Cook times for half pork butts?

[Petra Z]

Still new to smoking, but I've made a couple of butts (separately) for some (very well received!) pulled pork. For me, it takes about 2 hrs. per pound, so the one I smoked last week (which was a 7-lb'er) spent 14 hrs on the WSM, plus another hour foiled in a cooler. If I have my butcher cut the butt in two halves and I smoked them separately I know I'd reduce the cook time markedly. This would be great for small parties, as I wouldn't have to get up in the middle of the night to start everything! BUT if I were to cook the two half-butt portions at the same time (let's say each was 4 lbs or so), would the cook time be closer to 8 hours (like a single half-butt) or 14 hours (like a full butt)?

Yes, I know that "it's done when it's done", but I don't want to feed my guests at 10:00 at night!

Petra

 

[T Bounds]

Petra,

I don't purport to have the expertise of many other commentators, but I have cooked, grilled and smoked more than a little. I think specific answers in smoking are about as hard to come by as in my profession, religion. Cooking times are suggestions, at best, and no time, such as 1.5 or 2 hours per pound, can be arithmetically manipulated. Cutting the butts in half will decrease the time, but not by half, or maybe by half. It will change every time. If 10 o'clock is a hard number, build in a big buffer of time, cook them til done, and hold or warm when needed. Every time I've tried to be "scientific" about the time or timing I've paid the price one way or another. I'm sure you're food will be great. Good luck on the time.