There’s nothing worse than smoking your favorite meats only to find that the smoked flavor is completely lacking. You take a bite of your favorite foods and you struggle to notice the difference to ones that haven’t been smoked.
And if you want to smoke things like cheese, you can hardly place it in your grill and not expect it to become a dripping, melted mess!
That’s where a quality cold smoker will come in handy. These are items that you fill with the wood of your choice, then add to your barbecue or grill to get a smokier flavor from your food.
It’s important to note that cold smoking your food is simply about flavoring it, not cooking it. But with so many different types of products on the market, how can you be sure that you’ve found the best cold smokers?
We want to help you in your search. So we’ve researched and reviewed hundreds of products to find the best of the best when it comes to cold smokers.
You can rest assured that all of the products that we’ve reviewed in more detail below will be perfect for your needs! Let’s take a look at the best cold smokers that the market has to offer.
The Realcook 13.78 inch Cold Smoke Generator easily earns our spot of top pick. This particular cold smoker comes with a range of great features for you to use. So you’ll be able to create your favorite tasty smoked meats in no time at all!
This particular cold smoker can be used with a variety of different types of wood. You can choose between cherry, hickory, maple, pecan, apple, oak, or whichever type of wood takes your fancy.
The only thing to note is that this cold smoker only works with wood sawdust. Simply place your preferred type of wood sawdust in the cold smoker, then you can use it to smoke your favorite foods.
It couldn’t be easier to use this cold smoker. All you need to do is use a blow torch to light the sawdust, then place it into your smoker or grill.
It has a large capacity so that the smoke will last you for up to 24 hours. Ideal if you need to smoke some foods over a longer period of time.
A handy feature of this cold smoker is that it is super lightweight. It also comes with 2 handles to make it even easier to move and transport as necessary.
Pros
Versatile - can be used for both cold and hot smoking
Wood sawdust - works best with apple, cherry, pecan, mesquite, hickory, oak, and a variety of fruit tree wood sawdust
24 hours - gives you enough smoke for up to 24 hours
Cons
Blow torch - some customers recommended using a blow torch as well as a tealight candle to light the wood sawdust
To get even more smoke into your grill, you should opt for the Pellet Smoker Tube. This model is the perfect attachment for cold smoking. It comes with a large capacity to give you 12 inches of space to play with.
So you can easily fit in as many wood chips as you need in order to cold smoke your foods for longer.
What’s really great about this cold smoker is that it can be used for both cold and hot smoking. So this will give you even more value for money. You will be able to create your favorite smoked treats with that smoky flavor that you’re after in no time at all.
Simply fill the pellet smoker with your wood of choice, then lean it against the wall of your grill or barbecue.
It couldn’t be easier to use this cold smoker. One side of the smoker features an open cap to make it even easier to add more fuel as needed. Simply place it in your grill then allow the smoker to do all the hard work for you.
Pros
Large capacity - gives you 12 inches of smoking tube to use for cold smoking
Highly compatible - will work with all types of grill and smokers
Versatile - can be used for hot or cold smoking, and you can also use a wide variety of wood types
Cons
Instructions - some customers felt the instructions could have been more detailed
If you’re new to cold smoking, then you should opt for The Original Cold Smoker Kit. This particular cold smoker comes as a complete kit. So you will get everything you need to get smoking your favorite foods.
Simply place the wood chips into the smoker box, add the heating element, then place the smoker box in your grill or barbecue to smoke your food.
Perhaps one of the best things about this cold smoker kit is that it comes with a list of instructions for smoking different foods. This will make it easy to use the cold smoker kit.
You will easily know how to set everything up, and how long you will need to smoke your favorite foods to infuse them with delicious flavor.
What’s really great about this cold smoker is that it can be used for several hours. So you will be able to smoke your favorite foods for as long as you need to.
You’ll have everything you need to get started with this particular cold smoker kit. This particular kit gives you everything you need, including sample packets of wood pellets. So you can test out which type of pellets you prefer before you commit to buying your own.
Pros
Complete kit - gives you everything you need to get cold smoking
Versatile - can be used to smoke all manner of foods
Comprehensive instructions - gives you everything you need to know to use the cold smoker kit
Cons
Smoking time - some ingredients will need less smoking time than others
Serious about your cold smoking? Then you should opt for the Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator. This particular cold smoker has been designed with serious cold smoking in mind, so that you can get the same great tasting results every time.
The Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator has been designed to last you for many years to come.
What’s really great about this cold smoker is that it is widely compatible with a range of grills, barbecues, and smokers.
So you can easily attach it to your existing unit to save you more money. This cold smoker will give you all that delicious extra smoke that you need to flavor your favorite foods.
It couldn’t be easier to refill this cold smoker. Instead of having to open it up and lose all of that precious heat and smoke that has built up, you can simply add the refills as and when they are needed.
Perhaps one of the best things about this cold smoker is that it can be used in virtually any temperature. It will work in both cold and hot temperatures, so you can enjoy your favorite smoked foods throughout the year.
Pros
All temperatures - you can use the cold smoker in both hot and cold temperatures
Easy to refill - you can reload your cold smoker with wood chips without opening it up and losing that precious heat
Widely compatible - you can attach this cold smoker to any grill or barbecue that you have in place
Cons
Expensive - one of the more expensive cold smokers on our list
Last but not least is the A-MAZE-N Maze Pellet Smoker. This particular cold smoker is wonderfully versatile, and can be used to cold smoke a variety of different foods. As long as you can fit it in your smoker, you can smoke it!
