hey everyone. Totally new to smokin. I just got a 30”
Masterbuilt and the girlfriend wants me to smoke some pulled pork this weekend for a get together. She kinda threw it on me at the last second but I’m going to give it a go anyways. The smoker was preseasoned today. Party is Saturday at 1430. Anyways, questions were 1) how many butts can I smoke at one time in a 30”
Masterbuilt? Will doing multiple mess up the process in any way? I’m looking to cook maybe 25 or 30 lbs raw to get about 12-15lbs of cooked meat. Is that calculation correct? Anyways, just trying to figure out how to get this all done. Any input would be greatly appreciated!!!
Chris
Hi there and welcome!
Well you can get some tasty pulled pork made but it will be a heck of a challenge to get awesome smoked pulled pork given that you lack time and don't have an ideal setup right now.
If you have a home depot near you and can get the A-Maze-N Pellet Smoker (
AMNPS) tray or tube that will help. You would also need to pick up a bag of wood pellets for smoking.
The
AMNPS uses pellets to produce perfect smoke with little to no hassle and no babysitting. The tray can produce smoke for up to 12 hours without messing with it. The tube can do 3 hours.
Go simple and successful on the seasoning and use Salt, Pepper, Garlic powder (NOT GARLIC SALT), Onion Powder, and Paprika. Some people put brown sugar as well BUT it can burn up on you in some cases so for simplicity skip it... you can always sprinkle some in along with the seasoning once the meat is shredded later and no one will know the difference.
I think that you can maybe fit 2 ten pound pork butts in your MES 30.
I would say go with this configuration:
- -foil pan on right side of smoker bottom most SMOKER rack
- -some sort of ROASTING rack set in/on that foil pan that keeps meat elevated
- -Pork Butt #1 on that roasting rack that is in/on the foil pan
- -Pork Butt #2 on the next available SMOKER rack above Pork But #1
- -Have the AMNPS producing smoke on the left hand side of the bottom SMOKER rack away from the meat so the upper pork butt can't drip into it
This means that your pork butt drippings will be caught in the foil pan for use later AND will keep your smoker from becoming a greasy mess.
-Take Pork Butt #3 and just set it in a foil pan uncovered and cook it in the oven like chefJJ says, this one won't have smoke flavor but with a good seasoning and cooked uncovered the entire time it will still be fantastic!
Have your smoker turned up ALL the way (275F). Know that at this temp with that much meat and that configuration the smoker cook will probably take 15-17 hours or more to finish both butts. Whichever butt is catching the most heat will finish first. I say don't worry about rotating and just let one finish and pull it out when it is read and let the other go until it is finished.
I also would recommend that you don't worry about wrapping to avoid adding more complexity to the mix. Don't spritz, don't open the door unless you are adding more pellets (if using the
AMNPS tube not tray) don't dance around it chanting, just let it cook until it finishes.
If you don't have a digital thermometer/meat probe get one and DON'T trust the MES built in meat thermometer/probe, they are ALWAYS off.
When your pork butts hit 205F internal temperature stab all over with a kabob skewer and if it goes in with no resistance then the meat is tender and ready. Also you can see if you simply pull the bone right out, if so then it is ready.
Finally, THIS IS IMPORTANT! Plan this so that the meat finishes cooking and you pull it out of the smoker 4-5 hours BEFORE you plan to eat. When the meat comes out of the smoker you simply double wrap in foil and then wrap the butts in 3 bath towels and set them on the counter. They will be piping hot 4-5 hours later when it is time to shred and serve. First timers always doubt this advice and learn things the hard way when everyone is waiting around for hours to eat and are cranky because the meat still cooking and not done lol.
Phew that is a lot of info I've thrown at you lol.
Get prepared, get started far enough ahead of time, and you can come out looking like a rock star!