Electric Smoker Vs Pellet Smoker

Getting Setup

Electric

Electric smokers are plugged into a nearby outlet and powered by electricity. All you have to do is push a button and you can start smoking your meats. Place wood over the internal heating rod, and the smoker will slowly cook the meat until you reach your ideal temperature.

Pellet

You’ll need to plug your pellet smokers into a nearby outlet to power it on, but these devices do not cook meat primarily through electricity. Instead, they function similarly to a traditional grill and operate via pellet fuel. A heating rod moves pellets from the hopper to the fire pot when it’s time to smoke. The convection heating system takes care of smoking the meat just the way you like it.

Smoker Controls

Electric

The device interface will most likely be digital, but this depends on the model that you choose. It’s also possible that your controls are analog. Either way, your display will be simple to learn and easy to use. You can quickly set your temperature, insert your meats, and wait until the timer is done. Electric is that simple.

However, electric can become more advanced to used if your model comes with a rheostat or thermostat. A rheostat controls how much electricity is being used to power the machine, like a hotplate, while a thermostat will allow you to adjust the temperature. With electric, you can set your device at a precise level of heat.

Pellet

With pellet smokers, you have temperature control with a simple dial that you can adjust as your meats cook. However, you’re likely not to have a rheostat or thermostat for precise temperature control. A pellet smoker can be set at a temperature you’re comfortable with. However, there is no timer on these machines. You will need to stand by and closely monitor to make sure everything is cooked to perfection.

Meat Flavor

Electric

Electric smokers provide the flavor of an authentic charcoal-powered unit. Heated directly from the wood, you’ll taste a huge difference from your traditional grill at a faster rate. However, the flavor comes mostly from the heat, rather than completely from wood. An electric grill is not as rich as the taste offered by pellet smokers.

Pellet

Pellet smokers are admired for their rich and smokey flavors. You’ll get the smokiness you long for with each session, all powered by wood pellets that are capable of completely altering the taste of the meat.

You also have the option of buying flavored pellets, which allows you to enrich your meat with a specific flavor. With wood pellets, you get to experiment with tastes and make each dinner surprising. Overall, pellet smokers produce way more smoke and flavor, due to close contact with the wood-burning pellets. You will be able to serve meats that you no other device can cook.

Operating Cost

One of the biggest factors that makes these two devices different is cost. Both the initial cost of your purchase, as well as the cost to operate your machine, will be different depending on whether you go with pellet or electric.

Electric

To run an electric smoker, all you need to do is plug your unit into an outlet and prepare about 6-8 ounces of wood. This will add a little bit to your electricity bill, not any more than any other appliance. Because you won’t need that much wood to operate, it’s easy to buy in bulk and store it next to your unit. You won’t feel as if you’re constantly running to the store to pick up some more wood to burn.

Electric smokers are also more affordable to buy from a retailer. You can take home an entry-level model for just under $100. The interior design of these machines is much less complicated than pellet-powered models, so the price is much lower.

Pellet

Pellet is still going to use electricity, but a lot more wood than electric. If you’re not willing to stock up on pellets, then you’re not going to be able to cook in high quantities.

To smoke, you’ll need about 1-2 lbs per hour. Because this type of cooking is dependent on slow and low cooks, you’re going to end up burning through more pellets than you might expect at first. If you’re grilling meat for 8 hours, expect to add on a total of $8 to your budget. This adds up if you’re planning on frequent use.

Pellet is also much more expensive to purchase. Expect to pay at least $500 for an entry-level model. Some are even sold at over a grand.

Keep in mind that with a pellet smoker, you’re paying for a system that completely immerses your meats in smoke directly from the wood source. Your meats are going to be smokier, and that comes at a higher price tag.