INTRODUCTION
The Smoke Hollow 26 Inch Electric Smoker, is a great beginner’s machine for smoking meat, poultry, and fish. One of its best features is a solid welded steel structure that is completely insulated to protect against changing ambient temperatures (though I would say a bunch a snow outside is definitely going to make this a bit more difficult).
It also comes with an external thermometer, internal porcelain-coated water tray, chip container, and removable grease trap. This model stands 36.5″ high x 19″ wide and weighs about 35 pounds. It’s black colored and sturdy- it should last you a good long while, particularly if you keep it covered or stored in your garage when not using. Its cooking capacity consists of three chrome-plated grids, which can easily accommodate a 5Ib brisket, some chickens or even a large turkey. For the price, it’s one of the best electric smokers for sale right now, and it certainly won’t bust the bank to invest in one.
Power
This SmokeHollow model is powered by a 1500watts/120V electrical element. That’s more than enough to hit the ideal 225-250° range you need for properly smoking a pork butt or brisket. Some reviewers online have complained about it being difficult to generate smoke, but I’ve never had any problems. At worst you can either start the unit off at its high temps to get the chips smoking- then turn it down and put in your meat. Or, you can simply blowtorch the chips to pre-fire them.
Temperature Control
According to the manufacturer, the smoker’s internal temperature can reach up to almost 400°, though I’m not sure why you’d ever need to take it up so high. It’s all controlled by a 3 setting dial, along with an external thermometer embedded in the door, which ensures that the readings are accurate. It also comes with two separate food racks. After the temperature has reached your desired level, the smoker will nicely maintain the temperature until your food is cooked.
Compact
The compact style and makes it easy to store, especially if you have limited living space. It measures only 14″ x 12″ x 26″ inside, making it one of the smaller options out there, and it’s certainly not so heavy that you can’t move it around easily. I’ve easily fit a whole turkey in this smoker, not thinking that it would fit, but was pleasantly surprised. And it did indeed cook that Thanksgiving bird to perfection.
Easy to Clean
One of the big advantages of this electric smoker is that it is very easy to clean and even has easily replaceable parts that will last for many years. Many electric smokers suffer from the fact that they need to be cleaned in a harsh way with hard-to-find parts. This is certainly the case with this Smoke Hollow electric smoker. Shelves can be removed and you’ll probably find that a simple mix of vinegar and water should get any grease stains off of the walls right quick.
Pros
- Good Budget Option.
- Three temperature settings
- Magnetic Door Lock
- Sturdy industrial design
- Simple to assemble and easy to use
- Nice capacity for its size
Cons
- No digital readout or built-in meat probe.
- It can leak smoke.
- It can leak grease (I recommend putting a larger, foil-lined drip pan on the bottom shelf if necessary).
Conclusion
The Smoke Hollow 26-Inch Electric Smoker is a solid unit that will surely give you many, many years of cooking pleasure. It’s one of the top-rated electric smokers on Amazon right now for a reason. Like the Old Smokey, it’s more of a budget option, but certainly bigger inside and more durable. If you make smoked meat on a regular basis using a traditional offset grill, I think you’ll find this unit will make things a helluva lot easier for you and is definitely a product worth buying.