If you want a set it and forget it smoker but don’t want to spend the money on a pellet grill with all the bells and whistles, the Masterbuilt 40 Bluetooth electric smoker may be just what you’re looking for.
In this review, I’ll share my experience cooking on the Masterbuilt Bluetooth 40 over the previous few months, and if it’s worth the additional money, or whether the basic non-Bluetooth model is sufficient.
Contents
Overview & first impressions
Masterbuilt, an American manufacturer, is often recommended to folks wanting to purchase their first smoker.
Their digital electric (and propane) smokers provide the ease, simplicity, and affordability that many newcomers to the market appreciate.
What you get in cost you lose in build quality, but we’ll get to that later in the review.
Masterbuilt’s vertical smokers come in 30 and 40-inch sizes, with propane, charcoal, and electric choices.
Electric and propane smokers generate smoke by burning wood chips. Wood chips are easy to utilize (particularly on a Masterbuilt) and contribute to delicious cuisine.
I chose the electric over propane for 3 reasons:
- I no longer have to be concerned about running out of propane.
- In my perspective, less gas used to light the wood chips equals greater taste.
- More temperature control options.
I was really thrilled to test the 40 electric smoker since I needed something big enough to serve a large group of people. I had previously tried and loved cooking on the 30 Masterbuilt Electric Smoker, so I was interested to see how the bigger, Bluetooth-enabled sibling would do.
After building the smoker, its crisp and contemporary appearance was rather stunning. The stainless steel door and glass distinguish the smoker in the backyard.
Beyond the appearance, Masterbuilt did an excellent job of integrating several practical elements that make it really usable.
Key features:
- The loader for wood chips Not only is it handy, but it also avoids any warmth loss caused by opening the door to add additional wood chips.
- Masterbuilt Bluetooth controller and app Users may monitor interior and external temperatures. More on the app’s performance in a moment.
- Drainage method for grease Grease drains to the bottom of the smoker and flows out the rear, where it collects in a removable metal pan.
- Pot of water The pan may be positioned under the bottom rack. On some smokers, the pan must be placed ON the bottom rack, taking up precious grill real estate.
- 2 wheels and a handle on the rear This enables you to move the smoker around by tilting it like a dolly.
- Transparent glass window Even if smoke rapidly covers the window and it must be cleaned on a regular basis, it is still convenient to be able to check on your food without opening the door.
Let’s go through the entire specifications before I get into what I liked and disliked about this smoker.
Specifications for the Masterbuilt MB20074719 40 Bluetooth Electric Smoker:
| Fuel | Electric |
| Wood | Chips only |
| Item Weight | 66.3 lbs. |
| Item Dimensions | 25.2 x 41.7 x 19.6 in. |
| Color | Stainless steel |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
| Temperature Range | 35°F – 275°F |
| Price | Check Latest Price |
What I like:
- To use, you must be intuitive. Even for a novice, the machine’s fundamental features are simple to use.
- Produces a delicious taste I cooked a variety of foods and it consistently delivered a powerful smoke taste.
- Loader for wood chips Their innovative wood chip loading mechanism is quite clever. The less times I have to open the door while cooking, the better.
What I don’t like:
- Materials that are flimsy The plastic on the door shattered in two places as a result of a little accident. The inside metal lining seems to be thin as well.
- There is just one flesh probe port. With the quantity of food that may be cooked at once in this smoker, there should be more inputs for meat probes.
- Chip tray made of little pieces of wood It has the same dimensions as the 30 model. A larger smoker should allow for more wood chips since it takes more wood chips to fill up with smoke and heat the smoker.
Unboxing and setup
The smoker came a few days after I ordered it. I couldn’t help but notice how large the box was and required some help moving it inside. This was a unique experience since it was by far the biggest vertical smoker I’d ever owned.
After opening the package and removing everything, I discovered the following:
- Every component was nicely wrapped and secured within the smoker’s main vessel.
- These featured four cooking racks, two wheels and two adjustable legs, a long handle, a water pan, an ash tray, a wood chip feeder, and a huge bag with mounting instructions and hardware.
- There were no tools given to help with the setup procedure.
Setup was quite straightforward, and it took me about a half hour to unpack and assemble everything. I didn’t need the instructions since the assembly was so simple.
Build quality
Because this is a mass-produced item, I didn’t anticipate the smoker to be made of hefty, industrial quality steel (which it isn’t). Having said that, the metal inside walls are somewhat thin, and the majority of the smoker’s outside is covered in plastic.
Because the entire structure does not scream durability, I would not recommend moving this item about much.
The door is made of elegant stainless steel and has a see-through glass pane (which is a good feature, even though it is obscured by smoke 90% of the time when cooking).
There are four chrome-coated grilling racks within the smoker that look to be solid and well-made. I cleaned them numerous times and found no scuffs or rust buildup.
However, the water pan and wood chip tray, as well as the wood chip loader, are somewhat fragile.
The plastic protection on top of the door has shattered in two places, and I’m not sure how it occurred.
I seldom moved the smoker, and it must have broken from lightly resting on it, which is a real pity since anything at this price range should be more durable.
