24+ Hours to Smoke Two Butts??

craigj00

Newbie

Original poster

Jan 4, 2016

2

11

• Feb 1, 2016

• #1

Still glassy-eyed from lack of sleep last night waiting on two 9.5 lbs butts I smoked in my MES 30 with the Mailbox mod.  I guessed the time to finish to be 11-12 hours, same as a single (prior mailbox mod), but the first one didn't hit 203 degrees until just after 23 hours and the 2nd I let hit 205 degrees after 27 hours!  I can't believe the time it took.  I pre-heated to 250 and then kept it at a steady average of 235 degrees for the first 8 hours, then kicked it up to an average 255 degrees for the remainder of the time.  I only opened the door once within the 24 hour period to visually check and insert a hand held digital thermometer to confer the readings I was getting on my Maverick thermometer.  I was using a iGrill thermometer to monitor the inside temp of the MES.  I'm wondering if the Mailbox mod has something to do with the seemingly long cook time.  Any other suggestions?

MES30.jpg

• craigj00
• Feb 1, 2016

 

SmokinAl

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Staff member

Moderator

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 22, 2009

51,385

12,221

Central Florida (Sebring)

• Feb 2, 2016

• #2

24 hours is normal for a 9 lb. butt. I've had them stall in the 165-170 range for 8-9 hours.

You can always foil them to get them to cook faster.

But it will soften the bark.

Al

 

ibbones

Meat Mopper

Aug 28, 2013

222

18

Victoria, Texas

• Feb 2, 2016

• #3

I cooked one a while back that finished a LOT sooner than I thought it would and about 8 months ago I had one go for 22 hours.  Always cook at 225.  Both were in the 8 pound range.  I usually start between 11-12 midnight and want it for supper but that one time....

 

bauchjw

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Aug 3, 2015

4,793

4,235

Alexandria, VA

• Feb 3, 2016

• #4

I've only been doing pork butts for the past year or so, but I've never had that happen. I've only read about it on this forum. I'm not looking forward to my first experience with it!

 

dirtsailor2003

Epic Pitmaster

OTBS Member

Oct 4, 2012

21,947

4,224

Bend Oregon

• Feb 3, 2016

• #5

And that is why I now crank my smoker up to 285-300 when smoking pork butts. Every time I've done (2) 9+ pound butts at the same time I've had smoke times of 20+ hours. Not anymore!

 

dockman

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 14, 2013

594

26

Climax Springs, Mo

• Feb 3, 2016

• #6

9-10 hours at 225 and rest in cooler for 2-4 hours! I wrap at 160-165 and pull at 190-192! I have probably smoked 30-40 butts in the last 3 years and all have been like clock work. Hope I never have a 24 hour smoke!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

SmokinAl

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

Staff member

Moderator

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Jun 22, 2009

51,385

12,221

Central Florida (Sebring)

• Feb 3, 2016

• #7

Dockman said:

9-10 hours at 225 and rest in cooler for 2-4 hours! I wrap at 160-165 and pull at 190-192! I have probably smoked 30-40 butts in the last 3 years and all have been like clock work. Hope I never have a 24 hour smoke!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

I haven't smoked 30-40 in the last 3 years, but probably 20. My results are like clockwork too. 20-22 hours every time. Maybe it's because I smoke mine in pans & not directly on the grate.

Don't know.

I guess you go with what works for you.

Al

 

dockman

Smoking Fanatic

Jun 14, 2013

594

26

Climax Springs, Mo

• Feb 3, 2016

• #8

I smoked 2 pork loins last week in pans for my first time. They did take a lot longer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

cliffcarter

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

Feb 28, 2010

2,277

258

Old Town, Maine

• Feb 3, 2016

• #9

If you want to shorten the cook time you have to max out on the cook temp, plain and simple.

 

chef jimmyj

Gone but not forgotten. RIP

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

May 12, 2011

22,172

7,150

• Feb 3, 2016

• #10

My Daughter in PA and I have been cutting 8Lb Butts into 4 pieces and smoking them. It takes around 5 hours at at 225-250 to get them up to an IT of 205. Lots of Bark and smoke flavor and we aren't fussin' with the smoker all night...JJ

 

daveomak

SMF Hall of Fame Pitmaster

OTBS Member

★ Lifetime Premier ★

Nov 12, 2010

27,123

4,979

Omak,Washington,U.S.A.

• Feb 3, 2016

• #11

Craig, morning....   I cook my butts at 205-210...  takes about 18-24 hours....    Once you get the smoke you want on the meat.... usually 4-6 hours at 120-140, close the exhaust damper 95% and turn the heat up to what ever you want.....   with the exhaust closed down, the evaporative cooling, on the butts, will stop...  your smoker is now like an oven...  They will heat up much faster...

 

jirodriguez

Master of the Pit

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Jun 5, 2009

4,656

143

Portland, OR

• Feb 4, 2016

• #12

I usually cook two 10-12 lb. butts at a time unfoiled, I run my chamber at 250'ish, and 99% of the time they take between 10-12 hrs. for both butts. But I did have one smoke that took 18 hrs. - not sure why but it took me by suprise.

 

frog1369

Meat Mopper

Jan 17, 2014

272

34

Wisconsin Tundra

• Feb 4, 2016

• #13

I cook a lot of butts, like others I have had a small amount vary in time but typically they are pretty close overall.  I usually start out at 200-225 late in the evening and let them run overnight knowing they won't overcook.  I get up in the morning, check the temp which is usually 160-170, then fire up to 250-275 and they're done early afternoon.

PorkButts09-01-14.jpg

• frog1369
• Apr 30, 2015