Smoking a Boston Butt

rclark1187 · February 2012

Hello, I am new to the BGE. After doing a whole chicken and a pork tenderloin (they were great) I am going to do a 7 lb butt. After reading much of the material on the forum I'm down to a couple of questions. I would appreciate any help.

I am confused on how much charcoal to put in the egg (large size). I have read about separating the sizes but do you use the whole bag (22 lbs)? The next thing is I've read that some folks stack the charcoal up to the top of the fire ring. Also, has anyone tried mesquite?

stike · February 2012

ease of mesquite for now, at least for PP. hickory is probably most traditional for butt. cherry is good, apple. i like oak for beef.

fill the egg up to the underside of the fire ring, or a little higher. you want plenty of lump, but no need to go to the top of the fire ring, that would be the underside of the grid.

it won't burn it all. and you can reuse the leftover.

don't obsess about stacking and size. but yeah, bigger chunks at the fire garte can help prevent ash from clogging it later on in the cook. ...but i bet 90% of us dump and run. i know of one guy who maybe has OCD or something and vacuums the thing out each time. not for me.

rclark1187 · February 2012

Thanks Stike. Apprciate the response. What do you use mesquite on. For years I have used mesquite when grilling steaks.

stike · February 2012

yeah. i think beef is the go-to for mesquite. i don't mind it. some think it is too strong, but it's only as string as however much you use, right?

it's great for brisket, tri-tip, steaks, etc.

we don't get much mesquite up where i am

Little Steven · February 2012

Mesquite can be very pungent on a long cook. I think stike was letting you know that it can be overpowering. Just to add my 2 cents, go a little light on whatever wood you use the first couple of times til you get used to it. The egg retains a lot of smoke flavour without a lot of wood.

Steve

Little Steven · February 2012

And I guess I should learn to type faster (do they still call it typing?)

rclark1187 · February 2012

What I've read is 3 fist sized chunks.

Little Steven · February 2012

I usually use one but not a big fan of smoke flavour. I think PP can take the smoke but it's still very good without much. Depends on your personal taste in the end. I wouldn't go more than three. I've pitched a couple of cooks cause of too much.

boatbum · February 2012

You would never see me vacumn ... though prior to a long cook, I do have a little whish brush that I clean out every bit of ash....

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Smoking a Boston Butt

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