Drip EZ XL BBQ Prep Tub in Classic Orange with a locking lid, holding a rack of ribs

The Original BBQ Prep Tub: How to Use a Drip EZ Prep Tub from Brine to Cleanup

Nov 14, 2026

A good cook often comes down to the work you do before the meat hits the smoker. Trimming, brining, rubbing, and carrying a brisket or a rack of ribs across the yard can turn a clean kitchen into a mess, and a cheap tray is usually the first thing to crack or leak. That is the problem Drip EZ built the original BBQ prep tub to solve.

Grill Masters Club carries the Drip EZ Prep Tub in two sizes, XL and Junior, each with a built-in nylon cutting board, a locking lid, and collapsible sidewalls. Here is how to use one from brine to cleanup, plus what Drip EZ says sets the original tub apart from cheaper knock-off versions.

Why the original Drip EZ

Drip EZ Prep Tubs are the original BBQ prep tub, made with high quality materials. Drip EZ uses silicone on the collapsible sidewalls. The brand says that silicone passes the FDA fatty food test and will not transfer any negative material or chemicals to your food. Silicone is also much more flexible and durable over time, and Drip EZ says it can be used hard and collapsed over and over without failing like imposters.

Drip EZ uses high quality nylon for the cutting board built into the base, which is the work surface you trim and season on.

While Drip EZ cannot speak for everything out there, the brand says knock-off tubs use TPE on the sidewalls, which is less durable and is a petroleum product that can leach negative chemicals into your food. TPE is much stiffer and more brittle, which will fail more quickly. Like the old timers always say, you get what you pay for.

Choose your size: XL or Junior

The XL BBQ Prep Tub measures 20 inches long, 16.25 inches wide, and 5.5 inches high, with a 2-gallon capacity. Reach for this size when you are prepping larger cuts: a full packer brisket, a few racks of ribs, or pork butts you plan to rub and hold in the fridge. It is available in Classic Orange and Pitmaster Black.

The Junior BBQ Prep Tub measures 15.75 inches long, 12.5 inches wide, and 4.5 inches deep. It is a better fit for smaller cuts, vegetables, and cooks where storage space is tight. The Junior is currently available in Classic Orange.

Both sizes adjust to three heights and collapse for storage, indoors or outdoors. If you want one of each, or a matching pair of XLs, the 2-packs are a straightforward way to save and still get free shipping to US customers.

How to use a Drip EZ Prep Tub

Brining

Set the tub to a working height, add your brine, and submerge the meat. The locking lid lets you move the tub into the fridge without sloshing, and it keeps the brine covered while it works. Do not put the tub in an oven or on a grill. The materials are higher-temp rated for kitchen and backyard use, not for cooking inside a cooker.

Marinating

The same workflow holds for a marinade. Mix it in the tub, add the meat, lock the lid, and refrigerate. You are not stacking leaky bags or hunting for a bowl tall enough to cover a brisket. When you are ready to cook, lift the meat out and you still have a contained place for the used marinade.

Rubbing and trimming

Lower the tub so the nylon cutting board in the base is your work surface, or keep the walls up if you want a catch-all for trim and loose rub. Trim brisket, season ribs, and coat a pork butt with a dry rub in one place. The walls keep spices, fat trimmings, and juices off the counter.

Transport

Once the meat is rubbed or marinated, lock the lid and carry the tub from the kitchen to the grill or smoker. That is one of the clearest everyday wins: no foil pan flexing mid-yard, and no lid sliding off in a breeze. After the cook, the same tub can come back to the cutting area or the table.

Serving and cleanup

A prep tub is also a serving vessel. You can shred pork in the same container and keep the cooking juices with the meat, then carry it to the table with the lid if you need to hold it for a bit. When the meal is done, the tub is dishwasher safe, though hand washing is recommended. Collapse it for storage when it is dry. The tubs are also BPA free.

Shop the original Drip EZ Prep Tubs

If you are ready to replace a worn knock-off or upgrade from disposable trays, start with the size that matches your usual cook:

You can also browse the full Drip EZ collection for resting blankets, grill mitts, lights, and bundles that include a prep tub. For a broader look at the brand, see our earlier guide, Drip-EZ: BBQ Gear Built for Better Prep, Smoother Cooks, and Less Stress.