If you're short on outdoor space or want to more easily enjoy smoked foods year round, the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker can change your food smoking experience. We’ve been testing it in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab for the last nine months and have made everything from smoked salmon and chicken wings to BBQ ribs, without setting foot outdoors.

So what the heck is it? The GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker is a first of its kind: It works by either selecting one of the six presets, or by selecting your own time, temperature and smoke level (you can choose from five). The cooking chamber heats up and an auger feeds pellets into an igniter while a fan circulates fresh smoke throughout the chamber.

The used pellets drop into a canister of water where they are extinguished, and an advanced filtration system helps prevent your house from getting smoky throughout the whole process. This innovative machine was also a winner in our Kitchen Gear Awards for its ability to produce flavorful and tender foods that taste like they were made in a traditional pellet grill.

GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker

Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Adjustable smoke levels
  • Filters smoke into warm air so it doesn't escape into your home
  • Comparable to full-sized smokers

Cons

  • Might be too large for some kitchens
  • Releases strong smoky smells while cooking
  • Pricey
Modes:Keep warm, custom, pork ribs, pork butt, brisket, chicken wings, whole chicken, salmon
Accessories:Meat probe and counter guard
Dimensions:16.25" x 16.5" x 20.35"

How it works

Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou and I tested the GE Profile Smoker in the Lab, and I also spent months testing it at home, experimenting with making different dishes at various smoke levels and temperatures.

LAB TESTING RESULTS: We made a variety of foods while testing the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker in the Lab, from fish to poultry. One of the first things we made were chicken wings, using a BBQ rub along with a small amount of vegetable oil as a binder (a binder helps seasoning stick to meat when smoking, this can be oil or a condiment like mustard). We used the pre-programmed setting for chicken wings which made cooking easy, as it automatically sets the smoke level and time. After smoking the wings on three different occasions in the Lab, we were impressed by the beautiful golden color, juicy meat and smoky flavor.

person using an oven to remove cooked food in a kitchen setting
Phillip Friedman
cooked chicken wings in an oven
Good Housekeeping/Philip Friedman

We also made salmon, which was flaky and moist — the smoke flavor penetrated the fish without being overpowering. Next, we made St. Louis-style pork ribs according to the included recipe book provided by GE Profile and were impressed with the results. The ribs had a beautiful bark (the crust that forms on the outside of meat while smoking), comparable to bark made in a full-sized outdoor smoker — the outside was a deep brown color and the meat was packed with lots of flavor in each bite.

smoked salmon on a board
Philip Friedman

HOME TESTING RESULTS: When it came to cooking with the indoor smoker at home, I loved how easy and simple it was and found myself using it often. The first thing I made was Italian hot sausage which my family usually throws onto the grill but smoking it in the GE Profile added much more depth in flavor and texture. Each time I cooked the Italian sausage I altered the smoke level, temperature and cooking time to see how different settings effected the dish. I noticed that higher smoke levels and cook times created a tougher, drier exterior, but left the meat packed with smoke flavor. Shorter cook times, with lower smoke levels at a higher temperature, left the casing crisp, but not dry, and the center moist, though the smoke flavor isn't as intense. Each version was enjoyable, it ultimately depends on how you like your meat prepared.

meat being smoked in an oven with a hand holding a towel
Raena Loper
rack of lamb
Raena Loper

Over time, I made smoked Angus burgers, along with an onion that I quartered and covered in BBQ rub. The onion absorbed a lot of the smoke flavor and was a great addition to the burgers, adding depth and flavor. I also made salmon using the preset and got the same results as when it was made in the Lab, juicy and flaky. When making ribs, I decided to make baby back ribs, which I noticed turned out slightly drier than the St. Louis-style ribs that we made in the Lab, which could be due to the fat content in the ribs themselves. As time passed, I made a rack of lamb, flounder, whole chicken wings and even threw in a few Russet potatoes while cooking sausage one night which made for an easy dinner.

