- Feb 23, 2015
- 2
- 10
I'm new to smoking for starters and got the 18" version about 1.5 months ago. I've got some basic questions about my last effort.
1. Smoked a 9lb butt for the Superbowl. 10hrs, top rack, Rubbed with salt, sugar, paprika an pepper. kept around 200-220 the whole time. Came out with a nice bark and very juicy inside. (some soaked hickory chuncks added to coals)
2. Smoked the same thing last week, heat averaged right around 200-190 for 10hrs. Same type rub. Bark was black but thin.
Tasted amazing. (some soaked hickory chuncks added to coals)
3.Smoked a 7.5 and 9.5 butt top/bottom for 12hrs (hoping to get a thicker bark) Only used salt as a rub. Kept average temp 225-250. No hickory wood used this time. Butts came out with NO bark at all, a little dry around the edges. A big disappointment as the first to runs were awesome.
Question:
1. Why no bark? (no sugar in the rub?)
2. Water pan only lost about half it's water on the 12hr session while most of the water was gone on the shorter cooler sessions. (makes no sense)
3. Thermometer was very responsive but could it be an issue?
4. Why no bark with longer and higher temps?
5. I'm going to poke around but is there a link to some basic tips for smoking butts on this smoker?
Thank you for your help,
Before
After
1. Smoked a 9lb butt for the Superbowl. 10hrs, top rack, Rubbed with salt, sugar, paprika an pepper. kept around 200-220 the whole time. Came out with a nice bark and very juicy inside. (some soaked hickory chuncks added to coals)
2. Smoked the same thing last week, heat averaged right around 200-190 for 10hrs. Same type rub. Bark was black but thin.
Tasted amazing. (some soaked hickory chuncks added to coals)
3.Smoked a 7.5 and 9.5 butt top/bottom for 12hrs (hoping to get a thicker bark) Only used salt as a rub. Kept average temp 225-250. No hickory wood used this time. Butts came out with NO bark at all, a little dry around the edges. A big disappointment as the first to runs were awesome.
Question:
1. Why no bark? (no sugar in the rub?)
2. Water pan only lost about half it's water on the 12hr session while most of the water was gone on the shorter cooler sessions. (makes no sense)
3. Thermometer was very responsive but could it be an issue?
4. Why no bark with longer and higher temps?
5. I'm going to poke around but is there a link to some basic tips for smoking butts on this smoker?
Thank you for your help,
Before
After