Being a super keen guy on curing and smoking all kinds of stuff, I’ve spent hundred’s if not thousands of hours smoking over the years (not just meat either).
As I’ve learned many of the in’s and out’s of cold smoking over 20 odd years, like everything I’m still learning. But it’s kind of become second nature too.
Smokai is a New Zealand company, I was surprised to hear that large portion of their sales came from the USA or Europe (same as guys who buy courses through my blog).
I’ve been using a similar product from UFO Smoke Generators (New Zealand company, but there produces are made in China) for about 10 years. Many don’t know, but like the jet boat, New Zealand also invented this type of smoker generator!
Here is the short answer.
What is the Best Smoke Generator Available? Based on Ease of Starting, Control of Smoke, Clean Burning, and Solid Design. Smokai invented, and have produced the best product on the market today.
As well as being a fantastic booster for a pellet grill smoker.
Here it is when we put it on a wine barrel too.
Specifications of Different Smokai Sizes
SIZES AND SMOKING TIME CAPACITY:
| Model | Size | Max Burn Time |
| Bullet | 1/2 Litre | 4 hours |
| Classic | 1 Litre | 8 hours |
| Magnum | 3 Litre | 24 hours |
| Monster | 4 Litre | 32 hours |
I have the 1L (8 hrs approx) – I’ve been using pellets and the wood chips from Smokai – both Hickory and Maple.
It’s burning a little faster than 4 hours for half load I’ve found with the 1L classic, but I don’t have the pump set on minimum smoke either. Of course, less airflow less smoke slower burning.
More recently, I’ve been cold smoking dry-cured pork – I like to do 2 x3 hour session. Half filling the 1 L was sufficient in doing this.
Of course, since it has a variable air control, if you crank it up – it’s going to smash through the wood. It produces an abundance of smoke if you want it!
I also used hickory wood pellets, a different type of burning (burns hot) – same results.
When buying a Smokai, wherever you are in the world, you choose power supply depending on your place in the world – most Smokai’s are sold in the USA and Europe.
Ease of Starting
It was quite a surprise when I started up the Smokai, all I needed was a normal lighter.
Specifically, this was with wood chips, not wood pellets. Wood chips are recommended 2-10mm, I think 3-6 mm would be the easiest to start.
This is because every time I use the UFO smoker, I would need a brulee/blow torch style lighter (or a camp stove angled toward the lighting hole – I do not advise this method, eyebrows were burnt/trimmed using this DIY method). The same for a pellet tube-like below,
My thoughts are that the pump turned up to high on the smokai has more push through and therefore a stronger venturi effect, it also draws in from the bottom only – not sure but this might be another factor why it pumps plenty of smoke and burns clean.
It gets hot too, with wood burning inside it, keep this in with the mounting. It has a built-in bracket, and you just drill 4 nut/bolt holes.
Control of Smoke
This is the key, I love the pellet tube smoker for its simplicity, but when it comes to controlling – how much smoke, the smoke generator certainly wins.
The air compressor that creates the venturi effect (smoke is ‘pulled’ into the smoking chamber) does the job. And when you wind it up to full power, it’s a crazy amount of smoke! Too much for most backyarders for sure.
Clean Burning Wood
This is something Tony talked about, it’s a cleaner burn which means less of the undesirable things in the smoke.
You get the ‘transparent’ thin blue smoke that’s talk about alot in the bbq community. See-through smoke in other words.
And to be honest different woods can actually give off different colors of smoke too! Like yellow!
Solid Design
As simple as a tube with a pump on it sounds, I’ve come to think there is much more going on here then what I think.
304 Stainless steel for the Smokai, makes is heavier and stronger. All parts fit together snug.
Cleaning A Smoke Generator Factor
The UFO does not detach easily, the smokai does.
It’s got some locking mechanism with the horizontal pipe – I find this a smart design for easy cleaning.
The main cleaning is just tipping out all the ash once it’s completely cool down. I just empty onto vege garden or into compost in.
Any residue you want to wipe up, the more you regularly clean the better it will work.
Check out the Smokai Options.
Why Get a Smoke Generator Compared to Other Cold Smokers?
Pros
- Control of Smoke
- Consistent Outcomes
- Cleaning is Straightforward
- Attaches to Various Smoking Chambers – i.e grill, wine barrel, wooden box (see below)
Cons
- Down Sides – Need Power
- It’s an investment (but I expect 10+ years out of a smoke generator)
Attaching to Smoking Areas
You could attach these units to:
- Pellet Grills (Either to boost or to cold smoke!)
- Old Fridge (like a curing fridge that you don’t use, or have nicked the coolant pipe, yes I have been there and learned)
- Smoking Cabinet or Wooden Box
- Smokehouse
- Kettle or Barrel Smoker
- Beehive Box (I’ve looking for one like it’s modular aspects)
- Pellet Grill Smoker (careful due to pressure that is balanced for the burn pot in some models)
- Play House that’s not used.. (someone contacted me through this blog and said they were doing a conversion, hope it’s untreated wood!)
On the Smokai website, there are these mounting ideas – check them out too.
Summary, if you want a consistent smoker that’s built solid – this is a smart bit of equipment.
Now my ‘go to’ smoke option for cold smoking or some hot smoking indirect low and slow styles as well.
Order one here from Smokai direct. You truly won’t regret this tool, it’s the business!