Best Cold Smoke Generator
Meat curing was used in the olden days to preserve meat for winter when game meat was harder to hunt during the cold weather. While the need to cure meat has become redundant in recent years, it is still one of the best ways of infusing your meats with smoke flavor. And the reason why homemade bacon is unrivaled by commercially made bacon.
If you are big on curing meat, then you know nothing beats the flavor of cold-smoked meat when it comes to smoked meat. However, being able to cold smoke your meat correctly is an art form only mastered by the chosen few. Not anymore with the right cold smoke generator, you can finally cold smoke your meat like a pro. Here are the best cold smoke generators in the market currently.
Top 5 Best Cold Smoke Generators
| Name | Highlights | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator | Attach to grill or smoker to pump smoke | |
| Smokehouse Products 9500-000-0000 Smoke Chief Cold Smoke Generator | Operates on 110VAC or 12Vdc power. Connect to most grills and smokers | |
| Meva Smoker Gun Infuser Set | 4 AA batteries required, 2 level smoke intensity | |
| Homia Smoking Gun Wood Smoke Infuser | 4 x AA batteries, included 4 flavor chips | |
| Pellet Smoker Tube, 12'' Stainless Steel BBQ Wood Pellet Tube Smoker | Hexagonal smoker tube |
Smoke Daddy Big Kahuna Cold Smoke Generator
The Smoke Daddy cold smoker machine can perform in cold or hot temperatures. Allowing you to smoke anything from cheese to a brisket. It can be attached to grills or smokers alike. It will enable you to pump out high-quality smoke and get that extra smoke flavor.
It is made from heavy gauge precision machined aluminum that is long-lasting and corrosion-resistant. It also comes with a free stainless steel cleaning brush. It can produce a large volume of smoke ideal for a standard grill up to a refrigerator-sized grill.
It is also easy to use and can be refilled at any time without having to relight or open your smoker.
Features
- Maximum temperature: 100 degrees
- 1-1/8″ mounting hole
- Adjustable air pump
- Threaded outlet tube
- Material: aluminum
Pros
- Does not require constant refills
- Designed for overnight use
- Free stainless brush
Cons
- Needs constant tending
Smokehouse Products 9500-000-0000 Smoke Chief Cold Smoke Generator
The Smokehouse cold smoke generator can be powered using 110VAC or 12Volts AC power. It easily connects to any grill or smoker. It can smoke for up to 3 hours on just one cup of BBQ pellets. It can be used with gas grills, pellet grills, charcoal grills, smokers, and numerous other outdoor cooking devices. It comes with mounting hardware making it easy to attach to grills with little effort.
It is also easy to use and does not need constant monitoring.
Features
- Power: 110VAC or 12Vdc power
- Smoking period: 3 hours
- Hanger mount
Pros
- Easily connects to any grill or smoker.
- Clean out tool
- Easy to use
- Instruction manual
Cons
- The smoke tube clogs with soot and needs regular cleaning.
Meva Smoker Gun Infuser Set
The Meva cold smoker allows you to impart delicious smoky flavor into your food or cocktail drinks with minimal effort. You can use it to smoke your fish, cheese, vegetables, meat, cocktails, or beverages in minutes.
It features one operating button with two smoke levels and a flexible hose and nozzle for easy use. the kit comes with a free dome cover and a cup lid cover for infusing liquids with smoke. It also comes with one pack of free starter applewood chips. You will also need to buy 4 AA batteries to power it.
Features
- One operating button
- Two smoke levels
- Flexible hose and nozzle
- Dome cover
- Cup lid cover
- Power: 4 AA batteries
Pros
- Easy to use
- Comes with starter applewood chips
- Durable
Cons
- Overheats rapidly, making it a fire hazard
Homia Smoking Gun Wood Smoke Infuser
This smoke infuser comes with a smoking gun, convenient Stand, Flexible hose, Disk LID, four flavors WOOD CHIPS, 4 x AA batteries, three extra mesh, tweezers for cleaning brush, and a screwdriver. It comes preassembled and ready to use out of the box.