What’s really great about this cold smoker is that it gives you a super long smoking time. It can smoke your food for up to 12 hours. So you’ll be able to get the full bodied smoke that you’re after for tastier food.
You won’t have to worry about this cold smoker letting you down. It features a stainless steel construction so that it will last you for many years to come.
Pros
Long lasting - will give you full bodied smoke for up to 12 hours
Versatile - can be used to smoke virtually anything you want to
Lightweight - the cold smoking unit only weighs 12.6 ounces for easier portability
Cons
Lighting - you will need to use a torch to light your wood pellets
Buyer’s Guide
Trying to find the best cold smokers can be a real challenge. Especially when you’re not entirely sure what you’re meant to be looking for! How exactly do cold smokers differ from hot smokers?
What are the essential features that you will need to look for in your cold smokers? It can be tricky knowing what to look for.
So we’ve put together this helpful buyer’s guide to make the process even smoother for you. We’ve made sure to collate all of the essential features that we looked for in the great products that we’ve reviewed in more detail above.
So as long as you opt for a cold smoker that has the below features covered, you can rest assured that it will be perfect for your needs.
Let’s take a look at everything you need to know about cold smokers below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Capacity
One of the most important things that you will need to consider when choosing the best cold smoker is of course its capacity. How many wood chips or pellets can the cold smoker hold for you to use in your grill?
The larger the capacity, the more wood the cold smoker can fit into it. This will give you even more smoking time so that you can smoke a wide range of foods.
A factor that will dictate your chosen cold smoker’s capacity will of course be its design. Does the cold smoker feature a spiral design with lots of capacity for your wood chips? Does it feature a smaller box? A tube that you can fill up with your wood chips?
Think about what foods you want to place in your cold smoker. Some of these will need to be cold smoked over different time periods, so it will be essential to choose a cold smoker that gives you the capacity to do this.
Length Of Smoking Time
Another important factor to consider is the length of smoking time that your chosen cold smoker gives you. This will of course tie in with the capacity of your smoker. The larger the capacity, the longer your cold smoker will tend to smoke for.
However, if you need to smoke certain food items for several hours at a time, you will need to ensure that your chosen cold smoker allows you to do this. So you will need to pay careful attention to how long the cold smoker is able to keep burning for.
Before you commit to buying your cold smoker, take a look at how long it promises to keep burning for. Does it give you several hours to play with?
Or does its smaller capacity limit the cold smoker to a shorter time frame? It will be important to note whether you have enough time to smoke the food items that you want to cold smoke.
Versatile
It will be best to opt for a more versatile cold smoker. This will give you more value for your money. Can you use the cold smoker for both cold and hot smoking? Or can it only be used for one of these?
You should also consider which foods you can use your cold smoker to flavor. Is it suitable for smoking a variety of meats, vegetables, and other items such as cheese?
Or has it only been designed with meat in mind? The more things you can cold smoke using your new cold smoker, the better it will be.
Type Of Wood
You will need to consider what type of wood you will need to use with your new cold smoker. Some cold smokers can use pellets, wood chips, and many other types of wood. However, some models will specify that they can only be used for one type of wood, such as wood sawdust.
Before you choose your new cold smoker, you will need to ensure that you are able to use your favorite type of wood chips with it. There’s no point in buying a cheaper cold smoker that isn’t able to get the smoky flavor that you’re after.
It will also be worth opting for a cold smoker that is able to burn a variety of wood. Do you have a certain preference for types of wood in terms of flavor?
Such as cherry, oak, maple, hickory, pecan, or other varieties of wood? The more types of wood that you can use with your cold smoker, the better.
Compatibility
Before you choose your cold smoker, you will need to think about how compatible it is with your current smoking setup. Can you easily attach it to your barbecue or grill? Do you have to place it inside the grill itself? It will be crucial to opt for a cold smoker that you can actually use.
The vast majority of cold smokers are actually attachments that you can use with your already existing grills. So you will need to choose a model that you can use with the grill that you already have in your home.
Otherwise, you will need to invest in a barbecue grill to ensure that you can achieve the smoked foods that you are after.
Easy To Use
You will of course want to opt for a cold smoker that will be super easy for you to use. Does the cold smoker come with a comprehensive list of instructions for you to use before you get started?
Does it give you everything that you need to get cold smoking? You won’t want to have to buy additional accessories after you’ve already purchased your cold smoker!
It will also be important to note whether it will be straightforward to use your new cold smoker, or whether you need to follow a complicated list of instructions. The easier it is to follow, the easier it will make the cold smoking process for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Best Cold Smoker?
The best cold smokers are:
Realcook 13.78 inch Cold Smoke Generator
Pellet Smoker Tube
The Original Cold Smoker Kit
Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator
A-MAZE-N Maze Pellet Smoker
What Wood Is Best For Cold Smoke?
The best types of wood to use for cold smoking are cherry, apple, maple, and pecan wood. These woods are subtle enough to flavor your smoked meats without being too overpowering.
These types of wood will give your food a rich smoky flavor that will leave your mouth watering. It will be best to avoid using woods that have been treated, or that you’re not sure where they’ve come from. This is because you won’t want the chemical treatments to ruin your meat.
What Is The Difference Between Cold And Hot Smoking?
The main difference between cold and hot smoking is of course that cold smoking is used to flavor your meat, not cook it. Hot smoking both cooks and flavors your meat at the same time.
Cold smoking will simply flavor your meats with that classic smoky flavor that you’re after. So you can still cook your smoked meats using another method if you would prefer this, all while enjoying that classic smoky flavor.