Overall, using the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker at home makes dinner simple and easy, and my food has been elevated in flavor. I can put meats and vegetables in one device, and I don't have to think about it much. I don't worry if my food will be flavorful because I know it will be infused with a delicious smoky flavor adding depth to each meal I make.


Features

  • Presets: The GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker has six preset smoking functions including chicken wings, chicken breast, brisket, pork ribs, pork butt and salmon. The presets automatically display the correct time, smoke level and temperature for the dish you plan to prepare. It also has a keep warm function that can automatically be set to turn on once cooking is finished along with a custom setting feature for other dishes not available as preset options.
  • Smoke levels: The smoker has five total smoke levels with one being the least intense and five being the most intense. Even when using the presets, the smoke levels can be adjusted to your liking.
digital panel
Raena Loper
control panel of a smoker
Raena Loper
  • Temperature probe: The temperature probe can be used during smoking to help keep an eye on the internal temperature of the meat. The display screen tells you your target probe temperature along with the current temperature. It also comes with a magnetic holder that sits on the outside of the smoker for easy storage when you aren't using it.
a person tending to a kitchen oven
Phillip Friedman
salmon fillet cooking in an oven with a probe thermometer
Phillip Friedman
  • App connectivity: The indoor smoker can be connected to the SmartHQ app which allows you to control your device from your phone. It also has a list of recipes that you can choose from that get sent straight to the smoker from the app. After the food is prepped according to the instructions, you simply press a button on the app which sends the information to the smoker. Once sent, the smoker knows what you plan to cook and the corresponding settings, including smoke level, smoker temperature and target prob temperature, which will pop up on the display screen. The app lets you know what stage your smoker is at during the cooking process and will even send you an alert when it is close to the target probe temperature.
display showing preheating information for a smoker with a temperature reading
Raena Loper/Good Housekeeping
smarthome app
Raena Loper/Good Housekeeping

Setup

When setting up the smoker at home, I first laid out all of the accessories and pieces. The smoker came with a counter guard, drip pan, pellet ramp brush, temperature probe and holder, rack support holders and three wire racks. The set also included a small bag of pellets to get started. Overall, setup was pretty easy and simple, though the machine itself isn't light, so make sure the space where you'd like to keep it is clean and clear because once you place it, you likely won't be moving it around.

pouring water into an indoor smoker water tank
Raena Loper
measuring out ingredients with a cup over a container
Raena Loper

After giving all of the accessories a wash with warm soap and water, I installed the rack support brackets which were easy to pop into place and simple to remove when they needed to be cleaned. Next, I added the racks and drip pan, then added the counter guard which came in handy when it came to catching drippings during cooking. I then added water to the waste bin to extinguish the pellets during the smoking process. Lastly, I loaded the pellets into the auger which needs to be primed before the first smoke. The priming function can be found under setup on the control panel. Though you only need to prime the auger during the first smoke, the pellets and water tank should be refilled before each use.


Cleanup

Cooking with an indoor or outdoor appliance requires some level of cleaning after each cook to help keep its integrity. For the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker, the included racks can be hand-washed with soap and water, or thrown in the dishwasher. When it comes to cleaning the other parts of the smoker, including the door and light covers, a wet cloth or a combination of soap and warm water can be used.

According to the brand, cleaning after each use also reduces the time the smoke odor lingers when cooking. While smoke doesn't enter the home since it is converted into warm air, there is still an aroma.

It is also important to empty the water tank after each use. The water tank extinguishes and stores the used pellets, and emptying the tank after each use will prevent mold from growing.


