Butt Help - Rookie

EggLuver

I'm pretty inexperienced in the Boston Butt department. I was hoping to be having pulled pork for dinner around 8:00-8:30 this evening and it's starting to look like I may be headed to KFC instead!!

The butt has been on for exactly 8 hrs and 53 min. right now. The Egg has done great and stayed steady at 235-245 degrees the whole time. Problem is this "plateau" thing is killing me. The meat has be sitting on 159 for what seems like forever now and is still not going up!!

Can anyone make an good guess about how much longer I might be looking at? My parents are planning to come over for dinner at 8:00 and I KNOW it won't be ready by then. Should I plan to go ahead and get some fried chicken??

Oh yeah, almost forget to tell you that it is only a 4.17 lb butt. I thought it would be done in about 8 or 9 hours.

Florida Grillin Girl

KICK UP the temperature! Quick!
It will be fine, but you have to raise the temp here at the end.

FlaPoolman

foil it and bump the temp to 350 then hope for the best

Florida Grillin Girl

OK, so Poolman has 8,000 posts on me, but no matter, crank the temp up and you will be fine....

FlaPoolman

yea but those are all picking on Steve :evil: :laugh:
your the one with the great cooking pics

EggLuver

Ok guys, I'll raise the temp, but... I really don't have a problem with just eating chicken tonight and having the pork tomorrow for lunch. I don't want to take the chance that I'll mess it up here at the end after waiting so patiently all day.

What would be the BEST thing to do? Try to rush it, or just leave it alone? I've heard that you really shouldn't even open the Egg till it at least gets to 190.

What do you think?

EggLuver

By the way, it is staring to move a little. At 161 degrees right now, after 9 hours and 18 minutes.

FlaPoolman

your call on the chicken but bumping the temp won't hurt it foiling or not. It's already 8:15 here :ermm:

EggLuver

Ok, dome is at 248 and butt is on 163 now. I think it may be moving past the plateau phase. I'm good with eating around 9:00, which is about 35 minutes from now. What are my chances of getting to 190 in the next half hour???

FlaPoolman

my guess is 1 1/2 2 hours left even at higher temps

Florida Grillin Girl

Go to plan B, which I hope does not have to be egged!

Florida Grillin Girl

Stall the parents. "just eating chicken" does not cut it when you have been smelling smoke all day!!

EggLuver

Egg temp = 269
Butt temp = 168
10 hour cook so far!
Good grief!!! Live and learn!

doubleapex

1.5 TO 2hrs per pound I think is the going rule of thumb for pork shoulder...but I've also heard, each butt will always cook slightly differently. No expert...just what I've heard.

Rolling Egg

Next time you cook one, stay at 250 dome at least. You wouldn't believe the problems that cooking below 250 have caused. The 1.5 to 2 hrs per pound is based off of a 250 dome temp I do believe. 8 hours at 230 for instance instead of 250 could easily add a few hours to your overall cook time. Your at least two hours away from now.

EggLuver

Thanks everyone. Had KFC for dinner at 10:00 tonight!!! Currently the Egg is at 258 and the pork just now hit 190. It has been cooking for 13.5 hours and it is just over 4lbs!!! I'm going to let it get to about 195. Guess I'll be up a little longer waiting for it.

Next time I'll keep it at 250 from the start!

1klrvette

I'm starting my first try at a boston butt today, it's 10.55lbs I was going to allow 24hr I may need to start it now for 5PM tomorrow

Scott