Traditional charcoal barbecue smoker
For the purist, a charcoal smoker delivers a deep, authentic smoky flavor that many enthusiasts cherish.
Kitchen & Coffee
Food smokers
6 kinds worth knowing, 8 picks, and what to check before you buy.
Smokers tend to go to the person who already owns a grill and keeps talking about brisket, ribs or smoked salmon. The ones that get used match how that person really cooks: a patient weekend cook may love a full barbecue smoker, while an apartment dweller gets more out of an indoor food smoker that sits on the stove. Before you choose, think about space, fuel and how much fuss the person enjoys. Some people like tending a fire for hours. Others want to set a temperature and walk away. A smoker is a hobby gift as much as an appliance, so it helps to know whether they're just starting out or adding to a setup they already have.
Kind 1 of 6
Outdoor barbecue smokers for low and slow cooking
A barbecue smoker cooks meat slowly over indirect heat and wood smoke, usually for hours. Charcoal models give the most traditional flavour but need tending. Pellet smoker grills feed fuel automatically and hold a set temperature, which suits someone who wants results without watching the fire. Compact portable smokers work for camping, cottages or small patios. Before buying, check how much cooking space the person needs, where it will live outdoors and which fuel they're comfortable buying and storing. A pellet model also needs a power outlet nearby.
Automated wood pellet smoker grill
This versatile unit combines the functions of a grill and a smoker, perfect for those who enjoy both grilling and low-and-slow cooking.
Compact portable outdoor smoker
Designed for adventurers and tailgaters, this smaller smoker allows for delicious smoked foods on the go.
Kind 2 of 6
Smoking indoors on the stovetop
An indoor food smoker lets someone add smoke flavour without a backyard. Stovetop smokers are sealed stainless steel boxes. You put fine wood chips in the bottom, set the food on a rack and put the box over a burner. They suit condo and apartment cooks, fish and cheese fans, and anyone who wants smoky vegetables on a weeknight. Check that it fits their stove and burner type, and that the lid seals well enough to keep smoke in. Their kitchen range hood matters too.
Stainless steel stovetop smoker
This compact device brings the art of smoking indoors, perfect for apartment dwellers or those who want to smoke small items year-round.
Kind 3 of 6
Cold smokers for salmon, cheese and more
Cold smoking adds flavour without cooking the food, which is how people make smoked salmon, cheese, butter, salt and nuts. A cold smoke generator is a small unit that slowly smoulders wood dust or pellets and attaches to a smoker or grill the person already has. It's a good pick for someone who has mastered hot smoking and wants a new project. Before buying, confirm it will fit or connect to their existing smoker, and check which wood dust or pellets it uses.
Cold smoke attachment generator
An accessory for existing grills or smokers, this unit allows for cold smoking delicate items like cheese or fish without cooking them.
Kind 4 of 6
Electric smokers that hold steady heat
An electric smoker is an insulated cabinet with a heating element, a wood chip tray and several racks. You set the temperature, add chips now and then and let it run, so it suits beginners and busy people who don't want to manage charcoal. It can also make smoking easier in cold Canadian winters. Check the number of racks and the interior height if they plan to cook whole turkeys or long racks of ribs. Look at how easy it is to reach the chip tray, and make sure there's an outdoor outlet nearby.
Electric food smoker
This appliance offers consistent temperature control, ideal for beginners or those who prefer a hands-off smoking experience.
Kind 5 of 6
Wood chips, chunks and pellets
Smoking wood is a small, useful gift for anyone who already owns a smoker. Different woods give different flavours. Hickory and mesquite are strong, while apple and cherry are milder and suit poultry, pork and fish. The key is the format. Chips suit electric and stovetop smokers, chunks suit charcoal smokers, and pellets are made for pellet grills. Find out what they cook on before buying, and choose wood sold for cooking, not for heating.
Kind 6 of 6
Vertical smokers with propane or water pans
Vertical smokers stack racks in a tall, narrow body, so you get plenty of cooking space on a small patio. Propane models heat up quickly and don't need an outlet. That makes them handy at cottages, hunting camps and places without power. Water pan smokers put a tray of water between the heat and the food to keep temperatures even and meat moist. Check how well the door seals and whether the racks adjust. If they'll use propane, see whether a tank is included and whether the burner has a simple dial.
Vertical propane smoker
A gas-powered smoker provides quick heat-up times and consistent temperatures, suitable for backyard chefs who value convenience.
Vertical water pan smoker
A water smoker uses a water pan to maintain stable temperatures and add moisture, resulting in tender, juicy smoked meats.
How to choose food smokers as a gift
- Find out whether they cook in a backyard, on a balcony or indoors before choosing a smoker type.
- Match the fuel to their habits: charcoal for hands-on cooks, electric or pellet for set-and-forget cooks.
- If they already own a smoker, choose an add-on like a cold smoke generator or cooking wood.
- Think about storage, since full-size smokers are bulky and often live outdoors all year.
- Check the cooking space against how many people they usually feed.
Usually safe to skip
- A large offset smoker for someone with a small balcony often ends up unused or in the way.
- Wood pellets for someone who doesn't own a pellet grill usually miss, because chips and chunks aren't interchangeable.
- A second full smoker for an experienced cook rarely lands, since most have strong opinions about their setup.
Questions people ask about food smokers
- What is the best smoker for a beginner?
- Electric and pellet smokers are the easiest to learn on because they hold a set temperature on their own. A beginner can focus on seasoning and timing instead of managing a fire, then move to charcoal later if they want more hands-on cooking.
- Can you use a food smoker indoors?
- Stovetop smokers are made for indoor use. They're sealed boxes that sit on a burner and use small amounts of fine wood chips. Full-size barbecue, electric and propane smokers are made for outdoor use and should stay outside.
- What is the difference between hot and cold smoking?
- Hot smoking cooks the food while adding flavour, as with ribs, brisket or chicken. Cold smoking adds flavour at low temperatures without cooking, and is used for things like cheese, salmon and nuts. Cold smoking usually needs a separate smoke generator.
Looking for one person in particular? Shop by person.
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All food smokers picks
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