We’ve spent lots of time researching smokers and their features, what’s good and what’s not so good. This review lets you in on what we’ve discovered. Read on to see if the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker is the smoker you’ve been looking for.
Masterbuilt has quite a selection of Digital Electric Smokers. If you want to see a comparison of their products, you can see our full list review of Masterbuilt Digital Smokers here.
In this article we cover the features and benefits of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker model 20071117, also referred to as the MES 130B. We’ll also throw in the still available earlier model: Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker model 20070910.
Confused? Don’t be. I know, I hate all those numbers too. Why do they DO THAT to us? We’ll make it all clear below. Please read on.
Check out the price of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Smoker Model 20071117 on Amazon.
Check out the price of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Smoker Model 20070910 on Amazon.
Contents
What are the features of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker?
The MES 130B smoker has all the great basic features of a Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smoker that makes these smokers top contenders for best smokers in the business.
Exterior features:
Cabinet is made of double walled steel with a foam insulation in between to keep the unit cooler to the touch with less likelihood of getting burned. The finish is a black powder coat that looks classy in most outdoor kitchen décor. The door seals well with an adjustable locking mechanism on the side.
The digital electronic control panel is located on the top of device. It allows you to turn the smoker on and off, set the timer and control the cabinet temperature.
Masterbuilt’s patented external chip loader on the right side allows you to add more wood chips mid-smoke without having to open the cabinet.
There is also a top damper vent to control air flow and an overflow grease drip pan at the back of the cabinet. There are four adjustable feet to level the unit in case your patio surface is uneven.
Interior features:
Four chrome-plated steel shelves on the insider can be set at the perfect heights with adjustment holes on the sides of the cabinet.
An 800W heating element sits just below the wood chip tray that can be filled from the outside during smoking. A large water pan slides into grooves just above the wood chip tray. A shallow grease drip tray sits on the bottom of the cabinet. The door features a chute that directs drippings to the tray at the bottom so they don’t run out the door.
Why do we call this a Basic model of digital electric smoker?
The Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker certainly has most of what you need to smoke great foods and you really don’t need a lot more.
What doesn’t it have, you ask? Well, it doesn’t have a window, obviously. But do you really need one? Some people like the window as a verification of what’s going on inside. While the smoke is generating, you really won’t be able to see much through the window anyway. And windows are just another thing to clean. And, like your oven, they do get kind of hazy and yukky over time. So we think a window is quite optional to producing great smoked meats.
This model does not come with wheels or a handle. This may not be a problem for you if you are able to leave it in a dry place, like under your patio with a roof. But if you need to put it away in the garage or shed every time you use it, it will be a little more difficult. It only weighs 40 pounds, so maybe that’s not such a big deal for you.
The thing that this model is lacking is a meat temperature probe. And we think it’s very important to measure the internal temperature of your meat. Now it’s not too hard to get a good temperature probe that you can thread through the damper vent holes at the top, so this is not an insurmountable problem. It’s just something extra you will have to get. The low price point of this smoker makes it still very reasonable even if you have to get a separate meat thermometer.
What is the difference between the two models reviewed here?
There are two models available for the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker. One is called MES 130B and is model 20071117 and the other is model 20070910. There are not much different. The 20071117 is the newer model. The shape of the control unit on top has changed a little bit – it’s more rounded. The water pan is shaped differently. It slides into the rack just above the wood chip tray. The older model has a big oval water pan that sits on the top of the chip pan assembly. The rack holders are molded into the inner wall on the new model.
They both feature the external chip loader and all the other features listed above.
Should you choose the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker?
If you want to the have the convenience of a digital electric smoker but you don’t want to pay for all the extra bells and whistles, you will find the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker is a good value. If you don’t need a window and you are OK with purchasing a separate meat temperature probe, this is a good smoker for you.
If you like all the extras like windows and probes and wheels or you want remote control or bluetooth functions, you should look at either the Masterbuilt 40 inch with RF Remote Control or the Masterbuilt Bluetooth Electric Smoker.
See price of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Smoker Model 20071117 on Amazon.
See price of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Smoker Model 20070910 on Amazon.
FAQs about the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker
Are any accessories available for this smoker?
Yes, here are a few:
Cold Smoker Attachment – this attachment allows you to smoke foods like cheese or salmon without cooking them. The cold smoker attaches to the external wood chip loader. It allows smoke to be produced in the cold smoking chamber and transferred to the main smoking cabinet without increasing the cabinet temperature above 100°F.
Cover – you really should get a cover for your smoker. It’s a small price to pay to protect your investment. Masterbuilt makes a cover for 30 inch smokers.
Leg kit – if you want to raise your smoker up a bit, you can get the Masterbuilt leg kit for 30 inch electric smoker models. It will raise it up about 10 inches. The leg kit has wheels on the back legs, but the smoker itself does not have a handle, so it might be hard to utilize the wheels.
What can you fit in this smoker?
According to the manufacturer, you can fit the following in your 30 inch smoker (not all at the same time):
- 12 Whole Chickens
- 2 Whole Turkeys
- 4 Racks of Ribs
- 48 Sausages
- 24 Burgers
- 4 Pork Butts
How long will it last?
If you take care of it and keep it in a dry place when you are not using it, it is possible to get 10 or more years out of it. It does have electronic parts and those are going to be the “weak link” which is why you need to keep it dry. Some people take the electronic control panel off and bring it inside. This is a strategy for making it last longer. Definitely buy a cover for it.
Does it come with a warranty?
All Masterbuilt Electric Smokers come with a 1-year warranty on parts from date of purchase. This does not cover paint or rust. You should keep your receipt to prove your date of purchase.
Bonus reviews:
We have reviewed a number of other smokers that may be of interest to you. Here are a few:
- Landmann Smoky Mountain Electric Smokers – two great smokers on the smaller side
- Old Smokey Electric Smoker – a totally different concept, round can-style, old fashioned
- Smoke Hollow 26 inch Analog Smoker – a basic smoker with analog controls
- Masterbuilt 40 inch Electric Smoker with RF Remote – large smoker with radio-frequency remote control
- Smoke Hollow 40 inch Bluetooth Electric Smoker – large smoker, packed with features
- Masterbuilt Bluetooth Electric Smoker – available in 30 and 40inch models
And here are some overviews for comparison of models:
Final Thoughts
We hope you have found this review of the Masterbuilt 30 inch Digital Electric Smoker useful. If you have further questions about this smoker, let us know in the comments below and we’ll do our best to answer them.
If there’s something else you’d like to see us review, let us know that too. And definitely, if you own this smoker already, please share your thoughts and experiences with our readers below!
Thanks for visiting us here at LawnLifestyles.com.
