Pork Butt - The Definitive Guide

sixfive · February 2013

Being a noob to both the BGE and the forums, I want to start with: this forum is great. It’s the only forum I’ve ever seen that doesn’t end up with ridiculous arguments after the 3rd post! There is so much great and helpful information here I’m finding myself addicted.

The one difficulty I’m having is that a lot of the information is disjointed and piecemeal…so, for my first post, I wanted to gather info that could help everyone, noobs and veterans alike, by summarizing a single topic with consistent and complete information. This way, anyone looking for guidance on this topic could check the answers and generate a great plan for doing some good ‘work’ on a butt. That being said, please respond to this by copying/pasting the questions below and filling in YOUR answers.

Please respond with how YOU cook a BUTT - SLOW and LOW (NO TURBOS, please)…that could be another topic for another day…plesae don't list options and variables, this is how you'd do it with only one change and one BUTT to create a masterpiece!!!
Injection or no (what kind):
Marinate or no (what kind):
Direct/Indirect:
Cook Temp:
Meat Done Temp:
Wrap in foil: Y / N
If so, at what temp/time:
Rub or no (what kind):
Wood Type for smoke:
Cook time (average):
CyberQ or no:
Rest time:
Other thoughts:

sixfive · February 2013

I'm not qualified to respond as I've only done one and about to start my second but do want to answer as I'm not poaching recipes!

Injection or no (what kind): yes (creole butter)
Marinate or no (what kind): no
Direct/Indirect: indirect
Cook Temp: 265
Meat Done Temp: 190
Wrap in foil: Y
If so, at what temp/time: not sure
Rub or no (what kind): yes
Wood Type for smoke: hickory
Cook time (average): 8 hrs/ 4 lbs
CyberQ or no: yes
Rest time: 2 hrs
Other thoughts: The above info is from extremely limited experience.

lousubcap · February 2013

okyy-I provided some references and dutifully answered the questions-only to get hit with the approval process. Sucks! Gotta be the links!

Tried again and no links but got hit with the apporval process again...I'm finished.

bigphil · February 2013

Injection - yes i've found carolina red sauce to impart a nice flavor
Marinate - no
Indirect: - yes
Cook Temp: 265 grid
Meat Done Temp: 200/205
Wrap in foil: only if need to hold for a few hours after the cook
Rub - perk up your pork and coarse dizzy dust and a yellow mustard binder
Wood Type for smoke: apple . cherry and hickory
Cook time- depends on the size i allow a hour to a hour and a half per pound
CyberQ - yes
Rest time: maybe a hour then pulled and enjoyed and packaged up

Ragtop99 · February 2013

injection or no (what kind): - no
Marinate or no (what kind): - no
Direct/Indirect: - indirect
Cook Temp: - 250 to 290 based upon time available
Meat Done Temp: - 205, minimum 200* on all pokes with the thermapen
Wrap in foil: Y / N - N
If so, at what temp/time: No foil
Rub or no (what kind): - Cajun rub (home made)
Wood Type for smoke: Apple
Cook time (average): >1.5 hrs/lb @ 250; 1 hr/lb @ 290.
CyberQ or no: - No. I use a maverick to passively monitor the cook.
Rest time: - None required. Eat it while its hot.

Other thoughts: - This is a very forgiving meat to cook. Comes out good no matter how hard you try to mess it up.

IrishDevl · February 2013

Injection or no (what kind):  No, but don't have issue just don't
Marinate or no (what kind): No, just yellow mustard and rub
Direct/Indirect:  indirect of course - don't think any other way - direct doesn't make sense - at least not to me
Cook Temp: cook to 200-205 or so
Meat Done Temp:  225 - 300 fine - not an exact science
Wrap in foil: Y / N - No, but would do in the future if convinced
If so, at what temp/time: NA
Rub or no (what kind): yes, whatever I have available - typically buy good stuff
Wood Type for smoke:  use weekend warrior for long smokes and some hickory and some fruity stuff based on what I find - but can use pecan, alder etc... doesn't really matter
Cook time (average): 8 lbs about 12 hours or so, but each can be weird in their own way
CyberQ or no: I don't too cheap - please buy me one
Rest time:  depends on dinner - I usually eat around 5:30 - 6:30 PM so all around when done and when eating
Other thoughts: don't put to much thought into it, just mustard, rub, get egg to about 250 (or so) and let it run. Extremely easy to do. I will say I bought some cheper cuts of butt once at shoprite and was unhappy with the results. Costco nice job, butcher etc.. Some places no matter what I did came out terrible .

bigphil · February 2013

@IrishDevl i agree about the cheaper cuts used to buy them from BJ's until i found a old fashion butcher got one from him and never looked back cost a little more but well worth it imho

