Best Cold Smokers & Generators: how to cold smoke

by Joost Nusselder | Last Updated:  June 24, 2021

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Cold smoking is one of the latest barbecuing methods among pitmasters and amateur cooks alike because it lends a natural smoke flavor to food without necessarily cooking it. But what exactly is cold smoking? For one, it’s very different from hot smoking. The following is our selection of the best cold smoke generator on the market.

Are you salivating at the thought of cold-smoked foods like smoked salmon and sardines? Fancy some Porcini mushrooms? Few things compare with the smell and taste of a smoked meal!

If you want to savor the taste of delicious cold-smoked food, the first thing you need is a quality smoker. Let’s have a look at the best cold smokers on the market in 2021 so that you can choose the best one for you.

Best Cold Smokers reviewed

Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit

Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit

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This Masterbuilt cold smoking kit is designed to convert almost any Masterbuilt hot smoker into a Masterbuilt cold smoker. It’s super easy to install and use but beware because it doesn’t necessarily work for all Masterbuilt devices. It’s particularly incompatible with the Masterbuilt smoker model without the wood chip loader.

Otherwise, most Masterbuilt hot smokers come with a wood chip hole which you can just to attach the electronic cold smoker kit.
You’ll find that it’s super easy to add a Masterbuilt cold smoker attachment when using an automatic smoker which makes the 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit an ideal generator for beginners. Plus, if you’re attaching it to a Masterbuilt smoker then it’ll fit perfectly because they’re both made by the same brand.

The best part about this Masterbuilt electric cold smoker is that it comes with a wood chip chamber with a running capacity of up to 6 hours. It has a unique feeding system that tells you how many wood chips it can handle at a time and it can reach temperatures of up to 100°F-120°F. This is the ideal cold smoking temperature and promises to produce the same fantastic results every time.

How to buy a bbq smoker video
How to buy a bbq smoker video

This cold smoker generator kit is a good investment for anyone that wants to transform their current hot smoker into a cold smoker. The Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit is quick and easy to use and offers consistent results.

Are you looking for a smoker that you can use for both cold and hot smoking? You can try this model from Masterbuilt.

With this equipment, you can cold smoke your food at a temperature of up to 275˚F. One excellent feature of this model is its continuous wood feed system that can supply smoke to the chamber for up to six hours. You can attach a Masterbuilt digital electric smoker through the side wood chip loader, too. It also features a removable ashtray for faster cleaning. Masterbuilt designed this smoker to allow you to achieve a perfectly smoked entrée. You can operate it effortlessly.

By just pushing a button, the smoker heats wood chips automatically to generate the smoke you need. According to the company, the model is ideal for smoking jerky, bacon, cheese, and fish.

Pros

  • Made for smoking and curing
  • Provides smoke flavor to food
  • Works with normal wood chips
  • Comes with a convenient wood chip feeding system
  • It’s compatible with Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokers

Cons

  • This cold smoke generator can sometimes be an electrical hazard

Check the latest prices here

Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator

Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator

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The Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna comes with a well-balanced design that doesn’t require a lot of oversight during operation. It’s suitable for cold and hot smoking alike, and all you have to do is pour fuel into the hopper and attach it to your smoker.
Then, you’ll switch on the adjustable air pump as soon as the unit starts smoking so that the smoke comes out from the exit pipe and into the chamber with the food. From then on, this unit will produce plenty of smoke for you.
The most popular aspect of this cold smoke generator is the pump, which comes with adaptable airflow, and it comes highly recommended for anyone that has enough smoking space at home.

You’ll be glad to know that this Big kahuna is built to last and it’s practically leak-proof. Sure, you may need to drill a few holes to install this unit in your home but it’ll be well worth it when you start using it.

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With this cold smoke generator, your barbecues will be a thing of legend this summer, and it’ll definitely help you perfect cold smoking faster than with anything else out there.

Cold smoke your favorite foods with this smoke generator from Smoke Daddy Inc, a family-owned company. This versatile accessory can be attached to any smoker and grill to produce high-quality BBQ low and slow like it should be.

Whether you will be cold smoking or hot smoking your food, you can depend on this sturdy smoke generator.

It is built to last a lifetime with heavy-duty aluminum construction and a unique design that prevents fuel clogs. A single fill will burn for up to 45 minutes and produce an impressive 3 to 4 hours of smoke, ensuring you can kick back and enjoy your day.

To produce the best smoke, use wood chips and larger woodchucks on this generator.

Pros

  • Comes with flexible airflow
  • Suitable for cold and hot smoking
  • Produces an impressive amount of smoke

Cons

  • It takes up quite a bit of space
  • Requires that you ignite your own fuel
  • It’s not portable

Check prices and availability here

A-MAZE-N Cold Smoker – Best value for the buck

Amazing pellet smoker attachment

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This passive cold smoke generator system from A-MAZE-N is versatile and easy to use. All you have to do is fill up the stainless steel “maze” and light it up. That’s all you need to get it going before you load it up with food and it makes a mean smoked salmon.

Since you’ll be using sawdust, the heat and smoke can last for several hours at a time. Thanks to the maze-like design, the sawdust burns slower and that’s what gives it that long-lasting smokiness.

We particularly like the simple and straightforward design of this pellet smoker because it’s incredibly efficient and well-made yet easy to use.
It’s able to produce a lot of smoke for long periods of time and keeping it in check is relatively simple as well.

