The Smoke Hollow 30162E electric smoker is one of the best selling smokers in recent years so, right off the bat, its one that we have to take seriously. If you are the kind of person who is fanatical about getting the right electric smoker to produce juicy tender chicken breasts with just the right amount of delicious smoky flavor, then I think that this cooker should, at the very least, be on your shortlist. So, with that said, lets take a closer look at what makes this model so attractive.
Technical Specifications
Dimensions: 16 x 14 x 30 inches
Weight: 47.8 lbs
Temperature Gauge
3 temperature settings
Magnetic door-latching system
Design and Structure
This model, in common with the others in the Smoke Hollow range has a sleek, high quality finish and is made from top-notch materials. It wil lstand up to the elements and can happily be stored outdoors if needed and the superior build quality will withstand even the most rigorous cooking tasks. When compared to other electric smokers in the same price range – such as the Brinkmann 810-7080-8 Gourmet Smoker and Grill, this model sports some additional features such as an easy to read front mounted analog temperature gauge and a powerful magnetic catch.
Its not the smallest smoker on the market, measuring 16 X 14 X 30 inches, and its built with double steel walls which offer fantastic insulation but, that means its rather heavy and not the easiest soker to move around.
Its topped off with a rust-free water pan and a wood chip box, again made from top quality materials. So, its not exactly portable but, if durability is more your thing, this model will tick all the right boxes.
The water pan is coated with porcelain while the wood chip box is made out of high grade painted steel. The door of the smoker features a nice magnetic latching system which really gives a firm seal and prevents smoke leaking out. The package is completed by a couple of attractive side mounted handles which at least make it relatively easy to move around.
Striking Features for Effective Performance
There are some very nice features in this electric smoker as you would expect from one in this price range.
- Two Side Handles: This electric smoker has two sturdy, convenient handles which are installed at the sides of the device. This feature enables you to move the smoker from one place to another in spite of its weight of 47.8 pounds.
- Temperature Gauge: As mentioned earlier, the temperature gauge on this model proved to be easy to read and very accurate. Its a simple analog readout but works well.
- Maintenance of Temperature: Because it features a double steel wall along with added insulation this smoker maintains its internal temperature no matter whats happening outside. Like to smoke food in the snow? No problem with this beast. Live in the desert and have no shed? It will handle the outside temperatures.
- Detachable Controller: Because this model is typically designed for outdoor cooking , the unit comes with the detachable controller along with the five-inch cord.
- Door’s Latch System: The door of this smoker model has been fitted with a magnetic latching system similar to that which you find on , fridges for example. This means its easy to close and there’s no danger of leaving the door ajar and spoiling the cook.
- Rust-Free Parts: The main unit as well as the water pan and the wood chip box are all made from high-grade steel. The waterpan has been coated and the wood chip box has been painted which offer a high degree of protection and durability.
- 3 Temperature Settings: This model features three temperature settings. It may not sound like much but these these are perfect for smoking varying kinds of foods.
- Replaceable Parts: Cleaning is fast and easy because of removable parts such as the drip trayprocess much easier. This can be considered as the greater innovation which would give you the peace of mind while cleaning.
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Ease Of Operation
This is a very easy to use smoker. The ease of use actually starts right from the assembly stage. The whole build process is made easy for you thanks to a clear instruction booklet and well fitting parts. I managed to put my demo model together in around 30 minutes.
There are 4 cooking grids supplied with the Smoke Hollow 30162E and they can be mounted at various heights meaning that this cooker really can accomodate most foods. I found that the smoke from the wood chips rose evenly and the easy to read temperature gauge made it simple to get good, consistent results.
None of the food I cooked came out overcooked/undercooked but, like anything, the whole process gets easier with experience so beginners will probably want to keep a close eye on the progress but, that’s the same with any electric smoker. This model comes with the rust-free parts so, I found that during the time I had it that is was easy to use in almost any weather conditions (I have to admin I didn’t experience hurricane conditions so I cant be absolutely sure 🙂 ), but it performed perfectly and was easy to strip down and clean.
Advantages
For a relatively cheap smoker unit aimed at beginners, the Smoke Hollow 30162E still has many advantages.The double steel wall combined with good insulation offers durability with ease of use.
You won’t face any leakage issues wthanks to the powerful magnetic latching system of the smoker’s door and with a selection of cooking grids and abundant vertical space, the heat is great which results in an even , regualted cook.
Disadvantages
To be honest, these are few, given the price. It lacks the sophisticated features of more expensive smokers such as a pellet feeder or digital display and timer system but really, that’s to be expected for a smoker in this price range. My only real gripe is how damn heavy this thing is! It’s not easy to transport around and, if you are older or frail then you may want to give it a miss.
Conclusion
Overall the Smoke Hollow 30162E is a great electric smoker for beginners. Its a well built smoker made out of high quality materials and, with the proper care, will last you for many years. Its also simple to use and gives great results – in fact many of the reviews I found online stated that food smoked using this smoker is some of the best the users had ever tasted.
So, this is a great smoker and its available at a reasonable price. What more could you ask for?
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