Smoking fun, despite nature.

[Uncle Pigfat]

I had a little get together last night, and for it I made a 4.6 lb butt, ABTs, and a fatty.  Everything was going pretty great until my butt stalled in the 140*s and decided it was going to take all afternoon to cook.  Then a 30% chance of rain turned into a torrential downpour.  Everything still turned out really good, and better yet, I changed an old friends mind about barbecue sauce and pork (How in the hell does someone not like pork???  I'm seriously calling into question what his mother fed him growing up).  He said it was the best meal he's ever had, so pork - 1, bad taste - 0.

Here's the fatty:
I ventured away from my normal bacon explosion.  1 lb of hot sausage with a half lb of regular old pork sausage mixed with a generous splashing of Smoked Chipotle Tabasco sauce, onions, and jalapenos:


Double layer of Stubb's Spicey Barbecue Sauce and some cheddar cheese:


celo'ed and off to the fridge until I'm ready to cook it:




This was good, but not what I thought it would be.  I think I'll stick with the hot meat on meat decadence of the bacon explosion.


ABTs.. Amazing!  I filled them with cream cheese, cheddar cheese and chorizo:


and the butt:


I'm having some issues with the last 2 butts I've made.  I get them to 190* IT with my BDS set to 230, rotate the rack every few hours (middle racks -second from top or bottom), and FTC for at least an hour, usually longer.  They come out juicy, delicious, and tender, but do not pull very easily despite the bone cleanly sliding right out.  These butts have been between 4 and 6 lbs and have taken 12 to 13 hrs to cook.  Is there something I'm doing wrong or is it just the butts?  It's only certain part's of the butt.  Other parts pull like a dream.  I'm assuming it's just the meat and out of my control, but if it's me, suggestions are more than welcome.

The storm hit right when the butt hit the 160*s.. This is my improvised shelter.  The rain was coming in sideways..directly at the smoker.  The shelter worked really well.

[classicrockgriller]

Butts have a mind of their on sometimes.

I have had butts double stall at 140 and again at 160.

Just when you think you have them figuredout, they show

you a different side.

This is just me, but I think the key to a good butt is the FTC.

I hardly ever have to smoke/cook for a deadline. So I can

FTC as long as I want and it seems the longer I go the better

the pull and the flavor of the butt.

[Uncle Pigfat]

The first butt I did was 5.5 lbs and only took 9 hrs to cook.  I ended up FTCing for close to 7 hours and it had only dropped in IT to 124*.  I think next time I make a butt I'm going to do the long FTC again and see what happens.  Unfortunately, when I start my smokes at 2am I don't sleep  :'(

[Wildcat]

I cook mine at 205 degrees cabinet temperature until the meat temp is around 170 to 190 (usually about 185) and have never had that problem. With butts cooked at the lower cabinet temp you can stop cooking at lower meat temp and not really need the FTC. I would still recommend wraping in foil and let it rest on the counter for a couple of hours.

[classicrockgriller]

The first butt I did was 5.5 lbs and only took 9 hrs to cook.  I ended up FTCing for close to 7 hours and it had only dropped in IT to 124*.  I think next time I make a butt I'm going to do the long FTC again and see what happens.  Unfortunately, when I start my smokes at 2am I don't sleep  :'(

I know what you mean! I normally don't do anything but look,

but it is hard to close my eyes when something is smokin'.

[OmahaBen]

The storm hit right when the butt hit the 160*s.. This is my improvised shelter.  The rain was coming in sideways..directly at the smoker.  The shelter worked really well.

I'm surprised no one has mentioned the impressive looking storm shelter.  It's funny what you can build at the last minute when you have to. 

[FLBentRider]

It's amazing what you can cobble up when you are trying to save your "butt"

[TestRocket]

A scramble into the garage, maybe the attic or under the house, bungee hooks in the back of the truck...whatever it takes?  ;D

[hal4uk]

Hey Unc,  Try getting it to IT of 195° and FTC for 4+ hours.
Wrap it good, and stuff as many towels as you can fit around it in the cooler.
At 195°, they will usually pull with no problem (practically fall apart), but not always.

The whole butt (in FTC) will gradually stabilize in temp (with the IT still rising), and then very slowly drop in temp.  During this time, the last of any stubborn collagen will give up, and the juices will redistribute nicely throughout -- and it will almost pull itself.

[Uncle Pigfat]

I'm going to try that as well as setting the temp lower next time.  Either 210 or 220.  I'll just have to start it at midnight the night before.  I feel like these smaller butts get angry when it's set around 230 and get even with me by stalling twice.  I have a Maverick shipping right now after one of my probes met it's fate against the brick wall of my porch the morning of this smoke.  Hopefully it gives me a little better insight as to what's going on inside the cabinet instead of that piece of sh*t.  It was a cheap-o farberware - the best experience I had with it was shattering it.

[classicrockgriller]

I have a Maverick shipping right now after one of my probes met it's fate against the brick wall of my porch the morning of this smoke.  Hopefully it gives me a little better insight as to what's going on inside the cabinet instead of that piece of sh*t.  It was a cheap-o farberware - the best experience I had with it was shattering it.

You didn't happen to catch that on Video did you? I love action films. ;D

[Uncle Pigfat]

I doubt it was very exciting. Par for the course vitriol. A gradual crescendo of obscenities ending with a smash.

[Mr B]

Dude, that all looks Killer!  Great job on the Lean-To Rain shelter   ;D