Top 3 Masterbuilt 40” Electric Smokers For 2024

You’ve decided on a Masterbuilt 40-inch smoker? 

Excellent choice! Only problem is there are various models of the 40-inch available, which makes choosing the right one for you slightly more challenging.

For the purpose of this buyer’s guide I thought we’d review the Masterbuilt 20070311 1st generation, the 20070215 and the 20075315 2.5 generation. 

You’re thinking to yourself, this douchebag forgot about the Masterbuilt 20070512 2nd generation...

Well, I haven’t. It’s been discontinued because there were reports of uneven heating.

Why do they need three models of the same size smoker, you ask? I’m glad you did, because I’m here to tell you the differences between the three models so you can decide which will be right one for you.

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Product Name

Features

TOP PICK

Masterbuilt 20070311
  • Comes with thermostat control (100-275 F) & the meat probe
  • Digital thermometer included
  • Great value for the money
Masterbuilt 20070115 Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker
  • 4 adjustable racks
  • Removable drip pan makes cleaning easy
  • Built-in metal probe thermometer
40-Inch-Masterbuilt-20075315
  • Smooth operating wood chip loading system
  • 975 sq. inch of cooking space
  • 4 cooking racks and an internal light

Top 3 Materbuilt 40'' Electric Smokers

Best Overall: Masterbuilt 20070311

This particular smoker has a cooking area of approximately 975 sq. inches, which is the perfect size for a biggish family or if you’re entertaining a fair amount of guests.

The smoker has a thermostat control which allows for even temperatures from 100 to 275 degrees F and the meat probe means there’s no guesswork needed as to what the temperature is while cooking.

The Masterbuilt 20070311 has built-in wheels and a handle, which makes moving it around so much easier.

It’s a simple addition, but a definite life-hack and as the name suggests, there is an extra-large window ‘cut’ in the stainless steel door, along with an internal light. 

This means you can keep an eye on your food without having to open the door all the time.

Masterbuilt’s claim to flame, so to speak, is that they were the first company ever with a patented remote control electric smoker on the market.

What’s the big deal you ask? Well, the remote frequency controller means you can set the temperature and time setting, switch the internal light on and off, as well as the smoker.

You can also monitor your cooking time, the cooking temperature and the meat temperature, from up to 100 feet away. 

Masterbuilt 20070311 40-Inch Top Controlled Electric Smoker With Window And RF Controller

With your RF controller the power is literally in your hands. In man-speak this means you don’t need to leave the TV room to check your food while your favorite game is on. In woman-speak, you’re doing even less than before.

I mentioned the meat probe earlier, almost as an aside, but to be honest, this little gadget is one of the most important features of the 20070311. The readings are accurate and work perfectly for slow cooking.

Another feature I particularly like, and you will too, is the digital thermometer.

It is possibly one of the best in the business. All you do is set the desired temperature and the smoker does the rest. Your only ‘job’ will be to fill the wood tray.

When it comes to cooking space, you’ve got enough room for about 30lbs of meat, so you can cook anything from ribs and chicken to turkey and seafood.

As with all great love affairs, there are a few flaws with the Masterbuilt 20070311. They’re certainly not deal-breakers and do not interfere with the outcome, but for the sake of this guide we feel we should mention them.

There have been a few moans and groans about the meat probe, with some customers saying the temperature readings aren’t accurate and a few have mentioned the temperature range of 275. In their experience this is ideal if you’re smoking red meats and fish, which often cook between 220 and 250 but for poultry you want to be able to get to about 350. The window has also received mixed reviews, with some people loving it, and others thinking it is more for cosmetic purposes rather than functional.

Overall I’m happy to recommend the Masterbuilt 20070311. For the price you’re paying and what you get, it’s definitely value for money.

If you didn’t feel like reading everything in between the heading and the subtitle below, here’s a bit of a recap.

Masterbuilt 20070311 40-Inch Top Controlled Electric Smoker with Window and RF Controller has the following features:

  • Four chrome-coated smoking racks, which can be removed
  • Integrated thermostat temperature control for even, consistent smoking
  • A viewing window and internal light
  • Built-in meat probe thermometer for perfect results every time
  • Patented side wood chip loading system to add chips without opening the smoker door
  • Digital temperature and time controls
  • RF remote controls on/off, temperature, time, light and monitors internal meat temperature
  • Removable water pan, drip pan, wood chip tray, and rear-mounted grease pan for easy clean-up
  • Top air damper for smoke control
  • Rear-mounted handle and wheels for easy mobility

Don't forget to check out our guide: Best Wood Chips For Masterbuilt Electric Smoker

Runner Up: Masterbuilt 20070215

It’s the ‘bluetooth’ that got you interested isn’t it? Same for me!

The fact that you can control the smoker with your smartphone or tablet is a definite highlight.

Not only is it innovative and takes smoking to the next level, it will also give you the street cred’ you’re looking for.

With the Masterbuilt 20070215 the built in meat thermometer works well and ensures the food is evenly cooked.

As with the 20070311, you can prepare all kinds of food, and a cooking space of 975 square inches means you can prepare loads and loads of it.

Cleaning up is easy with the removable racks and the temperature of the smoker reaches up to 275F and the air dampener controls the smoke. But by far, the biggest and most impressive feature with this model is the integrated Bluetooth technology.

As long as you’re in range, you can control your smoker with your smartphone (don’t try it with the landline) or tablet, which means you’re in charge at home, in your lounge or even while you’re at the neighbours.

