smoking question (newbie here)

tallsmokeman

Newbie

Original poster

Jan 29, 2012

19

10

Jupiter, Florida

• Jan 29, 2012

• #1

Hello, sure am glad I happened across this web site! Can't wait to explore!

I did my 1st smoke yesterday on a Brinkman Smoke n Grill (charcoal). I used 2pcs of boston butt about 7lbs each, one on the bottle grill, one on the top. I smoked it for about 12hrs keeping the temp between 200-235. After 12 hrs I wrapped in foil and put them in a cooler for about an hour...

When I went to pull the meat, it really didn't shred easily like when I've done them in a crock pot. I was expecting the meat to fall off the bone but I had to work to get it off. It had the nice red ring near the top but the juiceness wasn't there.

Did I cook to long, or not enough?

Thanks in advance for your help and I can't wait to fire it up again!

 

scarbelly

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

Jul 26, 2009

14,315

73

• Jan 29, 2012

• #2

Hello TallSmokeMan 

We don't cook by time here we use temps. So it will be difficult to determine what happened with your Boston Butt. It sounds like it might have gone into a stall and that it did not get to an IT of 205 which is where we recommend going to pull apart doneness.

Please do us a favor and stop by Roll Call and introduce yourself so we can give you a SMF welcome 

 

doctord1955

Smoking Fanatic

Jan 22, 2011

398

21

Omaha,Ne

• Jan 29, 2012

• #3

What IT did u get to?

 

SmokinAl

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Jun 22, 2009

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Central Florida (Sebring)

• Jan 29, 2012

• #4

You got some good advice from Scarbelly. You need to get a good digital thermometer.

 

pineywoods

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Mar 22, 2008

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Florida

• Jan 29, 2012

• #5

I would also recommend a thermometer to make sure you get the temps your looking for. I would suspect that the butts didn't get done enough to pull. If you can't get a thermo then smoke the butts till the bone wiggles freely and feels like it will slip right out then foil them for at least an hour in a warm dry cooler to let the juices redistribute then take them out and pull them.

 

tallsmokeman

Newbie

Original poster

Thread starter

Jan 29, 2012

19

10

Jupiter, Florida

• Jan 29, 2012

• #6

thanks for all the answers, i do have a digital thermometer, but i used it for getting a reading above the grate.....never dawmed on me to get an IT reading, after 12 hours of cooking I just figured it would be done......I also had a pan of water below the lower rack and above the fire and it was simmering/ sometimes boiling........is this a good way to go or can i just leave the pan out? thx again!

 

rbranstner

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

Oct 18, 2007

5,698

39

West Fargo, ND / Northern MN

• Jan 29, 2012

• #7

Without a thermometer you really don't know when things are done for sure. Most people will recommend that you get a dual probe thermometer which will enable you to know the temp of your smoker as long as the temp that your meat is at. Most of the time the stock thermometers that come with your smoker are not very accurate so you were probably smoking at a lot less of temp then you though or the internal  temp of your meat didn't get  high enough to pull (200+).

 

sprky

Master of the Pit

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Jun 26, 2007

2,932

41

Hutchinson Kansas

• Jan 29, 2012

• #8

The guys above got ya covered. I agree the IT wasn't high enough to pull. 

 

scrappynadds

Smoking Fanatic

Dec 10, 2011

317

12

Waterloo IL

• Jan 29, 2012

• #9

The temomitor is cheap and here is a dual.... Money well spent...........less then $30

Polder Dual Probe Cooking Thermometer, Black

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Reactions: tallsmokeman

berninga87

Smoking Fanatic

Jul 13, 2011

330

32

SW Wisconsin

• Jan 30, 2012

• #10

They got you covered! Every piece of meat cooks a little differently, so we have guidelines as far at time goes, but they are just guidelines. Temperature is king! Good luck with the next try!

 

mballi3011

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Mar 12, 2009

14,477

58

• Jan 30, 2012

• #11

Now that duel unit is nice. One probe should be dull and thats for the smoker and the other probe should be sharp and for the meat.