Two pork butt cook yesterday

[phoccer]

Still learning my PBC. Yesterday I decided to adjust the vent a little since my last cook saw temps running in the 350-380 range the entire time with a single brisket. Thought I'd see if I could get it to run down in the 300 range. Here's a screenshot of my Google doc recordings. I always get a spike up at the start of my cooks with the PBC but then temps settle down. Unfortunately I saw the spike to 360 and instead of just leaving the new vent setting, I decided to adjust the vent again to hang at the default position. I thought I had it going well with temps drifting down to the lower 300's for an hour but then temps kept going and settled in the mid 200's. So I cracked the lid a bit and got it to run around 300 for a couple of hours. So, overall, the cook went well and the results were really good IMO. The pork was done a couple hours early so I left them wrapped and threw them in the oven at 170 for a couple of hours. WOW did that make a difference. The meat was incredibly tender and pulled apart so easily.




The final product

[phoccer]

Decided to reread fzxdoc 's post on PBC lighting instructions. Looks like I was on the right track initially with temps spiking to 360. I should have left the vent setting where it was and see if temps would have settled in the 300 range. Ok, guess I need to have a go at another run

[kmhfive]

Gorgeous!

[EdF]

Decided to reread fzxdoc 's post on PBC lighting instructions. Looks like I was on the right track initially with temps spiking to 360. I should have left the vent setting where it was and see if temps would have settled in the 300 range. Ok, guess I need to have a go at another run

What a bummer - another PB Cook!

[fzxdoc]

That PB looks awesome, phoccer , juicy with a nice bark and a pretty smoke ring.

Remember the lower vent setting does not have much of an effect, if any, in adjusting temp once a good fire is lit. However, it does have to be open enough to allow enough oxygen in so the coals are not starved, even when adding new coals.

Congrats on on that tasty cook!

Kathryn

[phoccer]

Huh. I did not know that. Figured it would work the same as my kettle, adjust the vents to adjust the air flows. Clearly I still have a lot to learn Fun trying though.

[RonB]

Good job.

[DWCowles]

Beautiful!

[Jerod Broussard]

I haven't adjusted my bottom vent in years. It's all at the top. That's why I installed a VENTA.

[ComfortablyNumb]

Wait until you get a bit older, young fellow!

[hogdog6]

What is this bottom vent you speak of? "Oh wait I remember setting that thing a few years ago also." Haha!!!

[hogdog6]

phoccer great looking cook nice bark, good smoke ring too!

[timesnewroman]

I have found that adding cold briqs to the basket mid-cook results in an off flavor. This can be avoided by prestarting the replenishment coals outside the PBC.

[phoccer]

I've read that from others but I'm trying to figure out how adding unlit is any different than how things work from the start. I pour lit over unlit and it eventually burns through the rest of the unlit coals.

[Jerod Broussard]

It depends how much you add and where. If you dump a bunch and it smothers the fire it will make for some nasty black smoke. But simply adding to a void in the basket and allowing things to progress as usual is no big deal.

[phoccer]

Ah, good point. I dropped 14 extra coals onto maybe a 1/4 basket left, if that. I spread them out across the lit coals and didn't notice any nasty smoke. Good to keep in mind though.