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Bone-in Chops: Direct or Indirect

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rabBGE
rabBGE Posts: 4
in Pork
Hey all - I've cooked pork chops twice this week. I grilled the first group on direct heat... turned out okay, but I let the internal temp get away from me a little... pulled at about 155. Yikes. I don't think I should have thrown my soaked wood chunks into the middle of the grill. Maybe along the edges would have been smarter? Flames picked up a bit and cooked through faster than I hoped. They weren't bad or particularly dry... just a little firmer than I would have preferred. The pair I cooked last night went indirect. They were about 1.5 inches thick. Pulled at about 144 internal temp and were better. Took a photo you should be able to see here.

Do you have a preference between direct or indirect? Or maybe it doesn't matter much as long as you pull at the right internal temp?

Also, this is my first real post. I've had an XLBGE for about a year and man do I love it. Thanks for indulging me. :)

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  • pgprescott
    pgprescott Posts: 14,544
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    Direct for me. Pic looks great. I don't use any smoking wood for steaks and chops. Personal preference. 
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  • Darby_Crenshaw
    Darby_Crenshaw Posts: 2,657
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    they look great to me.

    they are steaks.  you wouldn't bake a steak, wouldja? always direct.  unless they are so big that they are a roast. hahaha

    really thick chops you can sear and then roast.  drag them off to the side, or you can go reverse sear.  that'd be indirect and the direct.

    i find it easier to grill direct then move the meat off to the side where it is cooler.

    FWIW, you shouldn't have any flames from wood chunk or chips.  maybe when you open the dome (and it gets a fresh inrush of air), but when you shut it, they will go out.  fairly quickly too, even at nuclear temps.

    the flames from the chips didn't overcook the pork.  flames are colder than the lump anyway.


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  • XLentEGG
    XLentEGG Posts: 436
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    They look like the ones I just ate for dinner !! Good Job :-)
    More meat please !! :-)
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  • chrisc133
    chrisc133 Posts: 501
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    Raised direct on thick chops here. 
    Augusta, GA
    #BGETEAMGREEN member
    MiniMax, Large, XL BGE
    Featured on Man Fire Food Season 7
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  • rabBGE
    rabBGE Posts: 4
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    Darby_Crenshaw said:
    they look great to me.

    they are steaks.  you wouldn't bake a steak, wouldja? 

    D'oh! ... well if you want to put it that way. ;) 
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  • rabBGE
    rabBGE Posts: 4
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    Thanks for the feedback folks!
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  • DMW
    DMW Posts: 13,832
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    Both, like @Darby_Crenshaw said.

    They/Them
    Morgantown, PA

    XL BGE - S BGE - KJ Jr - HB Legacy - BS Pizza Oven - 30" Firepit - King Kooker Fryer -  PR72T - WSJ - BS 17" Griddle - XXL BGE  - BS SS36" Griddle - 2 Burner Gasser - Pellet Smoker
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  • MotownVol
    MotownVol Posts: 1,040
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    Direct.   Great looking chops.
    Morristown TN, LBGE and Mini-Max.
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