Does Faux Cambrea time count as rest for a pick butt? If I wrapped it in foil and put it in my over at 150 for an hour, is that counted towards my "resting the meat" time? Or do I need to let it rest at room temperature after the oven?
Ideally, you shouldn't need to let it rest in the oven. Wrap it in foil and then a towel, and toss it in a cooler or something. This, I think, would do the same thing as keeping it in the oven.
Just to be clear. "Resting" and holding are two different things. "Resting" is when we let meat sit out, at room temp after removing the meat from the heat. (Meathead does not recommend this. More here)
"Holding" is when you are attempting to retain the heat within the meat for was long as possible. This step is essential to achieving moist brisket or even pork shoulder. (More here)
If you don't have a cooler to put the meat into, turn your oven to about 170 F. Double wrap the pork butt in foil and place in the oven for at least two hours. You do not need to let it "rest" after taking it out of the hold. Just pull it and serve immediately.
Thanks Spinaker. So it sounds like you take your pork butt off the smoker at 203 internal and immediately get to pulling it (assuming pulled pork is what you're making)
And don't forget that temp is just a guide. You pull it when it is done, ( a probe inserted in the meat should slide in with no resistance - like a knife in soft butter). Some butts will be done before they reach 203*, and some at higher temps. I normally start checking for tenderness between 190* and 195*.
Seems like holding makes it better, and resting just makes it colder. I say just go Faux Cambro for a bit while you get the table set, or longer if you need more time. Don't worry about resting the meat.
Both brisket and butts and other large muscles with plenty connective tissue benefit from a 2 hour or so hold.
Pork is best pulled HOT.
Brisket is best sliced at about 145 internal (+/-) to help with the integrity of tender slices, therefore a little resting of a brisket after holding to allow the internal to drop some is good.
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