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  5. Masterbuilt won't Smoke

Masterbuilt won't Smoke

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Smoking & Grilling
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  • deweymeatsD deweymeats

    This is a great way to try out the GROUPS to see if it actually works. I’m in Blue and Masterbuilt. When it’s 80 degrees out trying to make Snack Stix my electric would not get the chips to burn. Using the tried and true smoke schedule, 120, 140, 150, 170 degrees the unit would not get the chips smoking so I had to use the add on unit smoker. Have you other guys with electric smokers run into this issue too or is it my unit. The added cold smoker worked fine, just looking for constructive comments and expert opinions. The Maple Bacon Snack Sticks turned out great. It’s fall tomorrow so this shouldn’t happen until next year.

    Joe HellJ Offline
    Joe HellJ Offline
    Joe Hell
    Team Blue
    wrote on last edited by
    #2

    deweymeats That has been my experience with the Masterbuilt and all electric smokers. I bought the MB cold smoker attachment just for that reason. I’ve found you need at least 190-200 to see smoke

    Better Living Through BBQ!

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • Tex_77T Offline
      Tex_77T Offline
      Tex_77
      Team Blue Power User Traeger Primo Grills PK Grills Canning Sous Vide Community Moderator
      wrote on last edited by
      #3

      deweymeats to tag a group use the “@” sign then type the name of the group. Masterbuilt

      Isaiah 5:22 Woe to those who are heroes at drinking wine and champions at mixing drinks

      1 Reply Last reply
      1
      • deweymeatsD deweymeats

        This is a great way to try out the GROUPS to see if it actually works. I’m in Blue and Masterbuilt. When it’s 80 degrees out trying to make Snack Stix my electric would not get the chips to burn. Using the tried and true smoke schedule, 120, 140, 150, 170 degrees the unit would not get the chips smoking so I had to use the add on unit smoker. Have you other guys with electric smokers run into this issue too or is it my unit. The added cold smoker worked fine, just looking for constructive comments and expert opinions. The Maple Bacon Snack Sticks turned out great. It’s fall tomorrow so this shouldn’t happen until next year.

        C Offline
        C Offline
        Cailyn
        Masterbuilt
        wrote on last edited by
        #4

        deweymeats I have heard of people complaining about the lack of smoke in the masterbuilt We just switched to larger chips and it worked really well. We got Zorestar chips from Amazon.

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • deweymeatsD deweymeats

          This is a great way to try out the GROUPS to see if it actually works. I’m in Blue and Masterbuilt. When it’s 80 degrees out trying to make Snack Stix my electric would not get the chips to burn. Using the tried and true smoke schedule, 120, 140, 150, 170 degrees the unit would not get the chips smoking so I had to use the add on unit smoker. Have you other guys with electric smokers run into this issue too or is it my unit. The added cold smoker worked fine, just looking for constructive comments and expert opinions. The Maple Bacon Snack Sticks turned out great. It’s fall tomorrow so this shouldn’t happen until next year.

          cdavisC Offline
          cdavisC Offline
          cdavis
          Team Blue Big Green Egg Masterbuilt Canning Kamado Joes Regular Contributors Power User
          wrote on last edited by
          #5

          deweymeats I’ve had my masterbuilt for 8years now and have never had that happen. I smoked 10lbs of imitation bacon yesterday and had smoke from 130 degrees all the way to 175.

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          0
          • KillerNomsK Offline
            KillerNomsK Offline
            KillerNoms
            Team Orange
            wrote on last edited by
            #6

            I also have struggled with this on electrics. This year I added the Mailbox Mod, which completely solves the problem. It is simple, cheap and effective - turning the unit into a true cold-smoker, completely eliminating the temperature variable from the “how much smoke” question. Just google “Mailbox mod for Masterbuilt”. Masterbuilt

            Regards,

            Steve Jones
            https://KillerNoms.com

            C 1 Reply Last reply
            2
            • craigriceC Offline
              craigriceC Offline
              craigrice
              Power User Canning Team Orange Regular Contributors Veteran Masterbuilt
              wrote on last edited by
              #7

              I have the cold smoker attachment for my master-bilt and it is all i use whether using heat or not

              Joe HellJ 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M Offline
                M Offline
                mikemikemike
                Regular Contributors
                wrote on last edited by
                #8

                Yeah you need the cold smoker attachment if you want to produce smoke below 200F. Reason being is the wood chip tray relies on the heating element to burn the chips, and at temps below 200F the element just doesnt stay on long enough get them lit, or keep them lit. Some tips using the cold smoker attachment:

                Use pellets
                And use only a small handful at a time every 15 minutes, or when you see the smoke start to slow down.
                This is preference, i prefer a clean subtle smoke flavor. If you fill that thing up it will smoke like a house fire, and probably taste like it too.

