Pit Boss Vs Masterbuilt: Which Is the Best Smoker for Whom?

Whether you are a BBQ newbie or pro, you can cook food to perfection when provided with the right tools and equipment. 

If you have been keen on the BBQ market, I know that you have realized that it has been flooded with different charcoal, electric, and gas smoker brands. 

Some of these smokers have stood out due to their great performance and the advanced features backing them up.

Pit Boss 77435 Vertical Gas Smoker Review

Gas smokers have received massive popularity over the past several years, just like their cousins, charcoal and electric smokers. 

Pit Boss 77435 vertical gas smoker is one of the most highly sought-after digital smokers due to its simplicity, elegant design, and great results. Let's see the detailed features of this smoker.

Vertical gas smoker

Now, there are two cooking methods: conduction and convection.

Conduction involves placing food directly on a heating element. On the other hand, convection involves hot air circulating in the cooking rack area.

That said, a vertical gas smoker uses the convection process to cook food. 

Dual burner system

The heating element for the pit boss smoker features a dual burner system. This heating system will provide you with a 100 to 350 degrees Fahrenheit cooking temperature range.

Cooking surface

This smoker has an 800 square inches cooking surface. The large cooking rack area has three cooking grids on which you can cook a large amount of delicious food.

Porcelain-coated cooking grids

You wouldn't want to cook your food on a rusty surface. This is why the cooking grates of the pit boss gas smoker come with a porcelain coat to guard them against rusting.

Burners and drip tray

Pit Boss Vertical Electric Smoker (PBV3A1) Review

You will love this electric smoker if you love electric cooking appliances. This smoker will match with whichever environment you place it in and, above all, deliver beyond your expectations.

Let's see the key features of this electric smoker:

Integrated analog control

This nice feature will ensure that you have an easy and smooth cooking session.

Double-walled cooking cabinet

These walls keep heat in the cook chamber for an efficient cooking process. Also, the wall help in maintaining the cooking temperature in your smoker.

Cooking space

This smoker features a 684 square-inch cooking space perfect for a medium or large family.

Also, the cooking space has four porcelain-coated cooking grates. In addition, the package comes with an analog meat probe to monitor smoker temp.

Smoker exterior

You will love the stylish look of this electric wood smoker. Also, you can quickly move this smoker from one place to another, thanks to its back wheels and strong handle.

Smokey flavor

Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 Digital Charcoal Smoker Review

One of the best backyard smokers in the Masterbuilt brand is the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050. This charcoal smoker is easy to use and has an extra-large cooking rack area.

So, let's get deep down into the features of the Master gravity smoker.

Construction

By looking at the quality and design of both the interior and exterior of this smoker, you can quickly tell that great brains have been at work.

The stylish exterior of this charcoal smoker features a double wall for insulation. Also, its reversible cooking racks are made from cast iron for durability.

In addition, this smoker uses charcoal or wood chunks fed into the hopper by gravity. Wood pellets are not recommended for this smoker since they will fall from the charcoal hopper.

Safety and comfort features

● The main lid switch ensures that the internal temperature of your cooker doesn't go beyond 500°F 

● The internal fan pauses whenever you open the grill to avoid excessive oxygen inflow

● The food racks fold away when not in use

● A timer for your cooks

● You can fold the front stainless steel shelf

● A lower shelf for storing your supplies

● Finger sized holes on grates for easy lifting

● A cable wrap behind the unit

● Knobs and hooks for hanging your tools

Temperature control

Some people shy away from charcoal smokers since some of these traditional smokers demand a lot of monitoring. Repositioning the dampers and vents and eying the smoker's temperature every now and then can be hectic.

However, the Masterbuilt smoker doesn't come with dampers, nor will you need to keep moving the vents. Thanks to its intelligent fun, this unit looks after itself after setting it up. 

In addition, the temperature control unit of this model allows you to set the cook time and temperature. Also, there is an inbuilt temperature gauge in the lid to keep you updated on the ambient temperatures in the cooking rack area.

The package comes with a meat probe to ensure meat doneness before serving the meat.

Smoke flavor

If you want to have a smoke flavor in your layer of meat, you can add your favorite smoking wood in the ash pan sitting under the charcoal hopper.

Ease of use

A common question with some barbecue enthusiasts has always been, "are electric smokers as good as charcoal smokers?

This is because charcoal smokers, for example, the Master Gravity smoker, are widely known for their ease of use and delicious barbecue.

Also, cleaning masterbuilt smoker and maintenance are easy tasks.

