Thinking of smoking some yummy food in your garage with your electric smoker?
Hold on! While it might seem like a good idea, it’s actually better to be safe than sorry.
In this post, I’ll explain why using an electric smoker in garage can be risky, and give you some safety tips if you absolutely have nowhere else to smoke right now.
You can technically use an electric smoker in a garage, but it’s not recommended.
There are a couple issues and risks that make it unsafe.
Safety should always come first when you’re using any kind of smoker or cooking gear, especially in a closed-off area like your garage.
Also Read: smoker turned off while cooking pork shoulder
Let me go over the issues in more detail:
The first question you should ask is, does my garage have a good ventilation system?
These smokers produce a lot of smoke and heat, and if you’re in a closed space like a garage, that smoke and heat can build up fast.
If there’s not enough airflow, you could end up breathing in too much smoke.
Or even worse by getting carbon monoxide poisoning. CO is odorless and can be deadly in enclosed spaces like a garage.
Electric smokers can heat up pretty darn hot inside. And it generates a lot of heat.
Now, when you’ve got that kind of heat going on in a closed space like your garage, well, that heat needs somewhere to go, right?
If your garage doesn’t have good airflow, that heat starts building up much faster than you think. Before you know it, your once cool garage feels more like a sauna.
And let me tell you, sweating while trying to manage your smoked meat is not ideal.
Now, electric smokers are generally considered safer than charcoal or wood-burning ones, but they still come with a fire risk.
I know what you might be thinking – “Electric smokers are way safer, right?”
Well, you’re not completely off track. Not having open flames or hot coals definitely reduces some fire hazards.
Also Check Out Our: Wood Fired Pellet Grill and Smoker
But listen, even with these electric models, you can’t just toss fire safety out the window.
Electrical appliances can always malfunction and cause fires, especially in cluttered garages with flammable materials around.
The smoky smell can stick around for weeks or even months after using the smoker.
This smoke can seep into every nook and cranny of your garage.
It can even penetrate surfaces and linger – which causes discoloration and odors on everything stored there.
Porous materials like drywall, insulation, and concrete floors can absorb the smoke.
If you have other option, here are some of my best tips for using it:
The first thing you have to consider is where to place the smoker
Like I said, electric smokers produce a lot of smoke, and without enough airflow, your garage can quickly fill up.
To prevent this, it’s best to position the smoker as close as possible to a window or door that can be left open while it’s in use.
This will allow the smoke to escape and provide proper ventilation.
I get it, it sounds like a bit of work and expense.
But trust me, this could make a huge difference in keeping your garage air quality in check whenever you fire up that smoker for another round of barbecue.
With a vent or a fan set up to handle the smoke, you’re not just relying on natural airflow.
Plus, it will really get the air moving and clear out that smoke much faster.
When you’re setting up the smoker in the garage, don’t just plonk it down on the bare floor.
These smokers get seriously hot on the outside while they’re cooking and damage the floor.
That’s where the protective mat or surface comes in handy.
Get yourself a heat-resistant mat or smoker pad and place it under your smoker. It acts as a barrier by protecting your floor from heat damage and grease spills.
You MUST remove any flammable materials from around your electric smoker before you even think about using it.
I’m talking about stuff like gasoline cans, open paint cans, or oily rags.
Anything that could release vapors or is super flammable needs to be moved first.
Because if any of those materials come into contact with the hot surfaces of the smoker, you could end up with a fire.
Now here how to set up the smoker step by step:
Now, we’ve covered a lot of safety stuff already – ventilation, electricals, fire hazards – but this one often gets overlooked.
You can’t just plonk your smoker down anywhere and expect smooth sailing.
So, take a bit of time to find the most solid, level spot in your garage. It could be a sturdy workbench or even a patch of floor where you can lay down something flat for a base.
Just make sure it’s as level as possible all around.
Electric smokers need a good amount of power to run all their heating elements and controls.
Plugging one into an overloaded outlet is just asking for trouble – think tripped circuits or even fires. So, placement matters.
You want your smoker near an outlet that can handle the load without extension cords.
Speaking of which, using extensions should be a last resort. If you have to, use heavy-duty ones rated for high wattages.
Electric smokers need space to do their operations properly. They generate heat and smoke as they cook, so if you squeeze them into a tight corner or against a wall, you’re asking for trouble.
Without enough space, airflow around the smoker gets restricted.
And when the airflow is restricted, you can end up with too much smoke, overheating, and a frustrating cooking experience.
Plus, there’s the fire safety angle to consider.
Don’t cheap out on some flimsy cord that’s barely up to the job. These smokers need a lot of power, so you need a cord that can handle the load.
Also Read: air fryer cord gets hot
Look for thick ones with strong coatings that are meant for outdoor use and high power.
You don’t want your smoking session ruined by a cord that can’t keep up and starts overheating or causing electrical issues.
And when you’re setting up that cord, be smart about it. Don’t just leave it around where people can trip over it.
Leave a comment