The best cold smoked smokehouses

There is no doubt about the dangers of cold-smoked products purchased in ready-made form, since dangerous "liquid smoke" is often used for their processing. Those who care about their health, but are not ready to give up such meat, fish, cheese, can use an alternative option and buy a special camera in a house or cafe. Having familiarized yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of popular options, choosing the best cold smoked smokehouse will not be so difficult.

Which company is better to choose a cold smoked smokehouse

Conventionally, the manufacturers of such equipment can be divided into 2 categories: suppliers of home and professional smoke generators for cold smoking. Both companies are represented in our rating.

Each firm is described in more detail below:

• Merkel - manufacturer of home smoke generators for smoking fish, meat, cheese. They are popular among hunters, summer residents, owners of small cafes. The high demand for them is due to the naturalness of finished food, obtained without the use of flavor enhancers, preservatives and chemicals. Its designs are collapsible and therefore easy to maintain. The presence of a container for collecting condensate ensures high quality food and the absence of unpleasant odors.
• Smoke Dymich - a well-known domestic manufacturer of smokers for cold smoking of various products, from meat to vegetables. Its units have earned popularity due to their neat dimensions, good equipment, decent power (from 2.9 W), good compressor performance - about 2.5 liters per minute. On average, they weigh 2.5 kg and are warranted for up to two years.
• Smoked Is a series of smoke generators for home use, which are made of stainless steel and equipped with a durable and safe silicone handle. They are distinguished by the possibility of removing the bottom for easy cleaning of the unit from ash and ease of fastening the structure to the container. They are characterized by a long battery life - up to 15 hours, thick and saturated smoke.
• Iterma - a company producing professional equipment for restaurants, cafes, bars. The enterprise began its work in 2004 and produces various ovens, electric stoves, industrial smokehouses. The latter are supplied with a stainless steel tray and grates, on which you can smoke meat, fish, cheese. These devices are convenient to use due to the presence of a timer with automatic shutdown.
• Hobbi Smoke - 5 types of cold smoke smokers of various sizes are sold under this brand. The larger the device, the longer the process is maintained. Their advantages include simplicity of dismantling structures, ease of cleaning, a 10-year warranty, economical consumption of chips (about 130 g per hour). They are also available in a good package, which includes a book with interesting recipes.
• OSSA Rauchergerate - this company owns the Helia Smoker series of smokehouses, which it has been producing since 1983. They have double-walled stainless steel and minimal heat loss, which increases their efficiency. The products prepared here retain their juiciness, original smell and taste. It is convenient to use these devices due to the timer with automatic shutdown.

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Rating of the best cold smoked smokers

To prepare this TOP, we took customer reviews and expert advice as a basis. All selected smokers were compared with each other according to the following characteristics to identify the best ones:

• Device type - home or professional;
• Purpose - smoking fish, meat, bacon, cheese, vegetables;
• Weight and dimensions;
• Materials for manufacturing the body and shelves;
• Wall and bottom thickness;
• The degree of smoke filtration and its safety;
• The type of raw materials required;
• Chip consumption;
• Food processing temperature;
• Lack of foreign odors from cooked food;
• Control method - mechanical or electronic;
• Performance.

We also paid attention to the duration of the warranty card, the combination of price and quality of goods.

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The best homemade cold smoked smokehouses

At home, small devices with an oval-shaped smoke generator with a capacity of up to 3-5 liters are usually used. They are several times cheaper than professional models and are suitable for cooking any type of food - meat, fish, cheese and even vegetables. Of the 10 analyzed options, we included in this rating category the 4 best cold-smoked smokehouses with the highest quality and safest smoke.

Merkel Optima

The Merkel Optima device is designed for cold smoking of fish, lard, chicken, cheese. It comes with a container for loading chips of 1.3, 2.5 and 5 liters. Cooking food with it allows you to avoid harm to health due to the settling of carcinogens, soot and ash together with vapors in a special container for collecting tar and condensation.

The camera body is made of high quality stainless steel with an optimal thickness of 2 mm, which speeds up cooking. The device is easy to use - if necessary, ash is quickly removed through the removable bottom, and the wooden lid can withstand high temperatures and practically does not heat up. The possibility of disassembling the structure makes it easy to care for.

Advantages

• Autonomous smoking time - up to 8 hours;
• Chamber volume - from 0.1 to 8 m3;
• The warranty is provided for 10 years;
• High quality barrier cleaning system;
• Automatic maintenance of the required temperature - 20 degrees;
• The smoke generator does not go out spontaneously.

disadvantages

• The resulting condensation must be drained more frequently.

Smokehouse Merkel Optima has a tray cooler of 9 tiers and an increased efficiency of 12%.

Smoke Dymych 01M

This smokehouse allows you to preserve a maximum of useful substances in food during cooking, since it processes them at a temperature of 19 to 40 degrees. It works on chips, the consumption of which is quite economical. The device has a good performance - 2.5 liters per minute and operates under a pressure of 0.012 MPa.

This model has a compact size - 470x120x175 mm, and weighs 1.77 kg and does not take up much space in the room. Its capacity for loading chips is 0.6 kg, so there is often no need to renew the raw material. The body of the smokehouse is made of stainless steel, which can easily withstand the negative effects of excessive humidity and high temperatures. The kit includes everything you need to work - silicone and corrugated hose, air compressor, smoke generator itself.

Advantages

• Allows you to cook environmentally friendly food;
• Does not give an unpleasant aftertaste;
• Retains juiciness and original taste of products;
• Automatic work;
• It is convenient to pour wood chips - from above.

disadvantages

• The hose is not the longest - 74 cm;
• The set does not include a smoking container.

