First Smoke on the New Smoker!!!

[pansuco]

I couldn't wait till tomorrow to start this, so here it is...  I got my real smoker last week.  Weather was bad and I had to wait another week to season it.  Well now it is seasoned and ready to go...well good enough to give it a go!!!

I have one 3.5# butt and one 5.5# butt sitting in the fridge covered in some spicy brown mustard and my special rub...that I can't explain because it's a mix if about eight rubs...but it's always been yummy!!!

So far I have this...

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• pansuco
• Jan 18, 2015

Shaved a lot of the fat cap off both of them, rinsed, paper toweled.

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• pansuco
• Jan 18, 2015

Don't let her fool you, she is excited about tomorrow morning!

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• pansuco
• Jan 18, 2015

Spicy brown, dry rub...

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• pansuco
• Jan 18, 2015

Then wrapped and tossed in fridge until tomorrow morning.

And then i'll see how well this smoker performs!!!  More to come tomorrow...

 

[gravey]

Don't get me wrong - those are some nice looking butts....but where's the new smoker?!?! What'd ya get?!

 

[pansuco]

Hey Gravey,

Thanks for the compliment...I work out!  I found a guy to make me one...still working out some of the kinks!  So far so good though. 

Grill1.JPG

• pansuco
• Jan 15, 2015

Grill3.JPG

• pansuco
• Jan 15, 2015

Here are some pictures...

 

[pansuco]

Ok, so everything went pretty well...except that the meat isn't pulling!!!  I cooked it low and slow since ten this morning.  I cooked two butts and checked the smaller butt (3.5lbs) and it's internal temp was 180...on a crappy thermometer. I pulled it off the grill and checked it...yummy, but not pulling.  I also checked the bigger butt (5.5lbs) and it was at 180 too.  I didn't pull that one off because I figured that if the small one wasn't ready the bigger one wouldn't be either.

They were both cooked fat side down and the larger of the two butts was put on the side opposite of the fire box.

Soooooooooooooooooo, any hints as to what happened?  And what I should do...as for now, they are both still on the smoker.

Thanks!!!

rob

 

[mdboatbum]

180 is the perfect temp......for slicing. Take them to 195-205 for pulling. Towards the 205 end will yield softer meat, towards the 195 end will yield firmer slightly drier meat. By the way, the fork in the uncooked butt makes for a neat picture but can lead to pushing surface bacteria into the meat. Not a huge deal 9999 times out of 10000, but that one time will make you regret you were born.

 

[pansuco]

Thanks MD!

I'll let them sit a little longer! 

And thanks for the heads up on the fork!!! After I put the mustard on the butt, I put the fork in it so it is easier to maneuver while I put the rub on...and now I won't do that anymore!  And if my wife gets really sick...we never had this conversation!!!

rob

 

[gary s]

Yep,  205 + for pulling   hang in there

Gary

 

[gravey]

Yep! I usually cook mine 'til they hit 160*, foil, then take them off at 195*, wrap in another layer of foil, a few layers of old towels, and into an old cooler OR, a warmed crockpot (depending on size of roast) for an hour or two for the carry-over temp to finish them off. Gotta cook out that connective tissue, ya know!

That's a nice looking rig you got there!! I never could get the hang of anything with a side fire box, so more power to ya!!

 

[timberjet]

Looks really good. I take mine to 203 and perfect every time. Get yourself a good meat therm. You will forever be glad you did. Here is a very tried and true recipe. You are on the right track. http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/140055/boston-butt-pulled-pork-step-by-step

 

[pansuco]

Thanks for all the advice and compliments!!! I ended up chopping it and it was nom nom nom!!! Next time I'll make sure to get the Tom up more...I love it pulled the most!

Here is the finished product.

image.jpg

• pansuco
• Jan 20, 2015

image.jpg

• pansuco
• Jan 20, 2015

The second one is supposed to show the smoke ring...not how much I can eat...

 

[gary s]

Looks like it showed both, Good Job

Gary

 

[timberjet]

It looks like your smoker might have been running hotter than you thought. 40 bucks for a maverick on amazon.

 

[timberjet]

 
Ok, so everything went pretty well...except that the meat isn't pulling!!!  I cooked it low and slow since ten this morning.  I cooked two butts and checked the smaller butt (3.5lbs) and it's internal temp was 180...on a crappy thermometer. I pulled it off the grill and checked it...yummy, but not pulling.  I also checked the bigger butt (5.5lbs) and it was at 180 too.  I didn't pull that one off because I figured that if the small one wasn't ready the bigger one wouldn't be either.

They were both cooked fat side down and the larger of the two butts was put on the side opposite of the fire box.

Soooooooooooooooooo, any hints as to what happened?  And what I should do...as for now, they are both still on the smoker.

Thanks!!!

rob

I cook mine fat side up. Heat rises. In a smoker like yours the heat is not below the meat so no need for fat side down. I am doing one now. herehttp://www.smokingmeatforums.com/forum/newestpost/176509