Water pan poll question

[TangSooDoMan]

How many of you use the water pan in the Bandera? If you do, do you use it with water or sand? I'm doing my first smoke on my new Dara this weekend and was just woundering.[/b]

[colt45]

water, and yes I use it...

[fivelombardis]

water...yes.

[Heath]

Moderators, how 'bout puttin the poll on top of this so we can tally votes.

Water yes.

[Davewey]

Do us all a favor, and look back through the archives. You don’t know what you’ve started.

You’ll hear both water and sand. I think more water then Sand. I use water.

But if you go back through the posts, I think moor time has been spent on this subject than anything else. Well, except maybe snot is a close second?

[BBQchef33]

Here we go!!! Almost as popular as the Drain mod.

http://www.bandera-brethren.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=968&start=0&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=



anyone, not just admins can create a poll in a thread, just has to be the first post of the thread. So I cant add the poll, its gottta be first.

[slat]

I use water and always use the pan.

[BigAl]

HOT Water! That is why it is called a water pan and is NOT called a sand pan.
We don't boil ribs and call that farked up meat BBQ either.
Never buy pre cooked BBR's at Sams. Roasted Chickens yes, ribs no!

Three Golden Rules of many!

Welcome, and enjoy the first smoke, it is the first of many to come!

[rbinms33]

Water.....and I try to use hot water from the tap when I remember.

[jsn1511]

i tried to use the water pan for the first time in my bandera yesterday, when i smoked my brisket which i have a few qestions and statements about but I'll start a new thread for that. Anyway back to the water pan, i couldn't get it to stabalize and it kept tipping over and spilling water every where. Anyone know why it might do that? am i using the brackets that hold it wrong? Eventually i just tossed the water that was left in it and used it for a drip pan.

[colt45]

you must have been doing something wrong... can you take some pics of the inside of your smoke chamber so we can see what you did to mount your pan (stay away bill, no sick neverland jokes please)

colt

[MikeG]

water...Yes...I personally like 1/2 gallon of apple cider and then fill with
warm water.
MikeG

[willkat98]

Kitty litter

[colt45]

Kitty litterdammit bill... dont let out all our secrets... I just want to add.. that many people here seem to like to add lots of extra crap to the water pan (under the assumption that it somehow imparts that flavor to the rest of the food)... I have found however that the amount of flavor that is imparted (none in my expereience) pales in comparison to the discusting mound of fat ridden stuff people put in thier water pan that they have to clean... the "water" is nasty enough as it is... no need to add other "things" to it to make it worse...

my 2 shillings...

[stlmike]

Sand all the way, makes the clean up a breeze. Never noticed a difference in taste/moisture when I switched from water to sand a year and a half ago. Big AL, I call my pan a sand pan now. I wonder if I can call it a kitty pan if I try Bill's kitty litter mod?
StL Mike

[tommykendall]

Water - but can someone perform another test? :mrgreen:

[brdbbq]

Sand all the way, makes the clean up a breeze. Never noticed a difference in taste/moisture when I switched from water to sand a year and a half ago. Big AL, I call my pan a sand pan now. I wonder if I can call it a kitty pan if I try Bill's kitty litter mod?
StL Mike

I use sand and it's called my Kitty pan. Clean up is much more tolerable....Times i wopuld not smoke just because of the water pan mess. But when I'm out of sand kitty litter is a definite second.

[parrothead]

Fark it. I'm just gonna go and buy a mcrib sandwich

[BigAl]

Sand all the way, makes the clean up a breeze. Never noticed a difference in taste/moisture when I switched from water to sand a year and a half ago. Big AL, I call my pan a sand pan now. I wonder if I can call it a kitty pan if I try Bill's kitty litter mod?
StL Mike

I use sand and it's called my Kitty pan. Clean up is much more tolerable....Times i wopuld not smoke just because of the water pan mess. But when I'm out of sand kitty litter is a definite second.

You could call it a bed pan, if you want, I meant the manufactures of the equipment call it "water pan". When it is cold out side and you want to get the smoke chamber up to temp quick, where do sand men get boiling sand? :roll:

[brdbbq]

Texas cold ?

