First Butt Help

[jrakar]

Going to do a my first Boston Butt to serve about 20 people this Saturday afternoon around 4 or 5 o'clock. I have a Dyna-Glow Charcoal offset smoker. I was thinking somewhere around 10 lbs. My question is should I do one 10 lb or two 5 lbs?

 

[SmokinAl]

Well if it were me I would do 2 - 5 lb. butts.
If you figure about 2 hours per pound cook time @ 225 degrees, the 2 - 5 lb butts will take about 10 hours.
A 10# butt may take up to 20 hours to cook.
Now these are just estimates, you need a good meat thermometer.
And the internal meat temp your looking for is around 200-205 for pulling.
Al

 

[david r]

Al is spot on. The 2 5's will be a lot faster to cook. Should allow you to get a lot of tasty bark!

Maybe mix it up and go with 2 rubs? just a thought.

 

[sauced]

Great advice, that is on the money!! Split the butt into 2 pieces and I would smoke them at a higher temp, like in the 250 - 275 range. They will get done a little quicker.

 

[jbellard]

Be sure to start checking for tenderness once temps get over 200. You want it to feel like a hot knife through butter tender!
Good luck!

 

[jrakar]

Thanks I will do the 2 smaller ones. I like the rub idea. Thanks again!

 

[jrakar]

Success! Did my first Boston Butt! It was awesome...sorry I was so pumped that I forgot to take pictures! Had two butts one just under 6lbs and one just over 6Lbs. Have a dya glow charcoal smoked with apple and hickory. Butts went in at 4am and pulled them about 2pm one was at 165 degrees and the other was at 155 degrees. Pulled them from the smoker and put them in a 250 degree oven covered and were at 200 degrees around 5:30 ish. They just fell off the bone and it was worth getting up early! Had issues keeping a steady heat. Was up and down all day 190's to 250's not sure what to do to correct this.

 

[motolife313]

Cool! I bet everyone was loving it. I just did a 6 pounder yesterday in 9 hours at 250-275