What to put in the smoker this weekend?

[Jer]

Ok i understand the early start for a mid afternoon serve time. "Thought" it was for dinner.

Even if it is for a dinner time meal the common estimate is 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours per pound. For 10 lb Boston butt that would equate to about 15 hours by my math. It's been my experience that for whatever reason every cut of meat I ever smoked ends up taking until the upper end of that window or longer.

Like I said it's a lot easier to have it end up done hours early and let it rest than it is to have it end up late and have everybody hungry and upset. all it takes is a couple situations where your smoke runs long and everybody has to wait an hour or two extra to eat and you start adjusting what time you start them. Since I wake up pretty early anyway I previously assumed it would be easier to just put it on first thing in the morning but what I quickly discovered was it's even easier to put it on before you go to bed the night before.

I didn't monitor anything throughout the night and when I rolled out of bed this morning it was exactly 165 degrees... Time to foil anyway. I preheated the oven to 225 foiled that bad boy up and brought it in for the rest of the cook which just finished an hour or so ago. Had I started it this morning I would have been well behind the eight-ball already.

I don't know who these superhumans are that are able to smoke a Boston butt in six or seven hours but that's never been my personal experience.

[Gman]

It's been my experience that for whatever reason every cut of meat I ever smoked ends up taking until the upper end of that window or longer.

It's been my experience as well and I think this is due to our elevation.

It's pulled pork. It holds and reheats really well, so whatever is easiest for you is best IMO.

[Jer]

It's been my experience as well and I think this is due to our elevation.

It's pulled pork. It holds and reheats really well, so whatever is easiest for you is best IMO.

I think that plays a large role in it as well.

For what it's worth the pulled pork turned out great and the added cook time came through in terms of tenderness and juiciness. The flavor was very good and I prefer when I have enough time to do it this way verses when I don't budget enough time and find myself increasing the temperature down the run to try to get it to a desired internal temperature quicker. It usually turns out a little bit drier and tougher in that case with less of the fat rendered. Ultimately it took this thing probably 16 hours or so to cook completely not counting the couple of hours I rested it.

[Great-Kazoo]

It's been my experience as well and I think this is due to our elevation.

It's pulled pork. It holds and reheats really well, so whatever is easiest for you is best IMO.

Not really, it's due to size / weight of meat being smoked. I don't usually go over a 5 - 7 lb brisket of pork shoulder for the two of us. Probably because i take 5 lb off a brisket to brine a weekish for corned beef or pastrami. 1/2 a whole(12+ lbs) pork shoulder is cut for green chili or sausage.