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Started a 10 lb. butt at noon. It's now 5:00 and internal temp is already at 130. I was expecting a 12-15 hr smoke, but at this rate it will be done much sooner. Smoker temp has been around 225 the whole time. What gives?
Don't worry,
You'll get to 140-150 and stop a while. Plus mine always depends on how much meat I have in the smoker as well as the size of the cut. If I only have one piece in it goes much quicker than wen I fill the smoker.
I agree with Ken. Most of the butts I do usually climb in temps pretty fast, especially if I get them to to room temp before I put them on the smoker. But once they hit 140ish they seem to slow down and stall for hours. That's known as the great Plateau.
hmmmmmmm........never had a butt stall on me.................but i smoke 6 lbers...........now BRISKETS, is another story.............6 lber for me........i can count on 9-9.5 hours.........
but a 10 pounder IS a horse of another color
(d88de wishes he had a link to a horse with a different color, but fatback will be along)
I had a 5 lb one take me 9 hours and an 8 1/2 lb one take me 7. You just never know. Some will plateau, some will not. If it gets done to early just wrap it in foil and stick it in the cooler wrapped in a towel.
As most have already told you Temps climb steady at 1st. It can then plateau btwn 140 and 160. When it hits that temp it will hold steady for a long while if it does plateau at all.
I have smoked some that just kept going and never stalled out.
Just hang in there.