water pan clean up

[Geo S]

Last week I did a rare long cook, I added my usual 3-4quarts of water to the pan. Usually I just toss the water and stuff afterward onto the bare dirt of my "pristine" backyard for the chickens to pick through, and blow it clean with the hose. yeah I know, I'm a barbarian.
But I digress...This time the "stuff" burned on pretty bad, I mean black, crusty, hard stuff. I blew out what I could with the hose, then added a couple quarts of water and two big handfuls of baking soda and let set overnite.
Next morning the remainder of the stuff, blew right out like it was never there.

Just thought this might save someone from scrubbing their fingers off.

 

[Timothy F. Lewis]

That's also a good way to help revive a badly scorched stainless pan from the stove. I had a "failure to communicate" and ran a steamer pan of broccoli to smoke! After regarding the operator pedigreeto myself more than once along with a few choice expletives, I shut up, let the pan cool, filled it about halfway with warm water, a splash of dish soap and a handful of baking soda. The next day, light scouring with a green pad cleaned up the pan very nicely. I may never be able to make a delicate sauce in it again but, I can use it for anything else! Did I tell you I hate electric stoves?

 

[JimK]

I usually foil my water pan, but its still a freakin' mess. I stopped caring a long time ago, as it was too much work for something that is nothing more than a heat shield (I don't use water anymore). This sounds like it'd be totally worth the effort though. Thanks for sharing.

 

[J Hasselberger]

Good tip, Geo. I'm a fellow barbarian. I have noted that a lot of folks use a foil-wrapped clay saucer in place of a water pan (or in the water pan). I cook with water AND put a wrapped saucer on the lower grate. It keeps most of the drippings out of water. The pan never requires more that a 60-second hose-out.

Jeff

 

[JayHeyl]

I stopped caring a long time ago, as it was too much work for something that is nothing more than a heat shield (I don't use water anymore).

Ignoring all the gunk probably makes it more effective at its primary task.

Years ago in another lifetime with another WSM, I tried all kinds of things in the water pan to improve its function. I loaded it with ceramic briquettes. Then added sand to fill in the crevices. I was shooting more for combined heat shield and thermal mass that would help with heat recovery after I opened the top. I never did form a concrete opinion on what worked best. OTOH, I did quickly conclude that anything aside from water in the pan made cleanup significantly more difficult.