Retrofitting cold smoke: smoke generator & insert reviewed

Cold smoking can be retrofitted to any Beelonia smoker – in two ways: the cold smoke insert (€74.97) turns the smoking dust area into a slow burn in the smoker, while the smoke generator (€497.42) produces the smoke externally and feeds it in cool. For occasional cheese and salmon sessions, the insert is sufficient; if you regularly cold smoke ham, bacon and whole sides of salmon, the generator is more convenient. Both keep the chamber below the critical 25 °C limit.

Last updated: 23 July 2026 · Author: Michael Vering, Beelonia GmbH · All prices: as of July 2026

Reading tip: What technically happens during cold smoking – and why 25 °C is the hard limit – is explained in the process guide.

Why does cold smoke need its own technology?

Because the heating element or burner almost inevitably breaches the 25 °C limit: cold smoke needs smoke without heat – meaning embers that stay small, or a smoke source outside the chamber. This is exactly what the two retrofit solutions provide. The smoker itself remains unchanged; the normal heating pauses completely during the cold smoking process.

Way 1 – the cold smoke insert (€74.97). It is placed in the middle of the smoking dust drawer of the F-series, the smoking dust is scattered around it like a U and ignited at one end. The embers slowly travel along the insert – little heat, many hours of even smoke, slow burn principle without an external additional device. On the current electric models F2-70/60 and XL, the central ignition spiral even takes care of lighting at the push of a button.

Way 2 – the smoke generator (€497.42). It stands next to the smoker and sends the smoke into the chamber via a flexible tube. Its design solves the two weaknesses of simple generators: the double-walled rock wool insulation prevents condensation, so the dust doesn't clump and reliably smoulders from top to bottom; and the ash remains completely outside the cooking chamber – this prevents bitter flavours. Instead of fiddling with aquarium pumps: fan at the back, 230 V plug, done.

Insert or generator? The direct comparison

What is important during operation?

Three rules determine the result: coarser dust in the generator, correct airflow – and the season. Coarser RÄUCHERGOLD (grain size from 750) belongs in the smoke generator: fine dust compacts and smothers the embers, coarser chips form air cushions and smoulder cleanly. The container is filled to about three-quarters and started at the bottom with a storm lighter or blowtorch to create a nest of embers. For the slow burn/insert: open the air supply completely, keep the exhaust open – the smoke must draw. And because even the best technology cannot outsmart the outside temperature, cold smoking remains an autumn and winter activity: above ~25 °C outside air, the fish starts to cook, no matter which generator is running.

Frequently asked questions about retrofitting

Does the smoke generator also work on a kettle grill?

Yes – via a flexible tube, it can be connected to a kettle grill, third-party smoker or converted cabinet. Exactly this universality is its advantage over smoker-fixed solutions.

How much smoking dust does a cold smoking session use?

A slow burn session of 8–12 hours uses about 0.5–1 litres of fine dust, depending on the spiral; the generator works for many hours with a three-quarter fill. A 15 kg bag of RÄUCHERGOLD thus covers an entire ham season.

What should I retrofit first: insert or generator?

If you have never cold smoked before, start with the insert and a cheese or salmon project – the generator is the upgrade when volume and regularity increase. Both remain permanently usable: many customers use the insert for small sessions and the generator for large ones.

Reading tip: The right projects are provided by the smoked salmon weekend and the raw ham guide.

Sources and technical basis: Beelonia product data and shop prices (as of July 2026); Beelonia product videos (smoke generator: double wall, ash separation, coarse grain; F2-70/60 update: cold smoke insert with central ignition spiral); smoke generation basics from technical literature (slow burn principle, 25 °C limit).