First MES30 Pork Butt [QView]

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rjp123

Fire Starter
Original poster
Jan 18, 2011
42
10
Ontario, CANADA
I used a variant of Jeff's rub (same ingredients, slightly-random amounts from the bulk store) to coat an 8 lb pork butt and let it cure for 18 hours (rubbing 3 times, once upon purchase, once after 8 hours and then again before putting into the smoker).

This is my second smoke in the MES30 (analog) - my first was ribs (with cherry wood) which were great (albeit a little fatty due to the quality of the rib I bought on discount).  This butt was purchased from my regular butcher, trimmed nice and was only $17 (good for Canada pricing)

Smoker probe and meat probe are set, apple juice in my make-shift water dish, smoker is foiled-out for easy cleaning and the 6x6 AMNS is providing smoke via hickory wood.

It's way too late to be posting, but I need this ready for dinner on Sunday and given the likely 12 hour cook time I'm up at 4 AM - hopefully I'll figure out a better way of doing this in the future (sleep is good).

 
d285f922_PorkButtZeroHours.jpg


Will post a few more photos as the day goes on.  No more opening until at least 8 AM.
 
256fd471_PorkButt4Hours.jpg


The above photo is taken at 4 hours when I opened it up to add more smoke.

The butt is now off the smoker - it was on for total of 14 hours at 225 to 240 deg F.

I was never able to get the butt over 190 deg F meat temperature.  It did stall in the 160s at around 6/7 hours and then stalled for nearly 4 hours at 185 before I finally took it off.  I can't see an 8 lb butt taking 14 hours - but maybe I am wrong.  Should I have left it on even longer?

I'm letting it sit for 2 hours before the shred.  Further pictures to follow.
 
Do you have a differant thermo to check it with???  The mes one is notorious for being way off!  In my mes  the meat probes is 15 degrees off!!
 
cfd2ae6d_FinishedPorkButt.jpg


Here it is after resting for a while.  I'll probably drain the oil off before shredding it.
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Do you have a differant thermo to check it with???  The mes one is notorious for being way off!  In my mes  the meat probes is 15 degrees off!!


I use the Maverick smoker + meat probe thermometer (2 temps on 1 device).  I tested them to ensure they read 212 around boiling.
 
I just put my first pork butt in the MES. Now its off to bed cause I have the amnps in there for the smoke. I'm not all that sure when to take it off and foil it though. 
 
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