While pellet grills continue to evolve with better tech, smarter apps, and bolder designs, the electric smoker category has mostly stayed stuck. Masterbuilt and a few others dominate the space, but year after year, the designs barely change.

That’s why I was interested when East Oak launched a new 30” electric smoker. It’s rare to see a new entrant in this category, especially one aimed at budget-conscious backyard cooks.

I’ve been testing the East Oak 30” Electric Smoker for a few weeks now. In this review, I’ll break down its specs, build quality, and cooking performance and help you decide whether it’s worth your time and patio space.

East Oak sent me this smoker in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Who is the East Oak Electric Smoker For?

This smoker isn’t the best fit for experienced pitmasters or serious backyard BBQ enthusiasts. Its limited temperature range and compact vertical design reduce cooking flexibility, and the smoke output can’t match that of a pellet grill or offset smoker.

That said, it’s a solid budget option for beginners or casual users, especially those with limited outdoor space. Its small footprint and electric operation make it ideal for apartment dwellers or anyone looking for a low-maintenance way to enjoy smoked food now and then. It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for a dedicated smoker for cold-smoking sausages or making bacon.

Overview and First Impressions

I’ll be the first to admit that I don’t have a ton of experience with electric smokers, but I have been smoking meat for over a decade, so I think it’s safe to say that I know a thing or two about what people look for.

The build quality is much better than I expected, just because of this smoker’s price point. It’s well-built, and I tend to be a pretty harsh critic when it comes to build quality because I’ve smoked on some of the highest-quality smokers on the market.

The cold-rolled steel and steel combination provides a solid build with almost zero air leaks, a strong, durable latch, and a convenient glass panel in the door that allows you to see what you’re cooking without opening the door.

That being said, the size of this smoker leaves a lot to be desired. The cooking space is 725 sq. inches, which is fantastic, but the vertical design doesn’t give the width and depth to cook larger cuts of meat without breaking them down. I wish they offered a wider 40″ size like Masterbuilt.

Things I like:

• Ease of use – this smoker is extremely easy to operate. All you need to do is fill the smoker box with wood chips and press a couple of buttons and the rest of the cook is hands off. 
• Small footprint – the smoker doesn’t take up a lot of space, so if you have a smaller yard or apartment balcony, it could be a great choice.
• Build quality – the build quality is solid, especially for the price point. The smoker is durable and well-built.
• Window in the Door – I love the fact that there is a glass panel in the door that allows you to look inside of the smoker while it’s operating. They always say “if you’re looking, you’re not cooking” but this isn’t an issue with this smoker.
• Price – this is one of the most affordable smoker options on the market, making it a great budget option for people that don’t want to spend a ton of money to smoke food at home.

Things I don’t like

• Limited cooking space – While this smoker boasts an impressive 725 sq. inches of cooking space, the vertical design requires the grates to be significantly smaller than your average smoker’s.
• Minimal smoke flavor – the heating element does a good job of keeping the wood chips burning for 4+ hours, but due to the amount of wood chips you can add, you cannot achieve the level of smoke flavor you would expect from a smoker.
• Limited temperature range – the temperature range of 100°F to 275°F doesn’t allow for a large variety of cooking styles, although this is the case with all electric smokers.

EAST OAK 30" Electric Smoker

Check Latest Price

Unboxing and Assembly

Unlike most pellet grills or offset smokers that arrive on a pallet via freight, the East Oak Electric Smoker ships through standard delivery. I came home to find it waiting on my doorstep. It was light enough to carry inside without any help.

Assembly was quick and straightforward. The main chamber comes fully assembled. I only had to attach the rear handle with two screws and slide the internal components into place. The entire setup took about 20 minutes.

The smoker’s small footprint means it doesn’t take up much space in the backyard. Despite its compact size, it still offers 725 square inches of total cooking space, which is plenty for most cooks.

It includes an integrated water pan to help maintain moisture during long smokes. I usually skip water pans because Houston’s humidity does the job for me, but they could be useful in a drier climate.

The smoker box sits on the side of the unit above the heating element. This is where you load your wood chips. At a cooking temperature of 250°F, a full load of chips burned for about four hours, which means you won’t need to reload unless you’re cooking something longer like a brisket.

One detail I really appreciated is the ability to access the chip box without opening the main chamber door. It slides out from the side, so you don’t lose heat or smoke when refilling. It does get hot, so gloves are recommended if you need to reload mid-cook.

Burn Off and Testing

I’ll admit, I don’t have a ton of experience with electric smokers, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the East Oak. But I was pleasantly surprised by how simple it is to operate.

For the initial burn-off, I filled the smoke box with wood chips, inserted it into place, and set the smoker to 250°F for two hours.

The chips ignited easily, and once the preheat cycle was complete, smoke filled the chamber steadily. After two hours, there was still smoke rolling when I opened the door. Promising signs for such an affordable unit.

