How long can you keep a Boston Butt in the cooler?

TEH68 · January 2015

Been cooking a Boston Butt since midnight last night. Looks like I'm going to be done a lot sooner than I expected. Planning on having it for dinner tonight around 6:00. If I pull it off at around 10 or 11 this morning and FTC it, can it hang in the cooler until 5:00 pm or should I put it in the refrigerator at some point?

Foghorn · January 2015

Cooler is fine if it is a good cooler (doesn't have to be a Yeti, just something with a good seal). Prewarm it with a hot, wet towel. The key is that the meat temp should be above 140 when you take it out. Once it goes below 140 there is potential for bacterial growth so the clock STARTS ticking - doesn't mean that a lot of bacteria suddenly appear when the temp hits 139. More than a few (4-6) hours below 140 and there can be some issues.

I don't check the temp as long as it is hot to the touch when I pull it out of the cooler.

DaveShady · January 2015

we triple wrap in foil

2 old towels around that

in a cooler with a blankie on the piggy

3-4 hours easy. its even better when you do it that way and

its HOTTTTT still.

TEH68 · January 2015

It's going in a Yeti. I suppose I could FTC and keep an eye on the temp. If it approaches 140, then take it out, pull the meat then fridge it. Could re heat in a crock pot before serving.

shucker · January 2015

Preheat the cooler, wrap the butt with foil and throw some towels in the dryer and wrap those warm towels around the foiled butt. You can also stuff some warm towels around the butt. I did this in my yeti 35 with a 10# butt and after 12 hours it was still too hot to pull with my bare hands.

TEH68 · January 2015

Sweet. Will keep an eye on the temp after I take it off the BGE. The only other Butt I did (New Years) I put it in the Yeti for 3-4 hours and when I took it out to pull it, it was too hot to touch with my hands. Pretty amazing.

shucker · January 2015

Yeah just keep in mind if you open the cooler to check it you're going to lose a lot of heat.

TEH68 · January 2015

Good point. I was wanting to serve it right after letting it cool, but I think it may even be better after it has cooled a little while.

TEH68 · January 2015

And I have my Maverick remote thermometer that I could leave in the butt so I could keep an eye on the temp without having to open the cooler.

How long can you keep a Boston Butt in the cooler?

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