Smoked Pork Butt

This submit might comprise affiliate gross sales hyperlinks. Please learn my disclosure coverage.

This Smoked Pork Butt goes to show into essentially the most scrumptious Pulled Pork you’ve ever had. Low and gradual is the secret when getting ready a Pork Butt. And smoking is (in my humble opinion) the BEST method to do that. Smoked pulled pork is my go-to alternative for feeding a crowd as a result of though it requires some planning and many time, it’s tremendous palms off and easy-peasy, plus it’s a comparatively cheap minimize of meat. It’s so good paired with my favourite selfmade Macaroni and Cheese and Coleslaw. Attempt my Smoked Rooster Wings subsequent!

What’s Pulled Pork?

Pulled Pork is an American dish, originating from the South which makes use of shredded pork butt (additionally referred to as pork shoulder) as the principle ingredient with different regional-based sauces added on after cooking slowly over a smoker, wooden hearth, oven, or in a gradual cooker. Not everybody has a smoker, so my Crockpot Pulled Pork recipe would be the subsequent neatest thing.

What Minimize of Meat is Finest for Pulled Pork?

Pork Butt, generally known as Pork Shoulder or Boston Butt, is the minimize of pork used for all Pulled Pork Recipes. It doesn’t really come from the butt of the animal, however the shoulder. So, technically Pork Shoulder can be the right time period however most individuals comprehend it as Pork Butt, in order that’s what we might be calling it at this time. It’s a number of the most tender and flavorful meat after being cooked low and gradual. Partly as a result of it’s naturally very fatty, but additionally as a result of it simply falls off the bone after cooking.

When pork butts go on sale, decide up one or two, and make this simple meal for your loved ones. It’s additionally an enormous crowd pleaser so it’s possible you’ll wish to make it the star of your subsequent gathering.

How Lengthy to Smoke a Pork Butt

It takes a number of hours to smoke a pork butt from begin to end, so plan forward and begin early. Each smoker is totally different however roughly, you’ll need about 1 1/2 – 2 hours per pound of pork if smoking at 225° F. There are a lot of elements for a way lengthy it’s going to take, together with the dimensions or your pork butt, the consistency of your smoker, even the surface temperature. It’s greatest to present your self loads of time and you may at all times preserve your pork heat in a cooler till you’re able to “pull”. Extra on that later. I used two 6.5 pound butts for the needs of this recipe, and my complete smoke time was about 10 hours. I’ve carried out bigger 8 pound butts previously which have taken 14-16 hours. You’ll then wish to think about about an hour of relaxation time.

What Temperature to Smoke Pork Butt

I like to recommend setting your smoker to 225° F and smoking your pork till it reaches an inner temperature of 160° F. You’ll then wrap and proceed smoking till the interior temperature reaches 203° F which is the candy spot for this minimize of meat. Let relaxation for one hour earlier than pulling. In case you discover that you’re working brief on time and wish to hurry up the method a bit (only a bit!), wrapping your meat in aluminum foil and cranking the smoker temperature as much as 250° F will assist. I wouldn’t go any greater that that, although. And I wouldn’t suggest this until you might be determined.

The right way to Smoke a Pork Butt

I’ve smoked so many pork butts over time and have made the entire errors alongside the way in which…however you don’t must. In case you comply with my directions rigorously, it is best to have essentially the most scrumptious, smoky, tender, fall off the bone pulled pork that’s certain to please. Printable recipe card might be discovered on the backside of this submit.

Put together Smoker

Preheat your smoker to 225° F. Since each smoker is totally different, you’ll wish to comply with the producer directions for startup. I exploit a Traeger Wooden Fired Pellet Grill, which is the brand new love of my life. Place a disposable aluminum tray of water underneath the grate. This may assist regulate the temperature of your smoker, however is totally optionally available. My favourite wooden (or wooden pellets) to make use of for pork is Apple Wooden because it simply compliments the pork so properly.

Season Pork Butt with Mustard and Dry Rub

Pat your Pork Butt dry with paper towels and unfold basic yellow mustard everywhere in the meat. You’ll by no means even style the mustard. It simply ensures the rub adheres to the meat and will help to tenderize the meat because it accommodates vinegar. Then, generously apply any dry rub seasoning of your option to all sides of the pork butt. I used my selfmade Pulled Pork Dry Rub recipe. I make this in big batches so I by no means run out.

Raw Smoked Pork Butt on smoker with thermometer

Place Pork Butt on Smoker and Smoke for A number of Hours

Place your totally seasoned pork butt instantly on the smoker grate, fats aspect up and insert your smoker’s thermometer probe. Smoke for a number of hours till the meat reaches an inner temperature of 160° F. Most people who smoke can have a built-in thermometer probe or you should use a fast learn digital thermometer like this one.

