Pellet Grills: To water pan or not to water pan??

[CandySueQ]

I've not tried one in my Trek, not sure where it'd go unless below the cooking grate and that's not much space.

Not liking to clean up more than ash though, I do like cooking in pans. This holds the moisture from the meat next to the meat.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I agree, i've been using a drip pan under what i'm cooking for years....no matter what smoker/cooker/grill i'm using....for me it just really helps in the clean up...plus with pork butts i can just wrap the pan with foil instead of pulling the meat, wrapping it then putting it back on.

[jfmorris]

Having used water pans in various cookers over the years - offset and kettle mostly - I would point out that the use of a water pan in my mind almost restricts you to cooking down around 225F. It's actually hard to get much higher than that since the water steam is coming out of the pan at 212F. That might be one of the stabilizing factors, as well as the thermal mass of the water pan itself.

I still use water in the reservoir of my SNS on the kettle or SNS Kamado, but that is about it. Been years since I thought to use one on the offset, since I tend to run it around 275 now.

[radiodome21]

I have a Traeger 575 and a Grilla Silverbac. Never used one on either and knowing my luck I’d end up spilling it and creating even more issues. I rarely use it it my WSM and that has a dedicated bowl for it.

[jfmorris]

Yeah those electronics and motors and wiring don't need the water for sure! That would be my luck too.

[Dadof3Illinois]

I've never used a water pan. There's plenty of moisture in that process so you shouldn't need more.