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You’re in charge of this year’s Thanksgiving turkey and decide to smoke it in your trusty Masterbuilt electric smoker.
As you load the bird into the smoker and attempt to adjust the controls, the display doesn’t seem to be working. Why? Your control panel may have sustained some physical damage, is too old, or needs a cleaning.
Stick around to learn more about why your Masterbuilt electric smoker display isn’t working and how you can fix it.
Reasons Why Your Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Display Isn’t Working
Your Masterbuilt smoker could be malfunctioning for various reasons, whether it’s been running for too long or needs a simple cleaning.
It Sustained Damage
One of the first reasons your Masterbuilt electric smoker’s display isn’t working is that it might’ve been through some physical damage.
It could be a tray of food accidentally falling on the electric smoker, a storm causing a branch to hit the device, or someone tripping and pushing it.
Either way, some form of damage likely messed with your control panel. The panel may have sustained a broken screen or loose cords.
Weather Is Too Cold
You want to celebrate the holidays with a large chunk of seasoned smoked turkey. You approach the Masterbuilt smoker in your yard in the freezing weather. Nonetheless, your attempts to turn it on are futile.
Not only would the display not work, but the entire appliance would have a challenging time heating up in sub-zero temperatures. You can narrow down the malfunctioning display to this issue if it only happens when fall or winter time rolls around.
Direct Sunlight Exposure
You may have left your Masterbuilt smoker outside in the sun for way too long. The direct sunbeams hitting the screen will likely cause it to break, leaving you with a malfunctioning control panel.
Smoker Needs a Clean
You might have had your Masterbuilt smoker for years and haven’t given it a good wipe in a long while. This can damage the control panel and affect your display’s functionality.
Dust and dirt will create a layer that’ll seep into your screen, causing further technical issues. This might happen if you’ve left your electric smoker out for too long and the elements got to it. Alternatively, the filth could originate from the excess grease and smoke from the cooking.
It’s Been On For Too Long
Since you’re dealing with a smoker, it’s easy to forget that it’s on. Smoking is a prolonged process that can take up to seven hours. It’s possible that you neglected it and left it on for too long. That said, leaving the display on for that long can potentially damage it.
Solutions to Your Faulty Masterbuilt Electric Smoker Display
After reviewing some of the most common reasons why your electric smoker’s display isn’t working, it’s time to look at the solutions.
Software Reset Your Masterbuilt Smoker
You could perform a software or factory reset to restore your display. Now, there are no reset buttons on your Masterbuilt smoker.
Instead, you’ll need to press and hold the clear button for about five seconds. Next, release it and wait for your Masterbuilt to restart. If that doesn’t work, move on to the next solution.
Display Control Panel Reset
Resetting the electric smoker’s control panel should be one of the first fixes on your to-do list. To start, unplug the appliance’s power cord from its socket or extension cord.
Allow it to stay unplugged for about one to five minutes. Then, plug the power cord back and turn the device on.
If that doesn’t work, try to detach the entire control panel from the electric smoker. You can do so by sliding the part towards you and removing it. Release it from its connectors as well. Lastly, plug the control panel back into your smoker and ensure the connection is secure.
Clean Display Panel
If your Masterbuilt electric smoker looks like it came out of a dust storm, a deep clean might restore your display’s function. Here’s what you need to do:
- Unscrew the display attachment of the Masterbuilt.
- Unclip any excess attachments from the display.
- Take apart the display panel by unscrewing the second layer.
- You should see an electrical board that powers the buttons displayed on top of it.
- Apply WD-40 or a similar lubricant on the control panel.
- Leave the control panel to sit in the lubricant for a couple of minutes.
- Spray the control panel with compressed air to dry off the lubricant.
- Use the compressed air can to spray off any dirt around the connectors.
- Place and screw your control panel back into your electric smoker.
Replace Display Panel
In some instances, your display panel might be too far gone to save. Whether from harsh physical damage or old age, your control panel will need a replacement.
We suggest contacting the Masterbuilt warranty first and asking for a repair visit. Alternatively, you can opt to buy a new display panel.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be skilled to install the display replacement. Subsequently, a technician won’t be necessary since they’ll only cost extra for a task you can do independently.
While you’re browsing for a replacement, you can find a display with an upgraded system that includes a Bluetooth control.
Place Your Masterbuilt Smoker In a Warmer Area
If it’s that chilly time of year and your display panel is being stubborn, try to warm it up. You can do so by detaching the control panel and moving it indoors.
When you want to use it, attach it back to your Masterbuilt electric smoker outside. This method will not only keep your control panel warm, but safe from any potential physical damage as well.
Final Thoughts
Why is your Masterbult electric smoker display not working? In short, It could be anything, from direct sunlight and cold weather to dirt and physical damage.
Luckily, there’s a fix for most of these common issues that involve cleaning, replacing, or safeguarding your control panel.
Worse comes to worst, you can remove the control panel altogether, and the electric smoker will work autonomously on its maximum heat setting, which is 275℉.
Robert is a certified Pitmaster, with over a decade of experience in smoking the best meats you’ll ever feast upon. He also has a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. When he’s not researching technical topics, he’s most likely barbecuing in his backyard.