Well I start at 9:30 am by washing the meat, rub them,cover in foil in smoker for 4hrs at 225, then uncover and cook for 12 more hrs at 190-200 I was cooking 100 lb of beef and 80 lb of pork and got it done around 12:00-2:00 in morning. Was long day but enjoy it. After remove from smoker refoil it and put in large Ice chest till open for business, it still around 150 deg. Just to give some Ideal.