Cook time

[RC0032]

I have read THIS article http://amazingribs.com/tips_and_tech...king_time.html and still have a question:

I have smoked a 9-11lb pork shoulder a few times and wanted to do a 15-20 lb one for a block party. Going to Costco they sell shoulder of this size but they are 2 pieces of meat. So essentially smoking 2 butts at once. Would time be based on 1 butt or the total amount?

Thanks in advance.

[CandySueQ]

As long as you have good air flow around both butts, cook time should be pretty close to the same as one butt.

[RC0032]

Thanks thats what I was thinking. Just have room between them.

Follow-up. I have Smoke Valult 24" and having issues keeping the water pan full. I have put aluminum foil over the top but still need to refill due to the size and shape. Wide but not deep. I was reading about replacing the water with sand. Thoughts?

[Dadof3Illinois]

I have a 24” smoke vault and use a taller water pan placed in the existing pan. On long cooks I still need to refill the pan. Not a big issue, the vault comes back up to temp pretty fast. Are you using a thermometer placed on the grill grate to monitor you box temps? That door thermometer is way off on these like most others.

[Jon Solberg]

Personal I'm not a fan of sand. Do you have enough room to set a disposable foil pan in the water tray to increase capacity? Or set it on the lower rack if your cooking on the upper?

[RonB]

Sand might help stabilize temps, but will not add any moisture to the smoke chamber.

[DWCowles]

Welcome RC0032

[RC0032]

Thanks Everyone I will try a second water pan.