How many pork butts can handle a 55 gallon UDS?

Mauricio · 01-26-2013, 10:47 PM

I'm wondering if is possible to load a UDS with 12 pork butts, six on each grate without problems? I imagine that there will be a huge amount of drippings that might turn off the charcoal.
Has anyone made that many?
thanks!

flyingbassman5 · 01-26-2013, 11:11 PM

12!!! Dang!!

Simple answer is no. I can get 8 on mine if I arrange things right and use the lid of my weber kettle.

Now you could do 12 butts if you had 2 drums and did 6 on each. That would be a much easier feat.

biggs98 · 01-26-2013, 11:11 PM

Unless you have like 4lb butts its not going to Happen. I've had 4 8lb butts on 1 grate and they were very tight but once they cooked down they fit perfect

juslearning · 01-26-2013, 11:14 PM

Won't happen.

Mauricio · 01-26-2013, 11:17 PM

Thank you! I saw a picture on the big drum smoker site with 6 pork butts on one grate and was thinking about it.
Seems like is time to build a second drum smoker! where I live there are no offset smokers commercially available to manage large cookings.
have a great weekend.

HankB · 01-26-2013, 11:17 PM

Can you fit three grates in there? It seems like 6 butts on each grate would be tight unless they're small butts. If they're touching each other, they will take longer to cook.

Can you locate some kind of pan between the racks and coals to catch the drippings? I'm not sure if they'll be a problem bit if they land in a pan they can't be a problem.

biggs98 · 01-26-2013, 11:19 PM

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...1&d=1359263686

Mauricio · 01-26-2013, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biggs98

http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/at...1&d=1359263686

Thanks for posting this image, seems like the more butts you have in there the more humidity in the chamber. With the top grate in place it seems like it could take another 4 butts using a weber lid.

Pugi · 01-26-2013, 11:29 PM

Best I've done is 80 pounds on 2 grates. I may be able to get more if the sizes were right.

Mauricio · 01-26-2013, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HankB

Can you fit three grates in there? It seems like 6 butts on each grate would be tight unless they're small butts. If they're touching each other, they will take longer to cook.

Can you locate some kind of pan between the racks and coals to catch the drippings? I'm not sure if they'll be a problem bit if they land in a pan they can't be a problem.

Thanks Hank, I will try to fit as many as I can in a single rack, adding a second rack to place a dripping pan is something that I have had in mind a while ago, I preffer to mix the drippings back into the pulled pork. At least I would like to catch some of it.

MaximumJEFF · 01-26-2013, 11:50 PM

Four 8 pounders per rack is my max too. Butt, the top rack would take forever to cook

Mauricio · 01-26-2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pugi

Best I've done is 80 pounds on 2 grates. I may be able to get more if the sizes were right.

This made me think about the average yield per butt, so I guess you end up with 40 pounds of the finished product on a single session.

Mauricio · 01-27-2013, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaximumJEFF

Four 8 pounders per rack is my max too. Butt, the top rack would take forever to cook

This has been my main concern since I have to plan ahead the time I will start to have them ready by noon the next day, and leave the UDS free for another load of baby backs.
Seems like I will have to start earlier that I thought and let them rest in a cooler as they are getting done.

Pugi · 01-27-2013, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mauricio

This made me think about the average yield per butt, so I guess you end up with 40 pounds of the finished product on a single session.

80 pounds was pre cooked weight. I did not weight post cook weight.

pwa · 01-27-2013, 02:04 AM

Last month I cooked a case(10 butts) on my UDS's I cooked 5 per and think that would be most. I put 3 of the larger ones on the bottom rack and the smallest 2 on the top. I could probably do 6 butts per drum, but would have to select the smaller ones for the top.

pwa

01-26-2013, 10:47 PM	#1
Mauricio Got Wood. Join Date: 04-28-12 Location: San Salvador, El Salvador Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	How many pork butts can handle a 55 gallon UDS? I'm wondering if is possible to load a UDS with 12 pork butts, six on each grate without problems? I imagine that there will be a huge amount of drippings that might turn off the charcoal. Has anyone made that many? thanks! Last edited by Mauricio; 01-26-2013 at 11:11 PM..

01-26-2013, 11:11 PM	#2
flyingbassman5 is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 11-26-12 Location: Saint Louis MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	12!!! Dang!! Simple answer is no. I can get 8 on mine if I arrange things right and use the lid of my weber kettle. Now you could do 12 butts if you had 2 drums and did 6 on each. That would be a much easier feat. __________________ 18.5" OTS, 22.5" OTG, CB Silver(Rip), Vintage Coleman Bullet, Pit Barrel, UDS

01-26-2013, 11:11 PM	#3
biggs98 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-27-08 Location: West Sayville NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Unless you have like 4lb butts its not going to Happen. I've had 4 8lb butts on 1 grate and they were very tight but once they cooked down they fit perfect __________________ Joe - CHUBBY HUBBY BBQ / STAINLESS UDS(Build in Progress)/2 UDS /1 WSM / Weber Gasser/ 22.5 Weber Kettle/ The Absolute Fastest Super Fast *BLACK* Thermapen

01-26-2013, 11:14 PM	#4
juslearning Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 01-30-11 Location: McCormick, SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Won't happen. __________________ Proud supporter of BKBBQ as a sponsor Mister Sparky

01-26-2013, 11:17 PM	#6
HankB is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-16-12 Location: Winfield, IL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Can you fit three grates in there? It seems like 6 butts on each grate would be tight unless they're small butts. If they're touching each other, they will take longer to cook. Can you locate some kind of pan between the racks and coals to catch the drippings? I'm not sure if they'll be a problem bit if they land in a pan they can't be a problem. __________________ Weber Crazy

01-26-2013, 11:29 PM	#9
Pugi Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 09-21-11 Location: Idaho Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Best I've done is 80 pounds on 2 grates. I may be able to get more if the sizes were right.

01-26-2013, 11:50 PM	#11
MaximumJEFF On the road to being a farker Join Date: 02-21-12 Location: Fenton, MO Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Four 8 pounders per rack is my max too. Butt, the top rack would take forever to cook __________________ Shut Your Mouth BBQ

01-27-2013, 02:04 AM	#15
pwa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 10-11-11 Location: North Pole, Alaska Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Last month I cooked a case(10 butts) on my UDS's I cooked 5 per and think that would be most. I put 3 of the larger ones on the bottom rack and the smallest 2 on the top. I could probably do 6 butts per drum, but would have to select the smaller ones for the top. pwa __________________ Equipment: 2UDS Weber Performer WIFI Stoker BurlesQ BBQ team Go Magpul