Water pan gunk

[skwerl]

I knew better than to put juice in the water pan, but wanted more apple flavor on some ribs for friends. Foiled the pan but you can't use a single sheet to cover the 22.5. That's right, I have a thick layer of boiled on crud in the pan. Now for the question, what is the best way to clean it without having to buy a new one?

 

[chef jimmyj]

Just Soak it in hot soapy water. In the future a spray of Pam before smoking will make clean up real easy...JJ

 

[skwerl]

Been soaking, looks like I need a jackhammer or hammer and chisel to get it off.

 

[JckDanls 07]

if all else fails... throw it on a real hot fire and burn it out... the pan might not look as pretty as it once did but it will burn off... next time get the extra long foil and double a piece to fit over it...

 

[skwerl]

Ok, filled the firebox, lit it, filled the pan with hot water and will try to burn it off. All vents are open, just a shame I have nothing ready to smoke. I still love the WSM and will refrain from fruit juice.

 

[lght]

I never use foil "in" my water pan, but I do put foil around the lip that goes down about 2" or so.  I found that the gunk usually is only on the top few inches from drippings so foiling the entire pan really isn't required. 

 

[chefjustinkent]

You might be able to run the pan through the self clean cycle in your oven (if it has one).  Don't know if it will warp the pan though.

 

[jirodriguez]

You can foil the pan... and it does make clean up a heck of a lot easier! (Plus... yeah, NO sugary fruit juices.... lol)

Pull of a long 2.5-3 ft. length of foil, then pull a second length just as long. Place the two pieces of foil together and line up the edges, fold one of the long edges over on itself by approx. 1/4", repeat that fold 5 or 6 times. You now have a double wide, long piece of foil that will cover the entire water pan without any problems - just be carefull putting it in, it has a tendancy to rip if you go to fast. A little bit of water will get through the seam, but a handfull of paper towels wipes it out real nice.

Also if you don't have a good place to dump your water try this - line a 5 gallon bucket with a tall garbage bag, when the coals are 100% dead cold dump the ashes into the 5 gallon bucket (a small hand brush or shovel helps to guide it into the bucket), then dump any left over water in your pan on top of the ashes, followed by the balled up aluminum and used paper towels. You can fit 2 or 3 smokes worth of ashes into the bucket, then tie up the bag and toss it in the trash. The water just mixes with the ashes and makes a kind of clay.

 

[miamirick]

brillo pad and some comet is what i use on mine

 

[scarbelly]

You can foil the pan... and it does make clean up a heck of a lot easier! (Plus... yeah, NO sugary fruit juices.... lol)

Pull of a long 2.5-3 ft. length of foil, then pull a second length just as long. Place the two pieces of foil together and line up the edges, fold one of the long edges over on itself by approx. 1/4", repeat that fold 5 or 6 times. You now have a double wide, long piece of foil that will cover the entire water pan without any problems - just be carefull putting it in, it has a tendancy to rip if you go to fast. A little bit of water will get through the seam, but a handfull of paper towels wipes it out real nice.

X2 

You can also get a lot of stuff out of the bottom of a burnt pan by adding baking soda and water and boiling the water for a while 

 

[kombona]

I just put mine on the ground and the dogs take of the rest.