According to reviews, meat in this device is smoked for about 5-15 hours, fish - from 3 to 12, sausage - about 5-10, and lard - up to 14 hours.

Smoked 2 Family

This is a popular cold smoked smokehouse for home due to its automatic operation and small dimensions.The set includes a steel smoke generator with 2 mm thick walls, which guarantees the durability of the device and fast cooking. It was equipped with a German compressor with a filter that prevents dust from getting on food. Thanks to this, the taste of food does not spoil and it does not harm health.

In addition to everything, the buyer receives a piezo-ignited lighter, which makes it easier to work with the device. The set also includes wood chips, there is not much of it - 350 g, but this is enough for one bookmark. The collection of cold smoking recipes, which is provided in the set, will also come in handy. Smoke 2 Family is easy to assemble thanks to detailed instructions.

Advantages

• Smoke time of wood chips from one tab - up to 6 hours;
• Material resistance to wear and increased moisture;
• Chamber capacity for raw materials - 0.5 kg;
• High-quality assembly;
• Heat-resistant silicone tube on the fitting.

disadvantages

• Small dimensions of the smoke generator - 26x10 cm.

In the Koptil 2 Family model you can cook fish, meat, bacon and even hard cheeses.

Iterma Smoker X1

This model is successfully used both at home and at public catering facilities. It is intended for cooking vegetables, poultry, fish, pork, beef. An electrical control unit is provided here, which makes it easier to control the process. Ease of use is provided by a timer for 5-60 minutes, which prevents food from burning. The device has average dimensions - 210x200x120 mm, but it can easily fit in the kitchen.

The set includes a boxed electric heater with a container for loading chips; it can be installed in any convection oven or combi steamer. Unfortunately, you have to order the grate and ice maker separately, which are not included in the basic set. The electrical wire is thermally protected here, which increases the level of safety during the operation of the device.

Advantages

• Quite good power - 0.2 kW;
• The warranty is given for a whole year;
• The products are soft and not dry;
• Doesn't spoil the taste;
• Retains beneficial substances in the composition.

disadvantages

• Weighs 3 kg.

This is a stationary smokehouse that requires access to electricity without fail.

The best professional cold smoked smokehouses

Such models are mainly special ovens, similar to a microwave. They have a larger internal space for loading products than home appliances. Of the 6 options considered, special attention should be paid to two units, which are described in this TOP category. These cold smoking chambers have been selected as the safest, fastest and most versatile machines.

Hobbi Smoke 1.0

This is one of the most environmentally friendly cold smoked smokers, which produces chilled and carefully purified smoke at the exit. As a result, most of the nutrients and original taste are preserved in food. The basic kit includes wood chips, fasteners for assembling and fixing the device, a compressor, the smoke generator itself and a lighter.

The smoking time of one portion of the laid raw materials is 2 hours 20 minutes. True, thick meat or large fish does not always have time to cook during this time. At this time, the user's attention is practically not required due to the automatic maintenance of the desired temperature. This design is collapsible and due to this it is easily cleaned of dirt. Each buyer is given a book with interesting recipes as a gift.

Advantages

• The warranty is valid for 10 years;
• Easy ash removal - in just a few seconds;
• Ease of attachment to almost any container;
• Small consumption of chips - 130 g per hour;
• The maximum possible volume of the container is up to 5m3.

disadvantages

• Not found.

Helia smoker 24

This is a professional smokehouse used in supermarkets, restaurants, cafes and other catering facilities. Unlike household models, it has mechanical control, so it requires more attention from users. This model is presented in the form of an oven in which you can bake, smoke, grill, poultry, seafood, fish, cheese, pork, bacon.

The design is completely sealed, the double walls prevent heat loss and guarantee a quick warm-up. The door fits snugly to the body, so moisture and smoke do not come out and oxygen does not penetrate inside. This eliminates the risk of odors mixing in one chamber and does not spoil the original taste of food. The device operates without current up to 60% of the time, which saves on electricity.

Advantages

• Gives products a beautiful golden brown color;
• Optimal smoke distribution;
• Timer with automatic shutdown;
• Safe smoke;
• Holds up to 7 kg of products;
• Heat treatment is carried out without adding fat, in its own juice.

disadvantages

• Large dimensions - 35x45x45 cm;
• Not easy;
• The distance between the gratings is not very large.

The Helia Smoker 24 smoking cabinet has grates and a body made of stainless steel, resistant to the negative effects of excessive humidity, high temperatures and mechanical stress.

Which cold smoked smokehouse is better to buy

For home use, small smoke generators are quite enough, and in restaurants, cafes, supermarkets, larger models will be needed. The optimum wall thickness for this equipment is 1.5-2 mm, which provides the best smoking result. Also, the built-in thermostat will be useful for this, which contributes to an even distribution of heat inside the container.

Here is a cold smoked smokehouse you can buy for a specific purpose:

• The Merkel Optima model does an excellent job of smoking fish.
• The poultry will be deliciously cooked in the Smoke Dymych 01M device.
• Lard and pork are excellent with the help of Koptil 2 Family.
• For processing vegetables, you can buy the Iterma Smoker X1.
• Hobbi Smoke 1.0 and Helia Smoker 24 will do well with any products in a cafe, restaurant, supermarket.

Only a well-thought-out choice of a smokehouse will allow, after purchase, not to doubt the safety, benefits, good taste and smell of products prepared with it.