Place a pan of water right next to a heat source and you’ll find the water temperature is consistently the same across the entire pan. In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. I've smoked with and without a water pan. Southern Q water pan smokers enable you to cook at temperatures well above 300 degrees and still acheive perfect tenderness because the meat is protected from the hot fire by a large water pan. This is especially helpful if your smoker can't quite do the job when it's cold outside. Never use your water pan as a drip pan. What does water pan do in a smoker? The water pan both adds moisture to the cooking environment and gives the pitmaster better control over temperature spikes. In cold weather, a water pan filled with boiling hot water can help maintain the smoker temperature, plus it gets the temperature up quickly for a fast start. Dave’s solution was to replace the water pan with a Brinkmann 812-0002-0 smoker charcoal pan. In my articles on the best setups for different grills and smokers, I advocate using a water pan under the meat or over the fire for smoking. The purpose of a water pan when using an offset cooker is to introduce moisture into the cooking area. Water pans are not designed for making gravy although you can use it for that if it is clean. The horizontal has tuning plates and works like a dream without a water pan… A water pan induces moisture directly into your smoker as an ally for the indirect dispersion of heat. The grill temperatures correlated with the toast results: The grill without the pan registered 415 to 425 degrees, the grill with the empty pan 385 to 395 degrees, and the grill with the water-filled pan 375 to 385 degrees. In a vertical cooker, a water pan serves multiple purposes. Maybe it's just the mindset. As I said in the question above, the original reason for the smoker water pan was to provide humidity during the cooking process to aid the development of the smoke ring and also to keep everything moist when doing a large hunk of meat with the cookout time being longer than most. First, take the smoker completely apart and set the base (it is short, round, and has feet) where you want to set up for smoking. One Response to “THE WATER PAN IN SMOKER” Smoking Wood TipsTOP … It holds almost 2 gallons of water, twice the capacity of the pre-2009 water pan. When using a vertical smoker, you'll have to use a pan of some kind under the turkey to prevent drippings from falling on the … The bread toasted over the water-filled pan was slightly paler but not by much. Yes, you read that right, the charcoal pan from a Brinkmann vertical water smoker. 1,208 58 Joined Dec 26, 2007. Water Pan In a Masterbuilt Smoker. This will eliminate direct heat and flames from potentially burning the food, as well as eliminate potential flare ups caused by dripping fat falling onto your charcoal. A water pan in an offset cooker will help maintain an even temperature and prevent the meat from drying out. And it’s still a great choice as a replacement pan for today’s 18.5″ WSM. Put the water pan back on the smoker. Try this- (More science!) The more charcoal you use the longer the heat will last. I have one of each. Target smoking temperatures are usually around 225°F. This is especially helpful if your smoker can't quite do the job when it's cold outside. If you use a smoker like a Weber Smokey Mountain (which you can learn more about in our review), your water pan will be directly below the meat, and directly above the charcoal. Never use your water pan as a drip pan. Just add water! Jul 19, 2016 #11 3montes Master of the Pit. In a vertical cooker, a water pan acts as a barrier between heat source and food when cooking low and slow. Remember- drip pans = a collection unit for residual or run off grease from the cooking process; a water pan = water for moisturizing foods. Featuring an insulated cabinet, large firebox and easy-fill water pan system, these smokers are the secret weapon of some of the most successful BBQ teams on the circuit today! Water pans Some smokers, like the Weber Smokey Mountain, come with a water pan. You can as you suggest use it as a marinade bowl. Remove the water pan from the smoker and fill it up with water up to the level marked or fill it just below the rim leaving space for it not to spill. Water pans help to stabilize your smoker’s cooking temperatures. But my bbq just always comes out better with one in there filled with water. Prepare your fish according to the directions given in your recipe and keep it ready. Setting up a Vertical Water Smoker . Reactions: pargeman. Place the metal charcoal pan inside the base and fill with about six to 10 pounds of charcoal. In a vertical smoker like the Weber Bullet, an indirect cooking environment is achieved by using the water pan as a physical barrier between the meat and the heat. Remember- drip pans = a collection unit for residual or run off grease from the cooking process; a water pan = water for moisturizing foods. A water pan induces moisture directly into your smoker as an ally for the indirect dispersion of heat. Water evens out the temperatures in your smoker: Another benefit to using water in your smoker is that water serves as a heat sink and evens out the temperatures in your cooking chamber. You can as you suggest use it as a marinade bowl. Model 500 - $5500. This is because water can’t go above its boiling temperature of 212°F, or 100°C, regardless of how hot you try to make your smoker. Water Pan In a Masterbuilt Smoker. Is the offset a vertical or horizontal? OTBS Member. The pan catches the drippings that would otherwise hit the coals and flare up to create the taste that some people associate with grilled meat, not barbecued meat. As I said in the question above, the original reason for the smoker water pan was to provide humidity during the cooking process to aid the development of the smoke ring and also to keep everything moist when doing a large hunk of meat with the cookout time being longer than most. The water pan both adds moisture to the cooking environment and gives the pitmaster better control over temperature spikes. What does water pan do in a smoker?