The hottest part of any electric smoker, including a Masterbuilt, is above the cooking element. This cooking element usually sits at the bottom back of the electric smoker. With an increase in temperature, this part gets hotter. It is from this spot that the temperature spreads to the other parts. On the other hand, the coolest part of the electric smoker is on the opposite side of the heating element. That means the top front does not get as much heat as the other parts.