Best Way to Freeze Smoked Boston Butt - Whole or Pulled?

[VCUHokieFan]

I am smoking two 7.5lbs Boston Butt's tomorrow. I want to freeze them to take with us to the beach the following week and reheat on 7/18 so about 10 days from smoking, which is obivously too much just to keep in the fridge. I have read articles about freezing the butt both whole unpulled and totally pulled.

If I freeze it whole, should I FTC it or put it with ice in a cooler, cool it down, and freeze each in a food saver bag?

If I pull it, I would just FTC it and then pull it and freeze it in food saver bags. I am debating on pulled because I doubt I can resist the temptation of eating some hehe.

I tried to seach for information on here with different experiences freezing but couldn't find anything. Sorry if I'm repeating some article, but I couldn't find it hehe.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[Habanero Smoker]

VCUHokieFan;
Welcome to the forum.

I always pull the butt prior to packaging it in vacuum sealable bags. It pulls better when it is warm, and I would believe that it warms up easier. Also, after packaging I will let it set in the refrigerator for one day to let the flavors meld a bit before I freeze it. Since you are going to vacuum seal it, you can easily reheat by dropping the bags in boiling water and letting it simmer until warmed through.

[Consiglieri]

I just reheated some pulled pork "carnitas" I vacuum sealed and froze last week.  This technique Habs describes works well. 

[VCUHokieFan]

Cool, well that's what I'm going to do then. I just opened the smoker to spray a little apple juice on them and yum yum. It's 6:52AM and I put the two 7.5lbs butts in at 10:00PM. They are at 145 degrees right now. I figure by 3-4 this afternoon, 195 degrees is in my grasp hehe.

Thanks!

[Wildcat]

I do the same as Habs.  A word of advice.  Be sure to let it heat up long enough.  I have rushed it a bit and wound up with the center still being cold with the exterior hot.  Microwave fixes that problem, but results are better in the hot water.

[Carter]

Hi Wildcat or Habs,

Any recommendation on a home use vacuum sealer?  I've been thinking of getting one, but have no idea of what I need and what I should be paying for.

Thanks.

Carter

[Wildcat]

Food Saver does a perfect job for me.

[Lefty_Smoker]

I ordered a new FoodSaver V2860 a couple days ago.  It is supposed to be delivered later today.  Hopefully it will do all I ask of it. 

Where is the best place to find cheap bags/rolls? 

[irish_smoker]

Where is the best place to find cheap bags/rolls?

I get mine at Sam's Club and those will last me several months.

[Habanero Smoker]

I ordered a new FoodSaver V2860 a couple days ago.  It is supposed to be delivered later today.  Hopefully it will do all I ask of it. 

Where is the best place to find cheap bags/rolls? 

I got my food saver from Sam's, and often get my bags there. They seem to have the lowest everyday price for bags, but before I purchase any bags I always go to Food Saver website to see if they are having any specials. Some times I find some great deals on bags that beat Sam's, and that is including postage.

[Wildcat]

For me WalMart is closer for me, but if I go to Sam's for other things I get mine there as well.