IrishDevl · February 2013

bigphil said:

@IrishDevl i agree about the cheaper cuts used to buy them from BJ's until i found a old fashion butcher got one from him and never looked back cost a little more but well worth it imho

I am with you, I had my daughters birthday once, bought the cuts at Shoprite and they were terrible - nothing could save them. And it was the first egg experience for most at the table, so I was very unhappy. Live and learn my friend.

hondabbq · February 2013

sixfive said:

Injection or no (what kind): Never done it
Marinate or no (what kind): 24 hours with rub of choice
Direct/Indirect: indirect
Cook Temp: 275
Meat Done Temp: 195-205
Wrap in foil: Y / N N
If so, at what temp/time: -
Rub or no (what kind): Dizzy pig or my own
Wood Type for smoke: cherry
Cook time (average): 1.5 hrs per pound
CyberQ or no: no
Rest time: cant wait to eat
Other thoughts:

I have only done 3 butts. they have gotten better with each attempt. I found that i like it better when I add rub to the meat after I pull it.

lousubcap · February 2013

As you note-there are many ways to get to great Q-for those who are looking for a good guide check out the following links-great resources for most of the questions that arise-

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramic.htm The recipe section has a wealth of info on pulled pork.

http://amazingribs.com/recipes/index.html more background info than you could digest.

all that said- here is my general butt cook-varies if I find a new recipe that calls for something different in the prep-

Injection or no (what kind): Sometimes-see mo jo pork recipe
Marinate or no (what kind): No
Direct/Indirect: Indirect
Cook Temp: around 280*F +/- on the calibrated dome
Meat Done Temp: when the bone pulls clean-usually around 200*F
Wrap in foil: Y / N-not during cook
If so, at what temp/time: n/a
Rub or no (what kind): home-made following Willy's #1 From Smoke & Spice
Wood Type for smoke: cherry or apple
Cook time (average): 1.5 hrs/#- the plan
CyberQ or no: no
Rest time: as required to pull when ready to eat.
Other thoughts: prok butt is about as easy as it gets-hard to screw it up unless you lose the fire or pull too soon.

FWIW/YMMV

lousubcap · February 2013

Trying again no-links-but check out nakedwhiz.com and amazingribs.com for some eggcellent info/reference material.

Injection or no (what kind): Not usually but depends if trying a new recipe
Marinate or no (what kind): no
Direct/Indirect: Indirect
Cook Temp: 280*F +/- on the calibrated dome
Meat Done Temp: when the bone pulls clean usually around 200*F
Wrap in foil: Y / N not during cook
If so, at what temp/time: n/a
Rub or no (what kind): Homemade using Smoke & Spice Willy's #1
Wood Type for smoke: cherry or aple
Cook time (average): plan 1.5 hrs/#
CyberQ or no: no
Rest time: as needed to get to pull and eat time.
Other thoughts: many roads will get you there-

lousubcap · February 2013

As you note-there are many ways to get to great Q-for those who are looking for a good guide check out the following links-great resources for most of the questions that arise-

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/ceramic.htm The recipe section has a wealth of info on pulled pork.

http://amazingribs.com/recipes/index.html more background info than you could digest.

all that said- here is my general butt cook-varies if I find a new recipe that calls for something different in the prep-

Injection or no (what kind): Sometimes-see mo jo pork recipe
Marinate or no (what kind): No
Direct/Indirect: Indirect
Cook Temp: around 280*F +/- on the calibrated dome
Meat Done Temp: when the bone pulls clean-usually around 200*F
Wrap in foil: Y / N-not during cook
If so, at what temp/time: n/a
Rub or no (what kind): home-made following Willy's #1 From Smoke & Spice
Wood Type for smoke: cherry or apple
Cook time (average): 1.5 hrs/#- the plan
CyberQ or no: no
Rest time: as required to pull when ready to eat.
Other thoughts: prok butt is about as easy as it gets-hard to screw it up unless you lose the fire or pull too soon.

FWIW/YMMV

lousubcap · February 2013

Trying again no-links-but check out nakedwhiz.com and amazingribs.com for some eggcellent info/reference material.

Injection or no (what kind): Not usually but depends if trying a new recipe
Marinate or no (what kind): no
Direct/Indirect: Indirect
Cook Temp: 280*F +/- on the calibrated dome
Meat Done Temp: when the bone pulls clean usually around 200*F
Wrap in foil: Y / N not during cook
If so, at what temp/time: n/a
Rub or no (what kind): Homemade using Smoke & Spice Willy's #1
Wood Type for smoke: cherry or aple
Cook time (average): plan 1.5 hrs/#
CyberQ or no: no
Rest time: as needed to get to pull and eat time.
Other thoughts: many roads will get you there-

Pork Butt - The Definitive Guide

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