Author Topic: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt  (Read 10748 times)

DivotMaker

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My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« on: June 16, 2013, 05:10:35 PM »
The smoker arrived last Thursday (incredibly fast shipping!), so I seasoned it for 4 hours Thursday evening.  BTW, I'm really impressed with the quality build of this smoker; really well-made! 

Friday evening, I prepared my rub, and bbq sauce, and trimmed the Boston butt.  I planned to have it in the smoker by 5 am Saturday (8 pound roast, figured on a 12-hour cook).  I also foiled the smoker so I wouldn't have to do it in the dark Saturday morning, just add the wood then.

Edit:  Since this very first pork butt, I have gone to a brined pork butt for pulled pork!  This is the method I use now, and it produces the best pulled pork you'll ever have! ;)

Here's my rub and sauce recipes:  Edit:  I now use, primarily, Famous Dave's Rib Rub, or Jeff Phillip's rub.  Famous Dave's is one of the best "off the shelf" pork rubs I have found.  Good mix of sweet and spicy!  This first rub wasn't bad, but Dave's is better, imo.

Dry Rub: (based on Grimm5577's Spicy Pork Rub):
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup Kosher salt
1/3 cup paprika
2 Tbls garlic powder
2 Tbls onion powder
1 Tsp cayenne
1 Tsp black pepper
1 Tsp cumin
1 Tsp coriander

...and the sauce (based on a St Louis-style sauce I found on the internet, with modifications):

2 cups ketchup
1/2 c water
1/3 c apple cider vinegar
1/3 c brown sugar
2 Tbls yellow mustard
1 Tbls onion powder
1 Tbls garlic powder
1 Tsp cayenne
1/3 cup honey

Mix all ingredients in a sauce pan and simmer until well-blended.  Note: be prepared to constantly stir this mixture when you add heat!  Ketchup will bubble up and splatter everywhere if you don't keep the sauce moving!  When hot and well-blended, remove from heat and place in the fridge overnight (it allows the spices to really develop).  It's good right after cooking, but is even better after it sits 24-hours.

Saturday, 4:30 am:

First things first - put on a pot of coffee!  Next, get the butt out of the fridge and prepare to rub it down.  I coated it well with yellow mustard, and applied the rub.  This took all of about 10 minutes, so time to have a cup of coffee and let it sit for about 20-minutes. 

On to the smoker!  I put 3 hickory dowels in the smoker (along with a hunk of chunk charcoal), put the meat in and fired the little beast up to 225. Now to relax and drink some more coffee!

About 6-hours into the cook, temp had climbed to about 158, and the stall began.  It took about 3 more hours to climb another ten-degrees.  I spritzed a couple of times with apple juice, and let the juices rise to the surface.  It was looking really nice at this point!  I just kept the temp constant at 225 and let the internal temp rise.  When it finally got to 195 (at 13-hours total time), I pulled it and wrapped it in foil.

I only let it rest about 15-minutes while I finished the other food (we were starving by this point - especially my almost-14-year-old eating machine, who I like to call "my son!" 

Now, for the moment of truth!  I unwrapped my creation with nervous anticipation, put it in a large glass dish, and removed the bone.  The bone slid right out, clean as a whistle!  That's a good sign, I thought.  My son knew that was good from the grin on my face.

Without delay, I began pulling it.  The meat was very moist and just fell apart.  The bark was dark and chewy, just the way I like it!  My wife, who is not a fan of "over-smoked" meat, tasted it and said she was amazed at how good it was!  That one definitely got another grin out of me!

We loaded up the fresh Kaiser rolls with heaps of the delectable morsels, slathered them with warm sauce, and tore in like sharks on a blood trail! 

All in all, the family said it was probably the best pulled pork they had ever eaten, and the sauce was also a big hit!

I see many happy hours ahead with my new friend!  My only regret is that I didn't go the extra for a model 2, as the interior of the model 1 is a little smaller than I thought it would be.  I would have liked to do 2 of the 8 lb butts at the same time.
« Last Edit: April 10, 2015, 10:10:17 PM by DivotMaker »
Tony from NW Arkansas
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UWFSAE

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #1 on: June 16, 2013, 06:59:28 PM »
Looks like a winner, congrats!  Heh, everyone who buys a Smokin-It wishes they'd have gone bigger ... and even those of us with #3's dream of an eventual upgrade.  No matter what size you have, they're versatile and reliable.

One thought ... give sliced pork butt a try soon.  You'll need to shorten the smoke until it hits 170-175 but it makes excellent sammiches and a heck of a main dish on it's own.
Joe from Houston, TX
Proud owner of a Smokin-It #3!

DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #2 on: June 16, 2013, 07:23:10 PM »
Thanks!  Yep, I know the #1 will be a great little giant for the family.  I couldn't be happier with the performance!
Tony from NW Arkansas
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afratki

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2013, 08:34:50 AM »
Looks fantastic!

