If you consider the size of the meat you can use on it. Then you'll see that the drippings can not go on the heating elements. They are spaced so this can't happen.
I never had anything drip directly on the elements from using the roto , but it makes a mess . Collects on the drip pan , in gets baked on and can even start to smoke at higher temps . Cooking in the baskets , and food over the element is a different story . I started using the baking pan as a drip pan if there is room .
You might want to tell this guy on YouTube that it really isn't the fat dripping on his heating element that's making it smoke: (After 8 minutes)
<iframe width="1280" height="800" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rXi5sIl5EdA" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
You'll have to click on it, because I didn't know how to Embed the video.
Bear
I never had it happen like that either . I tie mine more to the center of the shaft , so the drip point will be towards the middle . If the meat is inside the elements , it shouldn't drip on them . He's got the legs tied so they are over the elements as it spins .
Pool up in the drip pan or splatter on the elements is a different story .
I tie so the end of the legs are inside the width of the bird . So they don't create a wide drip point .
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