37#'s of Pork Butt on a 18.5 WSM Qview

nptwnsmkr · Oct 17, 2014

I looked in the freezer earlier this week and had a few butts looking back at me and thought they needed some attention. I threw them in the fridge to defrost Monday evening after work. While shopping at my local Kroger this week I noticed butts on sale and picked two more up. The two in the freezer weighed just shy of 11lbs and 9.5lbs The two I picked up are just under 8.5lbs. I gave them a nice rub down and stuffed them into the WSM using kbb, hickory and apple. The wind is killing me tonight and I had to make a wind break from some plywood and other misc material from the garage. I put them in around 9pm at 225* for an over night smoke. The majority will be vac sealed and frozen to get us through the winter.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 17, 2014

Butts rubbed down.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 17, 2014

Coffee can with some rebar wire handles for the lit coals. There is hickory and apple chunks buried in the coals as well.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 17, 2014

The 11lbder and one of the 8's are on bottom and the 9lbder and one of the 8's is on top. Looks like I will have some room for a few ABT's on the top rack for breakfast! :biggrin:

I will post some more Qview tomorrow.

Smoke on!

timstalltaletav · Oct 17, 2014

I'm curious on this one. I need to make 40-45# of butts in 2 weeks. How is the fit in the 18.5?

I have plenty on eXtra room on the ECB, but for simplicity's sake I'd like to do them all together.

nptwnsmkr · Oct 17, 2014

tjs231 said:
I'm curious on this one. I need to make 40-45# of butts in 2 weeks. How is the fit in the 18.5?

I have plenty on eXtra room on the ECB, but for simplicity's sake I'd like to do them all together.

It's tight and I do mean tight! You can see my the two on top are touching, the bottom is worse. They will shrink as they cook opening a gap for smoke to do its magic all the way around. As they say " A full smoker is a happy smoker"! If your doing that much I would recommend doing it a few days before in multiple smokes and vac sealing it. When I reheat this pork over the winter it will taste just as good as if it was fresh off the pit, a little finishing sauce goes a long way.

timstalltaletav · Oct 17, 2014

Agree 100% on the reheat + finishing sauce. I just pulled a tray out of the freezer that I made about 6 months ago. A little reheat plus some of JJ's sauce made that taste better than I remember it when it came off the cooker.

The multiday cooking might be tough for this one. I fly home from South Carolina early next Friday morning and need the meat ready for Saturday afternoon. After seeing how good that rerun pork came out with the sauce this week, I might make it all this weekend and vac pack it.

nptwnsmkr · Oct 17, 2014

tjs231 said:
Agree 100% on the reheat + finishing sauce. I just pulled a tray out of the freezer that I made about 6 months ago. A little reheat plus some of JJ's sauce made that taste better than I remember it when it came off the cooker.

The multiday cooking might be tough for this one. I fly home from South Carolina early next Friday morning and need the meat ready for Saturday afternoon. After seeing how good that rerun pork came out with the sauce this week, I might make it all this weekend and vac pack it.

You could always use the Texas crutch but I would think you're in for an all night smoke. My original plan was to put the two big boys on bottom and the smaller ones on top, there just wasn't enough room. The 11lbder just took up too much real estate on the 18.5. You might be able to squeeze four 10lbders in but I want to see some Qview with that! :grilling_smilie:

welshrarebit · Oct 17, 2014

I'm in!

timstalltaletav · Oct 17, 2014

I'll make it happen. QView on the way. I got my calendar screwed up though. I'm in PA this week, then SC next week, and the benefit cook isn't until November 8th. I think we can make it happen between now and then . ..

timstalltaletav · Oct 17, 2014

I say "we" can make it happen but .... only one of us has oppossible thumbs....

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timstalltaletav
Oct 17, 2014

Can't forget my #1 taste tester

timstalltaletav · Oct 17, 2014

Nptwnsmkr said:
You could always use the Texas crutch but I would think you're in for an all night smoke. My original plan was to put the two big boys on bottom and the smaller ones on top, there just wasn't enough room. The 11lbder just took up too much real estate on the 18.5. You might be able to squeeze four 10lbders in but I want to see some Qview with that! :grilling_smilie:

And my better half argued with me at Cabela's about the 18.5 vs 22.5... I knew they were lying when women said size doesn't matter....

crazymoon · Oct 18, 2014

NPT, That's one loaded smoker !

