What a difference 8 degrees makes
 

I had a nice 2 pack of pork butt that I found at Sam's. Both butts were about 8 lbs. One day, I cooked one at about 260 deg until it hit 170 IT, pulled it and wrapped it in foil and put it back on until it was 195 degrees. I toweled it and put it in the cooler for 1 hour. It was definitely good eats. The second one was cooked yesterday, 255-60 until it hit 176 IT, pulled it and wrapped it and put it back on. This time, I planned to pull it at 205 like I've seen on this site before but I pulled it at 203 deg. I toweled it and put it in the cooler for 2 hrs. WOW what a difference in the tenderness and moisture! I'm sure this isn't news to most of you guys but to us "noobs", I thought this was worth mentioning. Don't be in a hurry, I thought 205 deg would be way to long, but man it was just perfect. This will be my routine for my butts from now on!!! Just wanted to share the experience....

Butt is done with you can easily wiggle the bone free. Don't rely on the temp as 2 pieces of meat can finish at very different final temps. Once you learn the feel, you won't worry about the temps other than to let you know when to start checking it.

It sure is a nice feeling though turning out a nice, hot butt! :wink:

What if it's boneless? :shock:

^^^ probe tender in the thickest part

Glad that worked out but remember a couple of things. I'm gonna talk out of two sides of my mouth on this one.

Pull @ 200 if you're going to wrap and put it in a cooler for later and pull @ 205 if its just going to be a short rest before chowing down. When it's going to rest a while in a cooler the carryover cooking will take it well past 205. You just don't want it to get mushy.

Ok this is me talking out the other side of my mouth. Every piece of meat is different and although it's good to pay attention to temperature a simple meat probe will be a better indicator of doneness .

I prefer to have a bone in my butt...wait, what were we talking about? :twitch:

I figured he had been around long enough already to have probe tender drilled into his brain :biggrin1:

Yes, they were both probe tender, the second one being even more so....oh, and yes, the bones in both came out nice and clean!!!

Glad it worked out butt should probe like butta and what peeps said. Wiggle that bone. ;D

BLASPHEMY.....









:mrgreen:

^^^that...don't even consider the temperature when you're deciding to pull it from the pit. unless you're planning to slice :rolleyes: