1st 4 butt smoke

[Tony V]

I am doing my first 4 butt smoke this weekend.I will be using both the top and bottom grate (for the first time).

Do I need to rotate the butts from top to bottom at some point during the smoke?

Thanks for the advice

 

[Louis]

I never tried this but i think i would rotate the butts once or twice during smoking/cooking ... just to be sure. This way you will be sure to have all butts cook the same way ... are you planning on using a probe in each butt ??

 

[Paul H]

Tony,the only time I rotate is when some of the butts are done and removed and I want to get the other ones closer to the heat

 

[Tony V]

I only have a single probe. That raises another question, should I put the probe in one of the butts on the top grate or bottom grate?

Thanks

 

[Mark Evenson]

Tony, are you going to foil? No need to prob the butts at all. Use and instant read to get an idea of temp if you like and cook till done. If the butts are the same size they should all be done about the same time. If you are mopping or adding anything during the cook it wight be easier to rotate. I have connected my 2 grates together just for this application. When you want to get to the meat on the bottom grate you just lift the top one up and the bottom follows right along.

Mark

 

[Chuck_B]

Tony are you just foiling the pan or using water? I just foil the pan and when I do that, the bottom grate is hotter than the top grate. What temp are you planning on running at?

 

[S Mitchell]

Tony, fwiw, I only have one probe now too and I use it to measure temp at the lid. I don't temp my butts anymore. If you are worried about it, you could use an instant read like Mark said. On my cooker, in my neck of the woods, with the pork I have been using, this is what has been working for me lately: I cook at 250 at the lid and start checking the butts after 13 or 14 hours with a probe for tenderness, not temp. Typically, they have been taking between 14-16 hours at that temp. It will be a little hotter at the lower grate, so if you have any butts that are larger, put them on the bottom with the small ones on top. Good luck!

 

[Tony V]

Thanks for all the information. I will be foiling the water pan. I have a few smokes under my belt and have never used water. I got that good advice from all the experts on this forum.

Since I don't have a good instant read, so I may just use my maverick and measure both the top of the lid and one of the butts on top. This is going to be an overnighter. That might help me sleep better??

Thanks