Using Aluminum Pan for drippings

[Geebs]

I just get the disposable pans at costco or sams and throw them out after every use.

 

[SonnyE]

Sunday pan. What a mess! Burnt on fat and brown sugar.. rub and Apple juice.

Most I spend is 50¢ for one..

I wanted to give that a No Like. That's a messy pan, my man.
Huge beautiful hunk of meat though.

 

[SonnyE]

I always (well, almost) hand wash my smoker stuff.
(Almost because I did put my racks and mats through the dishwasher once recently.)
The water pan seems to work for me OK as a catch pan.
I learn most things the hard way, and once did a smoke without it. That made a mess, dripped stuff on the element, and generally stunk things up.

But I always do something I learned from daveomak, I run my MES 30 at 275° for 2 hours, after I've cleaned the racks and mats to sterilize and dry out the smoker box.
Then, before I'm going to use it again, I put my tray of pellets in it, and run a pre-heat at 275° (for 2 hours), which re-sterilizes it and dries out the pellets, too.
Never any WhatzThat growing in the smoker following those before and after steps. (And no smells to attract rodents. It smells unappealing to them.)

Dave suggested that to a poster who discovered mold in their smoker. I think it is good preventative maintenance.
I tried foiling the catch pan for a time. But now I just wash it good and heat treat it.

I was impressed with how clean the dishwasher got my racks, mats, and water pan. But it kinda had an Oh-der for a bit.
The wife never mentioned it, and it was gone after the next run. But it made me nervous.

 

[Rings Я Us]

:D

 

[johnmeyer]

Ever since I got my ultrasonic cleaner, I re-use them, often half a dozen times or more. It usually takes about 30 seconds for them to come completely clean, including all the gunk down in the folds and crevices. Before the ultrasonic cleaner, it wasn't worth the effort, although knowing how much electricity is used to create aluminum from bauxite ore, it still bothers me when I finally have to throw one out. Hopefully it does in fact get recycled.

While I don't have a before/after pic of the aluminum pans, these two pics show you what the ultrasonic cleaner does for my "mailbox mod" (mine is a popcorn tin) and the smoke filter I use. All you do it dip it in the cleaner for a few seconds, and the stuff just pops right off.

After_zpsgekclsoz.jpg

• johnmeyer
• Apr 2, 2017

Before_zpstwkn26zm.jpg

• johnmeyer
• Apr 2, 2017

 

[Bearcarver]

I wash them out and reuse them. But, hold the reused ones up to the light and check for holes (learnt that the hard way).

LOL---Just noticed this---I thought I was the only one that did that!!

Bear

 

[SonnyE]

LOL---Just noticed this---I thought I was the only one that did that!!

Bear

I got holes ate in the original drippings catcher of my gas burner. I replaced it with a wide mouthed Mason jar.
But having those holes appear sure made me wonder about my cookin!

 

[texomakid]

Disposable here - I'll look for bargains and bulk.

 

[SonnyE]

Disposable here - I'll look for bargains and bulk.

100 ea.
18¼ ¢ each? Sams Club.

 

[gmc2003]

100 ea.
18¼ ¢ each? Sams Club.

I wish we had a Sams Club here.

Chris

 

[wade]

I reuse them too unless they are so ingrained that the residue from the previous cook does not easily wash off. As has been mentioned before it is important to check for holes !!! I too learned this the hard way.