Using an MES with the water tray, when to use it?

[soz]

Are there any best practices or general guidelines in when to and when not to use the water tray?

Got a electric 30" smoker and wondering when (certain meats? or certain temps?) to use it. Do you have it in all the time? some of the time?

I appreciate the patience with this smoking newb

 

[Jonok]

Generally not needed.

I will rarely put some water in the drip pan with which I have replaced the water pan in my MES 40s if I am smoking something like a single rack of ribs or a single chicken, but otherwise, it is usually an exercise in removing excess water rather than adding it...

 

[GATOR240]

Welcome to the forum soz. As a MES30 owner I have learned from the veteran smokers here that there is no need to ever put water in the pan as there is enough moisture inside while smoking. I do leave mine in all of the time, however, I have mine filled with sand and covered with foil to act as a heat sink.

 

[creek bottom]

The above posts are correct. The MES units are sealed so tight that there is generally no need to add any moisture to the environment... I never add water to mine...

 

[normanaj]

No water here either.

 

[GaryHibbert]

Welcome to the forim soz.
They've got you covered. My smoker is a MES 30 and my water pan has never had a drop in it. Like Gator, mine is filled with sand to act as a heat sink and foiled over so I don't have to keep changing the sand--just the foil.
You'll find that there's plenty of moisture in the cook chamber when the unit is hot.
Gary

 

[smokerjim]

I have the mes 30 and as the others said I never use water

 

[Winterrider]

My 40 is gutted out . Foil the bottom and over the heat element cover that's it.

 

[jcam222]

Although I’ve not used mine in a year or so I am the exception I guess. I always run liquid in my pan. Not necessarily for moistness as much as mines typically broth to make liquid gold of.

 

[kruizer]

Welcome to SMF from Minnesota.

 

[Kevin DeShazo]

As others have said, I dont generally add water to mine either but I have added some apple cider and bourbon per a recipe once. Not sure how much of a difference it made in the cooking but the end result was delicious.

 

[Bearcarver]

Are there any best practices or general guidelines in when to and when not to use the water tray?

Got a electric 30" smoker and wondering when (certain meats? or certain temps?) to use it. Do you have it in all the time? some of the time?

I appreciate the patience with this smoking newb

Hi Soz!!
I just cover my Water Pan with foil to keep it easy to clean, but I haven't put water in it in the last 9 years, because there is already too much humidity in an MES, without making it worse by adding water. 9 years ago I tried adding Beer, and I tried adding Apple Juice---Does nothing but add too much humidity.

If you had an MES with a window, you can often see the window steam up, and sometimes so bad that the condensation runs down the door, and that's without adding any water to the water pan.

So just cover it with foil, and put it in position Empty or with Sand, brick, or whatever, but NO LIQUID!

Bear

 

[sigmo]

As most others have said: Never.

I don't think I could even tell you where the water pan for my MES-40 is! :)

 

[mike243]

The only time I don't add water is when I smoke potatoes , never any issues in maybe 10 years ? not sure how long I have had it but been quit awhile lol