I haven't done a big smoke in a while but started getting excited the other night when I was preparing a batch of my vinegar-pepper gravy the other night. I've got a little Masterforge propane smoker (the inexpensive one from Lowe's). Great smoker, I love it for my smaller smokes, and I have done a few mods to it that have helped dramatically. This week I will be loading it up. I'm smoking two butts and a brisket flat. I know that's not a ton of meat but I haven't put that much meat in this smoker at once yet. I've got plenty of time, time is not an issue. If it takes 20 hours, so be it.
Here's my issue...I have always used water in the water pan in the past. Basically because I didn't know there was any other way and when I run it dry, the temp spikes are just too much to deal with. Typically, I don't use much rub on my butts at all because all my flavor is in my sauce. But I am going to do a heavy rub on one of the butts because I want some good bark. Also, I have usually used the crutch and a faux cambro in the past for butts. But I am going to try and not foil these. At least not the one with the heavy rub, because I want bark. I also don't want to foil the brisky, because of bark also.
So I'm thinking I don't want water in the pan either because of the added moisture and what it does to bark. But I was thinking I might want at least a little moisture at the beginning for some added moisture. I was thinking about getting a couple flat pavers and putting in the water pan as a heat sink. But what if I put the pavers in the pan, AND pour some water in the pan? That way I will get the moisture from the H2O evaporating, and then once it evaporates after an hour or two, I will have the pavers in there as a heat sink. Good, bad idea? TIA. Oh, fyi, I'm in SC, and naturally it's more humid here than, well, ANYwhere else in the world. But it's been pretty mild lately and chilly so it's not too humid right now.
Here's my issue...I have always used water in the water pan in the past. Basically because I didn't know there was any other way and when I run it dry, the temp spikes are just too much to deal with. Typically, I don't use much rub on my butts at all because all my flavor is in my sauce. But I am going to do a heavy rub on one of the butts because I want some good bark. Also, I have usually used the crutch and a faux cambro in the past for butts. But I am going to try and not foil these. At least not the one with the heavy rub, because I want bark. I also don't want to foil the brisky, because of bark also.
So I'm thinking I don't want water in the pan either because of the added moisture and what it does to bark. But I was thinking I might want at least a little moisture at the beginning for some added moisture. I was thinking about getting a couple flat pavers and putting in the water pan as a heat sink. But what if I put the pavers in the pan, AND pour some water in the pan? That way I will get the moisture from the H2O evaporating, and then once it evaporates after an hour or two, I will have the pavers in there as a heat sink. Good, bad idea? TIA. Oh, fyi, I'm in SC, and naturally it's more humid here than, well, ANYwhere else in the world. But it's been pretty mild lately and chilly so it's not too humid right now.
