2 butt cooking times

JPhilip

i have only done a few butts and always turb. An 8 pounder usually takes 5 hrs or so on the egg. Next cook needs to be 2 8 pounders. Does this alter cooking time?  Just a bit or more like double?

hoosier_egger

Two separate masses. Same time frame. What temp are you cooking to get a butt done in 5 hours? 

JPhilip

I have great difficulty stabilizing temps. Usually 325-350

tarheelmatt

They may not finish at the same time, but can be close.  It will not be double.  Each piece of meat is different.  Go by temp not time, but know that they'll be similar.  

tarheelmatt

JPhilip said:

I have great difficulty stabilizing temps. Usually 325-350

Share your steps, let's diagnose your problems.  Come.  Come sit on the couch and tell me your problems.  

JPhilip

Tried low and slow and fire always goes out. Switched to digiQ and trying for 300 degrees. Initial problems may have been ash around side holes but I have now cleaned those out. Anyway, load egg w BGE brand lump nearly full. 4-5 large chunks apple wood with largest in center right below where I light the lump several inches deep, others at varying depth around outer grill. Light w the cardboard type fire starter. Egg and vents full open till good fire then close lid and finally add digiQ and daisy wheel w wheel vents 100% open. Hard to get 350 dome but I can. Grate will be much lower. I have grate probe on grate where protected by platesetter. DigiQ set to 300 grate. In an hour it will be there but always tends to rise to 325-350. Over several hours it seems to settle around 308. 

As as for meat, rubbed in mustard and dry rub then on egg. Usually  only out of fridge an hour or less. I foil at170+ then pull at 204 and FTC till dinner. Foil captures great juice to add back when pulled. Always good just hard to plan as it is always done sooner than I think

jtcBoynton

"Egg and vents full open till good fire then close lid and finally add digiQ and daisy wheel w wheel vents 100% open."

Don't open vents all the way.  Vents should be set to achieve a temp below what you want and then the digiQ will use its fan to increase airflow to get the desired temp.  The digiQ cannot lower temps below what the vent settings will allow without fan assist.

henapple

Start a spot in the center, wait a few minutes and start the digiq