It approximately takes 6-8 hours for an electric smoker to provide the product, but it depends upon the type of meat you are cooking and the recipe you are following. It also depends upon the type of electric Smoker you are using, as some electric smokers take 20-30 minutes to preheat, and then they start smoking and preparing the food. Avoid opening up the electric Smoker during the cooking process, as opening the door will result in the loss of temperature and smoke, which will, in turn, increase the cooking time.