Every product is independently reviewed and selected by our editors. If you buy something through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Big Green Egg, the quintessential Kamado Grill is to many, the cream of the crop in the industry. This grill has infinite potential and can create absolutely magical dishes in the right hands. However, the grill is only as good as its accessories.
The drip pan will be near the top of the list of useful accessories. Especially for smoking, the drip pan not only keeps your plate setter clean from grease but can also impart delicious flavor and moisture to the piece you are cooking.
But these pans come in a variety of sizes and shapes and what size drip pan for the large green egg? It’s a very important question and one that we are going to give the answer to today.
Let’s Begin:
What Drip Pan For Large Big Green Egg – Perfect Drip Pan Size
The Drip pan will always sit right on top of your Convegggtor or Plate setter and cover just enough surface area so that no juice from the meat falls directly into the plate setter.
Additionally, you may also want the drip pan to cover enough surface area so that no direct flame from below the Conveggtor can make it all the way to the meat.
So with that in mind, for a Large Big Green Egg, the perfect drip pan size is 14 inches in diameter. This is the most ideal size as it can cover the most surface area. However, if you do not cook absolutely huge pieces of brisket or ribs, you may get away with pans as small as 13 inches.
Smaller than that, and you will be exposing your meat to excess heat as well as leaving a lot of room on top of the plate setter for it to get grimy with meat juice.
Here Are The Top 3 Drip Pans For Large Big Green Egg You Can Go For
Knowing the best size is fine and all, but knowing what exact pan to use is a whole different ball game.
Fear not, as after scouring the market and trying out all the popular solutions (and some niche ones), I can confidently recommend you 3 different drip pans. Each will be a correct fit for a different kind of user and all of them will give you perfect results:
Stainless Steel Drip Pan By Smokeware
Smokeware, as a brand, has gained almost a cult following in the BBQ and Grilling market and this fully stainless steel drip pan proves why yet again. This product will be the right choice for almost everyone who does not want disposable solutions.
Top Features
- Easy to clean
- Dishwasher Safe
- Made from 304 Grade Stainless Steel
- Weatherproof and will stay Rust Free
- 14” diameter but available in smaller sizes too
You might think, it’s just a stainless steel pan, what’s so special about it? Well, let me tell you, firstly, a lot of pans in the market sport the stainless steel marking but this one is really built like a tank. At times it felt like you could drive a whole truck over it and it’d still not deform.
I was also genuinely surprised by how well it fits my Large BGE. Yes, sure at 14”, the fit should be great, but once I set it on top of the conveggtor, it just did not feel like an aftermarket product and that is one big compliment.
As stainless steel is not non-stick, you may have a bit of trouble cleaning it up every time you use the grill, but this product is dishwasher safe and with a little elbow grease, it will keep its shiny chrome exterior for years and years.
The couple of things that I did not like with this product is that it does not come with any handle for easy putting in/out and also that big and ugly “SMOKEWARE.COM” branding right in the middle of the pan.
Pros:
- Disposable
- Fits the Large BGE like a glove
- Great build quality and durability
Cons:
- No included handles
- Ugly branding makes this premium product look like an advertisement piece
Also Read: Big Green Egg Accessory Storage – 5 Ideas You Can Go For
Disposable & Lightweight 10-Pack Drip Pans
Due to their non-non-stick nature, stainless steel pans can be a pretty big hassle to clean. That’s why a lot of users like using disposable aluminum pans. These pans offer a lot of the same benefits but can be used only once.
Top Features:
- Lightweight
- 13” in diameter
- Comes in packs of 10
- Lightweight and easy to store
- Made from food-safe aluminum
Honestly, there is not much to say about these disposable pans. These were my pick among a sea of disposable options due to their superior durability and they were very comfortable to use too.
Other than that, they come in 13” which is not exactly a glove-like fit for the Large Big Green Egg, but big enough that most of the Conveegtor is covered and safe.
Additionally, yes, they are disposable meaning you should throw them out after every use and use a new one, but I tried handwashing and got away with using one pan 2 to 3 times.
Although these come in packs of 10, the big thing to consider with disposable pans is that if you cook a lot, you will chew through 10 in no time. Meaning the waste would quickly add up and so will the cost. But well, if convenience is what you really need, I can hardly put a price on that.
