Newbie Experiment

[Wilk816]

Hey guys. I am still pretty new to smoking. I just got my first smoker last year and I use it way more than I thought I would.

Yesterday for the 4th I wanted to do some pulled pork for everyone. Anytime I'm trying something new I always do a ton of research, and much like every piece of meat I've read up on, there are many differences of opinion on how to do. Injected, not injected, wrapped not wrapped, etc.

So I ended up doing two 6.5lb butts. One I did not inject and instead rubbed the night before. The other one I did inject the night before. The one I did not inject I also did not wrap. Injected one got wrapped at 165 and taken to 201. The unwrapped butt was taken to 201 also. Pics below.

Personally I prefer the butt I did not wrap. I'm not sure how much of a difference injecting it would have made, I may try that next time I may not. The bark is the biggest difference I could tell between the two. If you like a crispier bark, don't wrap.


Not Injected or Wrapped Butt

Injected and Wrapped at 165 until 201 IT

 

[Geebs]

Nice work on trying to different styles. I used to inject mine and wrap at 165, now that I cook them at 270-280 I do not wrap anymore but still inject and they turn out awesome. That first one has some awesome bark.

 

[bangstick]

I did two butts yesterday as well and wrapped them for the first time (I typically don't wrap). I let them smoke until the IT hit 165 and then I put them in a pan and wrapped them until IT hit 205. The level of moisture incredible and the flavor was still great but there wasn't any bark to speak of. Bark is my favorite part of pulled pork so I don't know that I'll wrap moving forward. Probably just go back to smoking unwrapped and then when I pull them (at 205) I'll put them in a pan and wrap them and let them sit for an hour or so.

 

[SmokinAl]

The unwrapped one looks the best to me too!
But I'd eat either one!!
I haven't wrap my butts in years, cause we love the heavy bark mixed in with the PP.

Al

 

[joedube70]

Yeah nice bark!
Good job with you experiments. That is part of the smoking fun!