THESPIKE.GG
THESPIKE
    EN
    Login
    EN
    1. Home
    2. MINECRAFT
    3. All Minecraft recipes: Crafting made easy
    4. How to make a smoker in Minecraft

    How to make a smoker in Minecraft

    You're bound to need a smoker quite quickly in Minecraft so here's what it is used for and the recipe for it.

    ON THIS PAGE:

    • What is a smoker exactly?
    • How to make a smoker in Minecraft
    • What are smokers good for in Minecraft?
    • Is a smoker better than a furnace?
    • Does a smoker work on potatoes?
    • What is the best fuel for a smoker in Minecraft?
    • Is dried kelp better than coal?
    smoker minecraft
    Written By Onur Demirkol

    (Content Writer)

    Reviewed by: Naim Rosinski

    (Content Manager & Editor)

    Last UpdatedApril 6, 2025 at 06:19PM
    Share On
    Share On

    Minecraft has an ocean of items and craftables that you can use in the game and one of them is the smoker. If you want to cook meals quickly, especially if you are in survival mode, smoker is a must-have that you can craft and out in your Minecraft house. Mojang made it very easy to craft this item in the game as you only need five items, which can be chosen from a wide catalog. In this piece, we go over everything you need to know about smokers in Minecraft, how to make them, what they are for and more!

    What is a smoker in Minecraft?

    A smoker is a block that cooks food twice as fast as a furnace. The block works only with food items. It does not process ores, metals, or other items. The smoker uses fuel at twice the rate of a furnace. However, it produces the same amount of cooked food per fuel unit. The block also acts as a job site for villagers who become butchers. When the smoker is active, it lights up.

    How to make a smoker in Minecraft

    As we mentioned earlier, Mojang made it very easy to make smokers in Minecraft. You only need a furnace and four wood-based items. To craft a smoker, follow these steps using a furnace and wood items:

    1. Place a furnace in the center of your crafting grid.
    2. Choose any four wood-based items. You can use logs, stems, or wood blocks in either natural or stripped form.
    3. Arrange the wood items around the furnace in any order.
    4. Complete the recipe to upgrade your furnace into a smoker.
    5. You can choose any log, stem, stripped log, wood, hyphae, or stripped wood.

    Don’t forget to put the furnace in the middle and use any wood-based item you have for the rest.

    Here is how to make a smoker in Minecraft (Image Credit: Screengrab via Minecraft)
    Here is how to make a smoker in Minecraft (Image Credit: Screengrab via Minecraft)

    What are smokers good for in Minecraft?

    Smokers are mostly for cooking food, but very fast. They cook food items in half the time that a furnace requires. Players use smokers when they need cooked meals quickly. The block turns on as soon as you add food and fuel. It lights up to show that it is active. This speed helps players save time during survival or building sessions.

    Is a smoker better than a furnace?

    Players often compare the smoker with the furnace. A smoker cooks food twice as fast as a furnace. It works only with food. In contrast, the furnace handles a wide range of items such as ores, tools, and armor. The smoker gives a clear advantage when you need cooked food quickly. However, the furnace remains necessary for many smelting tasks. Each block has a role that suits different needs. For fast food preparation, the smoker is the better choice. For overall smelting and metal work, the furnace is essential.

    The smoker is designed only for food items. It does not work with ores, metals, or other non-food items. This design makes it the perfect partner for the blast furnace, which handles metal items and ores. Players who use both blocks can meet all their smelting needs. The smoker uses fuel faster than a furnace, but it still gives the same output. This balance makes the block efficient in terms of both time and resources. Players can collect the cooked food by right-clicking the block or by using a hopper to remove the output.

    Smoker (Image Credit: Minecraft)
    Smoker (Image Credit: Minecraft)

    The smoker also adds extra features to your base. In Java Edition, the block stays in place when pistons push it. It also acts as a workstation for villagers, which helps them choose the butcher profession. The smoker gives off a light level of 13 when active. This light helps brighten dark areas in your base. You can change the default name of the smoker by using an anvil or game commands. In Java Edition, you may also lock the smoker with a specific key. The block can be placed under note blocks to produce bass drum sounds.

    Does a smoker work on potatoes in Minecraft?

    Yes, smokers do work on potatoes in Minecraft. The block cooks raw potatoes into baked potatoes quickly. You can also use a furnace or a campfire to cook potatoes. The fast cooking time makes the smoker a good option when you need food in a hurry. In Java Edition, players may also obtain baked potatoes by killing a zombie that is on fire.

    The smoker proves to be a practical block in Minecraft. It speeds up food preparation and helps players manage resources well. It is one of the items that you will want to craft and put in your house, especially if you are playing in survival mode. Obviously, the smoker supports both survival and creative modes with its clear advantages.