It has a metal burning chamber and metal fan that are easy to clean and maintain. The smoker’s ergonomic design makes it easy to use, and its fan enables it to generate intense cold smoke that is easily absorbed into food and drinks for that tender, smoky flavor.
Features
- Smoking gun
- 4 x AA batteries
- Metal burning chamber
- Metal fan
Pros
- Easy to use
- Ergonomic design
- 1-year warranty
Cons
- Using too many wood pellets, it may end up producing an overbearing smoke flavor
Pellet Smoker Tube, 12” Stainless Steel BBQ Wood Pellet Tube Smoker
This 12-inch smoker tube has a larger capacity and can produce up to 5 hours of billowing smoke. The perforated steel tube allows full passage of the smoke. And it can be used for both cold smoking and hot smoking. The smoker uses wood pellets, and it can be used with a variety of wood pellets to add varied smoking flavors.
It is compatible with electric, gas, charcoal grills, or smokers. It is mainly used to turn a regular grill into a smoker. It is made of heat resistant 304 stainless steel that is lightweight, portable, and easy to maintain. Lastly, the hexagon shape keeps the smoker tube in place on your grill grates.
Features
- Fuel: wood pellets
- Compatible with electric, gas, charcoal, pellet grills, any grills
- 304-grade stainless steel
- Anti-rust
- Heat-resistant
Pros
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Produces very little smoke
DIY Cold Smoke Generator: How to Make One
The easiest way to cold smoke meat is by placing it on a rack in a roasting tin or a pan with a lid or a grill and placing one of those cheap cold smoking maze look-alike trays with chips on it and proceed to smoke your meat.
Other unconventional methods use a perforated cardboard box and wood pellets place on a tray. Buy DIY undertakings does not mean being reckless. These methods can cause a fire, and it is better to stick to a safe DIY option like the easy, hassle-free option mentioned above.
Is making a DIY cold smoke generator worth it?
Yes. If you cannot get a cold smoker in time for your cold smoking, you can use a DIY smoker and manage to get good results. However, a homemade smoker requires babysitting, unlike an adequately made cold smoke generator. If you regularly intend to cold smoker, you would be better off investing in a cold smoke generator.
How to use a cold smoke generator
First, you need to get the smoke generator going. Add fuel into the fuel generator and ignite it to get the smoke going. Then place your food into an airtight container or a grill or smoker.
Then connect your cold smoke generator with the grill, smoker, or airtight container you wish to use for cold smoking and wait.
You may need to refill the fuel in your smoke generator, depending on how long you wish to smoke your food. Keep checking your meat and repositioning it to avoid over smoking or under smoking one side. Once the food is smoked to your liking, proceed to remover or turn off the cold smoke generator and package or prepare your smoked food.
Can you cold smoke with wood chips?
No. wood chips tend to burn at a hotter temperature compared to wood pellets. This will, in turn, generate heat and cook your food instead of cold smoking it.
What is the difference between cold smoking and hot smoking?
The main difference is pretty much covered in the two heating methods. Ti comes down to the temperature at which you are smoking your food. Each smoking technique also uses a different setup. In summary, hot smoking cooks the meat and infuses it with a smoky flavor, while cold smoking infuses your food with a smoky flavor without cooking it.
Hot smoking
The smoke produced is in the same chamber as the meat or food being smoked. The most typical hot smoking method entails placing the meat on the opposite end of the grill, away from the smoking wood, but within the grill producing the smoke. Usually, enough heat is generated to cook the meat slowly over some time.
Check this too: How to Smoke a Turkey on a Pellet Grill
Cold smoking
For meat to be cold smoked, the temperature must remain below 410F consistently, leading to bacteria growth. This allows the meat to remain raw as it gets infused with a smoky flavor. This is done by piping smoke into a grill from a separate chamber or compartment. This will allow the smoke to cool down significantly before it reached the food.
Conclusion
The best cold smoke generator should be compatible with multiple types of grills and smokers. It should also be able to work with different kinds of wood pellets. Lastly, it should be able to generate large amounts of smoke without needing constant fuel refills.