ProQ Cold Smoke Generator with Starter Pack, Maze Smoker, Small Review (2026)

What is in the starter pack

ProQ includes both a tealight and sawdust in the starter pack alongside the small stainless steel cold smoke generator, so a first-time buyer has everything needed for an initial cold smoking session without sourcing wood dust separately first. The maze itself measures roughly 5.98 by 7.13 by 1.58 inches and weighs about 0.77 pounds, small enough to fit inside most kettle grills, cabinet smokers, or dedicated smoking boxes without taking up much interior space. Operation is straightforward: fill the maze channel with sawdust, light one end with the included tealight, and let it smolder rather than burn as a flame, producing smoke without adding meaningful heat to the smoking chamber.

How cold smoking with this unit works

Once lit, the sawdust in the maze smolders slowly along the channel rather than burning quickly, which is what generates smoke for an extended period from a single fill rather than needing constant relighting. ProQ rates this small model for up to 12 hours of cold smoke per load using its own sawdust, long enough to complete a full cold smoking session on cheese, nuts, or fish in one sitting for most home use cases. Because the smoke stays cool, this generator is meant to add flavor without cooking the food, which is the entire point of cold smoking as distinct from hot smoking or standard grilling and barbecue.

Compatibility with existing equipment

The compact size is designed to work inside almost any large barbecue, grill, or cabinet smoker that has a lid and roughly 8 to 40 gallons of internal volume, meaning most kettle grills and dedicated smokers already owned by a home cook can accommodate this generator without needing a separate cold smoking cabinet. That flexibility is a meaningful part of the appeal, since it lets an existing charcoal grill or smoker double as a cold smoking chamber during the off season for hot smoking, rather than requiring a dedicated piece of equipment that only does one job.

Wood flavor options

ProQ sells a range of sawdust flavors separately beyond what is included in this starter pack, including whisky oak, apple, cherry, hickory, maple, alder, beech, and standard oak, letting an owner match the wood flavor to what they are smoking once the included starter sawdust runs out. Fish and cheese often pair well with milder woods like alder or apple, while stronger flavors like hickory or oak suit heartier foods, so having that range of options available from the same brand means a buyer is not limited to a single flavor profile long term after using up the included starter supply.

Who this cold smoker suits

This small ProQ generator suits a home cook curious about cold smoking cheese, fish, nuts, or salt who does not want to invest in an electric cold smoke generator or a dedicated smoking cabinet right away, since it works inside equipment most grillers already own. The 12 hour smoke time per fill on the small model is enough for typical home batches, though anyone planning to cold smoke larger quantities regularly or run longer unattended sessions may eventually want to step up to ProQ's larger maze generator, which holds more sawdust per fill. As a UK-based brand with a long history in cold smoking accessories, ProQ is a reasonably safe choice for someone buying their first unit.

Frequently asked questions