Butt Fail

[tripleq]

OK Im stumped. I dont know whats going on here, but I bought a pork shoulder from a local market and popped it on the smoker like I have a hundred times before. Rubbed it and put it on the smoke at 7:30 AM at 235F. I didn't wrap it but just went for the bark. It was maybe 5 lbs and had a LONG stall. at 11 PM I pulled it with an IT of 190. When probing it, it was no where near tender and was starting to dry out.
Any idea what is happening?

 

[chilerelleno]

190°? Let it come up another 15° and then try probing tenderness.

 

[tripleq]

at 14+ hours, i wish I could say I was running out of wood but the ramp from 185 to 190 was 1.5 hours. Started drinking at 7pm, by 11, I was done.

 

[sawhorseray]

275º-280º and not opening the door to spritz saves a ton of time. still stays juicy. RAY

 

[creek bottom]

I had one I did last summer that gave me the same problem. I was doing six butts total. 5 of them were done after 10 hours, temping around 200 and probe tender. But one of the six, was still around 185-187, and nowhere near feeling tender when I probed it. I let that one go another 2 1/2 hours and it still wasn't probing tender even though the temp was up to 210. I pulled it and it was tough and dry. I literally had to rip the muscle apart to get it shredded. It was terrible by itself, but I mixed it in with the rest that I had pulled and shredded to sort of "hide" it. I just believe that you get a bad roast once in a while. Depending on what the hog was fed, age, activity level, etc... makes a huge impact on quality.

 

[zwiller]

Mine average 15hrs @ 275F on MES but I inject. Got cocky one time and ran 2, guys here thought add 25% more time but ended up 25.5hrs. It's done when it's done.

If you are into bark like we are, next time try cutting it in half. I have not done it yet but plan to but other guys say half the cook time and 2x more bark. Win win in my book.

 

[gary s]

Sometimes its just the meat, it happens Like Creek Bottom said he did 6 butts and one was a problem.
I've had that happen before.

Gary