Another feature I like with the Masterbuilt 20070215 is the convenient side wood chip feeder.

Another ‘simple’ addition which means you don’t have to keep opening the lid or door of the smoker to put the chips in. And like with the MASTERBUILT 20070311 the wheels make it easy to move around.

My next point is going to sound rather obvious, but the Masterbuilt 40-inch has much more room compared to the 30-inch, and that really is the biggest difference. So if you know you’re going to be cooking for a lot of people then it makes sense to get the 40-inch, as opposed to ‘upsizing’ later on.

Masterbuilt 20070115 Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker

If you look at reviews and forums this particular model does well.

It rarely gets less than a 4-star review and when it does it’s for things like connectivity and the range of the Bluetooth, which could be affected by various factors. Some have said the assembly taking a little longer, and the wood-chip bin is too small, which means you have to insert more chips more regularly.

You can’t please everyone all of the time, but the Masterbuilt 20070215 pleases a lot of people a lot of the time.

Once again, to give you a quick overview, the Masterbuilt 20070215 Bluetooth Smart Digital Electric Smoker’s features are:

  • Removable drip pan and rear-mounted grease pan make cleaning easy
  • Built-in wheels and handle for easy moving
  • Four chrome-coated smoking racks – smoke up to 100 lbs. of food!
  • Built-in meat probe thermometer for perfect results every time
  • Side wood chip loading system – add chips without opening the smoker door
  • 1,200 watt heating element for even, consistent smoking up to 275°F
  • RF remote controls on/off, temperature, time, light and monitors internal meat temperature

Alternative: Masterbuilt 20075315

The fact that all three smokers discussed her are Masterbuilt, you’d be safe to assume they’re all very similar in terms of the features, like the 975 sq. inch cooking area, the drip catching mechanism, the four cooking racks and the drip pan.

What does stand out with this particular model is the integrated control panel with blue LED display for easy viewing in direct sunlight.

Assembly, like the others, can be a little time consuming, especially if you’re wanting to get fired up as quickly as possible but the instructions are pretty easy to follow, and trust me, it’s worth the wait.

The racks are adjustable, which means you can cook various cuts and types of meats, including an upright turkey or beer-chicken.

The folk at Masterbuilt know cleaning up isn’t everyone’s favorite thing to do, so they’ve made this as easy possible.

The entire inside of this smoker comes out, meaning even the brackets mounted to the wall to slide the trays into simply unclip from the wall and can be taken out easily. This lets you clean your smoker thoroughly, without trying to get into nooks and crannies.

A simple wash with warm water and soap will do the trick, but if even that seems like too much work, you can use a dishwasher.

There’s not much one can complain about when it comes to the 20075315. It does what it says and delivers delicious food but one or two people have commented on the ‘lack’ of smokiness. I’m guessing this is more of a personal thing, because I’m very happy with the smoky flavour.

However, if you’re in the small percentage that like your meat tasting smokier, you can order a pellet smoke producer, which seems to solve the ‘problem’. I’d suggest you try it out first, see what you think and then decide from there.

Whereas there’s been mention of the 20070215’s wood tray been too small, this model holds an adequate amount. You will need to add more chips, especially for those ‘long slow’ cooks but the smooth operating wood chip loading system makes it an easy enough process.

After all is said and done, it’s what the food tastes like that matters most, and this smoker exceeds all expectations. And then some. Whether it’s ribs, pork, seafood or poultry, I can tell you, you won’t be disappointed.

I do need to warn you though this smoker can be addictive.

Masterbuilt 20075315 Front Controller Smoker with RF Remote Control features include:

  • 975 sq. Inch of cooking space
  • Smooth operating wood chip loading system
  • Front access drip pan
  • Drip catching system for easier clean-up
  • 4 cooking racks and an internal light

Definitely worth mentioning is if you’re wanting to cold smoke or cure any foods you can get a cold smoking kit, also available from Masterbuilt.

It fits all Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokers. The continuous feed wood chip system provides up to 6 hours of constant and consistent smoke and it uses regular wood chips

The Difference Between The Three Models

The Masterbuilt 20070311 comes in various styles, including:

  • Top Controller with Window,
  • Digital with no Window
  • Digital with no Window and Apple Smoking Chips
  • Digital with no Window and Cover
  • Digital with no Window + Hickory Smoking Chips

These models are available in black or stainless steel.

The 20070215 Bluetooth comes in 40-inch (and 30-inch editions), and there are different styles to choose from including:

  • The smoker
  • The smoker + grilling set
  • The smoker + cover.

The 20075315 2.5 generation is pretty much a pimped up version of its predecessor, with all the niggles ironed out.

Which one is the right model for you?

If you’re just starting out and don’t want to spend a fortune on a smoker then I suggest the 20075315, It’s one of best-priced smokers on the market. 

If you’re a ‘tech’ kinda guy, then go for the looking for 20070215, with the Bluetooth technology compatibility. The Masterbuilt 40-inch models, as far as features go, all share a lot in common and all deliver delicious results. They’re all well priced and are excellent value for money, which means you can’t go wrong with any of them.

If after reading this guide you think that the 40 inch maybe a little overkill, then Masterbuilt offer a great selection of 30 inch grills.

Probably one of the best is the Masterbuilt 20070910 and you can read the full review here.

About the Author William Clay

William Clay is a BBQ enthusiast dedicated to sharing his grilling (and overall cooking) expertise with FireFoodChef's readers.

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