Just wondering, doing some pulled pork for the first time and its going to be for a big group of family. Just got 14 lbs of pork butt. Will I be able to smoke the whole 14 lbs if I cut it up? The package is cut in half, so it's going to be 2 7 lb chunks. Will I be ok smoking them together? How many lbs of pork butt are you guys able to smoke at one time?
I've done 4 butts at once in my unmodified OBS. After 5 hours of smoke I moved them inside and finished two in the oven and two in crockpots, then pulled and mixed at the end. Original post here (http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=28663.msg340965#msg340965).
On occasion I have cooked two butts at the same time. Once your temperature recovers and you are at your cooking temperature, they should take no longer then a 7 pound butt cooked alone. If you got two, and there is room in the cabinet, put them on separate racks, they will cook more evenly. The biggest concern would be how long it takes your Bradley to recover. There are some that slice their butts up; at least in half, but I haven't found a need to do that. I cook my pulled pork in advance.
I always do 2 butts when I make them. I buy the double pack from sams and they always weight around 7 lbs each. Plan on these taking almost 24 hrs.
If you put them on racks one above the other, you should swap the rack positions every time you change the water bowl. Also, rotate front to back. This keeps the heat relatively even.
Today I've got 8 small butts about 2.5lb each going into my DB6. It will be interesting.
Rich
Ka Honu, I saw your post yesterday and you said "to be continued....." but I never saw the continued. All went well?
Quote from: Smokeville on April 02, 2013, 06:05:34 AM
Ka Honu, I saw your post yesterday and you said "to be continued....." but I never saw the continued. All went well?
Oops, I missed page 2!
done 18 lbs of butts in my smoker and still had more room, also done 40 + lbs of tri tip at once, So yes to can get a lot f meat into a 4 rack bradley
Awesome thanks guys. I was concerned with getting the temp up in the smoker. I tried 4 big racks of pork ribs this weekend, turned out great, but the temp guage on the smoker never got above 200 , so I was a little concerned. There should be more room in the smoker for the air to move around with just the 2 butts. I think I will throw them in early saturday morning, with the hopes of them being done and rested by Sunday. Have I mentioned before how much I love my Bradley? ;D
I always do 2 at a time. Takes 24 - 26 hours total cook time yo reach 185 then FTC. I have left in the cooler up to 5 hours an still burn my fingers when pulling. Remember they're done when they're done - don't rush things.
Once I finished in the oven and cut some time off but thought they lost some smoke flavor - so I haven't repeated that since.
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I always cook 2 at a time also. You are good to go just give yourself plenty of time...
I have done 2 8 lb butts and 1 15lb brisket all at the same time in my OBS. I do have the dual element mod so it did help with the temp recovery.
To help with heat recovery I always keep a foil wrapped brick in the bottom of the smoker...some even jam in two bricks...helps the cabinet get back up to temp faster.
Good luck!
Mark (in Ottawa)
To help with temp recovery you can replace the water bowl with a foil 9x13 pan filled with boiling water also.
Stevo, to help with the initial heat recovery when I was smoking a turkey breast on a cold, windy day, I preheated my smoking bricks in a 400 degree oven. When I put the turkey into the smoker, I put the hot bricks into the smoker on the bottom rack of my 6 rack. Worked really well.