There's very little smoke because these smokers, sadly, are not smokers. I was extremely disappointed after firing my pb400 up. I have used real smokers with the firebox off to the side. They're great but you have to stay with them the whole time, which is why I was excited to get the pellet smoker which you could just set and not have to keep tending the fire. Trouble is, they do not produce smoke, but for a few times through the cooking cycle. They are just low to high temperature out door ovens. I've smoke a few pork butts so far, they look ok, but very little smoke flavor. I'm smoking some eels now, but am using a smoker tube. Now how sad is that, that I have to use a smoker tube in my smoker! I've yet to do ribs, but when I do, if they don't have a smoky taste, I'm counting this a very deceptive product.