[Mark]

See what the hell you started TangSooDoMan? (just joking).

If you deceided to use kitty litter or kitty sand, be sure to use fresh or else remove the droppings and use to stuff pepper; giving a literal meaning to turds. (another joke).

This is not a joke. Its about using something other than water in a water pan to minimize clean-up as a significant benefit. Assuming you clean your grates after Q'ing, what's the extra hassel of hosing off the water pan?

[brdbbq]

This is not a joke. Its about using something other than water in a water pan to minimize clean-up as a significant benefit. Assuming you clean your grates after Q'ing, what's the extra hassel of hosing off the water pan?

No joke either no farking hose. Plus a lot of folks are not real religous when it comes to cleaning grates.

[Mark]

Yeah, I suppose if you get the heat in the smoke high enough and long enough it wil kill any "cooties" on the grills. Personally, I allways (well almost) soak/scrape and hose-blast my grills between use. But Q hygene is a personal choice and probably not a good choice for debate topics; or is it?

[david]

This is not a joke. Its about using something other than water in a water pan to minimize clean-up as a significant benefit. Assuming you clean your grates after Q'ing, what's the extra hassel of hosing off the water pan?

No joke either no farking hose. Plus a lot of folks are not real religous when it comes to cleaning grates.
Cleaning!!! What farking cleaning. The grates get burned clean and scraped in the firebox when I'm getting the temp up before putting in the food. The nasty "grease trap" gets inverted over the grates and burned clean at the same time.

[brdbbq]

Kind of like choice of TP. :roll:

[willkat98]

Yeah, I suppose if you get the heat in the smoke high enough and long enough it wil kill any "cooties" on the grills. Personally, I allways (well almost) soak/scrape and hose-blast my grills between use. But Q hygene is a personal choice and probably not a good choice for debate topics; or is it?

I'm with you on the cleaning each time.

As far as a debate topic, personally I don't get to Q as much as some folks. Last time I opened my Dera before last Saturday was about T-Day.

Now its been pretty cold, but I don't want ants, them mouse/rat critters that others had, or worst off fuzz on the grates or pan, so I always clean everything, everytime. The end of the ritual is taking the hair dryer mod to the firebox and getting rid of all the ash.

Don't forget, newer owners of the Dera, ash and water form a corrosive.

I then spray down all the hinges with cooking spray, than wrap that puppy back up till next use.

[chad]

I never wash my gas grill's grate since I preheat the gas grill on HI each time I use it -- I do scrape the grate. However, the perforated cooking griddle gets washed each time I use it.

My ECB grates and water pan are washed with hot water and soap either before the cooking session or immediately after (depends on how soon we'll be eating! :D) My horizontal gets the same treatment - cooking grill hot soap and water and the aluminum water pan gets rinsed and washed.
The water pans are washed more to keep them from getting funky and smelly rather than for cooties - unlike some I do not drink from the water pan :D

Maybe it's because I got a real good dose of food poisoning over the holidays but I keep my cooking grills clean :D

I use my turkey fryer to boil water and have a washtub and scrubber in the area. It only takes 10-15 minutes to clean everything (not counting boiling the water) and be sure that I'm not going to make the family or friends sick.

However, you mileage may vary! :mrgreen:

[racer_81]

I use sand in the sand pan, covered with heavy duty foil so the sand doesn't get nasty.

My theory is to use it as a big ol' heat sink, not as a moisturizer.

:-)

[BigAl]

My theory is whatever turns your crank.

I use the oldest cleaning method known to man...fire! I just burn the grates off and turn the water pan upside over the flames. No hassel cleaning! :D

[Mike(Mi)]

Hot water, a cup of vinegar with pork, a cup of worster with beef.

