Smoking My First Pork Butt

[natethebuilder]

I am Nathan Mustoe.  For Christmas Eve I will be smoking my first pork butt. My mother in law got me two that add up to be 17.4 pounds. I already have a rub in mind and how to do all of that. I am wondering how long to smoke the two, or would it be better to do them separately? Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks

Nathan 

 

[phatbac]

Nathan,

without knowing what kind of smoker you are using i would suggest smoking both butts together. you want to cooking them until they are at least 195-200 degrees Internal temperature. if you are smoking in the 225 temp range give it a couple hours per lb of the biggest one. You should probably get the butts to about 160-165 Internal temperature and then wrap in foil will help speed up the cook a little. the foil isn't required but it does help. as far as the rub goes you can use whatever you like but the most it will do for you is make bark. I don't even use rub on butts anymore i just put some salt on and smoke the pork till its done. the smoke gives it plenty of flavor.. I recommend against injecting. the boston butt has a ton of fat all through it, moisture will not be a problem. 

remember to take some time and be patient with the smoke it will take a long time and you should enjoy it!

if you need more specific help please let us know the smoker and wood type etc you plan to use. and dont forget to take pictures and post them here so we can see how ya did!

Hope this Helps,

phatbac (Aaron)

 

[SmokinAl]

Welcome to the forum Nathan!

Glad to have you with us!

Sounds like Aaron has you covered.

Al

 

[natethebuilder]

Thank you Aaron. I have a master built electronic smoker that is 40" tall. I'm planning on using apple wood. I do have one more question. Should I use apple juice in the baison?

Nathan

 

[phatbac]

I have heard of doing that but don't have an electric smoker so I can't say for sure but apple is a wonderful flavor with pork!

Happy Smoking,
phatbac (Aaron)

 

[SmokinAl]

The apple juice in the water pan won't give the meat any flavor, so just use water.

Al

 

[natethebuilder]

Thank you for the info. I do have one more question though. Am i calculatingit correctly, i will be smoking for 34 hours?

Nathan

 

[SmokinAl]

 
Thank you for the info. I do have one more question though. Am i calculatingit correctly, i will be smoking for 34 hours?

Nathan

No that is incorrect.

You will base your time on the largest butt.

So if you have a 8# & a 10# butt.

You would base your time on the 10# one, or about 20 hours for the two of them.

Of course the smaller one may get done sooner than the big one.

If you know where the hotter part of your smoker is, then put the big one there.

Al

 

[natethebuilder]

Thank You Al. That is very helpful. Ill be posting the finished product.

Nathan

 

[gary s]

  Good morning and welcome to the forum from a cloudy but nice day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about            everything.

        Gary

 

[natethebuilder]

Good Evening

I started my butts 6 1/2 hours ago and they already getting up to 155 degrees. What should i do keep it going for the remaining 14 hours or take it off now?

Thanks

Nathan

 

[newbie smoker 1]

No from what I understand the will stall around 170-185 degrees for a number of hours....

 

[natethebuilder]

Thanks for the info. Good to know.

 

[natethebuilder]

Good Morning

One of my butts is at 192 and the big one is at 178. Should i take the little one off or leave it on for the rest of the time for the big one.

 

[crankybuzzard]

Let it ride until 200 for pulled pork. Take it out, wrap it in foil and place it into an empty cooler with towels on top of it. The other will catch up soon.

 

[klutzyspuds]

Nate,

Leave the little one on until it is 195-200. Then if it is foiled put it in a cooler wrapped in towels for an hour or more. Let the big one go till same spot, then into the cooler as well. Wrapped tightly in the cooler they will stay hot for several hours.

Mark

 

[natethebuilder]

Thank you all for the help.

 

[natethebuilder]

Sorry one more question. what is the final temp for the big one?

 

[klutzyspuds]

Pull it at 195-200. Rest in the cooler for at least an hour. Looking forward to seeing finished pics.

Mark

 

[exromenyer]

You want both pork butts to finish around the 205° internal temp. If you are pressed for time you wrap that big one in some tin foil and it will go much faster. I usually bring mine to 205° and wrap in foil and in to the cooler until I am ready for the shindig I am having. That stall you are encountering is normal and will be frustrating but just think of the end product and what YOU accomplished....my family and friends beg me for ribs and pork butts now...it is about the love you add to doing it...only WE on the forum get it...to others it's just dinner!!!!