I was a little disappointed to learn the maximum temperature tops out at 275°F. I would have liked to see it hit at least 300–325°F to better accommodate things like chicken, dips, or bacon-wrapped appetizers. That ceiling limits the range of what you can cook compared to more versatile grills or smokers. It’s a limitation on all electric smokers though, so not really a knock against East Oak.

On the flip side, the low end is impressive. With a minimum setting of 100°F, this smoker could work well for cold smoking, making bacon, smoking sausage, or as a holding chamber to keep food warm before serving. That’s a feature you won’t find on many other smokers in this price range.

Operation is about as straightforward as it gets. Press the power button, set your temp and time, and the smoker takes care of the rest.

There’s no WiFi or Bluetooth, and the controls are basic. It includes a wired meat probe, which is nice, but there aren’t any advanced features beyond that, which may actually appeal to beginners looking for simplicity.

The preheat time averaged around 20–25 minutes to reach 250°F, which is about standard for an electric smoker. Once at temperature, the unit held steady, and I didn’t experience any erratic swings.

As for capacity, it’s noticeably smaller than what I’m used to. I couldn’t fit a full rack of ribs without trimming them into party-style sections, but those worked just fine. A pork butt fits comfortably, but a whole packer brisket might be a stretch unless it’s on the smaller side.

Build Quality

Overall, I’m happy with the smoker’s build quality. It has a good design and seems to be a well-built product. The body is made of a combination of cold-rolled steel and steel, and it has a glass insert in the door that allows you to look into the smoker while cooking. That’s probably my favorite feature of the smoker.

The latch on the front of the door is very durable and easy to open and close. When the smoker was shut, I didn’t see any smoke escaping whatsoever, which I was very happy about. It seems to have a good, quality seal on the front door. I’ve had issues in the past with vertical smokers leaking smoke, so this was a win for East Oak in my book.

I also like the handle on the back of the smoker. It makes it easy to lean the smoker back onto its wheels and move it around the yard.

Compared to other smokers I’ve owned, the smoker is very lightweight, so I appreciate being able to move it so easily.

Cooking on the East Oak 30” Electric Smoker

I’ve cooked a few different dishes on the East Oak electric smoker, and overall, I’m satisfied with its performance, especially for the price.

I started with a rack of ribs. As mentioned earlier, the smoker’s narrow design doesn’t allow a full rack to lay flat, so I cut them into party-style portions to make them fit.

The cook went smoothly at 250°F. The wood chips lasted the entire session without needing a refill, which was convenient. However, the smoke flavor was mild, and the bark formation lacked the depth and texture you typically get on a pellet grill or offset smoker. The result reminded me more of oven-baked ribs with a subtle touch of smoke.

Next, I made a batch of Texas-style queso dip. This was a success. I set the smoker to its maximum temperature of 275°F and let it run for about two hours. The cheese melted down perfectly, and there was a light smoky note, though not nearly as pronounced as what you’d expect from more traditional smokers.

In both cases, the smoker held a steady temperature throughout the cook. It really is a “set it and forget it” experience. Once it is running, it requires very little attention, which makes it a good option for anyone looking for a low-maintenance way to enjoy smoked food.

How Does It Stack Up Against Other Electric Smokers?

The East Oak 30” Electric Smoker sits in a competitive space, with its main rivals being the Masterbuilt 30″ Digital Electric Smoker.

Masterbuilt remains the most recognizable name in electric smokers. It’s 30-inch digital model offers a similar cooking area (730 vs. East Oak’s 725 sq. in.) and a nearly identical temperature range of 100°F to 275°F. It also includes a side-loading wood chip tray that works well for maintaining steady heat.

While the Masterbuilt unit is slightly wider and deeper, its build feels less premium. The plastic control panel and thinner walls give it a flimsier overall impression. If you’re looking for more interior space without upgrading to a pellet grill, the Masterbuilt 40″ model offers that at a reasonable price increase.

Check out our guide to the best electric smokers for more options.

For a wildcard option, you could also consider the Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill. It’s not a traditional electric smoker but a multi-function grill that can smoke, air fry, roast, and grill. While it delivers better smoke flavor and a broader temperature range (up to 500°F), the cooking space is much smaller at just 141 square inches.

It’s a good fit for apartment dwellers or those who want a highly versatile countertop-style outdoor cooker, but not ideal for batch cooking or larger proteins.

Final Thoughts: Should You Buy the East Oak 30” Electric Smoker?

The East Oak 30” Electric Smoker offers solid build quality for the price and should hold up well with proper care.

However, it’s not the right choice if you’re chasing deep, robust smoke flavor, electric heating, and a small wood chip tray limits its ability to deliver more than pellet grills or offset smokers.

Where this smoker shines is in its ease of use, compact footprint, and accessibility. It’s a great fit for apartment dwellers, small patios, or anyone who wants to enjoy smoked food without managing a live fire. The cooking space is enough for a small crowd, and the hands-off operation makes it one of the most convenient smokers we’ve tested at this price point.

If you’re getting into smoking or want something simple that won’t take over your backyard, the East Oak is well worth a look.

EAST OAK 30" Electric Smoker

Check Latest Price