water in my uds...........

[pigdog]

did my second cook on my uds and after 13 hours cooking I had close to one half inch of water in my barrel. Is this normal? I expected some grease, but, why all the water? It didn't rain and I know my son didn't pour water in the exhaust. Can humidity cause this? I live in the high desert, humidity shouldn't be a problem. I started the cook at 6 am until 7 pm.

Any ideas?

 

[ON THE FARM]

If it was during the cook i would say its condonsation.

 

[JazzyBadger]

Con.. Den... SATION SATION SATION!
Family Guy mod.

 

[jemezspring]

When I do it low-n-slow(less than 250), with a mostly full grate and under 250 I often get the water/drippings. My guess is that some drippings miss the charcoal basket and condensation from all the meat help to add to the puddle? Maybe the fuel? I know that when I cook at higher temps(300+) I do not get the puddle.

 

[Smoke & Beers]

What were you cookin'? Was it marinated?
Meat can hold a lot of moisture...
I know when I do ribs...and yes, I spray them with an apple juice/cider concoction but don't go over board, I can tell that there is a build up of moisture in my UDS...not large qty...but it is quite noticable.

 

[Neil]

1/2" of water in the bottom of a 55 gal. drum is a lot of water! When cooking large quantities of butts in my drums, 40-60 lbs., I use a water pan and I've never had water in the bottom of the drum after the cook. Is the meat you are cooking injected with a 30% or greater water solution?

 

[thirdeye]

1/2" of water in the bottom of a 55 gal. drum is a lot of water! When cooking large quantities of butts in my drums, 40-60 lbs., I use a water pan and I've never had water in the bottom of the drum after the cook. Is the meat you are cooking injected with a 30% or greater water solution?

That's what I'm wondering too.

 

[jswordy]

Grrr...I hate that water injection. Tiny, tiny print on the tag: "Contains water and flavorings." Wait, man! I am buying meat, not "water and flavorings." Plus, they do not have to reveal what the "flavorings" are. Grrrr...that's why we buy no meat from Wally World.

Ah, I feel much better now! :becky:

If you use a water pan, you probably will not get as much moisture in the barrel cuz it will catch a lot of it and vaporize it. Are you closing things off afterward for cool down? That will trap water in the barrel, I have found. But a half inch, I would say that has to be coming from your meat. Check the labels when you buy; bring a magnifying glass to read 'em. Grrrr.

 

[Neil]

That's what I'm wondering too.

Great minds think alike!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

 

[1FUNVET]

Grrr...I hate that water injection. Tiny, tiny print on the tag: "Contains water and flavorings." Wait, man! I am buying meat, not "water and flavorings." Plus, they do not have to reveal what the "flavorings" are. Grrrr...that's why we buy no meat from Wally World.

Ah, I feel much better now! :becky:

If you use a water pan, you probably will not get as much moisture in the barrel cuz it will catch a lot of it and vaporize it. Are you closing things off afterward for cool down? That will trap water in the barrel, I have found. But a half inch, I would say that has to be coming from your meat. Check the labels when you buy; bring a magnifying glass to read 'em. Grrrr.

I agree. 1/2" of water is a lot. I have never seen that much in my UDS.

 

[pigdog]

thanks for you're responses

cooked 4 butts on top rack. All were close to 6 lbs each . I didn't know about the injection(pre) at stores. I'll start looking for that. I did shut the drum down completely after the cook. I'll try using a water pan in the future. If I cooked on the bottom rack how or where would you place a water pan? Directly on top of the fire box? Clueless mode on here!

 

[pigdog]

Come to think of it, maybe it was some humidity as well. Never seen the eastern and southern part of the state look so green from rain.

 

[jswordy]

I put in 3 more bolts in the drum 6" or so above the top of my fire basket, used a cheap Wally World 22.5 grate, and put a foil roaster pan on it for the water pan. Cheap and disposable. It leaves the upper two grates for cooking.

Relative humidity here in the South stays at 75-90%, and I have never had 1/2" of water in my drum.

 

[Tweedle]

when it's cold or humid I get water in the bottom of my UDS's, its condensation