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How to avoid soft bark on a pork butt?

bezdecr
Posts: 31
I typically smoke uncovered at 275 until it hits 160 and then I put in a foil pan with apple juice/brown sugar and foil the top of the pan until it is done. I like how moist it is and use juice in the foil pan to pour over the pork but the bark is soft .. almost mushy. Should I wait longer to wrap...maybe 175 or still wrap around 160 but remove the foil towards the end...like 185/190 to let it stiffen up or try something different?
Comments
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My suggestion is to smoke one without foiling at all and see how you like it. If it's not moist enough you can adjust downward from there as far as when you foil, but the foil and braise is definitely what's causing the mushy bark. You could also foil it without adding any liquid to see if that gives you an acceptable combination of what you're looking for.Stillwater, MN
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pour over the pork but the bark is softShould I wait longer to wrap
Pouring liquid onto the bark and wrapping both will soften bark. No need to do either. Save the juice to add to the pork after pulling or serve at the table.
Southeast Florida - LBGE
In cooking, often we implement steps for which we have no explanations other than ‘that’s what everybody else does’ or ‘that’s what I have been told.’ Dare to think for yourself. -
You could also try to inject and then run without wrapping. hopefully enough moisture and the best bark. You can put in a foil pan at some point to collect some juices without the foil covering as well.LBGE/Weber Kettle/Blackstone 36" Griddle/Turkey Fryer/Induction Burner/Royal Gourmet 24" Griddle/Cuisinart Twin Oaks/Pit Boss Tabletop pellet smoker/Instant Pot
BBQ from the State of Connecticut!
Jim -
if you are wrapping I always use butcher paper, it breathes so it doesn't steam the butt making the bark mushy , I generally never wrap Butts but when I do this is how I do it2 LBGE
Digi Q
green Thermapen
AR
Albuquerque, NM -
I wrap in butcher paper instead of foil. Bark always turns out fine.Cincinnati, Ohio. Large BGE since 2011. Still learning.
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Absolutely no reason to wrap a pork butt . That’s your soft bark . Leave it naked whole time.
1 Large Egg, Blackstone griddle
Belgium...........The Netherlands??
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I only wrap if I’m in a time crunch otherwise I’ll run 300-325 nekked the whole cook. If you feel you need to wrap don’t wrap until the bark is set and the rub won’t scrape off with your fingernail and don’t use liquids in the pan.-----------------------------------------analyze adapt overcome2008 -Large BGE. 2013- Small BGE and 2015 - Mini. Henderson, Ky.
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I never wrap, never spritz, and never have a problem with the moisture content.
I use a brine for 24 hours on a pork butt, prior to adding rub and peach preserves. Worth the effort for a very long cook, and the bark is absolutely delicious.
"Knowledge is Good" - Emil Faber
XL and MM
Louisville, Kentucky -
Don’t wrap unless you are having to hurry cook. Spritz if even needed..Charlotte, NC - Large BGE 2014, Maverick ET 733, Thermopen, Nest, Platesetter, Woo2 and Extender w/Grid, Kick Ash Basket, Pizza Stone, SS Smokeware Cap, Blackstone 36"
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I never wrap pork butts and always have awesome bark. No wrap and see what you've been missing!! Most of all, have fun and eat well!! Pictures too....Retired Navy, LBGE
Pinehurst, NC -
I’ve never wrapped a butt in the egg. No reason too. Hell, I’ve even stopped injecting it. I just run it rubbed until it hits 203, then I wrap it and let it sit for two hours.1 large BGE, Spartanburg SC
My dog thinks I'm a grilling god.
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