How to Keep Your Brisket Moist. Here’s everything you need to know about smoker water pans. I have a pit boss barrel pellet smoker and the brosket comes out pretty good but a bit in the dry side. Set up the smoker - Place a water pan in your Oklahoma Joe’s® Smoker filled three-fourths full. If you are using a smoker you will want to put the 2-3 liters of water, beer, apple juice or wine in the water pan. In my articles on the best setups for different grills and smokers, I advocate using a water pan under the meat or over the fire for smoking. Adding water to your smoker might seem counter intuitive, but using a water pan is one of the best ways to help control your smoker’s temperature while also helping to prevent your food from drying out. Keeping a water pan in the smoker is the best way to retain moisture. Stack 6 small wood splits in the fire box. After the first 2-3 hours start spritzing your brisket with water, apple juice, hot sauce or apple cider vinegar every 30 minutes to an hour. Find out why you should use a smoker water pan, how to use it, and when to use it. Pour a chimney starter full of lit charcoal on top of and around the wood. Water pans are not designed for making gravy although you can use it for that if it is clean. Preheat to 275°F at the level of the cooking grate. You can then put a drip pan on bottom cooking grate with a dash of water in it to collect the drippings. This helps keep it moist and stops it from burning. Does anyone use a water pan when smoking Brisket for moisture and does it work. You won’t need a full liter of water in the drip pan because you already have enough water in the smoker. I wrap in butcher paper at about 160 or so but was wondering in anyone puts a water pan in their smoker. Water pans. Some smokers, like the Weber Smokey Mountain, come with a water pan.