Turning butts on UDS
 

Hello! What's the general consensus on turning pork butts on the uds? Is it necessary? Normally I don't bother. Last night I cooked an 8lb'er. Kept it between 275*-325*. Thought I'd try flipping. After an hour in, I flipped. Couple of hours later, I flipped again. Then flipped once more a hour after that.

Had issues with large pieces of bark pulling off (AAARGH!) and sticking to the grate. Normally I never open lid at all during butt cooks.

I think I'll go back to no flipping, fat cap down the entire cook! What do you guys think? Jason :)

I never flip butts no matter which smoker I use. It's fat cap toward the heat and leave 'em be. Always works great.

Ditto. I don't flip or spritz...fat cap down. However, I do cook hot and fast so I foil...that's the only time I touch the meat while it's cooking.

I'm a non-flipper. That goes for pretty much everything I do low and slow. I like the "dual textures" achieved from not flipping. Crispier on the bottom and not so crisp on top. Win win.

Yep, If I'm cooking more than one they go straight on the grate. If I"m only cooking one I"ll put in on the rack, no spitzing, mopping, or flipping.

Once I close the lid, I don't open it again till my maverick says I'm close to done.

Thanks guys. Yeah, I'm definitely not gonna try that again. To me that's just too much lid lifting. Normally I don't ever lift the lid until the butt hits 190*. Oh well, I tried it, it didn't work, and I'm a little smarter now! Jason :)

all of the above!

:popcorn:

Do not play with your meat.

Cook on a frogmat and nothing sticks

Non flipper here too. Fat side down til it's done. :grin:

No flipping & no fat cap here.

I'm going to have to try this fat side down thing. I have NEVER cooked one like that and have always cooked with the fat cap on top. I cook with indirect heat about 300 +/- degrees and my thoughts behind fat cap on top was that as it cooks and the fat renders that it would baste the meat from the top down as it cooked. I've never tried one with the fat down. What is the reasoning behind it and does it change the way it cooks? I'm always looking to improve.

cap up or down, no flipping! I do both depending on my mood...