How long to smoke pork butts?

[smokiehokie]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum and new to smoking. I just got my smoker on Wednesday. It's the 40" MES.

The question I have is, is how long to I need to keep adding smoke. I'm planning on cooking two 6.5 lb Boston butts. I was thinking for the 1st 4 hours.

Thanks for any help.

 

[timberjet]

I did two yesterday at five to six pounds. It took 12 hours give or take and smoke the whole time. Excellent!!!!

 

[so ms smoker]

  I would give smoke  at least till the IT hits 165.  If it is not foiled you can smoke  for the entire time.

  Mike

 

[smokiehokie]

I'm cooking at 225 and the meat has hit 150 after 3 hours. Is it cooking too fast? I was planning on cooking it around 12 hours.

 

[bomftdrum]

Its not cooking too fast. You still have the stall to go.

 

[smokiehokie]

I've read that you normal plan on 1 to 1.5 hours per pound. Does that mean total meat weight in the smoker? For my case, I have two 6 pound butts. Does that mean 12 hours or 6 hours?

 

[bomftdrum]

It is usually closer to 1.5 to 2 hours a lb. 2 6lb butts will cook like one 6lb butt. Worse case scenario is you get done early and you wrap in towels and put in a cooler. They will sit like that for a few hours and be good to go.

 

[eman]

It is usually closer to 1.5 to 2 hours a lb. 2 6lb butts will cook like one 6lb butt. Worse case scenario is you get done early and you wrap in towels and put in a cooler. They will sit like that for a few hours and be good to go.

This^^^^^^.Always try to get things done early.

 

[smokiehokie]

Thanks for the help. I ended up smoking the butts for 12 hours. And they turned out fantastic.