Small butt timing question...

radamo · June 30, 2012, 07:29:20 AM

I have only done one butt so far and it was a biggin' (about 12 lbs). We just picked up a 7 lb butt and I am trying to decide if I can get it done in a day and still have for a 5 or 6 PM dinner. How many hours will it take in the Bradley? I try to maintain 225 or so.
Any help would be appreciated...
RA

KyNola · June 30, 2012, 07:37:35 AM

It's done when it is done but a best guess is going to be 10-14 hours. You can always move the butt to your house oven to finish after the smoking period. Your house oven should hold the 225 temp more consistently.

radamo · June 30, 2012, 07:41:03 AM

Thanks for the quick reply. I was afraid that would be the answer. Other than getting up at 4 in the morning I am not sure how to make this happen. I can't do it overnight because it may cook too quickly... How do others make this work out? Do you cook on day 1 and then FTC for a few hours. Then refrigerate and reheat the next day???
Thanks,
RA

mikecorn.1 · June 30, 2012, 07:41:59 AM

Ditto on Larry's post.

mikecorn.1 · June 30, 2012, 07:45:32 AM

Quote from: radamo on June 30, 2012, 07:41:03 AM
Thanks for the quick reply. I was afraid that would be the answer. Other than getting up at 4 in the morning I am not sure how to make this happen. I can't do it overnight because it may cook too quickly... How do others make this work out? Do you cook on day 1 and then FTC for a few hours. Then refrigerate and reheat the next day???
Thanks,
RA

Yes you can. I sometimes will smoke mine, pull, vac pack and freeze in portions that we can eat for dinner later on. It always taste great if not better.

Up In Smoke · June 30, 2012, 07:51:43 AM

Quote from: mikecorn.1 on June 30, 2012, 07:45:32 AM
Quote from: radamo on June 30, 2012, 07:41:03 AM
Thanks for the quick reply. I was afraid that would be the answer. Other than getting up at 4 in the morning I am not sure how to make this happen. I can't do it overnight because it may cook too quickly... How do others make this work out? Do you cook on day 1 and then FTC for a few hours. Then refrigerate and reheat the next day???
Thanks,
RA
Yes you can. I sometimes will smoke mine, pull, vac pack and freeze in portions that we can eat for dinner later on. It always taste great if not better.

x2, i would recommend pulling before cooling if you are going to reheat next day, It makes it taste more better ;D

radamo · June 30, 2012, 08:03:47 AM

Great info guys...
Thanks for all the butt "tips"!
RA

bus33 · June 30, 2012, 09:58:10 AM

I did an 8 pounder last week. I went at 250 starting at 11:30 PM and it was 190 degrees at 7:30 AM. I FTC'd it until 11 and pulled it apart for lunch.

radamo · July 01, 2012, 03:54:32 AM

Maybe I will try to overnight it. Was looking for a 12 - 14 pounder but couldn't find one this week.
RA

mhiykmeel63 · July 01, 2012, 08:48:06 AM

Just pulled 2 7pounders this morning. Went in yesterday around 4pm and done around 9am. I got up around 6 to do a quick check on them then backto sleep for a few hours.

Wazzulu · July 01, 2012, 08:22:33 PM

I line to start mine after work ( get off at 3pm) hitting temp about the time I wake or if a long stall at lunch for FTC.

Habanero Smoker · July 03, 2012, 02:45:12 AM

A seven pound butt is very close to the average size. So the times most members are posting should be around the time it will take you to finish your butt.

kingstar · July 03, 2012, 12:01:31 PM

If I am running a butt overnight and I am worried about it finishing too early I'll just keep the temp at around 200-210 overnight then bump it up in the morning. I've also gone 4.5 hours of FTC (in the Arizona sun) and still had it be too hot to handle when pulling. The FTC is your biggest tool to add a buffer between completing cooking and serving.