    What is the best fuel for a smoker in Minecraft?

    A smoker in Minecraft cooks food faster than a furnace. It uses the same fuel types as a furnace. Some common options are coal, charcoal, dried kelp blocks, and lava buckets. Lava buckets smelt 100 items, but they are harder to get and not easy to manage. Coal and charcoal smelt 8 items each. Dried kelp blocks smelt 20 items and are easy to craft. You only need dried kelp, which you can farm from the ocean. This makes dried kelp blocks a good fuel if you want something efficient and renewable. They are useful for players who cook in large amounts and want to save resources. For most players, dried kelp blocks give the best balance of cost and performance.

    Is dried kelp better than coal?

    Dried kelp blocks and coal both work well as fuel, but they give different results. The table below shows how they compare:

    Feature

    Dried Kelp Block

    Coal

    Burn Time

    200 seconds

    80 seconds

    Items Smelted

    20 items

    8 items

    Stackable

    Yes (64)

    Yes (64)

    Renewable

    Yes

    No

    Easy to Get

    Yes, with a kelp farm

    Yes, by mining

    Works in Smoker

    Yes

    Yes

    Dried kelp blocks last longer and smelt more items. Coal is good early in the game, but dried kelp is better if you farm it. It gives more value over time and helps save space.

    Top Related Guides

    Minecraft anvil recipe & 5 reasons it's worth the iron
    Minecraft anvil recipe & 5 reasons it's worth the iron
    March 30, 2025
    Minecraft compass recipe (+recovery) explained
    Minecraft compass recipe (+recovery) explained
    April 8, 2025
    Minecraft barrel recipe: A better storage option than chests?
    Minecraft barrel recipe: A better storage option than chests?
    May 11, 2025

    Guide Categories

    • Armor Trims
    • Beginners Guide
    • House Ideas
    • All Recipes
    • Villagers Guide
    • Enchantments
    • Minecraft Mobs
    • Best Seeds

    All Related Guides

    • Minecraft Smelting 2025
      Smelting in Minecraft: A complete guide to furnaces, fuels, and efficiency tips for 2025Master Minecraft smelting in 2025: best furnaces, fuels, and pro tips to boost speed, save resources, and auto...
    • minecraft enchanting table
      Minecraft enchanting table recipe, setup, language and moreMaster Minecraft enchanting! Learn the Minecraft enchanting table recipe, setup for max levels, the secret lan...
    • blast furnace minecraft recipe
      Minecraft blast furnace recipe: How to make a blast furnace in MinecraftWant to smelt ores faster? Here's the blast furnace Minecraft recipe and a step-by-step guide on how to craft ...
    • Minecraft beacon guide
      Minecraft beacon guide: How to make a beacon in MinecraftBeacon Minecraft guide: Learn how to craft, activate & optimize a beacon for max power, buffs & effects in Min...
    • Minecraft piston recipe
      Minecraft piston recipe & sticky piston guideLearn how to craft and use pistons in Minecraft! Master sticky pistons & get secret doors, traps, flying machi...
    • Minecraft lead recipe
      Minecraft lead recipe explainedLearn how to craft a lead in Minecraft! Easily transport, secure, and manage mobs with this Minecraft lead rec...
    • Minecraft mace recipe
      Minecraft mace recipe: Is it the best weapon in Minecraft?Minecraft mace recipe: Craft this powerful weapon to one-shot the Warden, negate fall damage, and dominate PvP...
    • minecraft shield recipe
      Get your Minecraft shield recipe before heading into dangerLearn the Minecraft shield recipe & survival tips for crafting, customization, and defense to keep you safe in...
    • 1
    • 2
    • 3
    • 4
    • 5
    Onur Demirkol

    Onur Demirkol here, content writer for THESPIKEGG. I have been around for a very long time now, you may have seen me in the comments.

    I started writing here in 2021, but my first gig was back in 2018. That was when I realized people actually get paid to write about games. I’ve written thousands of articles for different media outlets, led teams, and conducted interviews with players.

    When I’m not behind the keyboard, I’m watching Galatasaray, following the NBA, or pretending I’m still good at basketball. I also work full-time at AnyDesk, writing serious things in not-so-serious ways.

    If you want to reach out, feel free to contact me on X, LinkedIn, take a look at my work at MuckRack or send me an email at [email protected].

    View More
    THESPIKE
    AboutCareersPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseAbout THESPIKEDisclaimer
    Contact UsCommercialsSend an emailPost Feedback
    ResourcesBetting SitesOnline CasinosSweepstakes Casinos
    © 2025 THESPIKE.GG | All Rights Reserved | Not affiliated with Riot Games
    18+ Bet Responsibly | BeGambleAware.org
    Light Mode
    Login