1st Butt, good but nerve racking

Jeff J

<p />Did my first butt saturday night. Wow. Started at 10:30 fire built per E. Ward instuctions - dead on 200 for 1 hour, then I fell asleep, woke up hour later and at 350. Figured I had ruined it, cut the dampers back and went to bed, woke up at 4:00 and fire out, dome temp still at 125 or so. Got fire going back at 200 steady, rose to 300 after internal temp stopped at 180. Ended up going 19:52 to hit 200 internal. Wrapped in foil for 30 min. Was afraid to pull but it was really great. Very tender and moist. All I used was JJ's rub. I figure the fire going out saved me. Used smoke & spice finishing sauce - vaulted vinegar, slightly adjusted and great. Not as smoky as I'd like but I guess I seared it during the 350 burst. Thanks to the board for all the tips I used.

Jeff J

<p />Here it is coming off the egg

LasVegasMac

Jeff J,[p]Congrats on the first butt - looks great. Your experience sounds very similiar to my first one. Dead on for awhile, then it blasted up way too high, etc. But in the end, it tasted great - big 'ol smile, "yep, we can do this again!"[p]And they keep getting better.[p]Happy Egg'n[p]LVM[p][p]

Mike McQ

<p />Jeff J,
Looks great! I just did my first butts weekend before last. That stuff is addicting:)

Banker John

Mike McQ,
From the looks of that square egg (must be some type of new design LOL) and all the smoky build up, you have done a few low & slow cooks.

Mike McQ

Banker John,
Yeah, this BGT (Big Green TraegerTrash) has done boo-koo ribs, chicken, turkeys etc. low & slow, just FINALLY got around to trying butts. WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG!!! Gonna do my next ones Hawaiian brined like I do my Hawaiian Luau Kalua styled turkey... killer turkey.