stuck butt?

pitrow · May 6, 2008

Hi all. I thought I'd try my hand at pulled pork today, so yesterday I picked up a small shoulder blade roast, about 3.5 pounds if I remember right. I rubbed it last night and it sat in the fridge over night. This morning I put it in the smoker at 225 and let it go. It's now been in there for almost five hours, the last hour and a half or so it's been stuck at 150-151 degrees. I've heard of a plateau but I didn't expect such a long one on such a small piece of meat. I'm worried that it's going to dry out too much. The outside is showing signs of drying out and I've stepped up my spritzing schedule accordingly. Should I wrap it in foil now instead of waiting for 165, or just let it go?

cinnamonkc · May 6, 2008

Any chance your thermometer is on the fritz? Might want to check it in ice water and then boiling water...

pitrow · May 6, 2008

oh yeah, I forgot to add that part. I just checked the thermometer yesterday and it was within 3 degrees of boiling water. I am going to go double check the meat with my backup dial thermometer though.

cinnamonkc · May 6, 2008

Not to be obvious and I'm sure you've checked but are you sure on your fire temp?

pitrow · May 6, 2008

double checked with the dial thermometer and it only showed about 145. :( I'm pretty sure the smoker is at the right temp, my electric probe shows both internal meat temp and external oven temp and both were within a couple degrees of 212 in the boil test last night. The digital probe does show about 10 degrees warmer than my MES's control unit shows, so I go by the digital since that seems to be close to correct and is right next to the meat.

Thanks for the help guys. Any other ideas? Maybe I should bump the temp up a little? Say 235 or 240?

geob · May 6, 2008

you can wrap this anywhere between 150 and 160 to keep moisture in. Keep on the spray and make sure you got water in the pan. I have a MES and have had no problem doing the butt.

geob

pitrow · May 7, 2008

well, I fear something maybe drastically wrong with this one. Since my last post the temperature has dropped to 144. I took it out, doused it with spray and wrapped it in foil and put it back in the smoker, and bumped the smoker temp up to 245. We'll see what becomes of this, but I have a feeling it won't be that good.

capt dan · May 7, 2008

It will be fine. Now that its foiled, just leave it closed.245 won't hurt it either,might gain ya 15 minutes of the whole 8-10 hr smoke. Just be patient and let it go in the foil till 200, probably gonna be another 4-5 hrs.

pitrow · May 7, 2008

well, you were right capt dan, I had nothing to worry about. I took it out when it hit 195 and wrapped it in a towel for about an hour. I just got done pulling it, and it is nice and juicy and flavorful. Now to go put the finishing sauce on it.

My question is, is it normal for these things to take that long? I mean my 3.5 pound shoulder was in there for roughly 9 hours. I was figuring the standard 1.5 hours per pound, which should have put it closer to 5 hours. I have a couple 4.5 pounders that I'm going to do for some friends this weekend and I kinda want to know when I should start. I guess the earlier the better huh?

justsmoke2 · May 7, 2008

I have done 3 to 4lb butts and they have always took as long as larger size butts. Why I do not know but it seems to be the norm. Then it again the butt will be done when it is ready to be done. To me the hardest part was not worrying thinking I was about to screw up meat.

meowey · May 7, 2008

On days when I've done multiple butts, I've had butts of identical weight finish at different times. (One time 3 hours different!) Each piece of meat is different and finishes in it's own time. Imagine what it would be like if each of us was the same as everyone else.

It's hard to have patience while waiting and worrying that you will ruin the meat. You did the right thing by foiling a little early.

Hope this helps!

Take care, have fun, and do good!

Regards,

Meowey

capt dan · May 7, 2008

Glad it all turned out! I think the time it takes is relative to the breakdown process. All Butts have colegen, fat and connective tissue. The process takes a certain amount of time reguardless of weight. Like Meowy said, I have had the same thing happen, 6-8 butts on at once, maybe 2 would finish together, the rest would be all different. Some at 9-10 hrs, often most at 11-12 hrs, and there always seems to be a 13-14 hr one in the mix!

bassman · May 7, 2008

Glad to hear it turned out okay. I don't know if I'd have the patience to wait on a 3-4 pounder. Have two big ones in the freezer ((8 1/2-9 1/2 # each). Maybe I'll get one out for the weekend.

newb · May 7, 2008

I'm the same way...worry about how long some things take. I just foiled early..as suggested and all turned out fine...I had an 8.5# take 17hrs from start to 200 deg finish. 8AM to 1 AM the next day.

ron50 · May 7, 2008

As has been said so many times. Time is an estimate. The 1.5 hours/lb is just an approximation. There is NO way to know EXACTLY when it will be done.

teeotee · May 7, 2008

My first pork butt was a 4.5 lb, think that was in for 10 hours. Two weekends back i done a 10 lb in 12 hours. Just always plan on having plenty of extra time. It'll stay warm wrapped in a cooler for hours if it finishes up early.

Glad your's turned out ok in the end. That plateau can be a real worrysome time huh!!!

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stuck butt?

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