I smoked meat for the first time ever. I got a 10 lb. Boston butt, used mustard slather and rubbed it. Sat overnight in fridge. Friday at 6 pm put it in smokin-it # 2 at 225. I used 5 oz of wood, 3oz cherry and 2oz hickory. Here is initial photo:
I put a pan with 6oz of beer ( a hefeweizen ) in the bottom. Maverick 732 thermometer. I kept a log of everything, including my mistakes. Like 15 min after closing it and turning it on I realized I forgot to poke a hole in the foil for drain, even though I had a pan for drippings. Also forgot to use warm beer and let meat sit out for a while. When I woke up next morning about 8 the meat was about 167. I walked outside to the best aroma ever. It smelled of fried bacon. My neighbors must have been jealous. I was planning on dinner at 5 so I wasn't worried about the temp. Low and slow seems to be the mantra here. At noon I took out the butt to wrap so I could put in some baby backs.
I had prepared the ribs the same way. I did let them sit out 30 min prior. For these I used 3oz of Apple wood. I wrapped the butt so no more smoke and to get it up to temp. It hit about 170 by noon. Had to nibble at that point and boy was it good. Ribs went in.
After 2 hours I took out the ribs and wrapped them. The butt was still not high enough, about 190 after 20 hours. I did put some apple juice in the pan on bottom and in with the butt when wrapped initially. Another hour and butt was 200 so I took it out, put it in cooler insulated with towels. I unwrapped the ribs for the last hour and spritzed with Apple juice.
I kept the thermometer in the butt, wondering how long it would keep the heat. About 4:45 I pulled it, temp was 175.
Ribs came out and I portioned them.
I have to say, even though I live in NC, this was the best pulled pork we have ever had. The ribs needed a bit more time to be completely fall off the bone, but I'm not sure they were the best cut of meat to begin with. So ends my first experience. I may have bit off a lot I trying to do ribs too, but I figured with all the room in the smoker it was a shame to just do the butt. My next goal will be a brisket. Thanks for all the helpful advice I gleaned by trolling the forum for weeks ahead of time.