I got my new 18.5 inch WSM last week and did my first smoke on it this weekend. I cooked a 6 pound pork butt for just under 10 hours and pulled it at 190 degrees. It was some of the best pork I've ever had. I left the lid on after I removed the butt and when I went to bed, 16 hours after I lit the coals, the temp. was still holding steady at 250. Amazing!!!

I do have a question about the water pan however. When I went to clean it the next day, I noticed that the paint on the bottom had bubbled up and was beginning to flake and much of it came off on the washcloth I was using for cleaning. Is this something to be concerned with? Will the paint affect the safety of the meat? Is there something I can do to prevent this? Thanks in advance for any advice.

Welcome to the board Billy.
Are you sure its paint and not just the flaky smoke residue which is quite common?

Tim