I am going to tell you how they work.
As they are smaller in size than routine electric smokers so they can easily adjust indoors and are best in their working.
Let us have a look at the working of indoor electric smokers,
Same as electric smokers, indoor electric smokers are those that work on electric roads as their heating source.
Consider these recommendations if you want your indoor smoker to work properly.
- First thing first, you have to season your grill to do this you have to cover some surfaces of your smokers, coat it with cooking oil and then run it at275F for like 3 hours. We have done seasoning to burn out any residue or junk leftover after manufacturing of smokers.
- As smoking is the process of cooking meat at a low temperature then make sure that you have plenty of time for smoking.
- Once you have seasoned your smokers and you have plenty of time now you all need to do is to put your food in the smokers.
- When you put the meat inside the smoker, the next step is setting the temperature of the smoker.
- Check the meat after some time and once you feel that it is properly cooked then take it out of the smoker and serve it.
What’s the Difference Between Cold and Hot Smoking?
When it comes to smoking then you can do this by two methods by cold smoking and by hot smoking.
By cold smoking chefs mostly referred to adding smoke flavor to your food, in which meat is also included.
Cold smoked foods are typically those which are ready to eat and are not raw. Generally, food that is cooked at 100F or below then is considered as cooled smoked.
Whereas,
Hot smoking is one that is done at a temperature of 170F to 300F. The temperature can also range from 200F to 300F.
In hot smoking, the food is properly cooked and not only to add only smoke to food.
Differences In Smoking Inside Versus An Outdoor Space:
There are many differences in smoking inside versus an outdoor space because the entire environment you are smoking is different.
It is far more dangerous to smoke inside which means that you have to be extra careful if you want to smoke in your apartment.
Let me show you why you must use indoor electric smokers inside.
- Honor The Rules Of The Building You Are Living In:
If you have an apartment and you really want that smokehouse flavor, make sure that it is ok with the rules in your building. Some buildings don’t allow smoking and grilling on their balconies, let alone inside the apartment.
So, make sure you aren’t violating any rules before you get an indoor electric smoker. So in that case, you can achieve that same flavor profile by using a slow cooker.
- Smoking Will Change The Smell Of Your Home:
When you smoke foods it is a process that produces all kinds of tasty flavors and aromas. When you are smoking it outside you can enjoy that smell because it disperses.
But, when you are smoking inside you can get a “smoke flavor“at home. That means you will have smokey furniture and carpets and that is a smell you can’t get rid of that easily.
The best way to avoid that is to smoke in a well-ventilated room and only use indoor electric smokers or an indoor stovetop smoker.
- Keep An Eye On The Indoor Electric Smoker All The Time:
You know that the cooking time for smoking food typically lasts more than 3 hours which means that the entire time during smoking (indoor cooking) someone has to be in the room.
You can’t leave the smoker unattended because there are a lot of things that could go wrong.
Before you start smoking in the indoor electric smoker, make sure it is safe and not surrounded by flammable materials like rugs or tablecloths. And don’t leave it alone.
- Make Sure The Model Really Is An Indoor Electric Smoker:
Smoking is preparing food using cold smoke or hot smoke. That means that most smokers produce a lot of smoke and that can be dangerous if you are doing it inside.
That smoke is not safe and it can affect your health. A lot of different gases are released during smoking which means that the area must be well ventilated.
Most outdoor smokers produce a lot of smoke and you can’t see that outside, but if you do that inside, you will have a problem.
If you really need an indoor cooking space, the only place where you can smoke in the garage with the garage doors opened and the smoker located near the opened doors.
Ready To Buy The Best Indoor Smoker?
Once you have looked at different smokers that are offered by different companies, and also looked at the different aspects of smokers then you, All you need to do is to look at what you need and that is it you are ready to go for a new indoor smoker.
Conclusion!
Using an indoor electric smoker is the most effective way of smoking if you are smoking at a small place. Buying one from the best of all is a difficult choice sometimes.
That’s why we have reviewed some of the best electric smokers out there in the market. Hope this review will help you in buying the best one.