Pros

  • Easy to use: The GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker is very simple to use. The control panel provides clean and easy instructions telling you what to do each step of the way — when to add water, pellets, when it is preheating and when to add food.
  • Adjustable smoke levels: When initially using the smoker, I thought the food's flavor would be similar but not as intense as if it were cooked in a full-size smoker, but I was very wrong. The GE Profile indoor smoker made delicious foods that were truly comparable to what I cooked in full-sized smokers and pellet grills over the years. When making ribs on the highest smoke level, I could taste the smoky flavor throughout the meat. When making more delicate foods like fish, I was able to adjust the smoke levels and bring down the intensity. With the smoker, I can make dishes with both intense and subtle smoke flavors.
  • Filters smoke: The best part of this smoker? It infuses smoke without making your home smoky. The filtration system really works — sure you can still smell it, but at no point did I ever have to worry about literal smoke filtering into my home.
  • No need to go outside: While smoking outdoors is something I enjoy, doing it from the comfort of my own home is a relaxing experience. Having the ability to smoke food indoors regardless of the time or temperature makes smoking that much more fun. I can smoke basically anything that I would make in a full-sized smoker without going outside constantly to monitor.

Cons

  • Size and weight: While there weren't many things that we didn't like about the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker, there are a few things you should keep in mind. The machine isn't light and it's large, 16.25" x 16.5" x 20.35" — so make sure you have enough counter space. Since it is on the heavier side at about 45 pounds, once you find an area for the smoker you likely won't be moving it around.
  • Intense smoky smell: While it does a great job at clearing the smoke, you still get a smoke smell that lingers during cooking time and after. While I personally enjoy the smell of smoked food and don't mind it in my home, some may find it "strong". As mentioned above, cleaning after each use will help lessen the intensity of the aroma.
  • Pricey: Lastly, we recognize that this isn't an inexpensive purchase. The GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker retails for $999 but often goes on sale and can be found for as little as $699. For Good Housekeeping readers, you can take 40% off using code GH400 now through December 8 at GEAPPLIANCES.COM.

The bottom line

If you want to make delicious smoked food without leaving your home or going outside, then the answer is absolutely. It allows you to make smoke-infused foods all year long, and it's easy to use, even if you aren't used to smoking food.

chicken pieces cooking in an oven
Philip Friedman

It makes delicious and tender food that has wonderfully-infused smoke flavor. While other indoor appliances can make food that falls off of the bone, the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker creates flavors that usually only come from outdoor smokers. From meats to vegetables, the indoor smoker can infuse flavor into almost anything.


Tips

  • Rotate: When smoking, I noticed that food closer to the back of the machine cooks a bit more quickly and can be slightly drier. When I rotate the position of the food, I get a much more even cook. I would recommend rotating the food at least once, but for longer cooks that take more than two hours, I suggest rotating two or more times.
a person using a spatula to take food out of an oven
Phillip Friedman
  • Quick cleaning: While cleaning after every cook might be a pain, doing a quick wipe down will help you in the long run. I noticed that doing a quick wipe with a warm wet towel after the smoker has cooled made cleaning much easier. Frequent cleaning helped prevent cooked-on grease and residue. When I did less frequent cleanings, the racks, door and interior were much more difficult to clean.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Raena Loper is a contributing writer and product analyst at Good Housekeeping. She has conducted tests on pellet grills and outdoor griddles for Kitchen Gear Awards, large air fryers and more, all overseen by experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute. She worked alongside Nicole Papantoniou to conduct tests on the GE Profile Smart Indoor Pellet Smoker in the GH Lab and tested it herself at home. When she isn't testing grills for Good Housekeeping, she BBQs in her spare time for family and friends.

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she's spent the last five years overseeing and testing for all types of kitchen gadgets, including over 40 outdoor grills, pellet grills, gas grills and more. She is trained in classic culinary arts and before joining Good Housekeeping, she worked at kitchen appliance companies to create and test recipes.

Headshot of Raena Loper
Raena Loper
Contributing Writer and Analyst

Raena Loper (she/her) is a fashion journalist and product analyst based in New Jersey whose work has appeared in Forbes, Good Housekeeping and O, The Oprah Magazine. Raena is a graduate from Montclair State University where she earned a degree in fashion studies as well as gender, sexuality and women's studies. In her free time, she enjoys sewing, cooking BBQ and spending time with family. 

Headshot of Nicole Papantoniou
Reviewed byNicole Papantoniou
Kitchen Appliances Lab Director

Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.