Pulled pork for 65 on the drum. Need Advice

[HookedOnQ]

Im cooking pulled pork for around 65 people sunday and am looking for advive to make this cook as successful and easy as possible. The partys at 2 on sunday so im planning a overnight cook on the drum. I have 5 approximately 8lb pork butts I plan on putting on around 10pm tomm. Ill be cooking around 275 and im figuring on 10 to 12 hours cook time. Plan on resting wrapped in foil in a cooler till the party and pulling there. Does this sound like a good plan? What would you do different? Do I need to add more time to the cook because of the amount of meat on the drum? Any and all tips and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[firewolf]

Sounds like you will have plenty of meat with that many shoulders. You might be done sooner than 10 to 12 cooking at 275, but that varies by cooker too. Right on the money with keeping them in the cooler until the party.

[Fwismoker]

Boy I don't think i'd plan anything on over an 8-9 hour cook tops. All of my butts take less than an hour per lb cooking between 275-300* Sounds like a good plan but maybe put them on a little later than 10 PM.

[SmittyJonz]

I'd go as planned. May get done earlier but you can hold them in towels in cooler 6/8 hrs if needed.

[Cliff H.]

I'm assuming you are cooking on two racks. I would probe one of the bottom butts for a temp reference. I cook as many as 8 at a time and dread getting the ones off the bottom grate before the grease flashes over.

You could stand five up on the bone side of the butt and cook them all on one rack but bark won't form good if they are too close together.

I would plan on a longer cook time 10-12 hours and let them rest longer if needed.

[JandJbuidasmoker]

Boy I don't think i'd plan anything on over an 8-9 hour cook tops. All of my butts take less than an hour per lb cooking between 275-300* Sounds like a good plan but maybe put them on a little later than 10 PM.


I cook mine around 275-300. I stick to an hour per lb also.

[accuseal]

I think you'll be fine with that plan. Might get done sooner but the cooler will work. No point cutting your timing too close. You will have leftovers for sure. Good luck.

[IamMadMan]

I'd go as planned. May get done earlier but you can hold them in towels in cooler 6/8 hrs if needed.

I agree, you can always hold longer rather than make the guests wait. Good margin if the cooker is full and possibly extending normal cooking times. Only you know how your cooker handles a full load.

[HookedOnQ]

I've never had a full load or a load this big on it so it will be a learning curve with my drum. Kinda why I was planing on a longer cook time I may wait and put them on a hour later should still give me plenty of time with a long rest. Do yall think I need to do all 5 or could I just do 4 and be ok? There will be sides there and hotdogs for the kids

[Dr. Trout Bum]

Better too much than not enough...I'd do it all.

[Pole D]

Cook saturday and reheat on sunday.

[Beentown]

I have two, twelve pound butts rolling right now at 225. Plan on pulling about 9am or when they reach 195ish. Cooler and towels until I am ready to pull.

http://i524.photobucket.com/albums/cc329/beentown71/20140411_163143_zpsyrptl7oq.jpg

[flyingbassman5]

I'd go as planned. May get done earlier but you can hold them in towels in cooler 6/8 hrs if needed.


^^^THIS!!

Always start earlier than you think you have to.

Its much easier to hold the butts at a safe serving temperature for a few extra hours than it is to sweet talk a butt into cooking faster. :cool: