quote:

Originally posted by Jerry N.:
I wouldn't pour greasy water down my drain - septic or not. Doug's idea is a good one if you're going to use water. Another idea is to use two pans. Fill the water pan with water as normal. Then put a pan to catch the drippings on the lower grate. Of course this means you can't use both grates, but I don't usually anyway. This way, you can just pour the water on the ground or down the drain because it has no grease. The drip pan covered with aluminum foil makes clean up a breeze.

Jerry...
Scanning the greasy water solutions, suddenly I found this one from you in 2007 and I think I love the idea. Yes indeed, we do not use the second cooking grate, may in the future once or twice a year would be a guess. So I will try this the next cook when our two days of rain cease. Have you reached other conclusions since this post or have you continued using this solution, I wondered? I suppose this does not reduce heat at the top cooking grate, or does it? Thanks.

I'm real lucky. I have a storm drain in front of my house. Thats where my water and hot ashes go. No wild animals or fires to worry about.

R.Ryan,
I don't use that method any more. I only used it a couple times. I use a waterless method now (clay saucer). I will say that if using water, it was a good way to go. It didn't seem to change the dynamics of the cook at all. If you like using water as a heat sink, it works.

i learned to smoke waterless so ive only done it a couple of times to see the results, empty foiled pan here.

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry N.:
R.Ryan,
I don't use that method any more. I only used it a couple times. I use a waterless method now (clay saucer). I will say that if using water, it was a good way to go. It didn't seem to change the dynamics of the cook at all. If you like using water as a heat sink, it works.

Thanks for the insights. Valuable.

Well, I am trying a modified clay saucer method for a while starting today, as you can see on the newcomer forum with photos. A solution to crowded conditions with foil on everything and allows quick flexibility -- water, dry, clay, grease pan...

One of the major reasons to do the clay saucer mod. I've not used water in years.

If I'm smoking or grilling on the top grate only I put a large 12" by 10" by 3-4" disposable foil pan on the lower grate. Put about 1 cup of water in that. The foil pan catches all the drippings and the fat. The drippings are used for sauce, or au jus or anything else. The water pan stays fat free and you only have to dispose of dirty water. I do this routinely. I’ve also “floated” a foil pan in the water pan if I’m using the lower grate for cooking. I place or float the foil pan in the water. It accomplishes the same thing. It’s a big trickier though.