I suggest using the water pan it will act as a heat sync and keep temps much more stable. The smoke will still be the same it will just flow around the pan. Some people do fill the water pan with sand then foil over it they claim it works just as good for a heat sync tho I honestly don't know as I've never tried it. I use the water with the thought it keeps more moisture in the smoker which some say it does and some say it doesn't. I would suggest before you start your smoke take some foil and cover the whole inside of the water pan forming it to the bottom and sides and up over the edges. Then just fill with water and at the end of the smoke cleanup will be much easier just dump the water and pull the foil out and the pan is clean saves a lot of scrubbingSo do I need the water pan in a propane smoker? Does it affect how much smoke the meat takes in?
Or you can use playbox sand.So do I need the water pan in a propane smoker? Does it affect how much smoke the meat takes in?