diffuser: does aluminum pie pan break down over hi heat

[floydo]

may finally get around to building the mini. If you are doing chicken at high temps......or whatever........can you use an aluminum pie pan as a disposable diffuser/drippings catcher ? Or does it break down at high heat over the fire ?
If you do use the aluminum pie tin, how close to the fire can you place it ?

Better to go with a terracotta saucer or steel bowl lined with foil ?

If your name is Keith, do you just forget the pan and learn to love
the fire ? :wink:

 

[pbj]

Aluminum's melting point is 1221F, so unless its right on the coals it should be fine.

 

[Fwismoker]

LOL...love the fire! Seriously though my mini only had the tamale steamer in it but now if I ever use it then it's just cooking over the coals...Unless I'm doing a long cook like a pork butt then i'd use the holy diffuser.

Never been a big fan of complete indirect style cooking in something like the mini using a solid pan or terracotta. I like some flavor to hit the coals.

 

[Blythewood BBQ'er]

I used one for a long time setting my charcoal chimney in it while lighting it. It lasted alot longer than I expected. Didn't last the lawnmower though! If that didn't wear it out I don't think the heat from cooking will hurt it.

 

[m-fine]

It depends what you are doing, but it is not that hard to get a good charcoal fire over 1200, and with a thin pan, it only takes one small spot to briefly hit that temp to make a hole.

You can get stainless steel serving trays from a restaurant supply for under $10. Put a couple of spacers on it and your aluminum tray on top with a small air gap and you will not have to worry at all.

 

[JS-TX]

I sometimes use a aluminum pan on the bottom grate of my WSM when doing yardbird. Especially when I use an injection and it starts leaking on the coals as it cooks. It's about 1ft away from the coals so I have no issues there. If it's closer to the coals I like m-fines idea ^.

 

[pvcollie]

I have burned holes in aluminum pans on my ceramic when using it as a heat shield below the grate, cooking at 250-300 grate temp. However, it is inches from the coals and it only happens if there is no liquid in the pan.