Smoked Pork Butt wrapped in butcher paper on smoker

Wrap Your Pork Butt and Proceed to Smoke

As soon as your pork butt reaches 160° F, wrap it in NON-COATED butcher paper and place again on smoker to proceed smoking till the interior temperature reaches 203° F. You may also use aluminum foil right here, however I desire butcher paper as a result of it permits smoke to penetrate, whereas nonetheless sealing in juices, thus preserving your meat tremendous tender and juicy. Butcher paper will even not destroy your bark (extra on that later). That is my favourite butcher paper (principally as a result of it’s stinkin cute!) 😉

The Temperature Stall

It’s possible you’ll discover that your meat steadily comes up in temperature, all the way in which as much as 150° or so and also you suppose you’re dwelling free and ending method sooner than you thought. However then, the dial stops shifting. That is referred to as “the stall” and is totally regular. It could final wherever between 2-6 hours. Keep affected person and you’ll get over that hump ultimately. That is the place all of these powerful connective tissues begin to break down and the bark begins to develop.

The Bark

At this level, you’ll begin to discover the surface of your meat start to appear to be it’s burning. It’s NOT! That is the oh-so-delicious BARK. It’s SCIENCE! It’s caramel-y, candy, chewy and downright AMAZING when combined in with the remainder of the meat through the pulling course of so it is a GOOD THING!

Take away Pork Butt from Smoker and Let Relaxation

As soon as your Pork Butt reaches an inner temperature of 203° F (keep in mind, this could have taken about 1 1/2 – 2 hours per pound of meat), take away from smoker and let relaxation for one hour (nonetheless wrapped). You’ll be capable of inform if it’s tremendous tender as a result of that shoulder blade bone might be actually pushing itself out of the meat. SUCCESS!

Pull the Pork

Unwrap your Pork Butt and place in a big serving dish. I simply use disposable aluminum pans since we’re exterior and don’t have to be fancy. Pull out the shoulder blade bone and discard.

The best method I’ve discovered to shred (or “pull”) your pork is to make use of heat-resistant grilling gloves and simply get in there with each palms. You might additionally use meat claws and even simply a few forks.

Add Sauce, Serve and Take pleasure in!

There are a lot of totally different sauces you possibly can add to the pork at this level, or you possibly can serve it on the aspect. For this utility, I made pulled pork sandwiches with my Do-it-yourself BBQ Sauce and Coleslaw on buns, however we’ve been identified to simply eat it straight out of the pan…no additions vital! Subsequent time, I believe I’ll strive them with my extra vinegar-based Carolina BBQ Sauce.

What to Serve with Pulled Pork

Any sort of “picnic” meals can be nice aspect dishes for Pulled Pork Butt, however listed below are a few of my favorites (along with the Coleslaw talked about above after all).

Can I Make Pulled Pork Forward?

As hinted at earlier than, you possibly can completely make this Pork Butt forward of time. BEFORE you pull the pork, preserve it wrapped within the butcher paper after which wrap once more in an outdated towel. Place in an empty cooler and it’ll keep heat for just a few hours. I’ve had to do that just a few occasions when the celebration hadn’t began but however the pork cooked sooner than deliberate. It could keep heat like this for as much as 3 hours.

The right way to Retailer Leftover Pulled Pork

Any leftover Pulled Pork Butt could be saved by refrigerating in an hermetic container for as much as 4 days.

To reheat, merely heat within the microwave, calmly coated (to retain moisture), till heated by, stirring sometimes.

To freeze, place in an hermetic freezer secure bag or container. If utilizing a ziploc bag, you should definitely take away as a lot of the air as attainable. Pulled pork will keep contemporary within the freezer for 3 months.

Love this Pulled Pork Recipe? Attempt These Recipes:

Under is the printable recipe card. Put it aside and revel in, associates!

This Smoked Pork Butt goes to show into essentially the most scrumptious Pulled Pork you have ever had. Low and gradual is the secret right here!

Directions

Preheat your smoker to 225° F. Place a disposable aluminum tray of water underneath the grate.
Pat your Pork Butt dry with paper towels and unfold basic yellow mustard everywhere in the meat. Then, generously press any dry rub seasoning of your alternative over all sides of the pork butt.
Place your totally seasoned pork butt instantly on the smoker grate, fats aspect up and insert your smoker’s thermometer probe. Smoke for a number of hours till the meat reaches an inner temperature of 160° F.
As soon as your Pork Butt reaches 160° F, wrap it in NON-COATED butcher paper and place again on smoker to proceed smoking till the interior temperature reaches 203° F.
As soon as your Pork Butt reaches an inner temperature of 203° F (keep in mind, this could have taken about 1 1/2 – 2 hours per pound of meat), take away from smoker and let relaxation for one hour (nonetheless wrapped).
Unwrap your Pork Butt and place in a big serving dish. Shred (or “pull”) your pork utilizing heat-resistant grilling gloves, meat claws or a few forks.
Serve on buns with BBQ sauce and coleslaw.

Vitamin

Key phrase: pulled pork, pulled pork recipe, smoked pork butt, smoked pulled pork

Latest Posts

Smoked Pork Butt – Lauren’s Newest