                C 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • 1 Offline
                  1 Offline
                  18handicapper
                  Yearling
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #9

                  The mailbox mod is diffenatly the answer. You can smoke at any temp

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • craigriceC craigrice

                    I have the cold smoker attachment for my master-bilt and it is all i use whether using heat or not

                    Joe HellJ Offline
                    Joe HellJ Offline
                    Joe Hell
                    Team Blue
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #10

                    craigrice Same!

                    Better Living Through BBQ!

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • 1 Offline
                      1 Offline
                      18handicapper
                      Yearling
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #11

                      My problem with masterbuilt is I cant get it hot enough to finish anything. I now have an additional hot plate for heat. Tried calling masterbuilt, they are on covid crisis alert, no body answers the phone

                      M 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • 1 18handicapper

                        My problem with masterbuilt is I cant get it hot enough to finish anything. I now have an additional hot plate for heat. Tried calling masterbuilt, they are on covid crisis alert, no body answers the phone

                        M Offline
                        M Offline
                        mikemikemike
                        Regular Contributors
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #12

                        18handicapper

                        Thats a new one for me. I mean, they are set to 275F max, but ive never had an issue with it not reaching 275F unless we are talking dead of winter with heavy winds. Thats said, i have had an element burn out.

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • 1 Offline
                          1 Offline
                          18handicapper
                          Yearling
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #13

                          The digital read out says 275 but the actual box temp is 245,that’s on a 80 degree day

                          M 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • 1 18handicapper

                            The digital read out says 275 but the actual box temp is 245,that’s on a 80 degree day

                            M Offline
                            M Offline
                            mikemikemike
                            Regular Contributors
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #14

                            18handicapper said in Masterbuilt won't Smoke:

                            The digital read out says 275 but the actual box temp is 245,that’s on a 80 degree day

                            Try buying a bag of ceramic briquettes at home depot or lowes, they are fairly cheap. And instead of water, fill the water pan with the briquettes, annd cover with foil if you dont want to clean the briquettes when they get gunked up from drippings, or just put a pan above them to catch the drippings.

                            Anyway, the point is is the ceramic briquettes will act as a buffer and while it might take longer to reach 275F, it will help maintain that temp throughout the cook.

                            my 0.02c

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • 1 Offline
                              1 Offline
                              18handicapper
                              Yearling
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #15

                              If it won’t hit 275 with nothing in it,I don’t think ceramic briquettes will bring it to 275

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M mikemikemike

                                Yeah you need the cold smoker attachment if you want to produce smoke below 200F. Reason being is the wood chip tray relies on the heating element to burn the chips, and at temps below 200F the element just doesnt stay on long enough get them lit, or keep them lit. Some tips using the cold smoker attachment:

                                Use pellets
                                And use only a small handful at a time every 15 minutes, or when you see the smoke start to slow down.
                                This is preference, i prefer a clean subtle smoke flavor. If you fill that thing up it will smoke like a house fire, and probably taste like it too.

                                C Offline
                                C Offline
                                Cailyn
                                Masterbuilt
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #16

                                mikemikemike thanks. Yeah we did the 15 mins of the chips. I haven’t been able to convince hubby on the cold box (yet) but Christmas is coming😝

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • M Offline
                                  M Offline
                                  mikemikemike
                                  Regular Contributors
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #17

                                  Cailyn

                                  Its worth the $60 on amazon. I used to use my Masterbuilt electric for years before i upgraded to a vertical pellet smoker. Pellet smokers push air so much that bad smoke doesn’t have a chance to linger. But thats a whole other topic im not going to get into in this thread.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • KillerNomsK Offline
                                    KillerNomsK Offline
                                    KillerNoms
                                    Team Orange
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #18

                                    I’m no expert, but if it won’t hit 275 in anything approaching normal weather, it is either a problem with the element, the control, or the integrity of the box.

