My First Boston Butt....

Unknown

I have a couple of questions. I am in hour number 13 of my 2 4+lbs boston butts. My internal temperature is 150 degrees. My Egg temp is 220 degrees. I am concerned because the internal temperature of the butts was around 158 but in the last hour and a half it has started to go down. My egg temp did get down to around 205 degrees, but I was able to move it right back up so I don't think my fire is out. Any help would be appreciate! Thanks!

Nature Boy

Buckhead Egg,
Sounds like you barely have enough heat to keep it in the plateau. I would notch it up closer to 250. You have a ways to go![p]Enjoy!
Chris

Unknown

Nature Boy,[p]Thanks for the help. After I get it to 250, how long should I keep it there?

JeffHughes

Buckhead egg,[p]As long as it takes to get to around 200* or so...[p]Regards-Jeff

Unknown

Jeff Hughes,[p]All right, My temp in the egg is now around 235 - 240. I will keep there for a little bit just to get a good fire going again. But I want leave it there long. Drop it back down to around 220.[p]Thanks for the help.[p]Mike Hendrix

Wise One

Buckhead Egg, don't be afraid to leave it around 240 or 250. You don't want to go much above that but it's hard to maintain 220 sometimes. It sounds like you are making great progress. Also don't dispair if the internal temp hovers right at 160 for quite a while. That is actually what you want. It will get up to 200-205 and you will enjoy the results.

thirdeye

Buckhead Egg,
Thermometers are very valuable tools in all cookers but maintaining your target temp at the grate is your goal. Your Dome temp will be higher than your grate temp, (In my LGE the grate temp runs about 20° - 25° colder, depending on the type of load, than the dome temp when doing a lo-n-slo cook). Use the dome thermometer as an indicator but determine your actual grate temp and your cooks will become more predictable and easier to duplicate.[p]~thirdeye~