Masterbuilt does provide a one-year limited warranty, however it is unclear from their legal wording if this sort of damage is covered.
I didn’t enquire because I discovered it had no effect on performance.
Smoking on Masterbuilt Bluetooth Electric Smoker
During the six weeks of testing, I smoked ribs, turkey, pork chops, a full chicken, and a pig shoulder on the Masterbuilt.
Because the smoker is rather big, you can cook a significant amount of food at once. When I did ribs, I smoked four racks of spare ribs at once. They were all cooked evenly and flavorfully. I wish the smoker had hooks so I could have hung the ribs vertically, but you can buy them individually online if you choose.
I particularly like how you can regulate the temperature in 5-degree increments, giving you precise control. This is often reserved for high-end pellet grills, so it’s a useful tool to have if you cook a range of foods. The controller even has a low end setting of 35 degrees Fahrenheit, so chilly smoking should be no problem.
I’ve heard that the Masterbuilt 40 Digital Smoker has difficulty maintaining higher temps in chilly weather. I couldn’t confirm it completely since I reside in Phoenix, Arizona.
Using wood chips on the Masterbuilt smoker
The advantage of utilizing wood chips for smoking versus pellets is that you get a considerably more powerful smoke taste. The advantage of utilizing pellets is that you don’t have to worry about running out as long as you fill up the hopper before cooking.
It’s a bad Masterbuilt didn’t consider this while creating the 40-inch variant. It has the same wood chip tray and feeder as the 30 model. That ten makes a difference since the larger the smoker, the more smoke you’ll need to fill it full.
I suggest purchasing a variety pack and testing with several kinds of wood chips to discover which you like.
On the 40, I had to change chips every 60 minutes, compared to 90 minutes on the 30. The wood chip loader is a good feature since it enables you to add extra wood without having to open the smoker door.
The digital controller
The controller is quite simple to operate, however if I had one complaint, it would be that the dull blue display is difficult to see during the day. You have to approach near and stand at an angle to read what it says.
Unless you use the Bluetooth feature that is.
Another minor complaint is that there is just one input for meat probes. If a unit could cook that much food at once, you’d assume the controller would allow for more than one probe.
Bluetooth and Masterebuilt app experience
Connecting your phone to the smoker was a straightforward affair. The software is well-designed but lacks capabilities, so don’t expect it to compete with Traeger’s app, which can practically cook your meal for you.
You may adjust the temperature of the smoker, watch the interior temperature of the meat probe, and set a timer and temperature alert.
One small inconvenience is that if you open the smoker’s door at any moment, you must press the Bluetooth button on the controller again in order to operate it from the app. So, if you go back inside the home and fail to click the button, you’re out.
The control range alone was adequate. I was able to utilize the app from my living room, which was around 50 feet away from the smoker.
Because various kinds of building materials might interfere with Bluetooth signals, your results may vary. This is one of the reasons why higher-end grills like Traeger utilize your home WiFi network, which is much more stable.
Cleaning the smoker
Because I seasoned the Masterbuilt before cooking on it, food debris was readily cleaned with a little elbow grease (no pun intended). Internal components are simple to remove, and the walls are simple to reach and clean.
Temperature variance and accuracy
I checked the smoker’s ambient temperatures as well as the accuracy of the built-in temperature gauge. To do this, I attached three probes to my Inkbird thermometer in the top, middle, and bottom racks.
I preheated the smoker to 250 degrees Fahrenheit and added wood chips. The ambient temperature varied significantly throughout the period of 60 minutes. The top rack probe reached 291 degrees Fahrenheit, the middle probe 284 degrees Fahrenheit, and the bottom probe 271 degrees Fahrenheit. At the moment, the internal Masterbuilt probe read 255F.
The graph below depicts the temperature variation (external probe):
Alternatives to consider
We have a guide to the finest electric smokers that goes through all of the many choices available.
As previously stated, I utilized the 30 Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker. They both serve the same purpose and provide delicious meals. If you only cook for a small party and don’t believe you’ll miss the Bluetooth feature, the smaller 30 is a similar alternative.
Consider the Pit Boss Copperhead Vertical Smoker if you want a comparable sized vertical smoker with a little more convenience and less time spent adding wood chips. However, since it is powered by wood pellets, there will be a tiny change in taste.
If size isn’t as vital as taste, I’d go with the Smokin Tex Pro Series 1400. It’s a smaller piece of meat in total, but the taste I was able to make with it was fantastic and similar to any meat I’ve had that has been smoked on a stick burner or charcoal smoker.
Final verdict
I was all set to compliment this smoker until I saw the flaws in the door that I described previously. Having said that, the device comes with a one-year limited guarantee, and I’m certain Masterbuilt would make things right if I phoned in for a replacement component.
That being said, as long as you don’t intend on moving it about much, this is a highly competent smoker with a plethora of features that make it a wonderful bargain.
If you’re a newbie or just want a full-sized vertical smoker that’s simple to operate and makes delicious food, I highly suggest checking out Masterbuilt’s 40 Bluetooth Digital Smoker.