I think you could squeeze two in there without much trouble.
Andrew from Maryland

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DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2013, 07:40:30 PM »
I might try to squeeze two in at once, but they'd probably have to be a little smaller.  This one was 8+ pounds, and nearly covered the entire grate uncooked.   I don't think there's not enough vertical space for 2 pieces this big stacked, but I could be wrong.  Anyways, this one was big enough to feed 5 or 6 people easily...I really never cook for more than that.  I'm very happy with my #1, and will adapt to it's size.
Tony from NW Arkansas
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afratki

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2013, 09:42:19 PM »
Can't say I've done it but my thought was you could put them on two shelves. I don't think there'd be any harm if the one on the bottom was touching the shelf above it.
Andrew from Maryland

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swthorpe

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #6 on: June 18, 2013, 10:06:50 AM »
Thanks for the pictures...looks fantastic.  Now you have me thinking of Boston Butt for the weekend!  Thanks for the recipes as well.
Steve from Delaware
Smokin-It #2

DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2013, 07:13:25 PM »
Thanks for the pictures...looks fantastic.  Now you have me thinking of Boston Butt for the weekend!  Thanks for the recipes as well.

You're very welcome!  Hope you like it!  I'm thrilled at the participation on this forum.  It's not super-big, and that's good.  I really enjoy how everyone shares!  If you do any "mods" to the recipes, please let me know!  Always looking for improvement.
Tony from NW Arkansas
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es1025

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #8 on: June 18, 2013, 07:20:10 PM »
Looks great, waiting for the 4th to smoke a boston butt.  I hope I have similar results as yours. 
Ed from Northern NJ
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afratki

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #9 on: June 18, 2013, 08:36:30 PM »
Just got back from picking up an 8lb Boston butt. I was planning to take off work Friday to do some work around the house so I thought since I'll be around the house all day, it'd be a good time for an all day smoke.  8)

I'm pretty much going to be on the same schedule as Divot (getting up at 4:30 to get started) and my wife thinks I'm nuts but she said if I cook it, she'll eat it!
« Last Edit: June 18, 2013, 08:38:35 PM by afratki »
Andrew from Maryland

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DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #10 on: June 18, 2013, 09:50:41 PM »
Just got back from picking up an 8lb Boston butt. I was planning to take off work Friday to do some work around the house so I thought since I'll be around the house all day, it'd be a good time for an all day smoke.  8)

I'm pretty much going to be on the same schedule as Divot (getting up at 4:30 to get started) and my wife thinks I'm nuts but she said if I cook it, she'll eat it!

Nice!  My wife thought the same thing! ...and she did eat it!  Good luck!  And, be sure to post pics if you can!
Tony from NW Arkansas
"Official Smokin-It Test Pilot"
Smokin-It Model 1, 2D conversion, and 3D
Auber PID, NexGrill 896 6-burner, CharBroil Big Easy, Anova Precision Cooker w/WiFi
Wife, Son and One REALLY Big Dog!

DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #11 on: June 21, 2013, 11:03:58 PM »
Forgot to mention one thing about my cook  -  I added a pan of apple juice to the bottom of the smoker (instead of water).  I've heard this adds a little more flavor, so I tried it.  As I said, the results were incredible.  I plan to try one with water to compare, but my gut tells me to go with what's proven to work!
Tony from NW Arkansas
"Official Smokin-It Test Pilot"
Smokin-It Model 1, 2D conversion, and 3D
Auber PID, NexGrill 896 6-burner, CharBroil Big Easy, Anova Precision Cooker w/WiFi
Wife, Son and One REALLY Big Dog!

UWFSAE

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #12 on: June 21, 2013, 11:35:58 PM »
Think of beer can chicken ... water could work, but a decent beer with a the juice of a lemon and some Sriracha inside makes the poultry truly succulent.

My two cents on putting water in the water pan:  water works but why waste a chance to impart greater flavor?  Apple juice, juice blends, apple cider, beer ... all of these, when heated, will yield a more flavorful vapor to help keep the meat moist and lend it some complexity.

« Last Edit: June 22, 2013, 12:44:23 AM by UWFSAE »
Joe from Houston, TX
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DivotMaker

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #13 on: June 22, 2013, 11:49:54 AM »
My two cents on putting water in the water pan:  water works but why waste a chance to impart greater flavor?  Apple juice, juice blends, apple cider, beer ... all of these, when heated, will yield a more flavorful vapor to help keep the meat moist and lend it some complexity.

Couldn't agree more!  mmmm....beer! (to quote Homer Simpson!)
Tony from NW Arkansas
"Official Smokin-It Test Pilot"
Smokin-It Model 1, 2D conversion, and 3D
Auber PID, NexGrill 896 6-burner, CharBroil Big Easy, Anova Precision Cooker w/WiFi
Wife, Son and One REALLY Big Dog!

Smoke Monkey

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Re: My First Cook on my new Model 1 - Boston Butt
« Reply #14 on: July 25, 2013, 09:39:32 AM »
Looks like a great first smoke in your #1! Congrats! When you taste the results the extra effort you put into the prep is well worth it!
Steve from Albany, NY
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