If you are a seasoned BBQ enthusiast, equipping yourself with an ideal smoker unit is very important. After all, nothing beats that piece of juicy and smoked ribs that well-done thanks to great smokers. This is where this Masterbuilt 2 Door Propane smoker review comes into the picture.
Yea...
We know propane smokers generally aren't considered the best options.
At least, when compared to the likes of offset, or pellet smokers. But, the Masterbuilt propane smoker offers quite a large number of impressive features, making it a smoker worth reviewing.
Masterbuilt is one of those names you will frequently stumble upon if you shop around for a fitting outdoor smoker. They manufacture some of the best high-end smokers you can get your hands on. So, if you're particularly worried about reliable brand value, Masterbuilt has that covered as well.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at the Masterbuilt 2 Door Propane Smoker unit, and why it makes for a fantastic purchase option.
Masterbuilt 2 Door Propane Smoker Review
Very few propane smokers are worth their price, and this Masterbuilt smoker is one such model. I've tasted the meat that has been prepared by this smoker and was fully satisfied with the results. Here's why I would recommend this model:
Simple and effective design
You can go on and on about the spec list of a particular smoker unit. But, in the end, it is the "ease of use" that matters the most. After all, the entire point of spending your savings on a smoker is to make your barbecuing easier.
No products found.
Click Image to See More Photos and Price on Amazon
And, that is where the Masterbuilt smoker knocks the ball out of the park!
Usually, smoking meat requires a good amount of attention. You have to pay constant attention to the wood or charcoal fire. The smoker unit has to maintain an ideal temperature at all times. In most cases, the thermostat unit on the smoker does not even function properly, and you will need to buy additional accessories.
In short, that entire experience can be frustrating and disappointing!
This problem is not the case for this Masterbuilt propane smoker. The first thing you will notice about the product is its stylish and practical design. It has a large thermostat gauge that is easy to use, and it keeps the ideal temperature locked without any heat fluctuations.
The only design flaw that is worth mentioning is that it has no pre-installed casters. This drawback can be concerning for people who tend to move around their smokers a lot. But, the base has good space, so you can buy four casters and install them easily as well.
Spacious
(Photo sourced from www.justapinch.com)
One more thing that you will love about the Masterbuilt propane smoker is its spacious cooking compartment. The smoker comes with four chrome racks which give a total capacity of the unit is a sizable 717 square inch.
This ample cooking space is more than enough to house two large turkeys, ribs, sausages, and some corns – at the same time. In brief, you will not have to worry about hosting a barbeque party and coming up with short with the smoked ribs.
Below the stacks of trays, you will find a removable drip and water pan, which helps in keeping your ribs moist and smoky. The porcelain-coated wood chip tray is in a different chamber down below with a separate door (hence, the name).
The separate section means the chip tray does not take up any space from the usable tray cabinet above. Thus, making sure you always have enough space to throw in an additional rib or turkey for your family get-together.
Durability - Built like a tank!
The company does not just call themselves "Masterbuilt" for nothing. One of the main points that you should always consider when shopping around for a smoking unit is its durability and built material. It's not rocket science – you need a durable material to be able to withstand exposure to high heat for a long time.
Well, you do not have to worry about the degree of durability with the Masterbuilt propane smoker. The company uses best-in-class material for its construction, which provides ample resistance against high heat.
Due to its excellent build quality, the smoker might come off as a fairly heavy unit. The unit weighs about 60 pounds, which is not precisely lightweight by any means. But, if you compare its weight with other similar products, you will see that it is on the lighter side.
Also, unlike electric smokers, it does not require power cords, so portability is not an issue with this unit.
Tip: If you want to elevate the portability of the unit further, get casters installed.
Sealed smoking
Okay, time to address the critical feature – the smoking experience. One of the main concerns that people generally have when they consider buying a 2-door smoker is the "smoke leak." However, as this smoker has a 2-door design, you would expect the risk of smoke leaking out to be a significant concern.
So, is the Masterbuilt 2-Door propane smoker "smoke leak-free?"
Well, during our testing, we noticed that the Masterbuilt smoker is not entirely leak-free. But, in its defense, there isn't a single smoking product that is 100% smoke leak-free. This smoking unit performs excellently well when it comes to keeping most of the smoke from the chips. Simply put, you can expect a piece of extraordinarily tender and (authentically) smoky ribs when you finish with the barbecuing.
One more small design detail that improves the smoking capability of the unit is its vertical design. The vertical design helps in raising the efficiency of the smoking process since the smoke rises (naturally). Hence, all the trays receive consistent smoke to give your ribs a natural smoky flavor.
Absurdly convenient
One of the main advantages of the Masterbuilt 2-Door propane smoker that you will notice immediately is how easy and convenient it is to use. Unlike other smoking units, you only have to use the push-button ignition and voila! Your smoker is ready to use.
This means you won't have to waste your time waiting for the smoker to heat up, as it is the case with most traditional grills. The push-button instantly ignites the gas, which then quickly heats the entire cooking compartment.
We also noticed during our testing of the Masterbuilt propane smoker that there wasn't any significant temperature fluctuation inside the unit. This uneven temperature is one of the significant problems that most smokers tend to show when we use them in the beginning. The simple push-button ignition, along with a sealed and consistent temperature distribution makes the Masterbuilt smoker an absolute delight to use.
The built-in temperature gauge, as mentioned earlier, is just icing on the cake.
Fuel Efficiency
Another primary concern that you might wonder about a propane smoker is its fuel-efficiency. Unlike some other similar units that use coal or even electricity, propane smokers make use of, well, propane gas. So, yes! Fuel efficiency is a real concern.
However, during the entire session of our testing, we found that the Masterbuilt propane smoker was highly fuel-efficient. Even after a long week of grilling test, the built-in fuel gauge only showed a quarter of the propane used. The fuel tank was a standard four-gallon capacity.
So, a standard four-gallon tank should last you a significant amount of days (months) before you have to change/ refill the gas.
Pros and Cons of Masterbuilt propane smoker
No products found.
Click Image to See More Photos and Price on Amazon
Pros
Cons
Conclusion
The Masterbuilt 2-Door Propane Smoker is an excellent option if you are looking for an ideal smoker, especially given its affordable pricing. In addition to that, the smoker is also fuel-efficient, which helps in saving some more extra bucks.
The key highlight of the Masterbuilt propane smoker is its straightforward and convenient temperature control. Top that up with a large smoking capacity, top of the class build-quality, push-button ignition, and an effective air damper. All these features make the Masterbuilt propane smoker an easy and no-brainer option if you are in the market looking for one.