Cooking space

The cooking rack area of the MG charcoal barbecue smoker measures 1080 sq inches. This cooking rack area has two warming racks and two sear/grill grates.

Thus, you will have a cooking capacity for 17 chickens, 67 sausages, 45 burgers, or 7 rib racks at a go. You can cook for a village!

Assembly

Master Gravity comes unassembled, just like many other bulky smokers.

This black electric smoker comes with many parts and may take a few hours to put together. So, ensure you are in no rush at this. Also, you can get a helping hand for an easy and quick job.

Some of the tools you will use in putting together this black electric smoker include an adjustable wrench, Philips head screwdriver, and a 19mm socket wrench.

The hopper is already attached to the grill body. Other parts like the grates and cart will ask you to put them in their rightful places.

You can go through the user manual pictorial to learn how you are supposed to put together the different parts of your smoker.

After putting together the parts of your cold smoker, remember to season it before use to burn all the production impurities and prepare it for the grilling journey ahead.

Optional Masterbuilt Gravity 1050 series accessories

You can get the following accessories for a better barbecue experience when using this charcoal barbecue grill:

● Upgraded Masterbuilt Gravity 1050 series thermometer

● Grill lighter

● Cover

● Meat probes

● Lump charcoal

● Heat resistant gloves

● Fire starter pack

Masterbuilt MB20074719 Review

There is no doubt that Masterbuilt MB20074719 is among the best verticle electric smokers in the modern world. 

This digital electric smoker boasts a large cooking rack area, sturdy construction, digital control panel, and ease of use.

Let's take a deeper look at the key features of this masterbuilt digital electric smoker.

Construction

This masterbuilt electric vertical smoker has stainless steel construction for durability.

Furthermore, this smoker model has a locking door that locks tightly to prevent heat loss. Also, you will love the illumination in this smoker, resembling how refrigerators light up when you open the door.

Fuel source

Unlike the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 1050 sibling, Masterbuilt MB20074719 relies entirely on an electric heat source.

Cooking space

This digital electric smoker has 725 inches of cooking space.

So, how much food can go in there? You can cook 16 chickens, 8 racks of ribs, 4 turkeys, or 8 pork butts at a go.

You can use the four adjustable cooking grates at a go or depending on food sizes.

Temperature control

This dedicated smoker uses smart Bluetooth technology and a digital control panel for easy temperature monitoring.

Also, this electric wood smoker has an integrated thermostat control to facilitate accurate digital LED readout for evenly cooked food.

Additionally, the masterbuilt digital electric smoker has an inbuilt meat probe to keep you updated on meat doneness.

Ease of use

You will not need to call your entire neighborhood to help you put together the parts of this smoker. Several customer reviews say that it takes half an hour to set it up while following the user manual.

Also, you will enjoy easy temperature control using the Bluetooth connectivity feature.

Comparison Table: Pit Boss 77435 Vs Masterbuilt MB20074719

Comparison Table: Pit Boss vs Masterbuilt Gravity

FAQs

1. Should I soak smoking wood for my masterbuilt electric smoker?

It's not a must you soak smoking wood for your electric smoker or other charcoal and wood pellet smokers for smoke production. The wood will produce a smokey flavor regardless of being dry or wet.

2. Can you use wood pellets in an electric smoker?

Yes, you can use wood pellets in an electric smoker. Compared to wood chips, wood pellets burn hotter, produce thick consistent smoke, and have a distinctive smoke flavor

3. How will I know if my pit boss thermometer is working?

Place the probe in a cup of ice water, then wait for 30 seconds. If the thermometer doesn't read 32°F, then it is accurate, and you will need to do pit boss thermometer calibration.

4. Can you use water in a smoker?

Yes, you can use sizeable amounts of water in your smoker to keep your delicious food from drying up. So, if your smoker didn't come with a water container, you can improvise one that can tolerate high temperatures.

Also, the water helps in catching grease drippings since too much grease build-up can lead to a grease fire.

Conclusion

In this review on pit boss vs. masterbuilt electric smoker, we have seen several Pit boss and masterbuilt brand smokers. Whichever smoker you will choose between the four will be dictated by your preferences.

For example, if your heart is completely sold out to a digital charcoal smoker with a massive cooking rack area, then masterbuilt gravity will be a perfect choice.

On the other hand, if you are a fan of traditional smokers and their simplicity, you won't go wrong with the Pit Boss PBV3A1. 

Finally, if yours is a medium or large-sized family, you can choose either of these two large smokers: Pit Boss 77435 or Masterbuilt MB20074719. Also, these two smokers are large enough for those backyard parties.