Been almost 2 hours and still at 185 degrees

[weazel]

Trying to do some pork butts, It's 70 degrees outside and I cant get this thing over 185. How long can I wait for it to get to temp before I spoil the meat? It's already been 1:45
The meat is at about 90 right now

[weazel]

anyone?

[Mr Walleye]

Is the element red?

Mike

[Mr Walleye]

I guess to add to the questions...

How many butts ?

Mike

[Mr Walleye]

And what are you using and where is it placed to measure the cabinet temps?

Mike

[weazel]

using a maverick 733, the probe is in the middle of the cabinet about an inch over a butt

4 butts, between 4-5 pounds each

It has now been about 2.5 hours and the cabinet temp is now 196, the IT of the butts is 108-110

I dont want to open the cabinet to look at the element but it was up to 310 before I put the butts in. They were not straight from the fridge

[Mr Walleye]

You really want to measure the temperature that the meat is exposed to. By having the temp probe above the butts, the butts themselves are influencing your readings. Based on the internal rise of the butts I would say the cabinet temps are higher than you currently reading.

I would let it ride and you'll be fine.

If you have the butts on two separate racks I would rotate them a couple of times to even them out. The lower ones will be sucking the heat up and giving off moisture and therefore cooling the air temperature above them.

Mike

[weazel]

I will let it ride, I dont want to open the cabinet

[beefmann]

with a 20 lb load, be patient , the box temp will come up as the  meat cooks,,,