Big plans for the weekend

[xutfuzzy]

I have a bit of a major smoke session planned for this upcoming weekend, and am eager to try out my new MES40 and AMNPS.  Pulled pork has been requested, and I have a question about methodology.  According to what I have read about the AMNPS in the user manual, you should not put any any liquid in the water pan.  However, I have seen in many posts concerning pork shoulders/butts that the person has used a foil pan placed under the shoulder/butt, often filled with a liquid.  Thus, I have two questions:

(1) What is the purpose of the foil pan filled with a liquid, and how necessary is it?

(2) Is this a method I should use in my MES40/AMNPS combo?

Thanks in advance for the help, and I promise a mass amount of Q-View from the weekend.

 

[zimq]

The purpose is moisture. However, I use a MES30 and have found that the flavor and bark is better without anything in the pan. Use a spritz instead throughout the smoke. I use half vinegar and half apple juice.

Good luck!

Sent from my VS910 4G using Tapatalk 2

 

[keithd]

I have a MES 40 and an AMNPS.

I put sand in the water pan and covered it with foil. The idea was to use it as a heat sink / deflector.

I personally do not believe a water pan with water to be necessary at all. I do not spray at all what I'm smoking - I only open at the 4, 6, and 8 hour points to check the color or maintain the AMNPS (which rarely needs looking after). I cook a bit differently from most as I sous vide big meats but put ribs into the MES directly - no spraying, just 3-2-1 ribs and it's good.

Bottom line - I think the dried skin/bark of smoked meats is a good thing. :)
 

 

[jack07]

Using a water pan with AMNPS will add moisture inside your MES40...the added moisture can effect how the pellets will burn. I have a MES30 and use AMNPS...I just put foil in the water pan and leave it empty. I do not open the MES for the first 3 hours when doing a butt...to start a nice bark. I MOP the butt every hour or two after that. Turns out great with a nice bark.

 

[jrod62]

I use a pan to catch all the juice from the butt . Defat the juice and pour it back over the pulled pork.
or make gravy out of it.
also by putting it in a pan no mess to clean up in the smoker and when ready to foil just cover the pan.