How to use masterbuilt propane smoker

Last Updated on: 14th November 2022, 02:42 am

The Masterbuilt Propane Smokers are really efficient for smoking meat evenly for a longer time due to their vertical design.

But they can be complex to use as a beginner.

To help you use it, we have put together a step-by-step guide on how to use the Masterbuilt propane smoker.

It will assist you at every step of the way, from beginning to end.

So let’s get started.

The Design of the Masterbuilt Propane Smoker

Master-built propane smokers are vertical smokers that are used to smoke meat for a longer time.

They have a vertical design which makes sure that each and every part of the meat is smoked evenly.

They are designed in such a way to smoke meat efficiently as long as the temperature is maintained.

Furthermore, the heat source or burner is placed at the bottom of the smoker and the meat is suspended in the middle.

Thus, an effective design is created in which the smoke is produced at the bottom and gradually rises above, smoking every part of the food evenly.

Masterbuilt Propane Smokers are designed in such a way to smoke more meat at once while covering less space. (by the way check out our guide on Masterbuilt propane smoker troubleshooting if you like to)

They are designed in the form of a rectangle and are placed vertically rather than horizontally like most conventional smokers.

A Step by Step Guide for Using A Masterbuilt Propane Smoker

The Masterbuilt Propane Smokers are easy to assemble and use, with which you can smoke meat conveniently.

You should first consider reading the instructions provided by the manufacturer to make sure you don’t damage any parts during use.

You should also secure the warranty card if it is provided by the manufacturer, because it can save you from repair costs if any part is broken during use.

But most of the parts of the Masterbuilt Propane Smoker are static and immovable, so the chances of breakage are minimized.

Before starting the process of smoking, you should make sure you have enough gas to keep the smoker running throughout the smoking process.

If you have a low amount of gas left in the tank, then you should consider refilling it to avoid issues during the process.

Seasoning your smoker

It’s better to season your smoker before use to ensure that it lasts longer and is not affected by rust .

Moreover, seasoning with vegetable oil also gives a good taste to the food being smoked.

1. To season the Masterbuilt Propane Smoker, you should first make sure the smoker is turned off and cooled down.
2. After that Coat all of the inner areas of the propane smoker with vegetable oil or other oil of your choice.
3. It should be kept in mind that you can coat all of the inner parts except the burner. Coating the burner with oil can demage the tubes of the burner.
4. Once done ,you should then coat the roof of the smoking chamber with another layer of oil to make sure it’s easy to clean after use.
5. After seasoning , start your smoker and heat it up to 300 degrees for ten minutes, as if you are smoking something.
6. After reaching the set temperature, you should consider adding some wood chips pellets to make sure the smoke is being produced without any blockage.
7. You can also smoke something during the seasoning process if you like.
   After heating up for a while, reduce the temperature of the smoker and cool it down.
8. After it has been cooled, you should consider spraying the inner surface with small sprinkles or droplets of oil to make sure the surface of the smoker retains some oil during smoking.

Check for leakage

After seasoning, it’s best to check for leakage before starting the smoking process to ensure safety.

This leakage test should be performed on a new smoker before they begin smoking and again after a few uses.

You need to check this to make sure you are safe when igniting the fire and if there is any leakage, you can tighten the junction of the tank and fix it before use.

You can check for leakage by two methods.

Adding wood chips

After making sure there is no propane leakage from the smoker, it’s time to add wood chips to start smoking.

Wood chips are placed in a wood chip tray just above the propane burner.

If you have already lit the fire or are adding wood chips during the smoking, then you can consider opening the side door to add chips.

You should be careful about which type of wood you use in your Masterbuilt Propane Smoker.

The wood comes in three forms, each of which has its own use.

• First, the wood Chips are thinner and burn quickly. They are used for short-term cooking like grilling or searing.
• Secondly,the wood chunks are thicker than wood chips and burn more slowly for a longer time. So they are used to smoking.
• Lastly, wood pellets are made up of sawdust and can be used for both smoking and grilling.

But you should avoid using them in the Masterbuilt Propane Smoker because the wood tray is directly above the burner, so they can catch fire.

Fill up water pan

A water pan is placed just above the wood tray.

It is filled with water or fruit juices to add flavor to the meat being smoked. You should fill it up carefully without dropping water on the burner and wood chips.

If the wood chips or burner get wet, then it can be difficult to start a fire. A water pan is usually used to add humidity to the inner air of a smoker during the smoking process.

Because smoking is a lengthy process and can take hours to complete. If humidity is not maintained ,then it can result in the drying of meat.

It also helps in maintaining the temperature.

Connect the tank

After adding wood chips and water into the smoker, it’s time to connect the propane tank to start smoking meat.

You should again consider checking for leakage if you have not done that before in the seasoning step.

If there are no leaks, then you are ready to go. Make sure the temperature control knob is off.

You should then open the air vents to make sure the airflow is optimized in the smoker.

After that, open the valves so that the propane can reach the burner. A regulator is used to control how much propane should be provided to a burner at a time.

Light the fire

To start the fire , you should press the temperature knob and turn it anticlockwise.

After that, press the ignition button to ignite the propane. Keep the button pressed for a few seconds to make sure the propane is exposed to the spark to light a fire.

It pretty much works like a kitchen burner for starting a fire. Release the ignition button once the fire starts .

Then you can adjust the temperature knob to any required temperature that you want to smoke at and the smoker will adjust itself on its own.

Place food inside the smoker

After starting the fire, wait for the smoker to reach the set temperature.

Once the temperature is reached, then consider adding your meat to the smoker.

It’s better to add some aluminum foil above the cooking grate to make sure the drips are collected in it, which makes it easier to clean.

This foil collects different materials like food leftovers, water drops, and grease produced by the burning of wood .

All of these items are contained within this pan for easy cleaning.

You can also add some water to the dripping pan to avoid the burning of grease, which can result in the production of unpleasant smoke, which can affect the meat flavor.

Monitor your smoker

Once you have added your meat to the smoker,you need to be more careful with the monitoring of the smoker because a small change in temperature can destroy the taste of the meat being smoked.

You should consider checking it every 30 minutes to make sure the meat is being smoked at the right temperature.

You can do this comfortably by using a probe thermometer, which can tell you the temperature without opening the lid of the smoker.

But if you have to open the lid in a situation, then consider wearing gloves to avoid injuries from heat.

Monitor your Temperature

Monitoring temperature is the most critical factor for the smoking of meat.

If you go wrong with this, then there is no chance that you will smoke meat with good taste.

In order to maintain the right temperature, you will have to know the internal temperature correctly .

Most of the built-in thermometers are not accurate.

So we recommend you use a digital dual thermometer which can record both the temperature of the smoker and the internal temperature of food so that you can make adjustments correctly.

Remove your food once it’s cooked

Once the meat is smoked for the required time, there is no point in smoking it for extra time .

So you should consider turning off the temperature knob and valves.

Once the temperature is cooled, you should remove the meat by wearing gloves.

Conclusion

You should make sure to go through the user manual first before using your Masterbuilt Propane Smoker.

you can also read our guide on Masterbuilt smoker troubleshooting to help you solve any issues with your smoker.

You can follow these steps to smoke meat efficiently and without any complications.

The most important thing is to maintain the right temperature.

After smoking,you should consider cleaning it again to remove any food leftovers and grease deposits that can result in damaging the smoker.

We hope you enjoyed this blog post .

if you want to learn more about propane smokers then make sure to check out our guide on using propane smoker in the Rain

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