12 lb butt cam I split it

[lemans]

Guys,
I got a 12 lb butt today for a smoke on Sunday. At 1 1/2 hr per pound I'm looking at
A 18 hr smoke!! Can I cut it in half and smoke two 6 lbs for 9 hrs? Will that work?

 

[davidhef88]

Yes that will work. It will also give you more surface area for some great bark.

 

[so ms smoker]

Of course you can. It will lower your cooking time and increase the amount of bark you can get. Good luck with it and don't forget the Q-view!

  MIke

 

[lemans]

Thanks brothers

 

[worktogthr]

Agree 100% with the other replies. I do it all the time to cut down on time and for more tasty bark. If you really want to cut back on the time, try a higher temp. I go about 300 and it takes about an hour a pound with no stall. The bark is really crispy and the meat is just as juicy and smokey as low and slow.

 

[pc farmer]

Last butt I cooked was 11 lb.  Cooked at 275 -300 and only took 12 hours.

Foiling will cut down the cook time too.

 

[lemans]

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• lemans
• May 17, 2014

So I decided to go for it without cutting in half

 

[lemans]

Then injected with apple juice vinegar , salt and sugar

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• lemans
• May 17, 2014

 

[lemans]

Into the fridge til 5am.

 

[daveomak]

Then injected with apple juice vinegar , salt and sugar

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• lemans
• May 17, 2014

Since you injected it, remember the 40-140F in 4 hours...... Dave

 

[lemans]

4:45am smoker at 250 . Here we go!

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• lemans
• May 18, 2014

 

[lemans]

Ps. Forgot the picture of Jeff's rub all over ...

 

[lemans]

Since you injected it, remember the 40-140F in 4 hours...... Dave

 

[lemans]

Update 10hrs later. 180 degrees. Almost there

 

[Rafter H BBQ]

4:45am smoker at 250 . Here we go!

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• lemans
• May 18, 2014

Now that's the way to start a morning ! Thumbs Up

 

[lemans]

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• lemans
• May 18, 2014

12 hrs later . Like butter!!! Put on the glaze let it rest

 

[lemans]

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• lemans
• May 18, 2014

 

[lemans]

Yummo.

 

[lemans]

A bad day of smokin is better than a good day at work!!

 

[demosthenes9]

Nice job on the butt Lemans,

FWIW, cutting an 18 lb butt in half won't cut the cook time in half, unless you cut it horizontally through the center and reduce the overall thickness of the butt.   Say the butt is 14 inches long, 12 inches wide and 5 inches tall.   IF you cut it side to side, you'll have 2 hunks of meat that are 7 inches long, 12 inches wide but still 5 inches thick.   If you cut it front to back down the center, both pieces will be 12 inches long, 6 inches wide and still 5 inches thick.    The smallest dimension is what determines the cook time.   In this case, it's the 5 inch thickness of the butt.

If you were to cut it horizontally, each piece would be 14 inches long, 12 inches wide but only 2.5 inches thick, which would reduce the cooking time.