Help with planning 1st big smoke!

[3Cases]

Still getting the hang of my KAT but already planning a big smoke in a couple weeks. Will be doing 8 butts for a party. I've done 2 butts at the same time on 3 occasions since I got the smoker. Takes about 45 min/lb.

What I'm unsure about is what exactly should I expect when I load the smoker up with meat. I figure the temp will want to run lower with that much meat, so I assume I can just adjust my vents to get the temp up?? Is it that simple?

If I can keep the temp at 250 like I've had it on previous smokes, can I expect a similar timeframe? Or will having that much meat make the cook time longer even if I can keep the temp where I normally have it?

Your insight & words of wisdom are greatly appreciated!! I'm still a newbie when it comes to stick burners!!

 

[Smoke on Badger Mountain]

Good questions. I have never cooked on a Kat, but they are nice units. So I'm not speaking from any knowledge of your cooker. I will be cooking 8 butts on my 48x24 pit tonight. When I load that pit up with that much vs. one or two butts or some ribs, the only thing that takes longer for me is the initial recovery time when I first put the meat in. After that it's the same as it always is. If anything, it tends to run a little more even with that kind of mass in it.

So basically, the only extra time I allow is for the extra prep work on the front end, maybe 20 min more for the recovery time, and for the extra time pulling that much meat on the back end.

Hope that helps. I sure someone will be along shortly to tell you something totally different .

 

[Bludawg]

I figure an extra hour with a fullload

 

[Joe Black]

Like Bludawg, about an extra hour should do it. A lot depends on the density and thickness of the butts. Some could take longer than others. One thing that I would do is be sure the smoker is about 50* hotter when you first put the meat in. This will help with the temp dive when you load the smoker up with all that cold meat.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out, Joe

 

[ironmanerik]

^^^^this^^^^
even hotter if you can

 

[pjtexas1]

Good advice above. Like already stated everything will take a little longer. I'm on the paranoid side so I would add at least 2 hours. Butts will hold for hours and still be too hot to touch. Better to have extra time to shower and cleanup than to be running around like a mad man the last couple hours trying to rush the meat into finishing.

 

[3Cases]

Thanks for the help!!

 

[3Cases]

Just pulled the butt off & they are resting. Thanks again for the input. I ran the temp up to about 300° Before I put the meat on and after about 15 minutes it leveled out right where I wanted it at 250°. The temp kept trying to drop for the first couple hours, and I had to adjust the vents to keep it where I wanted. But once the meet started to warm up the temp popped right back up to 250. Overall time was similar to just doing one or two butts. Glad to have the first big cook done and out of the way!

 

[DownHomeQue]

Run your fire a little hotter than you normally would.. takes more temp to cook more butts in the same amount of time.. also allot for extra time some butts will get done faster than others.. just be patient.. stay by your stick burner and she will pull you through..

 

[DownHomeQue]

Well forget my advise.. since your done.. lol And SHARE THE PICS! lol

 

[3Cases]

I didn't take a single picture! Thought about it as I was pulling the meat. I put the butts on at midnight, so the pics would probably have been poor anyhow. Next time!

 

[Adubree86]

nice