TOP 7 best smoke generators for the home: how to choose, pros and cons, reviews

Smoke generators with manual ignition

Merkel Standard

This model is characterized by many users as innovative and improved, due to which its useful qualities significantly surpass similar models from other companies. The design includes a body and a chimney, a cover made of durable wood. The bottom here is ideally flat, there is a condensation chamber, with the help of which the smoke passes through additional cleaning. Here its temperature decreases, making the smoke suitable for working with any variety of products. The model is designed for both cold and hot smoking. All elements are made from reliable stainless steel, resistant to physical damage and corrosion processes. Its thickness is 2 mm. The weight of the device is not too large - about 2 kg. It is very simple to assemble the model and prepare it for work, so even a person who has not previously dealt with similar equipment can handle it.

In order for the product to work stably, it is necessary to achieve stable smoldering. At first, the smoke produced is quite hot, but it subsequently passes through a kind of filter made of wood chips, and tar and condensate will come out of it. Then the entire volume of smoke enters the condensation chamber. Drops of water form on its walls, and harmful combustion products remain. All of them can be easily removed. The lid is made from reliable and durable wood, which will not dry out or heat up too much during operation, so you won’t be able to get burned. It fits tightly to the body, so the smoke will not escape beyond the smoke generator.

Advantages:

• Very attractive appearance, the body is made of polished stainless steel;
• Only high-quality materials were used in production;
• You can use wood of any species for smoking;
• Convenient and simple loading of wood chips;
• Consumes a minimal amount of electricity;
• The compressor allows you to adjust the amount of air supplied;
• Reasonable price.

Flaws:

• Condensate has a characteristic unpleasant odor.

Merkel Standard

Smoke generator Finlandia 1.2 L

It has a body made of stainless steel, the thickness of which is 2.5 mm, the maximum volume of the smokehouse is 3 cubic meters. The pipe is located at the bottom, so you can smoke using both hot and cold technology. The main advantage of this location of the pipe is that the active phase of the process starts immediately from the moment the wood chips are ignited, so the container with the smoking products is filled with smoke immediately. The release of resins harmful to the human body is minimal, and the same can be said about condensate. The supply of fresh air to the combustion zone is provided using a special compressor; the average consumption of wood chips is within 200 grams. Thanks to a carefully thought-out design, the optimal smoke temperature is achieved approximately three times faster than with other smoke generators.

The compressor power is adjustable, the outlet smoke temperature will range from 30 to 90 degrees. For hot smoking, temperatures of 60 degrees and above are used. This is the fastest technology; the products will be completely ready in a couple of hours maximum. If the temperature is in the average range (35-60 degrees), then you can get products with a longer shelf life. Smoking can take from 3 hours to 2 days. Cold smoking involves using smoke with a temperature of no more than 32 degrees. Thanks to such processing, it will be possible to maintain the density and hardness of products over time. Assembling this smoke generator takes a few minutes; if necessary, it can be connected to any convenient container.

Advantages:

• Can be used for both cold and hot smoking;
• Wide range of temperature adjustment;
• Ease of operation;
• Reasonable cost;
• Compact overall dimensions.

Flaws:

• Weak tightness of the structure.

Smoke generator Finlandia 1.2 L

Hobbi Smoke 3.0+

Another Russian-made design. It is capable of producing a decent volume of cold smoke, which can reach about 20 cubic meters, the maximum battery life of the device is 16 hours. Average fuel consumption is about 150 grams per hour. The lid is made of high-quality wood that will not swell when temperature or humidity changes. The bottom here is removable - you can quickly and easily remove the remaining wood chips. Ignition here is manual; there are two holes for it on the sides of the product. The kit includes a very convenient lighter, and there is also alder chips for one fill. The compressor is equipped with heat-resistant tubes, all fastenings are universal. A recipe book is supplied with the smoke generator, which is very suitable for a person who has decided to take up a process such as smoking for the first time.

The performance of the device is quite high, it is convenient to use. All products turn out quite aromatic and tasty. The body of the structure is made of stainless food steel, resistant to thermal and physical stress. The combustion chamber is equipped with a volume that allows you to load up to one and a half kilograms of wood chips. The pipe is located at the bottom, so the wood chips always remain dry and do not fade. The device does not need to be connected to an electrical outlet, but it produces quite thick and rich smoke.

More: Top 10 best tomato pastes, how to choose tomato paste for cooking?

Advantages:

• Everything you need for smoking is included;
• When smoked, products do not absorb toxins and various foreign odors;
• Heat-resistant housing;
• Wide range of applications.

Flaws:

• It is problematic to light wood chips with a moisture content of more than 30%.

Smoke generator for cold smoking

Hobbi Smoke 3.0+

Devices with automatic ignition

Smoke generator Haze

The product was developed by the Volga Mechanical Plant, which has been manufacturing and selling similar products for quite some time. Various design elements of the equipment were repeatedly processed, important factors were taken into account, which made the products of this enterprise one of the best in the country. The body is made of stainless steel, and the wall thickness is over 2 mm, which not only prevents the occurrence of corrosion processes, but also does not allow the walls to fade over time. The period of continuous operation can be significantly increased by installing a special tank for wood chips. The smoke ultimately turns out thick and very clean, without harmful impurities, which will affect the safety of the products. The design is equipped with a fairly powerful compressor, which will distribute the smoke as evenly as possible throughout the chamber, which will allow the products to be smoked as evenly as possible.

