I hate cleaning the thing up and I always leave it empty anyway (yes I use foil, but still, it's a pain having to bother with the old foil and put on new). Is there anything wrong with skipping it altogether? What would I have to do in my cook differently (maybe flip the food every hr)? Healthwise is this ok?
can you skip the water pan?
- Thread starter Pinny
- Start date
Jim Minion
TVWBB Emerald Member
Old time Carolina's BBQ was cooked direct 18 to 21" above the coals. There is a distinct flavor print with style of cooking. The object is to get the fat to vaporize so you don't have grease fires. Turning the meat would be part of the plan, also use a low sugar rub.
Jim
Jim
C. Howlett
TVWBB Super Fan
It's just like cooking on an Ugly (or Big) Drum Smoker. Google will yield a video on cooking with a UDS.
I've cooked without the water pan on occasion. I've not noticed any discernible taste difference, but is certainly a lot more aromatic. Temperature control is a lot more challenging as grease dripping onto coals = flame.
Now, I put the pan in empty. At the end of the burn, I fill the pan with hot water and shut all vents. The water heats up, maybe boils, and it's not that big a deal to wash out the softened residue.
I've cooked without the water pan on occasion. I've not noticed any discernible taste difference, but is certainly a lot more aromatic. Temperature control is a lot more challenging as grease dripping onto coals = flame.
Now, I put the pan in empty. At the end of the burn, I fill the pan with hot water and shut all vents. The water heats up, maybe boils, and it's not that big a deal to wash out the softened residue.
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pinny B.:
I hate cleaning the thing up and I always leave it empty anyway (yes I use foil, but still, it's a pain having to bother with the old foil and put on new). Is there anything wrong with skipping it altogether? What would I have to do in my cook differently (maybe flip the food every hr)? Healthwise is this ok? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
im kinda the same way i dont like cleaning bbq pits. what i have taken to doing is using the leftover coals after they have cooled. i fire them back up and put em in my 22" kettle and stick the WSM grates in the kettle grate and stick the water pan upside down in there too. i let the lid sit slightly off center (very slightly) off center and all vents open so the kettle vaporizes and turns all the gunk to ash flip the bowl and repeat i let it sit about 15 minutes on each side. pull everything off using tongs and set the pieces on the wsm to cool. when its cool brush the ash rinse with the garden hose done. typically i do this at lunch on a weekend and use the leftover coals while they are still hot from cleaning to cook some burgers dogs or boneless chicken.
its the easiest method i have found for cleaning the bowl and grates. i am very very lazy when it comes to cleaning grills. i figure if i ruin the grates or bowl i can just buy another one. its worth it to me.
I hate cleaning the thing up and I always leave it empty anyway (yes I use foil, but still, it's a pain having to bother with the old foil and put on new). Is there anything wrong with skipping it altogether? What would I have to do in my cook differently (maybe flip the food every hr)? Healthwise is this ok? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
im kinda the same way i dont like cleaning bbq pits. what i have taken to doing is using the leftover coals after they have cooled. i fire them back up and put em in my 22" kettle and stick the WSM grates in the kettle grate and stick the water pan upside down in there too. i let the lid sit slightly off center (very slightly) off center and all vents open so the kettle vaporizes and turns all the gunk to ash flip the bowl and repeat i let it sit about 15 minutes on each side. pull everything off using tongs and set the pieces on the wsm to cool. when its cool brush the ash rinse with the garden hose done. typically i do this at lunch on a weekend and use the leftover coals while they are still hot from cleaning to cook some burgers dogs or boneless chicken.
its the easiest method i have found for cleaning the bowl and grates. i am very very lazy when it comes to cleaning grills. i figure if i ruin the grates or bowl i can just buy another one. its worth it to me.