water pans

[nchapelheel]

Simple question. I had 2 MES 40 smokers and they were good at producing smoke flavor. Occasionally, I had water or apple juice in the pan. Two years ago I converted to a
GMG Daniel Boone grill. The pellets are great at producing heat, but not so much flavor. I have not used a water pan in the GMG.

So the real question is: Does having a pan with some liquid in it help with smoke flavor? I know that evaporation will help with temp stabilization.
What do others with pellet smokers do to get more smoke flavor?

 

[TNJAKE]

I get as much smoke flavor as I want on my pellet smoker. When I want more I throw in my pellet tube

 

[pops6927]

Buy better pellets! Lumberjack ins good!

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

I started running with lower temp, 225 and getting better smoke flavor. Extends cooking time but gets better smoke flavor. I have a friend that runs his on low smoke for a few hours.

 

[sandyut]

Buy better pellets! Lumberjack ins good!

that was my thinking too - try another brand or type of pellet. the first one i tried were ok, but kinda bland to me on everything. changed up and all good now.

If there is (and assume there is) a P setting, or feed rate. play with that. there is a balance between heat and smoke - as in how much of the burning is needed to maintain heat. ot sure how to say that..

 

[nchapelheel]

Thanks for the replies. I neglected to say that I have tried many different brands of pellets. I am
on my first bag of Lumberjack hickory pellets. Waiting now to smoke something.
But......does a water pan help with smoke flavor?

 

[BB-que]

IMO it has no effect on smoke flavor.

 

[texomakid]

Pellets are my first thought to more smoke. Lumberjack 100% Hickory and CookingPellets 100% Hickory both produce a good amount of smoke. As stated, lower temps. When I do jerky or revers sear (applying smoke before I sear) I always run my Yoder on its lowest setting of 150.

I get smoke. The hotter I run it, the less smoke flavor & aroma.

What pellets have you been using on the GMG?

 

[6GRILLZNTN]

I can get plenty of smoke out of my Rec Tec, but I have to run it between 160, and 225. After that, smoke production goes down pretty fast. As TNJAKE said, if you need more smoke, get a pellet tube. A water pan is not for smoke flavor in my opinion.

 

[nchapelheel]

Thanks all of you. I love this forum. I have learned so much over the years.
For what it is worth, smoked meatloaf is the absolute best thing I have ever done over the past 10
years. Smoked salmon is second.
nChapelHeel

 

[bill1]

For smoke flavor, I think moisture helps smoke "stick" to the meat, but meat "sweats" enough on it's own and that puts the moisture just on the meat surface where you need it, not in the chamber where its doesn't help with smoking flavor. However, steam will cook anything better than dry convecting air so, particularly when you reach the "stall" with large cuts of meat, a water pan gets the job done quicker, esp for a cooker somewhat starved for power. But raw cooking power is never a problem with pellet machines. I gather most of us, when we reach a stall, just crank up the temp setting to 300 or so and "power through it".

 

[Inscrutable]

I’ve not noticed a flavor boost from a flavored water pan, so just plain water if/when I use one just to smooth temps or keep some moisture in the air.

I will use it flavored if I’m catching some butt drippings to use later when I don’t plan to wrap

 

[bill1]

I’ve not noticed a flavor boost from a flavored water pan...

I completely agree, not that I have a refined palatte. Spritzing with vinegar/juice makes a difference; flavoring in water pans doesn't.
I also find you have to keep water pans away from meat drippings or else make umbrellas for them. Otherwise the oil forms a film on top of the water and you're just wasting your time after that.

 

[Inscrutable]

I also find you have to keep water pans away from meat drippings or else make umbrellas for them. Otherwise the oil forms a film on top of the water and you're just wasting your time after that.

Yeah, if I’m using a pan under a butt to catch drippings, not terribly concerned about moisturizing my butt

 

[bill1]

Yeah, good point. In that case a little water in the pan can simplify later cleanup.