[Heath]

When I'm preheating I start a big o'l fire in the box with wood. Idea is to get a big base of coals while heating it up. I'm like Al. I ignore the water pan till next time, dump out whatever is left, then put it upside down over the fire. After the flames die down it's clean, dry and sanitized. Once the fire gets big and goin I'll shut the firebox lid down and shoot the flames into the smoke chamber. At about 400 I'll scrage the grills sometime. Dump water in, spread the coals out, put on some fresh wood or charcoal, put the meat in and it'll be just about right for temp.

No cooties, no cleanup, just sweet blue.

[Solidkick]

Yes I use it........Yes I use water......sometimes add fruit or onions.........Most of the time I line the water pan with foil for easier cleanup......this last time I forgot.

Check to see if you are trying to put the water pan holders in upside down. It should set in a nice little nest.........

[TangSooDoMan]

I didn't realize what I was starting. I did the heat shield mod today (played hooky from work). did the fire box mod yesterday, made a coal basket, ready to Q Saturday! 8)

[2Fat]

usually only use sand--makes everything alot easier!!! as far as cleaning grate etc--that chore is done while the du jour is getting ready to cook. The only thing I use the gas grill for is cleaning the other cooker grates

Buzz

[jsn1511]

Check to see if you are trying to put the water pan holders in upside down. It should set in a nice little nest.........


Yes, that was the problem. I can be such a dolt sometimes. :D

[BigAl]

Hot water, a cup of vinegar with pork, a cup of worster with beef.

Hot Water and :idea: leftover Brisket Marinade into the water pan, last time. Will continue that process. :D Made a great smell and what else can you do with the Marinade?

[Mark]

I find that the left over hot water makes for a good stitz bath

[badger]

I have used both water and sand. I am now using water, and personally adds a bit of humidity to the chamber.

I have never cleaned any of my grates with soap and water, nor have I ever hosed them off. I am with Big Al, after my coals are nice and hot, I just stick each grate in the
firebox and scrape it clean, one at a time. Works great, and I have never heard anybody say anything about the grates being gross!

[chad]

personally adds a bit of humidity to the chamber.


Do we want detail about how you personally add humidity to the chamber?? :mrgreen:

[Mark]

No

[BigAl]

I have used both water and sand. I am now using water, and personally adds a bit of humidity to the chamber.

I have never cleaned any of my grates with soap and water, nor have I ever hosed them off. I am with Big Al, after my coals are nice and hot, I just stick each grate in the
firebox and scrape it clean, one at a time. Works great, and I have never heard anybody say anything about the grates being gross!

Best part is, if there any of those little white farkers feeding in the water pan, you carefully drain most of the water out and leave the greese cap in the pan. Next place the pan right side up, and sit it over the fire and watch those farkers start to move slowly, then go into a frantic dance as they begin to boil in the grease :shock: . When the dance is over and the greese is mostly gone, turn over the pan onto the flames and continue your sterlization process. :twisted:

[racer_81]

personally adds a bit of humidity to the chamber.


Do we want detail about how you personally add humidity to the chamber?? :mrgreen:

Tinkle Mod

[racer_81]

In southeast TX, there is no real need to add humidity. A lot of days the laws
of physics make it impossible to add humidity to the air.

:-)

[brdbbq]

There is so much humidity in Southeast Tx it clouds there thought process. Just look at Racer 81's post.

[Stucue74]

i tried to use the water pan for the first time in my bandera yesterday, when i smoked my brisket which i have a few qestions and statements about but I'll start a new thread for that. Anyway back to the water pan, i couldn't get it to stabalize and it kept tipping over and spilling water every where. Anyone know why it might do that? am i using the brackets that hold it wrong? Eventually i just tossed the water that was left in it and used it for a drip pan.


I bet you are using the pan holders upside down, first time I put the pan in with water the same thing happened to me...realized I had it wrong. The pan should fit pretty snug.

Hmmmh, glad to see this was answered by the group about 2 months ago...sorry.

[Bigdog]

I only use water in the water pan, but realize that sand is an acceptable substitute.










substitute.-

[willkat98]

Someone asked about water pans, so I revived this thread

[Mark]

There was actually a thread about using kitty litter in the "other group." I asked them if picking out the cat **** was optional. Now I see there is a recipe for the cat ****.