                                    Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

                                    Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

                                    Regards,

                                    Steve Jones
                                    https://KillerNoms.com

                                    M 1 Reply Last reply
                                    1
                                    • KillerNomsK KillerNoms

                                      I’m no expert, but if it won’t hit 275 in anything approaching normal weather, it is either a problem with the element, the control, or the integrity of the box.

                                      Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

                                      Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

                                      M Offline
                                      M Offline
                                      mikemikemike
                                      Regular Contributors
                                      wrote on last edited by mikemikemike
                                      #19

                                      KillerNoms said in Masterbuilt won't Smoke:

                                      I’m no expert, but if it won’t hit 275 in anything approaching normal weather, it is either a problem with the element, the control, or the integrity of the box.

                                      Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

                                      Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

                                      Thats more then an average Joe would do. I have plenty of PID controllers i built over the years, but if i was starting from scratch, with the knowledge i know, I would tell some one to go Pellet smoker. Rec Tec having the best WiFi PID controller for Pellet smokers.

                                      You are either not informed on new technology, or you work for Auber. But if you want to debate, i am more then willing to mention better/cheaper products then Auber.

                                      Joe HellJ KillerNomsK R 3 Replies Last reply
                                      0
                                      • M mikemikemike

                                        KillerNoms said in Masterbuilt won't Smoke:

                                        I’m no expert, but if it won’t hit 275 in anything approaching normal weather, it is either a problem with the element, the control, or the integrity of the box.

                                        Whatever it is, I can tell you that by spending a couple of hundred bucks on a PID device (Auber WSD-1500H-W), and bypassing the internal controls to give the PID direct control of the element, for the first time in many years of smoking with electric smokers I am comfortable it will do what I say without drama.

                                        Not only that, the PID works with any AC controlled analog heat source - for instance controlling a roaster oven to hold a big batch of stock at precisely 185º for 24 hours unattended. A powerful, flexible and accurate tool.

                                        Thats more then an average Joe would do. I have plenty of PID controllers i built over the years, but if i was starting from scratch, with the knowledge i know, I would tell some one to go Pellet smoker. Rec Tec having the best WiFi PID controller for Pellet smokers.

                                        You are either not informed on new technology, or you work for Auber. But if you want to debate, i am more then willing to mention better/cheaper products then Auber.

                                        Joe HellJ Offline
                                        Joe HellJ Offline
                                        Joe Hell
                                        Team Blue
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #20

                                        mikemikemike This average ‘Joe Hell’ has given Masterbuilt plenty of opportunities and I’ve been let down over and over again. I’m on my 5th smoker. When they work they work well…when the don’t the simply don’t. It took over a year to get my last issues resolved. The call center is nearly impossible to reach regardless of current pandemics. My current (replacement) smoker hasn’t had any issues but I’m not likely to invest in any products going forward. I didn’t contact warranty on the first 3 but the last 2 have been a nightmare.

                                        Better Living Through BBQ!

                                        M lkrfletcherL 2 Replies Last reply
                                        0
                                        • Joe HellJ Joe Hell

                                          mikemikemike This average ‘Joe Hell’ has given Masterbuilt plenty of opportunities and I’ve been let down over and over again. I’m on my 5th smoker. When they work they work well…when the don’t the simply don’t. It took over a year to get my last issues resolved. The call center is nearly impossible to reach regardless of current pandemics. My current (replacement) smoker hasn’t had any issues but I’m not likely to invest in any products going forward. I didn’t contact warranty on the first 3 but the last 2 have been a nightmare.

                                          M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          mikemikemike
                                          Regular Contributors
                                          wrote on last edited by mikemikemike
                                          #21

                                          Joe Hell

                                          What other smoker do you have besides a Masterbuilt? Auber AFIAK only sells PID controllers. They might sell a controller and a blower for charcoal, but i am not aware of any Auber product that somehow magicly works with Electric smokers like Masterbuilt that is the topic of this thread. Seems like you and the other guy are barking up the wrong tree? I suggest both of you look into pellet smokers. I have wasted $$$ over the years with electric, gas/charcoal, charcoal smokers over the years. Pellet is the way to go.

                                          Joe HellJ 1 Reply Last reply
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