Preheating ?

[Orion]

Has anyone ever preheated a pork shoulder before placing in the preheated Bradley ? I was considering bringing a 7 lb shoulder up to 140 F in the kitchen oven and then putting in BDS set at 225 F and smoking and cooking as normal. Reason being, I think this might bring it up to temp for pulling a little faster...shave a few hours off the BDS time? Would this effect the shoulders ability to take the smoke?

[manxman]

There is an excellent little paperback book by a guy called Keith Erlandson (Home Smoking and Curing),he stresses the importance of a period of cold smoking prior to any hot smoking to avoid "case hardening" and impart the smoke flavour which reduces as the temperature increases.

When the BS is used "normally" this is what in essence happens; a period of cold smoking whilst the contents heat up which is when most of the actual smoke adherence occurs. Preheating at 140F would preclude this process in my opinion and from a personal point of view is one reason why I have never upgraded the heat element in my smoker albeit on some occasions I could do with the extra wattage!  :)

[Orion]

Manxman, thanks for the info. What you described makes good sense. I'll skip the preheating thought.

[_Bear_]

I always get my smoker as hot as it will get (usually around 300*), get the smoke rolling then put whatever I am smoking in then drop temp to my desired smoking temp. Temp still drops down, but not as bad

[Orion]

That's something I've never tried Bear. Next time I'll do that. Shoulder has currently been in smoker for 9.5 hours and passed the stall about an hour ago. IT is now 168F. Going to continue until it reaches 190 F and then allow to rest for an hour. Should be ready just in time to watch the Raptors win game 4.