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Gas vs Electric vs Charcoal Smoker

Robert W. Sherman

August 4, 2024

Do you like cooking? It’s a great delight!

Meanwhile, when you smoke fish or meat, it’s completely different. Its taste and flavor are unique.

So, let’s compare gas vs electric vs charcoal smoker. What does the heat source determine? Are only the taste and ease of use important?

Let me go into detail.

What is the Best Smoker for a Beginner?

What is important when you smoke some meat or fish? It’s the temperature, time and your good mood. You can add your favorite flavors and herbs. Meanwhile, smoking meat is a kind of handicraft. The process requires long years of experience and advanced cooking skills.

What about the technologies? Are they decisive? Quite naturally, the smoker type matter. If you use your smoker for years, you know, this one is right for you. Selecting a device for the first cooking experience might be a bit challenging.

Benefits of Electric Smokers

So, are you a follower of traditions? Would you like to smoke the food the same way as your ancestors did? You would need some patience, in this case.

An electric smoker is a device that saves your time and efforts. It is:

• easy-to-use;
• safe;
• lightweight;
• durable.

Do you like cleaning all of this terrible ash? Forget about it. Electric devices don’t produce a lot of smoke. They are not messy. Therefore, they demand only minimal cleaning and maintenance. So, what is the best smoker for home use? I guess the one that is clean and mess-free. It should be not bulky, as well.

Electric vs wood smoker is commonly much smaller. Quite naturally, its chamber is sufficiently spacious for your dishes. They are large enough to treat a lot of guests. However, they are space-saving. A vertical-style unit can find the place even in a small house. It takes only a footprint that is 2*2ft.

Emission Factors

Do you think, emission regulations concern only the vehicles? That’s right. The new California emission rules were approved recently. Thus, the number of electric vehicles is significantly increasing.

What’s about your health? As the researchers state, charcoal devices emit pollutants. CO and CO2 gases are not the most dangerous. Quite naturally, gas vs charcoal smoker is more environment-friendly.

Other Issues

Meanwhile, an electric smoker is definitely the safest and the smartest device. These advantages are supported by:

• adjustable thermostats;
• programmable timers;
• built-in monitors;
• remote control units.

Stainless steel walls and removable racks make this construction convenient and lightweight. Meanwhile, electric smokers let you control the temperature. Smoking fish in an electric smoker is intuitive. It’s constant and accurate.

So, you get exactly the doneness degree you want. Cooking is time-saving. No “babysitting” is required. You can supervise smoking from your smartphone. Just use an advanced app. Additionally, you don’t need to make a fire.

How to Smoke Fish in an Electric Smoker?

1. Just turn the smoker on.
2. Customize or adjust the settings. No fuel is necessary.
3. Clean up is easy and not frequent.

Quite naturally, you’ll still have to prepare the fish. It’s preferable to scale and gut it, initially. Seasoning can be various, according to your tastes. The internal temperature is to be tested.

Electric or Gas Smoker: Which is Better?

I think the best smoker for salmon belongs to electric type. Why? Because cooking requires a low and constant temperature.

Meanwhile, natural gas and propane smokers do have their special benefits. They are:

• portable;
• flexible;
• fast to warm up;
• all-weather;
• intuitive to use.

Actually, warming is not necessary at all. If you don’t have an electricity source, this option is unbeatable. The units are small in size. You can use them is cold weather. Rain can become a challenge. Nevertheless, gas smokers are recommended for outdoor use. They can enrich a camping trip or a family party in the backyard.

How Much Propane Does a Smoker Use?

I would mention, it emits much less harmful gases. Twice less of carbon dioxide than charcoal devices produce. Quite naturally, the fuel is to be available. However, it’s quantity depends on several factors, including:

• the tank rating;
• the unit’s BTU capacity;
• the cooking time.

It’s difficult to compare the cost of natural gas and propane. Propane is sold in gallons. Gas is measured in cubic feet. Different pressure is applied. Meanwhile, both devices are cost-efficient and pretty clean.

Ancient Charm of Charcoal Smokers

Finally, if you are outdoors, why don’t you use charcoal? This fuel is not clean, but versatile and reliable. Can you use pellets in an electric smoker? Actually, some devices do enable it. But, would you get so perfect meat flavor on electric power?

Charcoal smokers are:

• simple;
• easy-to-maintain;
• portable;
• preferable for slow cooks.

What is special about charcoal devices? They provide natural taste and unique flavor of dishes. You can enable intense smokiness. Roasting and grilling are also possible. Therefore, your cooking procedures and recipes can be quite versatile. Additionally, its temperature range is much wider.

Smokers for Meat and Fish: Time and Temperature

How to smoke meat with an electric smoker? We are to wait for about half an hour. The device is to heat up. The cooking time is much longer than on the fire, as well. Therefore, these methods are preferable for tender kinds of meat. Brisket or chicken quarters are suitable.

Charcoal smokers do have downsides. They require some cleaning and maintenance. The devices are acceptable for outdoor use only. Meanwhile, cold or windy weather can deter meat or fish smoking. Temperature monitoring is intricate and time-consuming. But the quality of the finished food is unbeatable.

General Verdict

So, what is the best kind of smoker? It depends on its application. Electric devices are preferable for indoor use and fish smoking. Gas smokers are recommended for camping. Charcoal fuel is natural and traditional. It provides the richest meat taste and flavor.

Video Review: How To Smoke Fish- Fast and Easy