# Does a smoker box do anything a dedicated smoker can't?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-smoker-box-do-anything-a-dedicated-smoker-cant/956233>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 17, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-smoker-box-do-anything-a-dedicated-smoker-cant/956233 "2021-12-17T19:09:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-smoker-box-do-anything-a-dedicated-smoker-cant/956233/1 "2021-12-17T19:09:58Z")

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I’m trying to determine whether someone needs both. Smoker is one of the vertical ones where you put a tray of wood chips and a tray of water, food on racks above, and it is lit with either propane burner on the bottom or electricity. Not a pellet, charcoal, etc. The box is reusable and filled with wood chips and placed near the heating of a propane or charcoal grill, with food off to the side for indirect heat.

Any reason why someone would want the box if they already have a smoker, besides being able to do two things at once?

Cold smoking perhaps if the smoker doesn’t go that low?

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**Author:** ![FinsToTheLeft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finstotheleft/32/2930_2.png) [@FinsToTheLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinsToTheLeft)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-smoker-box-do-anything-a-dedicated-smoker-cant/956233/2 "2021-12-17T19:39:48Z")

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> [@thelurkinghorror](#):
>
> Cold smoking perhaps if the smoker doesn’t go that low?

That’s the only thing I can think of. I want to try and smoke cheese when it’s cold out and I can’t get my smoker to go below about 125.