patb86•19d ago

Finally found a cheap way to keep my offset smoker temp steady during a long cook

I was fighting with temperature swings on my $300 offset for months, especially during overnight brisket cooks in my backyard in Austin. Then I started using a cheap welding blanket from Harbor Freight draped over the firebox and it held 250 degrees for 6 hours straight without touching the air intake. Has anyone else tried a water pan under the meat to help even things out further?

2 comments

2 Comments

caseyclark19d ago

So you asked about a water pan under the meat to help even things out further" and yeah it will help, but it's more for moisture than temp stability. The welding blanket trick is solid for the firebox, but adding a water pan is mostly about creating steam so your bark doesn't set too hard. It won't fix big temp swings on its own, but combined with your blanket it's a solid move for a cheap setup, lol.

grant.jade19d ago

I read a long post over on a smoking forum where a guy tested water pans with a digital thermometer setup. He found that a pan with hot water actually helped keep the pit more steady because the water absorbed heat when the fire flared up and released it when things cooled down. So it does a bit of both really, not just the steam thing. The welding blanket is definitely the bigger help for temperature swings, but I think that water pan adds a nice buffer. I will say though, you have to keep an eye on it because if that water gets too hot it can turn into steam and throw your temps off for a few minutes.