Crazy ... Boston butt 20+ hours

[Barrel99]

This was my first butt on the smokinit. I started my 8 pound butt at 10:15pm. Used a rub. Had 3 ounces apple pellets and 3 ounces hickory chips in foil boats piled up on the chip rack. Set smoker at 225 and went to bed. Woke up at 8 am and temp was IT 160. By 7:15 pm I finally hit IT 200. I usually go to IT 205. but didn't want to wait anymore. I took it off at that point, let it rest, pulled it and ate it. Of course it was excellent, maybe just a bit dryer than I would have liked.

I have no idea why it was taking so long. I did finally turn it up to max temp near the end, otherwise I would still be waiting. My Maverick showed good temp control around the 225 mark, never went above. You just never know with the butts how long it will take. Next time I might foil it after a few hours.

Since I never saw the temp go above 225, maybe I need to adjust the Smokinit. There should have been an upward swing as well.

• Tweet
• 

[NDKoze]

Yeah, that seems a little long. But not as bad as you may think.

In my #3, my butts almost always take 2 hours per pound.

I used to smoke to 200, but have since reduced my target temp to 195 and find that provides great results.

If you were hitting 225, it may have just been a stubborn piece of meat.

[Barrel99]

Gregg, I think I will try 195 next time. It may be that I have to experiment a little, but 202-205 is what I have always used.

UPDATE:

The meat didn't have enough smoke flavor for me. If you noticed, I tried Chips and pellets together in separate foil boats using the smokinit chip tray. Both burned some but none turned to ash. The pellets were black but still hard. The chips were black but not ash. It appears there may have not been enough heat from the element to keep them burning.

Next time I will try without the chip tray but keep the foil boats. I use the foil to create a pile so they are not just spread over the chip tray.

I will also try just the chip tray to see how fast they burn. This is all just exploring.

[NDKoze]

I only use chips for low temp smokes. For all of my higher temp and longer smokes I use chunks.

I think you have a good plan for your testing. Using the foil boat pretty much negates the need for the chip tray and was probably causing too much barrier from the element.

[DivotMaker]

5-6 oz. of chunks only, smoke to 195 no peeky = pulled pork perfection, every time!

[Barrel99]

I know Tony, chunks. The problem is that I have about 60 pounds of pellets and would like to use them up. I guess I can throw them on the grill when BBQing. But, I am experimenting with them to see what I can do. Steve at SI told me that about 40-50% of his customers use pellets. He didn't specifically say only for cold smoking. So I am curious to see how to use them effectively.

[Walt]

I would also use chunks for your primal cuts & ribs  However, I believe pellets, chips & slivers absolutely have a place in SI cooking.  Particularly for cold (fish, cheese, spices,etc) or low temp smokes (fish, jerky, etc) or even short duration smokes (2 or 3 hours or less like seafood or stuffed peppers.)  With the added surface area these forms will smoke easier and quicker and allow for a more complete burn under those conditions.

[NDKoze]

I would also use chunks for your primal cuts & ribs  However, I believe pellets, chips & slivers absolutely have a place in SI cooking.  Particularly for cold (fish, cheese, spices,etc) or low temp smokes (fish, jerky, etc) or even short duration smokes (2 or 3 hours or less like seafood or stuffed peppers.)  With the added surface area these forms will smoke easier and quicker and allow for a more complete burn under those conditions.

+1 on this.

I totally agree with Walt on this.

I have about 20lbs of sawdust that I used to use in my Big Chief that I will never use in my Smokin-It. I do still occasionally use my Big Chief for smoking fish, so may eventually use up my saw dust

[Barrel99]

I wonder if I can put milk on them, add a banana on it and eat them for breakfast. Maybe I could smoke them. Oh well, I will still play around with them. Thanks.

[DivotMaker]

You should be able to master the pellet technique, Arnie!  I just use chunks because I have a LOT of them!  If I had 60 lbs of pellets, believe me, I would use them!

[Barrel99]

For sure. I have been experimenting and eventually will come up with imo a successful solution that I will happily pass on to everyone. Heck, with 60 pounds of pellets, I can experiment for a long time... a very long time.. a very very long time. Besides, I don't like cereal for breakfast.