3 or 4 butts for 50+ ?

KiterTodd · October 2014

Going to have a crowd tomorrow and I'm throwing some butts on today. There will be other food around and folks don't necessarily come for dinner, but it's a long party and they're accustomed to being fed.

So...3 butts or 4? They are about 7lbs butts. Got them at Costco yesterday, two to a pack...

It's not that much more work to do a 4th, but I hate to waste a butt if I don't need it. If I run out of pork by the end of the night, that's a good thing. I'd rather leave them wanting more than have to wrap up leftovers. That said, I want to make sure there is enough to go around. I'm serving them as pulled mojo pork for tacos rather than pork sandwiches.

Crimsongator · October 2014

I'd rather do the 4th and have leftovers to freeze for later. You could always cook 4 and leave the smallest at home to split up. Solves both issues :-)

HeathCave · October 2014

I bought those same two packs at Costco a few weeks ago for a party of about 40 (including kids). We only served about 20 adults and a few kids with (well portioned) pulled pork sandwiches...so let's 20-25 adult servings of pulled pork.

I put 3 of the butts on the egg and froze one for later. We ended up with a little over one butt left over (of the 3) after serving everyone.

If it were me, I'd say smoke all four so that you have plenty to serve, but I'm also a fan of having leftovers to freeze (or eat that week afterward) for meals later.

tarheelmatt · October 2014

Just did four for my work (35 people) and it was enough, but not as much left over as I thought. If you have other meat then it maybe okay.

I estimate 30lbs at 5.6oz per serving for 50 people. That is getting by though. I would go 35lbs or more.

henapple · October 2014

In New Testament times it was against the to run out of wine at a wedding. .. (the water into wine). In the south it is unspeakable to not send home extra with the guest. Like wine, if some is good, more is better.

tarheelmatt · October 2014

I still believe the four at 28lbs will be lean and will run out...

I agree with you, @henapple, bring yo plastic bags and tin foil!

KiterTodd · October 2014

Okay....you talked me into it. I have been delinquent in buying a raised grid setup and don't have time to run to home depot, so this will be interesting on the large. But I have seen pictures...I know it's possible. 4 it is.

I'm also serving a crockpot full of brats, lots of finger food, and 400 roasted oysters (give or take). :-bd

I am big on sending home leftovers. On this particular party, people usually split before I pour them another shot so I don't always get the opportunity to put a container in their hands.

)

tarheelmatt · October 2014

@KiterTodd

Should be okay to lay them on their sides.

I use the below and it worked well for my cook this past weekend. I cooked two 9+lbs and two 8+lbs. Probably had room for more if I needed to.

SmokinTiger81 · October 2014

One great investment is a foodsaver vaccuum sealer--Costco occassionally puts them on sale or Bed Bath with 20% coupon. Seal the pulled pork leftovers in 1# packages and freeze. Then reheat bag in pot of boiling water. It will smell like you just smoked it when you cut open the heated foodsaver bag, and it will stay moist when reheated this way.

thetrim · October 2014

It depends if @SGH is there or not. If he is, go with six butts

Ladeback69 · October 2014

I was told plan on at least a 1/2 pound per person. So 28 pounds should be good if there is around 50 people. I'm doing 18 pounds of butts and hopefully a 14 pound trimmed brisket for a party in a few weeks for 30-40 people.

henapple · October 2014

tarheelmatt said:
@KiterTodd

Should be okay to lay them on their sides.

I use the below and it worked well for my cook this past weekend. I cooked two 9+lbs and two 8+lbs. Probably had room for more if I needed to.

Is that one of those bge grates? I've heard they're flimsy? ;;)

tarheelmatt · October 2014

@henapple, Ron told me how to use it....

KiterTodd · October 2014

tarheelmatt, thanks for the pic! I've been meaning to buy one of those, or an AR, or a standard raised grid rack... see, too many options. Great looking cook by the way.

lighting now...

tarheelmatt · October 2014

Ladeback69 said:

I was told plan on at least a 1/2 pound per person. So 28 pounds should be good if there is around 50 people. I'm doing 18 pounds of butts and hopefully a 14 pound trimmed brisket for a party in a few weeks for 30-40 people.

You're not taking into consideration of shrinkage.

If you take into account for shrinkage, at 1/2lb, you would need 42lbs.

I factor 5.6oz per person... 50x5.6/16 = 17.5. Then take 17.5/.6 = 30lbs (this is to factor 40% shrinkage).

tarheelmatt · October 2014

henapple said:

@KiterTodd

Should be okay to lay them on their sides.

I use the below and it worked well for my cook this past weekend. I cooked two 9+lbs and two 8+lbs. Probably had room for more if I needed to.

Is that one of those bge grates? I've heard they're flimsy? ;;)

It is actually a tier grid from Amazon, non-BGE type.

SmokeyPitt · October 2014

Number of People	Raw Weight	Serving Size
50	27.77777778	1/3 lb per person
50	20.83333333	1/4 lb per person

It's funny the numbers work out exactly to 3 or 4 butts. If you think 1/4 lb per person will be enough then you are good with 3x7# butts.

I typically make extra and freeze it so personally I would go with 28 lbs...but I understand that you may not to deal with it if you are partying. I will admit I wasted an entire butt once with the intentions of wrapping up the leftovers. The Irish car bombs changed my plans and I found it FTC'd in the cooler at noon the next day.

Crimsongator · October 2014

henapple said:

@KiterTodd

Should be okay to lay them on their sides.

I use the below and it worked well for my cook this past weekend. I cooked two 9+lbs and two 8+lbs. Probably had room for more if I needed to.

Is that one of those bge grates? I've heard they're flimsy? ;;)

Only if you're an idiot and don't know how to install it properly.

Ladeback69 · October 2014

tarheelmatt said:

Ladeback69 said:

I was told plan on at least a 1/2 pound per person. So 28 pounds should be good if there is around 50 people. I'm doing 18 pounds of butts and hopefully a 14 pound trimmed brisket for a party in a few weeks for 30-40 people.

You're not taking into consideration of shrinkage.

If you take into account for shrinkage, at 1/2lb, you would need 42lbs.

I factor 5.6oz per person... 50x5.6/16 = 17.5. Then take 17.5/.6 = 30lbs (this is to factor 40% shrinkage).

By your calculations I was wrong for @KiterTodd‌, but not for me. I'm planning on cooking 32 pounds. All though if everyone wants brisket and pork butt I may be in trouble. I may have to do more so the WSM might have to be cooking too.

Legume · October 2014

Cook the four.

KiterTodd · October 2014

Thanks for the help guys.
4 are on the egg.
I'll document the rest of that over on this thread....

Oktoberfest Cook

henapple · October 2014

3 or 4 butts for 50+ ?

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