Pros

  • You can ignite it from both ends
  • Smoke stays lit for up to 8 hours
  • Compatible with any container that you have at home
  • The maze-like design makes it easy to pack sawdust in

Cons

  • It cannot blow smoke
  • Good sawdust is sometimes hard to come by
  • Keeping sawdust at the right temperature can be difficult

Check prices here

Smokemiester BBQ Smokers

Smokemiester BBQ Smokers

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The Smokemiester pellet smoke generator is designed to work on covered grills specifically, and it’s great for cold smoking because the heat leaks out while smoke is trapped in for maximum flavor.

It’s ideal for smokehouses and covered grills because it doesn’t come with the risk of clogging the outlet tube and yet smoke circulates freely within the burned screen. Furthermore, it’s made from durable powder coated iron which can withstand the highest temperatures without burning out, and it looks easy on the eye too.

The lower lid is specifically designed to perfectly control the smoke coming out of the unit. Plus, you can use wood chips or pellets depending on your preferences, both of which are easy to source and even easier to use.
Since this cold smoker doesn’t run on a regular source of power, it’s safe to leave it working overnight to fully infuse meats, vegetables and other foods with smoke flavor.

Pros

  • It’s super easy to fill with pellets or chips thanks to the large 4-inch diameter
  • Compact
  • You can easily attach this to a smokehouse, covered grill or wine barrel
  • Produces smoke that can last for up to 8 hours

Cons

  • Works well for beginners

Check prices and availability here

Smokehouse Smoke Chief Cold Smoker

Smokehouse Smoke Chief Cold Smoker

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If you’re looking for new and innovative ways to smoke your food, the Smoke Generator from Smokehouse is the way to go. It’s easy to attach onto any outdoor cooking device of your choice including grills.

It’s a great way to transform your favorite BBQ grill into a cold smoker in minutes. To get it working, all you have to do is fill it up with wood pellets of your choice and plug it in. It has a nice compact design that doesn’t take up a lot of space, and you can easily place it next to the grill so that the smoke can travel through the device’s rotisserie hole.

The smoke coming out of this cold smoke generator can last for up to 3 hours and that’s based on 1 cup of BBQ pellets. Plus, it runs on 110AC or 12DVC of power.The Smoke Chief is compatible with smokers, charcoal grills, pellet grills, gas grills, and most outdoor cooking devices. Smokehouse sells their own brand of wood pellets in five different flavors including mesquite, hickory, cherry, apple, and alder. As a cold smoke generator, this appliance can be used to smoke all types of different foods, from chicken to ham, beans, eggs, fish, pork, beef, smoked ribs and more.

Pros

  • Only needs 1 cup of pellets to generate smoke for 3 hours
  • Can run on 110VAC or 12Vdc power
  • Allows you to incorporate a smoky flavor to almost all types of food
  • Easy to attach to a smoker or grill

Cons

  • The design could use some improvement

Check prices here

A-MAZE-N Oval, Cold or Hot Smoking

A-MAZE-N Oval, Cold or Hot Smoking

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If you want a versatile and user-friendly smoker, this pellet tube smoker from A-MAZE-N offers the best value for your money. It features an oval design to prevent movement on the grill surface. It also stops the smoker tube from rolling. The best thing about this smoker is its versatility. You can use it for both cold and hot smoke processing. During cold smoking, it can produce smoke continuously for up to four hours and reach a temperature of more than 225°F. It can also be used in any grill.Another great feature of this model is its portability. You can easily take it anywhere you want due to its compact construction, and with a durable stainless-steel build, it will take the bumps and lumps of the trip no problem.

It’s perfect for a camping smoking adventure – enjoy eating delicious smoked food while discovering the beauty of nature.You can also use this smoker at your BBQ party or any tailgate event. According to the company, this model is ideal for cold smoking foods like nuts, fish, meat, and cheese.

Check the latest prices here

Can You Cold Smoke in an Electric Smoker?

Yes! They are one of the best kinds of smokers to use for cold smoking as you can set them to smoke ‘low and slow’ for a long period of time.

Get the perfect cheese, fish, and veggies by purchasing a cold smoking kit. You won’t regret it!

Like we mentioned earlier in the article, cold smoking is unique because it only smokes the food without cooking it. This enables you to preserve the natural flavor and texture of the food while adding a nice smokiness to it. The good news is that it’s possible to cold smoke food using an electric smoker and it works just as well and fast as a homemade smoker.

Learn here How to Cold Smoke Bacon at Home

What is a Cold Smoker Attachment?

The cold smoker comes in the form of a peripheral wood chip smoking chamber that you can use to smoke food at low temperatures that range from 100° to 120° F. Most cold smoker attachments are compatible with all Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokers and they come with a very efficient wood chip feeding system. All you need are some standard wood chips and you can generate up to 6 hours of cold smoke.

Can You Cold Smoke in a Big Green Egg?

Cold smoking is a special method of food seasoning that you can use to produce something different using The Big Green Egg. Most of the cold smoking recipes that come with this device are easy to prepare and work according to similar principles as the ones mentioned in this article.

Conclusion

Cold smoking is a great way to imbue your food with delicious smoky flavor without overcooking or heating it at all. To get this result, all you need is a good quality cold smoke generator and the right type of wood like some of these. After that, you simply install the cold smoke generator to your grill or smoker and you’re good to go!

But, we cannot stress enough the importance of using the right cold smoker in order to get the perfect flavor. We’ve made the selection process that much easier for you by reviewing the best products in this category, but as with anything, there can only be one winner.

In this case, the award for the best cold smoke generator on the market goes to the [amazon link=”B008DF6WWE” title=”Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit for Masterbuilt Digital Smokers” /]. This model works with most Masterbuilt smokers and it comes with a 6-hour wood chip chamber, a temperature capacity of 100°F-120°F and it offers consistent performance throughout.

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Lakeside Smokers is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with BBQ Smoking (& Japanese food!) at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.