First Pulled Pork => 50% Successful

[st3v32k12]

Tried my first pulled pork.  Got a nice trimmed pork shoulder from my butcher, about 5.5 lbs.  Rubbed it in my own dry rub and let it sit overnight.  4 hours of smoke, and 8 hours of cook time.  Actually I had a thermometer in the shoulder and I took it out when it hit 82C (180F), which ended up being almost exactly 8 hours at 225F.

I did not FTC, as a link I got in these forums said it was not necessary.

The pork was delicious, but not easily pullable.

What could I have done OTHER than FTC to make it fall apart pullable?  Did I not cook it long enough?  Do I HAVE to FTC?

[squirtthecat]

Try 190° or 195° next time, then pull.

I take butts to 200° more often than not...   They almost disintegrate just picking them up off of the rack.

[Tenpoint5]

Yep what Squirt said. You just pulled it out too soon. I am also in the 190-200 club. When you get to 190 you can stick the butt with a fork and twist it. If the meat starts to shred easily then you can take it out and pull it. Just do us one favor. AT A MINIMUM cover the butt with foil (Tent) and let it sit for 20-30 minutes before you pull it. Give the juices time to settle back into the center of the meat. That way you don't have juice running all over the counter and dry pulled pork

[beefmann]

Try 190° or 195° next time, then pull.

I take butts to 200° more often than not...   They almost disintegrate just picking them up off of the rack.

x2

[st3v32k12]

Wow.  Thanks for the tips!  Now I want to run out and by another one immediately.

Oh any FYI, I did let it rest for 20 minutes or so, but as you have pointed, no amount of resting would have made it as juicy and "pullable" as bringing it to 190-200.

Any tips on approximate time per pound to get to 190-200, just so it's easier to plan the overall time needed?

Thanks!!!

[Habanero Smoker]

Did you try moving the food probe around to make sure it was in the thickest part of the butt, or not in a void area where it could get a false reading. By moving it around you may find that the temperature in the thickest part is much lower.

[TedEbear]

.

Any tips on approximate time per pound to get to 190-200, just so it's easier to plan the overall time needed?

The general rule of thumb is 1.5-2 hours per lb.  However, I had a 6.9 lb butt take 16.5 hours to reach 195 recently, with a chamber temp of 220*F.

[Consooger]

I make my butts to IT of 195 - 200 degrees. Nothing less. As squirt said, only half of the butt comes off the rack when I pick it up to pull it.

John

[zueth]

I take mine to 195 and FTC or at least 4 hours. The FTC is a must

[TedEbear]

As squirt said, only half of the butt comes off the rack when I pick it up to pull it.

I lay out a piece of foil that I'm going to use for the FTC.  Then I remove the entire rack and flip it upside-down onto the foil.  If it falls apart on the foil it doesn't matter since it is all getting wrapped up for a couple of hours anyway. 

These Frogmats from Yard and Pool work well to keep the butts from sticking to the rack.

[Indy Smoker]

Gotta go to at least 190.

And I strongly recommend to FTC, that gets the juices back in and is key !
As far as timing goes, it's done when it's done.  I've cooked 2 that have taken up to 26 hours.  Be patient grasshopper.

If you want to try something different add a tray below the butt to catch the drippings.  I use a rub that contains a bit of cayenne and I keep the drippings to add when making baked beans.  Everyone goes crazy and asks how I got the flavor and just the right amount of heat in the beans.  Shhhhh  secret!

[beefmann]

Wow.  Thanks for the tips!  Now I want to run out and by another one immediately.

Oh any FYI, I did let it rest for 20 minutes or so, but as you have pointed, no amount of resting would have made it as juicy and "pullable" as bringing it to 190-200.

Any tips on approximate time per pound to get to 190-200, just so it's easier to plan the overall time needed?

Thanks!!!

not applicable here considering im running a 900 watt element and blower. which makes my  smoker a convection smoker  cutting down the cooking time up to 50 %

[zueth]

Wow.  Thanks for the tips!  Now I want to run out and by another one immediately.

Oh any FYI, I did let it rest for 20 minutes or so, but as you have pointed, no amount of resting would have made it as juicy and "pullable" as bringing it to 190-200.

Any tips on approximate time per pound to get to 190-200, just so it's easier to plan the overall time needed?

Thanks!!!

Mine take between 18-24 hours normally, when its done its done.  Also it taste just as good when it reheated the next day.  So cook ahead a time and reheat when needed.

[mhiykmeel63]

Doing 2 twin paks from Sams tomorrow. ive had alot of luck transferring over to the oven after the smoke. Normally try pullin around the 185 mark but Im gonna shoot for the 200 mark tomorrow. I usually go with 4 hours smoke when i do 2, should I smoke them for 5 or 6 hours since ive got more meat going?

[TedEbear]

I usually go with 4 hours smoke when i do 2, should I smoke them for 5 or 6 hours since ive got more meat going?

More meat shouldn't matter on the smoking part of it.  They'll just take a little longer to cook than if it was only one in the chamber.  I do 3-4 hours on the smoke, no matter how much I'm cooking.