More: Top 10 best garden washbasins

The total volume of the smoking chamber is 200 liters. The smoke passes through a coil whose length is more than 3 meters. The compressor power is high - it passes through about 80 liters per minute. The volume of the container for wood chips is 8 liters, and it can be increased if necessary. The power of the heating element is 1 kW, and this indicator is adjustable. The weight of the equipment is 8.5 kg, and one load of wood chips is enough for about 10 hours of continuous operation; there is also a temperature sensor on the body so that you can monitor the degree of heating in the smoking chamber.

Advantages:

• Looks good;
• Works for a long time on one load of wood chips;
• There is everything necessary for use;
• A temperature sensor is provided;
• Weighs a little;
• Spacious.

Flaws:

• The smoke temperature is quite low.

Smoke generator Haze

Smoke generator Vikhr-M

Using this design, you can smoke large volumes of food in a short time. The device is fully automated; a person does not have to interfere with the cooking process. It is generally classified as a professional product. The consumable material here is wood chips or sawdust; there is no need to purchase briquettes or tablets. One load (about 3-4 kg of wood chips) will be enough for the equipment to operate continuously for a day. The device operates on the basis of oxygen-free combustion. There is no need to ignite the wood chips, since it will go to the heating element, whose power is 1 kW, where it gradually begins to smolder. Many users note a uniform density of smoke, and its temperature will also be at the same level.

The product includes everything necessary to ensure stable and long-term operation of the equipment. The level of smoke supply here can be adjusted - the product is capable of filling a chamber with smoke, the volume of which ranges from one and a half to ten cubic meters. The model is covered with black heat-resistant paint, the body is made of stainless steel. This smoke generator consumes about 12 kW of electricity per day. The overall dimensions are not too large - 60x25x65 cm. The nominal temperature of the heating element is approximately 270-310 degrees, so the wood chips will begin to smolder immediately after they land on the heating element.

Advantages:

• You can smoke fairly large volumes at once;
• Fully automated operation;
• There is no need to control the temperature in the chamber;
• Low consumption of materials.

Flaws:

• It is strictly forbidden to use wet or damp wood chips, as this may cause the heating element to fail;
• A decent amount of carbon deposits forms; you have to clean it two to three times a month.

Smoke generator Vikhr-M

Smoke generator Summer resident

This device is a full-fledged automatic smokehouse, and it should be noted right away that the temperature of the smoke in the chamber will not be too high - about 20-28 degrees. The product is designed for products such as meat, poultry, fish, lard, cheese and so on. The product operates exclusively in automatic mode, but needs to be connected to an electrical outlet. It consumes energy quite economically - only about 0.3 kW per hour. The case is made of fairly durable stainless steel. Along with it comes the heating element itself, a cabinet where food will be loaded, and many additional parts. There is an automatic sawdust supply timer, and a temperature regulator is also provided. There is an indication of power on and operation of the electric heating element.

The ash formed during the combustion of wood chips or sawdust is discharged into a special compartment. The supply of smoke here is uniform; it fills the smoking container completely, helping the food cook much faster. The standard model can be loaded with up to 20 kg of products at a time; there are design options that allow you to smoke up to 50 kg. This automated smokehouse is equipped with an insert-pipe and a special exhaust hood, which allows you to use the equipment not only outdoors, but also indoors, venting the air duct through a window so that smoke does not get inside.

Advantages:

• Economical to operate;
• Chips are supplied in dosed mode;
• The feed speed and temperature in the chamber are controlled automatically;
• Can be used both outdoors and indoors.

Flaws:

• Smoking in the cold will not work;
• The appearance could have been more interesting.

Smoke generator Summer resident

Hanhi Zmei

The latest equipment designed specifically for cold smoking. It went on general sale last year. The engineers tried to carefully consider all the most important points, so the process of smoke formation has become as convenient as possible for the person working with this unit. The bunker with wood chips has an angular design, which allows for long-term pyrolysis combustion. In addition, it will not fade. Smoke comes out of this part of the device using special slots located on the corner plate, after which it is sent to a low-pressure zone. The ash compartment here is very convenient, and it is also accessible, so you can remove it and clean it if necessary. In general, if desired, the entire smoke generator can be disassembled and cleaned of soot and formed resins.

The smoke, heading from the combustion chamber to the products, passes through a multi-level filtration system, in which heavy resins are removed from it, especially since they can harm the products. During the combustion of wood chips, water, liquid resin and other substances may be formed that should not come out along with the smoke and get on the food. To remove all excess, you need to open a special tap. The product can operate completely autonomously; there is no need to monitor its operation at all; all you need to do is remove the ash and clean the smoke filters in a timely manner. Such a device is always in a vertical position, equipped with a fairly comfortable and stable support.

More: Review of the economical modern refrigerator Candy CCRN 6180W

Advantages:

• High-quality smoke purification system from harmful substances;
• All elements are made of high quality stainless steel;
• Completely fireproof equipment;
• Consumes a minimal amount of electricity.

Flaws:

• Not detected.

Cold smoked mackerel at home with a Hanhi smoke generator

Hanhi Zmei