cooking 2 pork butts at once

dan the man · December 2009

i'm getting ready to smoke (2) 9lb. butts (at the same time) and was curious as to whether it would cook at 1 hour for each pound on one cut of meat (9lbs) or would i have to combine the meat to equal 18 lbs. and cook it at an hour per pound, which makes it around 18hours cooking time. i've asked around and no one seems to have the answer. need help for the holidays. thanks.

2Fategghead · December 2009

Separate the butts side by side and it will be the same as smoking one butt as far as time goes but, cook by temp.

Wise One · December 2009

If they are separated it will take only as long as you need to cook the largest of the two. If they are jammed up next to each other, it will take slightly longer but not really enough difference to worry about.

Grand Oeuf Vert · December 2009

Base you cooking time on the 9 lbs. But if the Butts are touching, then you have 18 lbs.

BigGreenDon · December 2009

The conventional wisdom is that if "they do not touch", the time will be about the same as a single -- in your case 9 lbs worth of meat. I'm assuming that you know that this is just a planning number and you will cook to temperature, not time...

I'm guessing that in reality, there would be some small adjustment for the increased mass, like maybe +10% time or something like that...

Don

fishlessman · December 2009

two will cook the same as one so dont worry about that, what i would worry about are your cook times, one hour isnt enough per pound if your cooking at 250 dome, i would figure more like 2 hours a pound. so your back up at 16 to 18 hours plus/minus for the cook.

danny285 · December 2009

Cook your butts by temp 195/200 internal at 250 dome and you will be fine.

Smoking Coles · December 2009

Basically what everyone else has said, but I just wanted to clarify that what they mean by separated. Make sure the butts aren't touching so that you have good air flow to all surface areas of each butt. If they are touching, those areas will act as one piece due to restricted air circulation. Good luck.

Celtic Wolf · December 2009

Squelch this myth. As they cook they will separate due to shrinkage., unless you have physically tied them together.

The will cook separately at 1-2 hours per pound.

Celtic Wolf · December 2009

Nope they won't.. They will shrink and separate..

Celtic Wolf · December 2009

It will take slightly longer than the norm, because you doubles the cold mass. Time your cook for the heavier of the two and start check based on the lighter of the two.

However, you want to pull them as they each reach 195 and not at a specific time.

ranchonodinero · December 2009

I recently cooked two 9 lb butts. I couldn't tell that it took any longer. It took a bit longer to come back up to temp when I put them in, but like other's have said, it is more thermal mass. I used a wireless thermometer and confirmed with an instant read.

cooking 2 pork butts at once

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