Pros
- Can be used 2-3 times
- Can be used in other kitchen uses
- Super easy to store and long shelf life
- Fits the Large Big Green Egg well enough
Cons
- Cost can add up very quickly
- Produces a lot of waste and thus bad for the environment
Also Read: Big Green Egg Charcoal Storage 101 You Must Know
Stainless Steel Drip Pan With Handle by MixRBBQ
The Smokeware pan is backed by the Smokeware brand and can thus be pretty expensive for what it is. Here is a cheaper alternative. It also comes with a foldable handle for easy transport and handling.
Top Features:
- Heavy-duty construction
- Easy to clean and dishwasher safe
- 13” in diameter but also available in 11”
- Foldable handle can be used to carry the hot plate
- Stainless Steel is built for long life and rust-free operation
Right after a cook, it can become quite difficult to carry a fully filled drip pan out of the grill to clean or just save the fat.
The included handles in this MixRBBQ model make that task incredibly easy. Yes, you still need heat proof gloves but think of it as carrying a hot plate directly and carrying one on a tray.
That should already sell this product to you but if you want more reasons, it can do almost everything the premium Smokeware drip pan can, just at a cut-down price.
You may not get the superb thick build quality, but you probably won’t even notice this difference if you handle your pans with a little bit of care.
Other than that, the 13” size leaves a little improvement on the board as 14” will fit a lot better. Overall, if you want something that just works and also does not break the bank, this drip pan will definitely be the right choice for you.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Offers Great value for the price
- Foldable handles work like a charm
Cons:
- 14” would be a better size
- Build quality leaves a lot to desire
Also Read: Best Rotisserie For Big Green Egg (Top 4 Picks)
Disposable Vs Stainless Steel Drip Pan For Large BGE – Which is the Best Fit?
Reusable stainless steel and disposable aluminum, both have their place in the market. For the right user, any of them can be an entirely game-changer. Let’s see the differences:
Reusability
A disposable aluminum pan is exactly that, disposable. You may get away with using it 2,3 or even 4 times but in the end, you would have to just throw it away.
On the other hand, a stainless steel pan can be used for up to a decade. Given that you wash it properly and take good care of it of course.
Cost
The upfront cost of a Stainless Steel pan is very big compared to a disposable tray. However, if you cook even once a week, the steel pan will pay for itself in no time and will save you a lot of money in the long run.
On the contrary, for someone who only cooks once a month, disposable pans make more economic sense.
Environmental Impact
This is the chief reason why I would recommend everyone to use the stainless steel pan. Anything disposable is quite awful for our environment and even though the aluminum disposable trays can be recycled, the amount of waste it still produces means the stainless steel will be a greener option and can help you have a small impact on saving our dear planet.
Convenience
Well, there’s not really a way around it. Throwing away a cheap pan will always be infinitely more convenient than having to go through the process of scrubbing leftover grease and meat off a stainless steel pan.
What Can I Use If I Don’t Have a Drip Pan?
Not everyone wants to splurge for yet another accessory and that is completely fine. You can reuse a lot of your existing kitchen equipment in lieu of a drip pan.
For example, a baking sheet lined with aluminum will work great. So will a pizza pan. You can even just use aluminum foil to create a makeshift bowl.
No matter what you use, the only thing you really need to ensure is that you pick the correct size so that no grease drips on your Conveggtor.
Another option is that you can just let the juices drip on your conveggtor. You will need to put a lot of additional effort to scrape the plate setter clean every time and it may discolor a lot sooner. But this is definitely the option that saves the most pennies.
Do I Need a Drip Pan for Big Green Egg?
If slow cooking methods like smoking are something you love to do, a drip pan is pretty much a mandatory thing. It will make your whole process a lot more convenient and rewarding in the long run.
However, you can choose any of the alternatives from our previous section and still get good results.
Do You Need a Drip Pan with a Conveggtor?
Yes, you do. If you want to impart extra moisture to your meat using beer, wine, apple cider, vinegar, or simply water, a drip pan will make it possible for you.
It will also keep your Conveggtor clean and looking good for ages. A purpose-built drip pan might not be necessary and you can use any of the alternatives.
Can You Use Aluminum Foil as a Drip Pan?
Yes, aluminum foil works great as a makeshift drip pan. You can simply shape a few layers of foil to hold your extra grease in or you can even use a baking sheet wrapped in foil to do the job of a drip pan.
Conclusion
And that is it! Now you are all about the size and type of drip pans to use on your Big Green Egg. While our discussion was entirely based around the Large BGE, the theory is sound for any size of the kamado grill and you can just adjust the pan size for an identical experience.
