1st Pork Shoulder Success!

[ReelFaster]

After buying my Okie Joe smoker few week back I promised Mom I'd smoke her a pork shoulder. She's a huge bbq fan and just loves smoked foods. Overall it came out excellent! It was tender, bursting with flavor, and extremely juicy. I didn't get to see her shred (I was rushing to a prior obligation) as I dropped it off literally just after smoking it so I don't know how easily it shred. But she said the bone practically fell out with minimal effort and shredded pretty easily.

There are few things I want to try differently next time. Maybe am just being picky but I want it to literally flake apart, bone falling out.......Here's what I did!

Shoulder was approx 5lb bone in shoulder. Rinsed it and trimmed some visible fat, patted dry and coated with mustard and a good rub, wrapped in saran wrap & let it sit in fridge overnight. Fired up the smoker about 6AM got her to about 225 - 245 range and put her in. Spritzed her about every 30min or so with some apple cider vinegar. Once internal temp reached about 140ish, I transferred the shoulder to a baking pan with about 3/4 cup of Apple juice and wrapped in foil. Cooked her till both probes reached internal temp of 205 degrees which was about 1:20 - 1:30PM.

Again I was extremely happy with the results. My mother and aunt ate themselves simple and both made themselves sick by overeating the pulled pork that's how much they loved it. I stopped by yesterday and reheated a little back up, it was excellent. Next time I think I may leave on the rack longer till it hits 150-160 internal temp before moving to pan. I also think I may leave in till internal temp hits 208.

 

[SmokinVOLfan]

Looks great congrats on the shoulder!

I usually leave mine in until it hits the stall usually around 155-166 range and then I wrap in foil. Pull somewhere between 205-210. Try throwing it in a cooler with old towels and letting it sit there for a couple hours before pulling it. Lets the juices redistribute throughout the meat and still piping hot after several hours.

 

[SmokinAl]

Yours looks like it's doing real well.
I don't wrap mine anymore, unless I'm pressed for time.
We like the thick bark mixed in with the PP!
Al

 

[ReelFaster]

Yours looks like it's doing real well.
I don't wrap mine anymore, unless I'm pressed for time.
We like the thick bark mixed in with the PP!
Al

Thanks Al!! I like the bark as well but I like how the foil does speed things up. I LOVE smoking I can sit out there all day doing it but sometimes life calls and I just don't have 10+ hours to babysit it! Trust me I'd love nothing better than to do just that. Not sure I'll ever get to trying a brisket, don't think I can do 16hrs.

With the offset smoker feeding it properly sized fuel so far for me is the key to keeping consistent CC. I've been mostly cooking with the door open, if I try to manage the fire/temps with the stack and firewood door I generate a lot of dirty smoke. Am sure I'll fine tune it and also learn my smoker the more and more I smoke with it.

 

[SmokinAl]

Thanks Al!! I like the bark as well but I like how the foil does speed things up. I LOVE smoking I can sit out there all day doing it but sometimes life calls and I just don't have 10+ hours to babysit it! Trust me I'd love nothing better than to do just that. Not sure I'll ever get to trying a brisket, don't think I can do 16hrs.

With the offset smoker feeding it properly sized fuel so far for me is the key to keeping consistent CC. I've been mostly cooking with the door open, if I try to manage the fire/temps with the stack and firewood door I generate a lot of dirty smoke. Am sure I'll fine tune it and also learn my smoker the more and more I smoke with it.

Yep using an offset is definitely a learning experience, and it does take some babysitting. So when I use mine I make sure that I have nothing important to do all day long & try to fit in some chores while the smoker is running. It's usually yard work day & I'm around the smoker working in the yard, and feeding it as necessary. When I'm done with the yard & take a shower, then it's just hang around the smoker & drink a few beers. To me that is the kind of day I look forward to at least one time a week! But then I'm retired & I know most of you guys are still working & are trying to fit in the smoking sessions when you can. I think that is why the pellet poopers are becoming so popular. You can set them up & just let them go while you are at work. I do that with my WSM/Guru setup sometimes when I have a long smoke to do & have other obligations. But a good day for me is sitting by the Lang & drinking too much & smoking ribs & beans!!
Al

 

[ReelFaster]

Yep using an offset is definitely a learning experience, and it does take some babysitting. So when I use mine I make sure that I have nothing important to do all day long & try to fit in some chores while the smoker is running. It's usually yard work day & I'm around the smoker working in the yard, and feeding it as necessary. When I'm done with the yard & take a shower, then it's just hang around the smoker & drink a few beers. To me that is the kind of day I look forward to at least one time a week! But then I'm retired & I know most of you guys are still working & are trying to fit in the smoking sessions when you can. I think that is why the pellet poopers are becoming so popular. You can set them up & just let them go while you are at work. I do that with my WSM/Guru setup sometimes when I have a long smoke to do & have other obligations. But a good day for me is sitting by the Lang & drinking too much & smoking ribs & beans!!
Al

Couldn't agree more and that is why I just LOVE smoking with the offset. It's the whole experience that it creates and I love. Exactly as you say I am usually out back doing some yard work, messing around with the house, kids out back playing, etc...later on take a shower head out back again and just relax with a cold one. I just love those days, but I guess I can't always do that, lol! Pellet's and Offsets def have their pros and cons. Doing another shoulder this weekend for fathers day and gonna throw some baby back ribs on as well.