You'll be eating well all winter .

jarjarchef · Oct 18, 2014

Very full smoker. But as Rob Schneider says in Waterboy "You can do it".....

nptwnsmkr · Oct 18, 2014

tjs231 said:
I'll make it happen. QView on the way. I got my calendar screwed up though. I'm in PA this week, then SC next week, and the benefit cook isn't until November 8th. I think we can make it happen between now and then . ..

Sounds like your screw up didn't hurt a thing other than making you worry a little!

tjs231 said:
And my better half argued with me at Cabela's about the 18.5 vs 22.5... I knew they were lying when women said size doesn't matter....

LOL...I actually won the 18.5 from a bbq joint over ten years ago, it's what got me interested in smoking. The 22.5 is on my list for an occasion like this. Of coarse knowing me I would probably try to squeeze another butt or two in! :biggrin:

CrazyMoon said:
NPT, That's one loaded smoker !:icon_biggrin: You'll be eating well all winter .

Why thank you! :biggrin: I just hope it all turns out as planned.

jarjarchef said:
Very full smoker. But as Rob Schneider says in Waterboy "You can do it".....

Thanks for the vote of confidence JarJar!

Slowly working through the stall now....going to be a long ride I suspect.

welshrarebit · Oct 18, 2014

I got my 22.5 WSM a few weeks ago off of craigslist for $225. My wife keeps making plans one only day off so u haven't fired her up yet.

I'm thinking of getting the mini game going because we have a hurricane just offshore and everyone knows that only a mini can ward off hurricanes!!! We are getting a lot of rain but orherwise it's all good...

gary s · Oct 18, 2014

Can't wait to see more

Gary

nptwnsmkr · Oct 18, 2014

Welshrarebit said:
I got my 22.5 WSM a few weeks ago off of craigslist for $225. My wife keeps making plans one only day off so u haven't fired her up yet.

I'm thinking of getting the mini game going because we have a hurricane just offshore and everyone knows that only a mini can ward off hurricanes!!! We are getting a lot of rain but orherwise it's all good...

Good score on the 22.5! Glad All's good with the weather!!

gary s said:
Can't wait to see more

Gary

All are in the mid 180's which has kinda surprised me. I thought the smaller ones would be further along after 201/2hrs but I am smoking around 225*. It's done when it's done. I'll update with some more Qview when they're out and pulled.

b-one · Oct 18, 2014

Good to know approximately how much butt I can cram in my WSM! Thanks and keep up the good work!

nptwnsmkr · Oct 18, 2014

The 8 and 9lbders came off the pit around 22hrs and the 11lbder took 241/2hrs.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

One of the 8lb and the 9lb.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

The 11 pounder.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

Nap time in the cooler.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

Nice and moist!

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

Official taste tester!

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 18, 2014

Pulled and ready for the freezer for winter time smokey delight...less18 sliders.
Thanks for looking!!
Smoke on....

timstalltaletav · Oct 18, 2014

Well worth the wait! As long as the taster stamps the approval you know it's good to go.

Nice looooonnnnngg smoke! I commend your patience! It'll be well worth it!

jarjarchef · Oct 19, 2014

Looks great.

My taster has figured out when I do a cook. She for some reason gets very attached to me and only listens to me. She is teaching our new addition the same actions. It is very funny to watch.

You will enjoy your very well earned treats for a long time. Great job.

nptwnsmkr · Oct 19, 2014

It's amazing how attentive the taste testers become isn't it! :icon_biggrin: thanks for the kind words guys. We will be enjoying this smoke all winter. Less what we ate last night and two small containers in the fridge, I ended up with 17- 1lb or so (3 handfuls) and 4 small packs for ABT's.

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nptwnsmkr
Oct 19, 2014

37#'s of Pork Butt on a 18.5 WSM Qview

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