Forgot to add water?!

Bdresch · 02-15-2013, 10:41 PM

I'm trying an overnight butt smoke on my performer. I'm 3 hours in and just realized I never added a water pan. Do I need it? It's holding temp well using a ring of fire. Is it going to dry out without water?

HeSmellsLikeSmoke · 02-15-2013, 10:46 PM

The main reason for a water pan when doing a butt is to help stabilize temperature. Sounds like you have it under control without it.

Bdresch · 02-15-2013, 10:47 PM

Good deal. I'm using a big cast iron pan as a drip pan, so I think the mass of that is helping.

Offthehook · 02-15-2013, 11:09 PM

I never use water, it makes a nicer bark

chriscw81 · 02-15-2013, 11:53 PM

you'll be fine. shoulder can be cooked tons of different ways and still end up juicy.

flyingbassman5 · 02-16-2013, 12:37 AM

I knew a guy once that cooked a butt in an electric cookshack and ended up forgetting about it. It cooked for 23 hours at 275 and was only barely on the edge of being dried out.

In other words, you will be fine.

Trumpstylz · 02-16-2013, 01:29 AM

I stopped using the water in the water pan (still use the water pan without water to catch the drippings) and my bark has never been better.

Bdresch · 02-16-2013, 03:30 PM

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361050035.102768.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361050050.652445.jpg

15 hours and delicious. It was a little dryer than I expected, but that's probably because I screwed up and let the charcoal run out after 12 hours with the butt at 187 and by the time I caught it, my meat temps were already dropping. Only got down to 183, but it took an hour to get them back climbing.

02-15-2013, 10:41 PM	#1
Bdresch Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-18-12 Location: Appleton WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Forgot to add water?! I'm trying an overnight butt smoke on my performer. I'm 3 hours in and just realized I never added a water pan. Do I need it? It's holding temp well using a ring of fire. Is it going to dry out without water?

02-15-2013, 10:46 PM	#2
HeSmellsLikeSmoke somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 04-02-07 Location: Warren, Vermont Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	The main reason for a water pan when doing a butt is to help stabilize temperature. Sounds like you have it under control without it. __________________ Jim - Another transplanted Texan Former KCBS CBJ Large and Medium Big Green Eggs , Black 18.5" WSM, Blue Weber Performer - Stainless, Green Weber OTG Kettle , Brinkmann SnP Pro, and a Stainless UDS. One retired Portable Kitchen grill. Red Thermapen, Maverick ET-73, EdgePro Apex Sharpener. Avatar is the original 1951 Weber Kettle

02-15-2013, 11:09 PM	#4
Offthehook Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-04-12 Location: San Gabriel Valley, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I never use water, it makes a nicer bark __________________ Taylor - WSM 18.5 with Wifi Stoker, Kamado Smoker BBQ, Char-broil infrared grill, lots of charcoal.

02-15-2013, 11:53 PM	#5
chriscw81 is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-01-12 Location: Fredericksburg, VA Downloads: 4 Uploads: 0	you'll be fine. shoulder can be cooked tons of different ways and still end up juicy. __________________ *A Texan transplant* UDS \| Blue Weber Performer Platinum \| Chargriller Akorn \| 22.5 Weber OTG \| WSJ Gold \| Mini WSM \| Maverick ET-73 \| Blue Thermapen \| Maverick PT-100 \| Master Forge gasser(charcoal chimney starter)

02-16-2013, 12:37 AM	#6
flyingbassman5 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-26-12 Location: Saint Louis MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I knew a guy once that cooked a butt in an electric cookshack and ended up forgetting about it. It cooked for 23 hours at 275 and was only barely on the edge of being dried out. In other words, you will be fine. __________________ 18.5" OTS, 22.5" OTG, CB Silver(Rip), Vintage Coleman Bullet, Pit Barrel, UDS

02-15-2013, 10:47 PM	#3
Bdresch Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-18-12 Location: Appleton WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Good deal. I'm using a big cast iron pan as a drip pan, so I think the mass of that is helping.

02-16-2013, 01:29 AM	#7
Trumpstylz is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-29-11 Location: Chicagoland Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I stopped using the water in the water pan (still use the water pan without water to catch the drippings) and my bark has never been better. __________________ Weber One Touch Gold 2001 Weber Genesis that is no longer used since the OTG

02-16-2013, 03:30 PM	#8
Bdresch Is lookin for wood to cook with. Join Date: 08-18-12 Location: Appleton WI Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361050035.102768.jpg ImageUploadedByTapatalk1361050050.652445.jpg 15 hours and delicious. It was a little dryer than I expected, but that's probably because I screwed up and let the charcoal run out after 12 hours with the butt at 187 and by the time I caught it, my meat temps were already dropping. Only got down to 183, but it took an hour to get them back climbing.