Water Pan Question

[Darin Hearn]

Here is a question I thought all of us could discuss. This is for those of us who use a water pan in our smokers. I have watched on the food network where people put apple juice in their water pan. I have talked to people who put pineapple juice in their water pan. People put almost any liquid imaginable in their water pan.

My question is does it really matter what you put in your water pan? Does it add any flavor to what you are cooking?

Let me know what you guys think and why.

 

[Craig Castille]

Some say it does help, some say it doesn't.

Personally, I don't think you'd get any effect from anything in the pan that wouldn't be taken over by the smoke. Somehow, smoke is > than steam IMO.

Bottom line = just water for me.

 

[Jeff T Miller]

IMHO putting anything in the water pan other than water is a waste of money. I haven't been able to detect any difference in flavor having something else in the water pan. IMO again the reason it is called a water pan is because you should put water in it. The whole reason for the pan is for a heatsink to help even out heat spikes.

I reccomend trying it for yourself both ways but my tastebuds don't detect any difference in flavor.

 

[Phil R.]

Putting something in the water pan (or in a beer can, i.e. beer can chicken) does absolutely nothing, or *very* little for flavor. Basically, nothing.

 

[Don Sycz]

I have tried wine, beer, and apple cider when I used a water pan and like Jeff said a waste of money I have not tasted any difference.

 

[Chad M. Anders]

I've never been able to detect any advantage in flavoring the water pan either. That being said, if I marinade I will sometimes dump it in the water pan. I sure wouldn't spend $$$ just to pour in a water pan though.

 

[Jay Lopa]

Once i filled the water pan with beer to add some flavor it did nothing for the meat. It just made me cry to think that i should of drank it

 

[Adolph]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Phil R.:
Putting something in the water pan (or in a beer can, i.e. beer can chicken) does absolutely nothing, or *very* little for flavor. Basically, nothing. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I couldn't agree with you more! I know people swear about the flavor and tendernees of beer can chicken, but I get the same flavor and tenderness when I just sit them on a stand without the beer (I've done it both ways).
As for the waterpan, when I first started smoking, it was with a brinkmann (ECB), heck I still use one. I only smoked turkeys and chicken in the beginning and I used chicken broth in the pan. One day I used water in the pan and the result was the same, so I gave up trying to add flavors in the pan. Kind of like Chad, if I have any marinade leftover I'll pour it over the meat after I've placed it in the smoker, thus the excess drips into the waterpan.