Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Temperature Problem (Troubleshooting Tips)

Masterbuilt’s Electric Smoker is one of the most popular smokers for slow cooking. There’s no doubting its reliability. But just like most products, problems will arise. Masterbuilt electric smoker temperature problem is one of the common issues faced by users.

It’s not a deal-breaker but it does need your attention. Most of the time, the issue is solved by optimizing the fuel amount or fixing the control unit. But there are a few other issues that need different solutions. In this article, I’ll go over the common temperature problems and discuss how they can be solved.

Top 4 Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Temperature Problems with Solution

Here’s everything you need to know about the temperature issues of Masterbuilt smokers.

As far as I can tell, there are 4 issues in total that people have experienced.

• Overheating
• The smoker is not getting hot enough
• The smoker keeps shutting down
• Unstable temperature

1. Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Overheating

When a new owner of the smoker tries to smoke meat for the first time faces this overheating issue. While the usual temperature range is 200 to 250 degrees, the temperature could rise above 275 degrees even with the dial set to low.

That’s a sign of disaster if you’re trying to get a medium-rare cook on your piece of meat.

The most probable reason behind this overheating is too much air intake which means more oxygen.

Here’s the solution,

• Prevent the issue by plugging the vents slightly or completely if it’s required
• In case the smoker has more than one dial, turn a dial off and continue to smoke with another dial
• Take a few ice cubes in a pan and place them inside
• Controlling the fuel intake is also a good way

2. Smoker Is Not Getting Hot Enough

One other issue with a Masterbuilt smoker is that it doesn’t get hot enough to cook anything or not enough smoke to get a good smoked piece of meat.

The following reasons could be behind it,

• You didn’t use a good quality fuel
• A loose chip tray
• Unclean chip tray

The solution to the issue is simple.

• Select the appropriate fuel for your smoker
• Use good wood chips or chunks
• Don’t soak the wood chips as some people do to slow down the wood burn
• Take out the chip tray, clean it, and set it right

3. Smoker Keeps Shutting Down

If your Masterbuilt electric smoker is shutting down by itself, you won’t get enough heat to cook with. There might be the following reasons behind it.

The issue might be a bad control unit. Masterbuilt’s 2^nd generation smokers come with the control unit at the front. Sometimes due to this design the control unit breaks. And the smoker stops functioning suddenly.

Experiencing blown fuses is common in electrical products. A blown fuse in the electric panel could be the one causing the issue.

And those who don’t keep their smokers in a shade experiences rust in their smokers. And it affects the electrical lines which, in turn, disturbs power connection.

Solution:

• Replace the thermostat temperature control if it’s busted
• Fix the fuse if it’s blown
• Inspect the digital control and see if there’s any loose wire
• Get a new control panel and replace it if it’s broken

4. Smoker’s Unstable Temperature

When you’re new to the smoking scene, you’ll experience unstable temperatures now and then. Whether it’s a Masterbuilt Electric Smoker or another smoker, it’s a common issue.

It’s mostly to do with the ambient temperature. If the smoker is kept in an open space, the temperature is greatly affected by the outside temperature.

To have control over the temperature you either have to keep the smoker in a shaded and guarded area or adjust the temperature as it fluctuates. Sun exposure and cold air can mess with the temperature.

Solution:

• Keep it in a shaded area to avoid sun exposure
• Close or open the vent to restrict or increase oxygen flow
• Install a wooden box around it to prevent the cold air from affecting it

Check this video for more info:

How to Take Care of Your Electric Smoker to Avoid Temperature Issues?

Prevention is better than cure; I think I’ve written it far too many times. But it’s always relevant. Avoid the temperature issues with your electric smoker by keeping the following points in mind,

• Don’t be in a hurry. Masterbuilt electric smokers are known for their slow smoking. So, give it enough time to properly smoke your meat. Always keep an eye on the temperature reading to prevent the temperature issue on the spot.
• Don’t forget to preseason it before using it for the first time. It’ll help to get rid of dust and grease oil.
• Don’t forget to preheat the smoker for 30 minutes before you load the food to cook.
• Don’t cover the racks with aluminum foil; it only makes the cooking slower.
• Don’t overfill the smoker as it can trap heat and obstruct heat flow.
• Close the air damper to trap the heat and moisture. Keep the air damper of your smoker open only if you’re cooking fish or jerky.
• After adding wood chips, the temperature reading will see a spike, but don’t just jump on to adjust the temp. It’ll stabilize by itself in a minute or two.

Always keep in mind that the temperature reading will fluctuate; it’s normal to do so as the smoker cycles off and on throughout the smoking.

Masterbuilt Smoker Troubleshooting Tips

If the smoker isn’t turning on,

• Check the main power switch
• Check the power cord
• Check if the circuit breaker is busted or not

If the meat probe temperature doesn’t show up,

• It might be broken. Fix or replace it by yourself or contact the Masterbuilt support team.

If the smoker takes a lot of time to heat up,

• Use a standard power cord and plug it directly into an outlet
• Close the door properly

If the Masterbuilt electric smoker doesn’t produce enough smoke,

• Check if the chip tray is properly in place
• Check if the wood chips are wet

Check this article for details electric smoker troubleshooting issues with fixes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the ideal temperature for a smoker?

The ideal temperature range for most smokers is from 225°F to 250°F. To smoke most meats, you don’t need more than 240°F temperature.

2. What temp does wood smoke in an electric smoker?

To smoke wood, the temperature would have to reach around 250°F (121°C). At this point, the wood starts to smolder.

3. Does a water pan help in my electric smoker?

Putting a water pan inside can stabilize the temperature. And if it’s cold outside, you can bring in boiling water to increase the temp quicker.

Having water inside can also protect the meat from drying out.

4. Does using pellets help in temperature control?

Pellets should be used only for the designated pellet grills; that’s what Masterbuilt recommends. To help the temperature rise well and stay stable, don’t allow wet wood chips to mix with dry wood chips.

Final Verdict

Masterbuilt electric smoker temperature problem arises only when you don’t know how to use a slow smoker. Follow the provided instruction by the manufacturer to get the best out of it.

And then if you face issues, we’re here to help you out. The common temperature issues are easily solved following the solutions provided above. What you need to do is always keep the smoker clean and check if everything is in place before cooking.

Most of the time, the problem we face is our own doing. Before taking it to the experts, try the troubleshooting tips to see if you can solve the issue by yourself.

Also Read:

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