Smelly Boston Butts

ButchB · 12-06-2012, 01:25 PM

I just opened a 2 pack of butts from rest depot. I bought them last week and they have been in the fridge set at 35 degrees since i got them home. I opened them a few mins ago to start prepping and they stink pretty bad. I rinsed them off and it helped but still i've never smelled any this strong. Kinda torn on what to do. I hate to trash them but don't wanna get sick either. What would you do? Thanks

chad · 12-06-2012, 01:34 PM

Pork does not "wet age" like beef and definitely should not smell. A week is a bit long to hold pork in the fridge. But, YMMV! I wouldn't take the chance - pork is cheap, ER visits are not!

DownHomeQue · 12-06-2012, 01:36 PM

I vote Toss

landarc · 12-06-2012, 01:40 PM

Let them sit for an hour out of the cryo, if the smell is still bad, then let them go away.

daninnewjersey · 12-06-2012, 01:42 PM

Return them??

WineMaster · 12-06-2012, 01:47 PM

If you are gonna toss em give RD a call and see what they can do. Wont be the first time they have gotten the call about smelly pork. It happens

ButchB · 12-06-2012, 01:51 PM

I went ahead and tossed them. The entire house smells rancid and my wife walked in and flipped out when she smelled it. It really was pretty bad. Just sucks that that money is down the drain but better safe than sorry.

lola · 12-06-2012, 01:53 PM

I had a similar experience with a cryo pack from the local grocery store. Looked great but smelled very strongly. I returned it for exchange no problem. She said they have had quite a few come back all from the same packer, all put up with in two days of each other. May have been a process issue but not noticed until you opened it up. Worth a try on return but certainly would not eat it.

PatAttack · 12-06-2012, 01:53 PM

When in doubt, throw it out. I would have taken them back to RD.

ButchB · 12-06-2012, 01:58 PM

I'd love to return them but RD is an hour and a half from my house, which makes it suck even more because i lost gas money on top of the price i paid for the butts. I'm sure they would want them returned if they were to issue a credit or refund.

BobM · 12-06-2012, 01:59 PM

Toss is a good decision.

aawa · 12-06-2012, 02:00 PM

Call RD up and tell them that you bought some butts and when you opened up the vac bags they smelled bad and that you were not comfortable cooking up possibly bad pork. They might do something for you.

Also pork doesn't wet age very well as mentioned above. My rule is if I am not going to use it within 4 days, it goes into the freezer, and I'll thaw it out later if I decide I will use it.

OneHump · 12-06-2012, 02:06 PM

Been there and done that: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...mp+butts+smell

The smelly butts that I had turned out to be from a box that had expired 3 months prior. No idea what it was doing at the grocer's cold storage. I'm thinking that, in your case, a week is a bit long for non-frozen butts.

Edit: The linked thread isn't what I was shooting for. I had another thread going with some really smelly butts. Either way, I tossed them.

Cack · 12-06-2012, 02:08 PM

It never hurts to give them a call. Even if you had to take a hit. Maybe they go check the rest and throw them out so no one else waste their time and money.

Lake Dogs · 12-06-2012, 02:12 PM

I'm glad you threw them out, especially after you described that smell... Yeah, give RD a call. I'm sure they dont want to lose a customer, even one who is that far away...

12-06-2012, 01:25 PM	#1
ButchB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-11-12 Location: Rockingham, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Smelly Boston Butts I just opened a 2 pack of butts from rest depot. I bought them last week and they have been in the fridge set at 35 degrees since i got them home. I opened them a few mins ago to start prepping and they stink pretty bad. I rinsed them off and it helped but still i've never smelled any this strong. Kinda torn on what to do. I hate to trash them but don't wanna get sick either. What would you do? Thanks __________________ THE PIT QUE- Backwoods Party, Rec Tec Pellet grill, BBQ Guru, Red Thermapen, KCBS CBJ

12-06-2012, 01:34 PM	#2
chad somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 08-13-03 Location: Clearwater, FL Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Pork does not "wet age" like beef and definitely should not smell. A week is a bit long to hold pork in the fridge. But, YMMV! I wouldn't take the chance - pork is cheap, ER visits are not! __________________ Dave Southern Brethren BBQ Competition Team "It's all about getting paid!" - Myron Mixon "I love being hated in my hometown!" - David Hair KingFisher Gator Rotisserie cooker, WSM, Stainless 5 burner with IR gas grill, Turkey Fryer, Weber JD Commemorative grill, slightly used Bandera chamber for future use as a cold smoker, Masterbuilt 40" insulated ELECTRIC smoker

12-06-2012, 01:40 PM	#4
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: San Leandro, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Let them sit for an hour out of the cryo, if the smell is still bad, then let them go away. __________________ "perhaps...but then again...maybe not..." careful there son, those ribs are boiling hot... \_\|_/ (='.'=) Here there be bunnies... (")_(")ooo Pacific Rim BBQ Bob's Brew and Que

12-06-2012, 01:42 PM	#5
daninnewjersey is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 01-01-11 Location: Southern NJ Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Return them?? __________________ Proud owner of 4 VERY ugly drum smokers....

