Holding in digital smoker instead of FTC

[VTSmoker]

If I smoked 4 5lb port butts in my new digital smoker (I thought they were 2 10pounders and was about to get started, they are 4 boneless), and erred on the side of caution...could I do this:

Once they hit 205, lower the smoker to 200 (i guess i cant do increments of 5)  and let them sit until i'm  a few hours from the party and then FTC?  How long could i let them sit at 200 in the smoker, untouched?

[Wildcat]

I personally would simply FTC until dinner time. I fail to understand why you would want to continue cooking. It could turn mushy if you cook past the fork test.

[VTSmoker]

Im just worried that at 5 pounds each, if I start nowish, they wont take the 18 hours i thought the 10 pounders would take.  And being bonless, they look kinda butterflied and not thick in any one point.

[VTSmoker]

I guess a better question would be, if it looks like i'm going to be over 8 hours to serving time, should i saran then foil it and hold in the Bradley at 160 or 170 or so until i'm closer to the 8 hour FTC that i'm used to?

[Habanero Smoker]

I guess a better question would be, if it looks like i'm going to be over 8 hours to serving time, should i saran then foil it and hold in the Bradley at 160 or 170 or so until i'm closer to the 8 hour FTC that i'm used to?

Yes! You could do that. Maybe add about 1/4 cup of apple juice or other liquid before tightly wrapping. if it is only 8 hours or less, you may be able to skip the plastic wrap. Another method would be to put two each into a foil pan, add liquid and tightly cover with foil, and hold them at around 160°F to 170°F.

[Grouperman941]

I would pull and seal in a pan (with a little apple juice if dry) and hold at 160-170 until needed.