Water or Not
- Thread starter ryanje
- Start date
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I always use a water pan unless I am smoking sticks or summer sausage. The pan retains heat and helps your smoker maintain and recover heat really well and also adds moisture to your meat. You can also add flavoring to your water pan such as apple juice, rub, etc.
Water or juice always ...have read here about sand and might try that sometime, but I think it needs something to even out the heat.
Some use water, some use sand covered with foil. It is primarily a heat sink and helps smooth out temp spikes and helps with recovery times.
In the summer time if the humidity is really low, I might use one in my offset to add a little humidity to the cooking environment. It doesn't add moisture to the meat. The only thing it can do is slow the rate at which the meat loses moisture.
I never use one in my drum since the drum is a very moist cooker anyway.
Dave
In the summer time if the humidity is really low, I might use one in my offset to add a little humidity to the cooking environment. It doesn't add moisture to the meat. The only thing it can do is slow the rate at which the meat loses moisture.
I never use one in my drum since the drum is a very moist cooker anyway.
Dave
yount
Meat Mopper
Here is the point of a brisket that was smoked in the perfect flame with a water pan i always use it
buffalosmoke
Meat Mopper
I use a water pan in my GOSM. Sometimes I'll fill it with sand too. Lately it's been water though.
yount
Meat Mopper
I sent you a reply to your pm hope it helps also posted it here on the forums cant wait to see some of your q-view
It does add moisture, but very little. There primarily as a heat sink. In Florida, with such high humidity, you can use Playbox sand also. I actually like to use it during the cold months though, as it will allow you higher and more constant heat. Having no pan, it pretty much seems like you are grilling.
- Jun 21, 2007
- 8,432
- 41
In my experience with a GOSM big block, the water pan helps stabilize temps. When the water level drops to haslf or below, my temps also drop. I add water, and the temps come right back up again. I also have found that it helps keep the meat from drying out, and I try to use the rack directly above the water pan.
This isn't talked about much but Dave makes a very good point here. The humidity level in the smoker is a direct influence on the ability of the meat to absorb the smoke. The meat already has the moisture, your not adding moisture to the meat by introducing the humidity. If your smoker is too dry it pulls the moisture out of the meat creating a dry environment that the smoke has difficulty penetrating. Too much moisture and the meat can not release moisture properly and it sours. When I first started smoking I thought that the water pan was used to introduce moisture to the meat where in reality it is creating an environment that keeps the meat moist while smoking. That is another reason for leaving the exhaust damper all the way open while smoking especially with a water pan.
jon foster
Smoke Blower
ga.rick
Smoke Blower
- Jun 24, 2007
- 76
- 10
i smoked on a propane smokin/grill brinkman for the last few years and now on a propane converted ecb i have always used water/juice in mine sometimes i experiment with cut up fruit or an onion or even pour a beer in there with applej, man that smells good steaming. but unlike the post with the gosm when my pan gets low my temp seems to rise hmm go figure.
good smok'n
good smok'n
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