A brisket, a butt, and a busy schedule

jimmyb · October 28, 2010, 06:52:18 AM

So I have a party on Sat night at 7:00 which I was planning on smoking a butt and a brisket. I had it all planned. I bought a 8.5 lb butt and a 9.5 lb brisket. I was going to start late Friday afternoon/early Friday night. Well, then my schedule was changed. I will not be around the smoker from 4 pm Friday night until around midnight or 1:00 am. So how to schedule this one? Keep in mind I do not have a PID or a second element. Here are what i see as my options. Please feel free to provide suggestions.

1. Start smoking around 2:00 - 3:00 pm Friday, fill the SG with bisquets and let it smoke until I get home that night. I would expect it to be done late Sat morning (most likely not at the same time). FTC for as many hours as possible.

2. Same as option one but only add enough bisquets for about four hours

3. Start it all when I get back at 12:00 1:00 AM and hope it is done in time (I doubt it though)

My concerns are the amount of smoke and the amount of FTC I would need. I could keep the pulled pork in the crock pot as long as needed I guess. Any suggestions on how long I could FTC the brisket and what to do if that is still too early. Or maybe my time estimates are way off.

FLBentRider · October 28, 2010, 07:01:02 AM

I'd go with option #2.

In a "five day" igloo, I can keep butts hot for 4-6 hours easy.

You could take a couple of bricks, wrap them in foil and put them in a 500F oven for 30 minutes.

Put a thick towel in the bottom of the cooler, then the bricks, then another towel, then your butt and or brisket (also in foil and towels)

and... don't use the "good" towels. ::)

KyNola · October 28, 2010, 07:07:27 AM

I'm with FLBR on this one. Go for option 2. If they get finished early, FTC them both. They will hold for several hours.

squirtthecat · October 28, 2010, 07:09:12 AM

Ditto.

And double ditto on "don't use the 'good' towels"..

FLBentRider · October 28, 2010, 07:12:07 AM

Quote from: squirtthecat on October 28, 2010, 07:09:12 AM

Ditto.

And double ditto on "don't use the 'good' towels"..

In our home towels have a "lifecycle"

Adults -> kids -> dogs -> FTC

jimmyb · October 28, 2010, 09:09:38 AM

My concern with option 2 is only loading enough bisquits for 4 hours. Will the last one just sit there and burn (no bubba pucks yet) and cause a bad taste in the meat?

FLBentRider · October 28, 2010, 10:25:35 AM

It will be less that using 8 hours of pucks - that is a lot of smoke.

Butts are a very forgiving roast.

KyNola · October 28, 2010, 01:21:21 PM

I wouldn't worry about that last puck sitting there. When you come home quickly open the door to the smoker and knock the puck off the burner and close door as quick as you can.

BuyLowSellHigh · October 28, 2010, 01:23:16 PM

Personally, I wouldn't load it with 8 hours of pucks and walk away. That is a LOT of smoke. Also, I would want to dump the water pan or bowl of burnt pucks, and refill with hot water before leaving it for 8 hours. Is there any way you can start it a bit earlier, get four hours of smoke, dump and refill the pan before you leave it?