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    Pork butt: Do You Spray During the Cook?

    Posts: 116
    in EggHead Forum
    I've tried various methods, today I'm using the smobot for the first time (results later), but am wondering if you spray during the cook at all?  I've heard once an hour, what do you do?
    L, M, MM "These pretzels are making me thirsty"
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    • Posts: 26,227
      First time I've ever heard of spraying a butt! I'd worry that opening the dome every hour to spray would lead to a run away inferno - remember the smobot will only maintain a temperature's bottom temp, but for a raging fire it can't do anything to help!
      Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time!
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    • Posts: 279
      I mop mine, based on a variation of Chris Lillys recipe. After about 3 hours I do it once an hour ish. 
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    • Posts: 14,831
      I close the dome and leave it closed for the duration. Have never sprayed.

      I hate it when I go to the kitchen for food and all I find are ingredients!                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

      Michael 
      Central Connecticut 

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    • Posts: 3,869
      I honestly don't know how it would improve anything and, depending on how long the lid is open, could have negative implications on the temps you're trying to hold. If the goal is the add flavor, get more smoke to adhere to a wet surface or even just moistness, I feel like all of those things are easily achieved without the spraying. But I've also never done it, so will defer to those who have.
      Stillwater, MN
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    • Posts: 5,980
      I spray with a 50/50 mix of apple juice/apple cider vinegar every 45 minutes to an hour until it hits 160. At that point I wrap in foil and pour some of the mixture in with it. We like the end results better this way than not spraying.

      ___________________________________

       

       LBGE,SBGE, and a Mini makes three......Sweet home Alabama........ Stay thirsty my friends .

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    • Posts: 4
      I spray “spritz” after 4 or 5 hours with Apple juice mixed with finely ground up Turbinado sugar.  I spritz every hour or hour and a half or so. I have the lid up for such a short period of time I haven’t found it to cause any problems with a spike in temperature. If it does raise a little more than I like, I will ever so slightly adjust the vent(s). 
      I have found that doing this helps get the bark to the way I like it!

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    • Posts: 469
      I don't open the dome at all anymore,  until about 10-12 hours in.  250° all the way.  No spritz, no peeking.
       1 LBGE, 1 SBGE, 1 KBQ and a 26" Blackstone near Blackstone, Virginia
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    • Posts: 1,430
      As an experiment yesterday, after the first 4 or 5 hours I sprayed frequently with 1/3 water and 2/3 Kahlua - beautiful crust and very tasty.

      Maryland, 1 LBGE
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    • Posts: 2,678
      edited July 2020
      As far a a butt goes, I have always tried to do everything in my power to enhance bark formation. Spraying any type of liquid on the butt actively prevents the bark formation that I'm trying to achieve.

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    • Posts: 34,986
      @JohnEggGio - that is great looking bark right there.  I don't drink Kahlua so your usage seems perfect.   B)
      Louisville; Rolling smoke in the neighbourhood.  Life is too short for light/lite beer!  Seems I'm livin in a transitional period. CHEETO (aka Agent Orange) makes Nixon look like a saint.  
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    • Posts: 2,678
      edited July 2020
      @JohnEggGio spraying definitely didn't hurt the bark formation.
      I may give spraying another try. 
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    • Posts: 1,430
      edited July 2020
      @lousubcap it’s too sweet for me but White Russians are my wife’s family’s drink, so we must always have it on hand.
      Edit: White Russians for the ladies and Budweiser for the men.
      Maryland, 1 LBGE
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    • Posts: 418
      I have never sprayed or spritzed or whatever the term is, but I am darn tempted to try the Kahlua and water trick suggested by @JohnEggGio !
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    • Posts: 1,063
      Have never sprayed.  I have added honey or brown sugar midway to the butt and it seems to add to the bark.

      Northern Colorado Egghead since 2012.

      XL BGE and a KBQ.

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    • Posts: 15,172
      I have mopped before, but never sprayed. 
      Ellijay GA with a Medium & MiniMax

      Well, I married me a wife, she's been trouble all my life,
      Run me out in the cold rain and snow
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    • Posts: 478
      Once I close the lid it stays closed until done...never had any problems and always comes out spectacular!!  
      Retired Navy, LBGE
      Pinehurst, NC

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    • Posts: 33,891
      have mopped as well, did not like the bark from that cook so now just leave the lid down.
      fukahwee maine

      you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
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    • Posts: 2,546
      JohnEggGio said:
      As an experiment yesterday, after the first 4 or 5 hours I sprayed frequently with 1/3 water and 2/3 Kahlua - beautiful crust and very tasty.

      Looks to good to eat 
      XL BGE, KJ classic, Joe Jr, UDS x2 


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    • Posts: 2,252
      Never have sprayed mine, just let the fat do it's work and bark up.    Spraying with Kahlua would be interesting but I'll leave that for the wife while I get into the Blanton's.
      LBGE, 28” BS, Weber Kettle, HCI 7.8 SE Texas
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    • Posts: 1,430
      TechsasJim said:
      Never have sprayed mine, just let the fat do it's work and bark up.    Spraying with Kahlua would be interesting but I'll leave that for the wife while I get into the Blanton's.
      It was a Woodford Reserve evening for me.
      Maryland, 1 LBGE
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    • Posts: 242
      In the no spray club here. Always turns out wonderful. 
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    • Posts: 1,050
      Been spraying brisket and ribs, but pork butt doesn't need the special attention in my experience.
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    • Posts: 6,057
      No need to spray
      Large, Medium, MiniMax, 36" Blackstone
      Grand Rapids MI
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