2 - 7lb butts?

[stevespurrier]

Anybody done this? Time? Oh and 10 people for the fight tomorrow. Would you cook both? Five girls, five guys.

[Spinaker]

I cook these all the time. One shoulder will probably be enough. But if you want to be safe you should make them both. The time should be anywhere from 8 to 12 hours depending on if you wrap or not. Make sure to budget enough time for the hold, which is crucial. You can load what ever they don't eat in to one-gallon zip-locks and freeze or refrigerate. You can even put smaller portions in to smaller bags and let people take some home with them. My guests always love this move. Plus with this fight, it might be the only highlight, but lets hope not.

If you don't end up cooking the other shoulder, you can season it and freeze it for a later date. Just make sure you seal it tight to avoid freezer burn.

[stevespurrier]

Great idea on sending it home. You just made my decision easy. Thanks a lot. And you're right.....it might be the highlight of the night. Not the fight.

[Mr. Bones]

I'd cook both, were it me...
I've often heard/seen 4 oz. touted as a servin' size fer pulled pork, but I tend to find that rather conservative for adult males...
Yer gonna lose a great deal of raw weight durin' yer cook...
An', who doesn't love leftovers, or a takeaway bag???
Good luck with this cook, an' enjoy th' fight!!!

[texastweeter]

If you are talkin about us Texans, better cook 3... just sayin, a fat boy's gotta eat...

[Steve B]

Hey if you got the butts and enough room to cook them both. Cook them both.
Yeah your guests will love a departing gift as well.

As far as the fight. Lots of hype for sure. It could be great or it might be a disaster. Guess we'll find out tomorrow night.

[EdF]

I agree with the cooking strategy!

[texastweeter]

As an AVID combat sports fan (grandfather was a champion boxer, wifes grandfather fought Smokin' Joe Frazier for the belt, dad taught jud, and I started martial arts in 3rd grade as has my son) this is an interesting fight. don't let the betting lines fool you. Connor is a TREMENDOUS underdog. His stamina has bee a question in the path, and Floyd, while he cant read, has the greatest fight IQ of anyone in 20 years. I give it 9 to 1 odds that Money wins by decision. the 1 to 9 is that the Irishman KO him in the first 5. If connor looses his composer and throws a head kick or elbow strike, all bets are off, lol. Either way, I am always looking for a reason to fire up the smoker/gill. Like today, My Lionsare playing,and yesterday, well duah, yesterday was Thursday, just as gooda reason asany!!!!

[Spinaker]

I will be watching. I just can't see how Connor can get to Mayweather.........I also can't see how he can't read. I mean really? That is just sad.

[tbob4]

My local sports talk show said that 80% of the bets are for Mcgregor but 90% of the money bet is for Mayweather. I have no stakes in the fight but am cooking 8 steaks (tri-tips) for a party of 30 about 1/2 hour from me.

[texastweeter]

2 3 lb smoked meatloafs, atomic buffalo turds, and 4 pepper salsa here!

[stevespurrier]

Alright I have temp differences of about 15 degrees within each butt. 171 at highest and 155 at lowest. Would you wait until the lower temp gets to 160-170 before wrapping? Been 4 hours, 20 minutes.

[Spinaker]

Alright I have temp differences of about 15 degrees within each butt. 171 at highest and 155 at lowest. Would you wait until the lower temp gets to 160-170 before wrapping? Been 4 hours, 20 minutes.

You should wait until you feel you have ample bark before wrapping. Once you wrap the temps will even out. I don't wrap at a set temp. I always make sure I have the bark I want before I decide to wrap, if I wrap at all.

[tbob4]

Like

[Spinaker]

LOL! ^^^ tbob4

[stevespurrier]

good advice. I am not happy with the bark yet. It is still too wet. Will the hooks hold it all the way to 203-205 or should I put it on the rack?

[Spinaker]

good advice. I am not happy with the bark yet. It is still too wet. Will the hooks hold it all the way to 203-205 or should I put it on the rack?

I let it hang until I wrap. It might not hold it all the way to 203 F. Once you get the bark you want, take if off the hooks, wrap and place it on the grate.

[stevespurrier]

will do. thanks, Spinaker

[stevespurrier]

Note to self...when doing more than one butt, put the hooks in the same direction. Hahaha...just got all tangle up and dropped one 7 pounder right into the fire. smoking so bad I couldn't see a damn thing. Fished it out and put it on the rack. noticed a big chunk of bark missing. oh well. Put the other butt on the rack. Then notice I dropped a rod into the fire too. Took it apart and fished it out. Added some rub to the part of the butt with the missing bark. Now on the rack unwrapped. Bark chunk still smoking like a yard fire. Jeez. No witnesses....they are at the store. In for the win

[Mr. Bones]

Sounds like a fun cook, there with ya' in spirit!!!
Hang in there, Amigo! Ya' 'bout got this one in th' bag!

[EdF]

Glad it wasn't a meatloaf! ;-)

[stevespurrier]

it was fantastic. Took about 7 hours, 1 of those wrapped, and another in Cambro. We have a whole butt left and sent some home with the kids. Great cook and several lessons.

[JeffJ]

When I buy bigger butts I will cut them so that they make 2.5 - 5 pounders, even when cooking for a crowd. This results in more bark and a bit shorter cooking time.