Cooking Time for Picnic

[Pat Trammell]

Hello All,

I have two picnics (full) on the smoker, one at 10 and one at 8 lbs. I have heard in the past that they can have a tendency to cook up a little faster than a butt. I've done one in the past but did not notice a difference. I would mention that I did not remove the skin that time, and have now. I am a little concerned since I put them on at 6:00 pm and planned to do an overnight. Does anyone have any thoughts as to whether I should be concerned about leaving them 12 hours before checking?

Thanks for any insight anyone can give!

 

[K Kruger]

I would not be inordinately concerned; however if you wish, you can lower the cook temp if needed--that of course depends what your temp is now. If you're already running on the lower end of the Q cooking spectrum don't worry about it--a twelfth-hour check will be just fine.

 

[Pat Trammell]

Thanks Kevin. I think I am probably OK too, but am a little concerned about the 8 lb. one. Do you find that butt and picnic cook times are generally comparable?

 

[K Kruger]

Well, yes, I do. The difference, to me, has more to do with the cuts themselves not the cook times. In my experience there can be differences but they are what I would call minor--and they do not necessarily favor one cut over the other--trim, or lack thereof, has a lot to do with it. I have not had skin-off picnics cook all that much faster than butt but it would be possible if heavily trimmed. That's my experience anyway.