Drip pan or no? - Pork Shoulder

[ronman451]

I'm wondering if I should use a drip-pan underneath a pork butt or not? I did one last week without a drip pan (low and slow, wrapped it at the stall, etc.) and it came out really good. I kind of like the idea of the drippings landing on the deflector plate and adding flavor with the steamed drippings. (kind of like the "grease fog" principle on my Pit Barrel Cooker)...

Clean-up after was a little bit more time consuming than normal, but I didn't mind that too much.

Any thoughts either way?

[sparky]

I use one.

[bamabob]

Not sure what you're smoking a butt on, but in my Kamado if I didn't use a drip pan I'd have one heck of a mess to clean up.

[ronman451]

Not sure what you're smoking a butt on, but in my Kamado if I didn't use a drip pan I'd have one heck of a mess to clean up.

Wups, I'm smoking it in my Memphis Elite pellet smoker.

[teesquare]

Not sure what you're smoking a butt on, but in my Kamado if I didn't use a drip pan I'd have one heck of a mess to clean up.

Wups, I'm smoking it in my Memphis Elite pellet smoker.

Depends....on how much elbow grease, skinned knuckles and frustration you ant to deal with ...not IF" - but when you clean out the belly of your pellet grill.

So...If you have the headroom - and have a shelf above the actual grill surface - what not put a pan on the grill surface, and the butt above it on the shelf? Get the best of both worlds. Pit stays cleaner longer - and the grease fog/smoke will envelope your pork.

[Roget]

Like T said, I use a drip pan when doing a butt on the Jim Bowie.
Makes for an easier cleanup.

My Davy Crockett doesn't give me quite as much headroom, so I don't use one on it.
(That's why I usually cook butts on the big guy. ).

[Big Dawg]

I always use a drip pan, but for a different reason I guess.  I want the drippings.

I separate the fat out and then chill the remainder.  I call it "Pig Jelly" and I add it back when I reheat the pulled pork.





BD

[ronman451]

I am definitely learning the virtue of keeping my cooker as clean as possible. I'll be using a drip pan...