Smokin-It Model 1
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Smokin-It builds commercial-grade smokers used by restaurants, butcher shops, and competition teams. The Model 1 is the smallest residential version — fully insulated stainless steel construction, 800-watt heating element, and the same build quality as their commercial line.
What We Love
- +100% 18-gauge stainless steel construction
- +Made in the USA (Peculiar, Missouri)
- +Heavily insulated — holds temp in any weather
- +Perfect for sausage, jerky, fish, and cheese
- +Wood chunks (not chips) for stronger smoke flavor
- +3-year warranty
Watch Out For
- −$799 is a serious investment
- −Single 15x12 inch rack — small capacity
- −Maxes at 250°F (no high-heat options)
- −No digital readout — analog thermostat only
- −No app, no WiFi, no smart features
Specifications
Cooking Area
180 sq in (1 rack)
Temp Range
100°F to 250°F
Heating Element
800W
Insulation
1.5" fiberglass
Material
18-gauge stainless steel
Warranty
3 years
The Full Review
The Smokin-It Model 1 is the antithesis of the Bradley Smart Smoker. No WiFi, no app, no digital display, no auto-feed. Just a stainless steel box, a heating element, and a thermostat dial. And it produces some of the best smoked food I've ever made.
The insulation is the magic. 1.5 inches of fiberglass between the inner and outer walls means the Model 1 holds temperature in any weather. -10°F Minnesota mornings? Doesn't care. 95°F July afternoons? Doesn't care. The heating element barely cycles because the insulation does most of the work.
For sausage and jerky, this thing is unmatched. The low-temperature stability (you can hold 100°F for cold smoking, then ramp to 180°F for finishing) is exactly what you need for dry-cured products. I've made the best summer sausage of my life in this smoker.
The single 15x12 inch rack is the limitation. You're not smoking a brisket here. You're doing one pork tenderloin, six links of sausage, or three pounds of jerky strips. For dedicated charcuterie cooks, that's perfect. For brisket-focused smokers, look at the larger Model 2 or 3.
Made in Missouri using 18-gauge stainless. This smoker will outlive you. The 3-year warranty is generous, but Smokin-It still services 15-year-old units. Forum stories of replacement parts shipped 10+ years after purchase are common.
How Does It Compare?
At a glance against its closest electric smoker rivals.
| Grill | Rating | Price | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smokin-It Model 1 (this) | 4.6 | $799 | Commercial-grade stainless electric smoker built in the USA — bulletproof construction, perfect for sausage and jerky, and a small enough footprint for any patio. |
| Bradley Smart Smoker 4-Rack | 4.4 | $899 | The bisquette-fed electric smoker — automatic wood feeding every 20 minutes for 9 hours of unattended smoke. |
| Weber Smokey Mountain 18" | 4.8 | $399 | The competition-winning vertical smoker that punches way above its price. |
Who Is It For?
Sausage makers and charcuterie enthusiasts. Cold smokers (cheese, fish, jerky). Cooks who want a bulletproof smoker built to last decades. Anyone who values build quality over features.
Final Verdict
The Smokin-It Model 1 at $799 is the best residential electric smoker for sausage and dry-cured products. The build quality is genuinely commercial-grade. If you make sausage, jerky, or cold-smoked products regularly, nothing else comes close.
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