Disappointing Boston Butt

[matty gunns]

I have been using a camp chef pellet smoker for the last few months and have been pleased with the taste and convenience. Yesterday I smoked an 8 pound Boston butt 225 for about 15 hours. Rested an hour and pulled it. Tasted zero smoke flavor on it. I was also in a pinch for a rub, didn’t have me usual stuff and bought bone suckin sauce rub. The pork was on the bland side and no smoke flavor left me disappointed. I guess I’m starting to taste what people have been saying about pellet smokers. Have done butts and ribs, chicken and burgers and all have been great until this time. I used pit boss hickory pellets in a pinch too, usually Weber or lumberjack is what I use so it could be that as well.

 

[retfr8flyr]

You are not going to get a lot of smoke flavor from a pellet grill. You will get a cleaner smoke flavor, that some people prefer. You can add a smoke generator to your grill and get a little more flavoring though. Never been a fan of Bone Sucking products. Try some Oakridge BBQ Competition Pork and Beef rub, for some great flavor.

 

[matty gunns]

I’m gonna try the oak ridge stuff that’s the 2nd time someone has mentioned it to me. I like smoking gunz rubs, they are a little salty but they taste good to me. I’ve also used plowboys and I really liked the blues hog rub but I can’t find it in stores any more . Yea I thought I wouldn’t mind the less smoky flavor but after my last cook I definitely do

 

[mike243]

I smoke at the lowest temp for 3-6 hours on my pitboss, plenty of smoke flavor when I add a smoke tube , spritzing every hour will allow more smoke to stick to the meat. temps recover quickly with the pellet smoker so no problem peeking imo

 

[JC in GB]

Have you ever used the Head Country original rub? I got some from a co-worker and it si a really good all around rub for the cost.

Sorry to hear that your pork shoulder was disappointing. That is a lot of time and effort to put in for mediocre product. A few teaks and you should be golden.

JC

 

[schlotz]

Some like smoke flavor to the point it can mask the flavor of the meat, and if that's what they like I'm fine with it. For me, I prefer to still have the presence of meat flavor in concert with the smoke. You can always add an additional smoke generator like the Amazen Tube or Tray.

Since you've had acceptable results up until this smoke my guess is the pellets might have been a contributing cause. Go back to the brand that has worked. The other variable sounds like the rub used was also different. Not all rubs perform the same. The last possibility might be the meat itself. By any chance was this a different supplier?