Smoking Made Simple: My Experience with the EAST OAK Electric Smoker
I’ve always been drawn to the rich, smoky flavors that come from properly smoked meats, but traditional smokers seemed like a lot of work. That’s why I was pretty excited to get my hands on the EAST OAK Electric Smoker with its visualization window. After a few weekends of smoking everything from ribs to a whole chicken (which turned out amazing, by the way), I think I’ve got a good handle on what this machine can do.
The EAST OAK smoker promises convenience with its digital controls and compact design, but does it deliver restaurant-quality results? Well, I’ve been testing it thoroughly to find out if this reasonably priced smoker is worth adding to your backyard cooking arsenal. Spoiler alert: it might be, depending on what you’re looking for.
Sleek Window Design
The first thing I noticed about this smoker is the large visualization window on the front – it’s actually a really practical feature. Instead of constantly opening the door to check on my food (and losing heat and smoke in the process), I could just peek through the window. The body has a clean, black finish that doesn’t look out of place in my backyard setup. It’s not exactly a showpiece, but it’s not an eyesore either.
The digital control panel sits prominently at the top, with large, easy-to-read buttons that even my not-so-tech-savvy dad could figure out. There’s something satisfying about the simplicity of it – select your temperature, set the time, and you’re good to go. The door seals pretty tight too, which I think is important for keeping that precious smoke inside where it belongs.
- ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: The smoker features a side wood chip loader for continuous smoking for 2-3 hours without opening the door and adding chips, preserving the internal heat, and locking in the smoked flavors
- ๐ง๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ: The 800W power heating tube in the electric smoker creates consistent smoke from wood chips, guaranteeing tender, juicy meats through low and slow cooking. Follow EAST OAK's website for more delectable recipes
- ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐พ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ: The 30-inch digital electric smoker measures 18.97"x 17.56" x 32.44" and comes with 4 removable chrome-plated smoking racks. It's recommended to place meats on the lower racks and vegetables on the upper racks
- ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ: The visual glass door allows you to directly observe the food in the smoker, and the internal light also aids in illumination. The meat probe detects food temperature and keeps track of smoking progress and heat in real-time
- ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น: The outdoor smoker features a digital control panel for monitoring internal temperature and time. With a temperature range of 100-275ยฐF and a maximum timer setting of 12 hours, operations are swift and cooking is hassle-free
Surprisingly Simple Performance
For an 800W electric smoker, this thing performs better than I expected. The temperature control is fairly accurate – I checked it against my own meat thermometer and found it stayed within about 10 degrees of the setting most of the time. Maybe not perfect, but good enough for consistent results. The smoke generation is adequate, though I found adding a few extra wood chips helped when I wanted a more pronounced smoke flavor.
One weekend I smoked a pork shoulder for about 8 hours, and the machine maintained temperature throughout without any issues. The multiple racks are actually quite versatile – I’ve used them for different combinations of meats and vegetables at the same time. The heating element seems to distribute heat evenly enough that I haven’t had to rotate or rearrange things much during cooking.
The cleanup isn’t too bad either. The drip pan catches most of the mess, and the racks are removable for washing. I did notice some residue building up on the inside of the glass after a few uses, but a good scrub with some vinegar solution took care of it.
What’s Under the Hood
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | PES23001 |
| Power | 800W |
| Dimensions | 19.29 x 16.14 x 35.63 inches |
| Weight | 40.4 pounds |
| Temperature Range | 100ยฐF – 275ยฐF |
| Cooking Space | Multiple racks with approximately 3 cubic feet total capacity |
| Construction | Steel body with insulation |
| Control System | Digital panel with temperature and time settings |
Pros and Cons
What I Liked
- Visualization window is actually useful, not just a gimmick
- Digital controls make temperature management straightforward
- Compact enough for smaller patios or decks
- Assembly was simpler than I expected – about 30 minutes
- Consistent temperature once it gets going
- Multiple racks offer good flexibility for different foods
What Could Be Better
- The 800W heating element takes a while to reach higher temperatures
- Smoke production could be more robust for serious barbecue enthusiasts
- The viewing window needs frequent cleaning to remain useful
- Water tray is somewhat small and needs refilling during longer smokes
- Temperature can fluctuate slightly when outdoor temps are very low
What Users Are Saying
After going through the customer reviews on Amazon, I found the sentiment is generally positive. Most users appreciate the ease of use and the value for money this smoker provides.
One verified purchaser mentioned: “This has been perfect for a beginner like me. The temperature control works well, and being able to see what’s happening without opening the door is great. I’ve made ribs and chicken that my family loved.”
Another reviewer pointed out: “Good electric smoker for the price. The digital controls are easy to use, but I wish it produced more smoke. I’ve learned to add chips more frequently for better results.”
Some critical feedback centered around the power, with one user noting: “Takes longer to heat up than I expected, but once it reaches temperature, it holds steady. Not ideal for very cold weather smoking.”
Who Should Buy This?
For Beginners: This is actually an excellent choice. The digital controls and viewing window remove a lot of the guesswork that comes with smoking, and the price point won’t make you feel like you’ve overcommitted to a new hobby. I’d definitely recommend this to someone just starting their smoking journey.
For Intermediate Users: If you’ve been using a basic smoker and want something with more precise controls but don’t want to spend hundreds more, this is a reasonable upgrade. You might find the smoke production a bit limiting compared to more advanced models, but for occasional weekend use, it’s more than adequate.
For Advanced Users: Honestly, if you’re a seasoned pitmaster, you’ll probably find this smoker somewhat limiting. The temperature range and smoke production might not meet your expectations, and you’d likely be better served by investing in a higher-end model with more features and capacity.
You Might Also Like
If you’re exploring other electric smoker options, here are some alternatives worth considering:
Ready to Elevate Your Smoking Game?
After spending several weekends with the EAST OAK Electric Smoker, I’m convinced it offers great value for anyone looking to try smoking meats without the complexity of traditional smokers. The visualization window is more than just a gimmick, and the digital controls make the process almost foolproof. Why not give it a try and impress your friends and family with some delicious smoked creations of your own?
- ๐๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฆ๐บ๐ผ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐น๐ฎ๐๐ผ๐ฟ: The smoker features a side wood chip loader for continuous smoking for 2-3 hours without opening the door and adding chips, preserving the internal heat, and locking in the smoked flavors
- ๐ง๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ ๐ง๐ฎ๐๐๐ฒ: The 800W power heating tube in the electric smoker creates consistent smoke from wood chips, guaranteeing tender, juicy meats through low and slow cooking. Follow EAST OAK's website for more delectable recipes
- ๐ณ๐ฎ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐พ ๐๐ป๐ฐ๐ต ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ด๐ฒ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ธ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ: The 30-inch digital electric smoker measures 18.97"x 17.56" x 32.44" and comes with 4 removable chrome-plated smoking racks. It's recommended to place meats on the lower racks and vegetables on the upper racks
- ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ข๐ฏ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ: The visual glass door allows you to directly observe the food in the smoker, and the internal light also aids in illumination. The meat probe detects food temperature and keeps track of smoking progress and heat in real-time
- ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ถ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ป๐๐ฒ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐น: The outdoor smoker features a digital control panel for monitoring internal temperature and time. With a temperature range of 100-275ยฐF and a maximum timer setting of 12 hours, operations are swift and cooking is hassle-free
