Hi Jim, I think you are being confused by "hot smoking" and "cold smoking". Hot smoking is just that, cooking, and cold smoking is usually used to just add smoke flavor to foods like cheese or certain cured sausages.
I don't know about the rest of the net but you are in the right place now, everything you need to know is right here!
You can look through our
"Electric Smokers" forum, there is a lot of good info and a good place to post any questions you have about them.
Also, I see this is your first post here, when you get a minute would you do us a favor and go to
Roll Call and introduce yourself so we can get to know you and give you a proper welcome, also would you add your location to your profile, we like knowing where you are when we talk to you, Thanks!