keeping pulled pork at eating temp

[rollin smoke]

Question...if i smoke a butt, take it off of the smoker at 190-200IT, and pull it, can i leave it in a foil pan covered with foil and towels in a cooler and keep it warm enough to serve about 12 hrs later? Wanting to bring it to some coworkers at lunch time. But, I'll have to smoke it the day before when I get home from work. I get home at 5:30pm and the lunch is at 12:00pm.

 

[jarjarchef]

You can hold it for as long as you want if you keep it over 140 IT.

Now with that being said. Quality will deteriorate over time.

To help with the holding time and temp. Smoke as long as you can the night before. Then when you go to bed, put the pork in your pan covered, set the oven to 200 degrees. In the morning you will be ready to go. Pull and sauce, wrap with towels and into the cooler. I do this method a lot and it works out pretty well.

 

[s2k9k]

How big of a butt do you plan on smoking?

 

[rollin smoke]

So putting it in the oven at 200 won't continue cooking the meat? Or should i take it off of the smoker before the internal temp is 190-200?

 

[jarjarchef]

If you are getting home at 5:30 pm ish. You will not get the meat into the smoker till 6pm ish. Saying you go to bed at 11:00pm ish. That means you might get to 150ish IT. So if you place the meat wrapped in the oven at 200. It will cook/braise to it reaches 200 IT and hold at that temp. You want to pull your pork at 200-205 anyways, so you should be good to go. Now this method will not get you a bark, but you will get nice pork.

 

[rollin smoke]

How big of a butt do you plan on smoking?

It's a 9 pounder. So I figured about 9-10hrs to cook.
Im gonna give it a try. I'm sure it well be fine! Thank you!!!

 

[rollin smoke]

I need to just get off of work early and cook it fully on the smoker! Haha

 

[dward51]

When I would take pulled pork to work for the gang, I did an overnight smoke timed to end around 2 hours before I needed to hit the door for work.  That gave me a little wiggle room if I hit a plateau in the meat and it holds just fine wrapped in foil and in a cooler with towels (to fill the void in the cooler).  It will still be so hot you can't pull it with your fingers at lunch.

Oh, and 200 to 205 is just fine.

 

[s2k9k]

It's a 9 pounder. So I figured about 9-10hrs to cook.
Im gonna give it a try. I'm sure it well be fine! Thank you!!!

I've had 9 lb'ers go over 18 hours before. the rule of thumb is 1 1/2 to 2 hours per pound. I don't think you will be holding it for 12 hours, should be done just in time for lunch!

 

[rollin smoke]

Thanks guys!
Ricky