Sunday Pulled Pork Party

[PacBeachsmoker]

Going to start 2- 7.5 lb pork butts tonight I got at Costco and just realized they are De-boned!!! I've done two PP's before and both had the bone in and came out great. anything I should worry about.... Rubbed with a thin mustard layer and have been sitting with the rub on for 12 hrs. Going to try and smoke these with Cherry and hickory mix as that what I have left.
Couple of questions:
-Is the hickory going be too much? Too strong?
-Do you guys always put your butts in an aluminum pan? Or right on the rack? I've done both...


Thanks, love the forum!!

 

[bdskelly]

I use hickory on butts all the time. Great flavor on pork. Mine go on the grate and not in a pan. I use to use a pan but found it made my pulled pork too greasy. For my taste it is better to let the fat cap render down and drip through the grate. I get a slightly dryer product but still juicy. ....Also I get more bark without a pan. Which we love.
Good luck! B

 

[PacBeachsmoker]

Thanks B, went straight on the rack. Away we go!!!

 

[hebs]

I've only smoked 1 butt without a bone in it (6lb) and what I expected to take 14-16hrs took 20 (maybe 22, but I can't remember and I'm 7000mi away from my log book). Even then I pulled it at like 185 because it wouldn't go past. (still shredded well) If I ever have to do it again, I will probably try putting a 10 penny nail thru it.

+1 on the hickory. I use it all the time for pork butts. Infact, I even use hickory nuts gathered from a friend's yard.

 

[gmc2003]

Can't add anything to what B said. It's pretty much how I do them also. Except my family likes a softer bark so I put the butt in a pan sitting on a toaster oven rack cover it with foil during the stale add a little apple juice for the braising liquid.

Chris

 

[SmokinAl]

I've done them both ways in a pan & straight on the rack. Either way they come out good.
If I'm doing low & slow in my WSM overnight, I usually put the butt in a pan. If I'm going hot & fast on my Lang I put it right on the grate.
Al

 

[jbellard]

Hickory works great. I also use pecan.

 

[jrinaldi99]

I've done them both ways in a pan & straight on the rack. Either way they come out good.
If I'm doing low & slow in my WSM overnight, I usually put the butt in a pan. If I'm going hot & fast on my Lang I put it right on the grate.
Al

You go fat up or down on the Lang?

 

[SmokinAl]

You go fat up or down on the Lang?

If I put it on the top rack I go fat side up, if I put it on the bottom rack I go fat side down.
Al