12-06-2012, 01:47 PM	#6
WineMaster Babbling Farker Join Date: 01-16-07 Location: Southern MN Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	If you are gonna toss em give RD a call and see what they can do. Wont be the first time they have gotten the call about smelly pork. It happens __________________ Dan MJH From Backyard Bomber BBQ ---- X 2 Junior & Stretch 22.5 Weber Kettle Blue Thermopen Comp Team Wine & Swine This is funner than chuckin rocks at a sign. John Godwin (Duck Dynasty)

12-06-2012, 01:36 PM	#3
DownHomeQue Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 10-11-12 Location: Jonesboro. AR Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I vote Toss

12-06-2012, 01:51 PM	#7
ButchB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-11-12 Location: Rockingham, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I went ahead and tossed them. The entire house smells rancid and my wife walked in and flipped out when she smelled it. It really was pretty bad. Just sucks that that money is down the drain but better safe than sorry. __________________ THE PIT QUE- Backwoods Party, Rec Tec Pellet grill, BBQ Guru, Red Thermapen, KCBS CBJ

12-06-2012, 01:53 PM	#8
lola Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-20-11 Location: Emerald Isle NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I had a similar experience with a cryo pack from the local grocery store. Looked great but smelled very strongly. I returned it for exchange no problem. She said they have had quite a few come back all from the same packer, all put up with in two days of each other. May have been a process issue but not noticed until you opened it up. Worth a try on return but certainly would not eat it.

12-06-2012, 01:53 PM	#9
PatAttack is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 07-19-11 Location: Mt. Pleasant S.C. Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	When in doubt, throw it out. I would have taken them back to RD. __________________ 18.5" WSM Weber SJS Maverick ET-732 Stealthy Fast Black Thermapen "You have never lived until you have almost died". "For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know".-Unknown Vietnam Soldier

12-06-2012, 01:58 PM	#10
ButchB Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 02-11-12 Location: Rockingham, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'd love to return them but RD is an hour and a half from my house, which makes it suck even more because i lost gas money on top of the price i paid for the butts. I'm sure they would want them returned if they were to issue a credit or refund. __________________ THE PIT QUE- Backwoods Party, Rec Tec Pellet grill, BBQ Guru, Red Thermapen, KCBS CBJ

12-06-2012, 01:59 PM	#11
BobM is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 02-16-12 Location: Long Island, NY Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Toss is a good decision. __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy." - Benjamin Franklin \| Weber 18 1/2" & 22 1/2" WSM, 22 1/2" & 26 3/4" OTG, Genesis S-330 \| \| BBQ Guru CyberQ WiFi \| Maverick ET-732 \|

12-06-2012, 02:00 PM	#12
aawa is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 07-03-12 Location: Virginia Beach Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Call RD up and tell them that you bought some butts and when you opened up the vac bags they smelled bad and that you were not comfortable cooking up possibly bad pork. They might do something for you. Also pork doesn't wet age very well as mentioned above. My rule is if I am not going to use it within 4 days, it goes into the freezer, and I'll thaw it out later if I decide I will use it. __________________ Weber Mini WSM x2 Weber 22.5in OTG x2 Weber Touch and Go Performer *Sublime Smoke UDS* Maverick ET-732 World's Fastest Blue Thermapen *

12-06-2012, 02:06 PM	#13
OneHump Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 08-15-10 Location: Danville, CA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Been there and done that: http://www.bbq-brethren.com/forum/sh...mp+butts+smell The smelly butts that I had turned out to be from a box that had expired 3 months prior. No idea what it was doing at the grocer's cold storage. I'm thinking that, in your case, a week is a bit long for non-frozen butts. Edit: The linked thread isn't what I was shooting for. I had another thread going with some really smelly butts. Either way, I tossed them.

12-06-2012, 02:08 PM	#14
Cack is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 10-05-11 Location: Greenville, SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	It never hurts to give them a call. Even if you had to take a hit. Maybe they go check the rest and throw them out so no one else waste their time and money. __________________ Lang 36" Original Patio (Jessica) - Char-Broil Commercial Series 4 Burner gasser

12-06-2012, 02:12 PM	#15
Lake Dogs Babbling Farker Join Date: 07-14-09 Location: Lake Sinclair, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'm glad you threw them out, especially after you described that smell... Yeah, give RD a call. I'm sure they dont want to lose a customer, even one who is that far away... __________________ Hance - Lake Dogs Cooking Team - MiM/MBN/GBA CBJ and comp cook Lake Sinclair, GA (strategically about an hour from everywhere)