Two butts - one cooking too slow

friscotex

Put two 8# butts on last night at 8pm with guru steady at 245 grid. They have been on nearly 12 hours. One has progressed nicely and is at 185 internal. The other is really lagging at 162. Ideally, I'd like to get them in the cooler in about 3 more hours in time for our early afternoon gathering. Should I bump up the temp, and if so, to where? How high could I go without screwing things up? Thanks in advance

Mainegg

you could bump it up a little. but don't stress over it. do you have something else that has to go on the egg?
the two I did did that to me yesterday. the 8 lb was done and the 7.5 was lagging. pulled the larger one and foiled and into the cooler and centered and bumped up the temp to 260 gave the slower one another hour and was fine. both fell apart pulling.

friscotex

Nothing else to cook on the egg today. Thanks for your advice. I'll plan to pull the first one when it hits 200 or so, then bump up the temp on the second one.

Mainegg

Has the temp come up anymore on it? It might just be in the plateau longer and all at once spike on you. every one is different. best part is no one will be able to tell the difference and you just smile and take the praise

friscotex

Butt #1 has now reached 199 and I'll pull it soon. Butt #2 has now gone up to 173. I think it's on the move, so I'm going to bump temp to 275. What do you think about that?

Jruss

The temp on the 2nd butt is taking so long due to a natural process in which the fat is being liquified and is being obsorbed by the surronding tissue giving the meat more flavor. Increasing the temp may cause you to ruin the 2nd butt.

friscotex

I think I'm through the plateau. Have read some other posts that indicate that once you're past that, you could ramp up temp for the final leg.