Tom’s Guide Verdict
The AutoIgnite 545 is a convenient option for users new to smoking meats.
The Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 Digital Charcoal Smoker and Grill takes away a lot of that babysitting and guesswork.
With the concordant app, you’re free to monitor everything from the comfort of your living room.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
I enjoyed using the AutoIgnite 545 for exactly this reason.
Once its up and smoking, its easy to get tasty food with little effort.
But I do wish the minimum temperature could be set lower for a true low-and-slow smoking experience.
Masterbuilt offers a 1-year warranty with the purchase of the AutoIgnite 545.
Inside the main chamber, youll find cast iron grates and a steel second level warming shelf.
The steel shelf also folds out to add even more cooking space.
Masterbuilt sells starters that work perfectly with the unit.
The hopper in which youll feed charcoal and/or wood sits on the right side of the main body.
Masterbuilt says the 7-pound-capacity hopper holds enough fuel for up to 8 hours of smoking.
It features a cast iron lid that it’s possible for you to also use to sear meats.
The chamber then allows smoke to drift upward, thereby smoking the food placed within.
The fan can adjust the grilling temperature from 250 degrees Fahrenheit up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fan controls the temperature automatically.
There are hooks on either side where you could hang your cooking implements, too.
The right side platform folds down for easier storage.
On the left side platform, youll find the control panel.
This is where youll turn the grill on, initiate the starting process, and set your temperature.
Its also where youll plug in your meat probes for real-time monitoring of meat internal temperatures.
Downloading the app opens up even more control opportunities.
The cooking chamber is held up by a steel body.
Finally, theres a removable ash pan, and a removable grease tray.
This makes it much easier to clean the unit after each use.
Once built, the unit feels sturdy and its easy to move around using the wheeled legs.
The right side platform folds down for storage.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
It didnt turn out to be much of a problem, but it was visually a bit annoying.
Masterbuilt did not include its Masterbuilt starters with my test sample.
So I ended up using a concoction of my own, which was basically balled-up newspaper and twine.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Consequently, it took me a long time to get the charcoal started properly.
Once I got the unit started, I let it warm up to 250 degrees.
It did not take more than ten minutes once the charcoal really got going.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
But since I intended to smoke some meats, I wanted to set the temperature level around 160 degrees.
If youre used to smoking at lower temperatures, youll need to be hyper-aware of the adjusted smoking times.
Conveniently, Masterbuilt includes a thermometer probe that plugs into the control panel.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
Just put the probe end into the meat youre cooking and get a constant readout on the app.
That helps ensure you wont overcook your meat.
But for my first session, I could not get the probe to work.
I plugged it in and got an error on the app.
I tried everything I could think of to reset it, but the error persisted.
It worked fine the second time I used the grill, however.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
I was pleased with the smoking capabilities of the AutoIgnite 545 overall.
That was fine, because then I could tailor my mixture of wood and charcoal anyway.
One nitpick: to get to feed the hopper, you oughta initiate the grill.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
That lets out all of the heat from the main chamber.
But it got the job done and I had myself a decent meal.
The second time, I went to Home Depot to buy some Masterbuilt starters.
(Image credit: Tom’s Guide)
That was very disappointing, and according to customer reviews, its a fairly common issue.
So for quick dinners, this might not be ideal.
I didnt have to hang around the back yard babysitting a fire, which was excellent.
The app worked well for me.
Some user reviews do note that the app has connectivity issues.
But again, I did not experience this.
This bundle was supposed to include fire starters, but I did not find those anywhere in the box.
How does the Masterbuilt AutoIgnite Series 545 compare?
There are a lot of grills and smokers in this price range.
The Weber 18-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker is a charcoal-fired smoker that costs $419.
Unlike the Masterbuilt, however, its not nearly as convenient for regular grilling at higher temperatures.
Also, its bullet shape means the heat source sits right below your food.
Char-Grillers AKORN Kamado Charcoal Grill and Smoker is less expensive than the AutoIgnite 545 at $329.
But like the Weber, the heat source sits right below your food.
There are also no WiFi-enabled controls, so youll need to monitor your heat more closely.
In that sense, Masterbuilts lineup of grill/smokers is unique.
Many pellet-style grills advertise the ability to sear at higher temperatures, but they often fail at this.
Theyre made to really shine at lower temperatures.
It does fail to deliver on some of its promises, though.
The AutoIgnite process is great when it works, but its a pain when it doesnt.
My biggest nitpick is the high minimum smoking temperature.
I wish I could smoke at 160-185 degrees instead of the 250-degree minimum.
Its built well enough to withstand many years of regular use and it pumps out some tasty smoked foods.
