Doing my first overnight!!


 
Ryan P.K.

Ryan P.K.

TVWBB Pro
This weekend I am doing my first overnight smoke. I am smoking 2 butts. They are both around #7-8. Any tips, ideas, or past experience you can share with me would greatly appreciate.
 
Don't be scared!
I only have been doing this since last June and have done 4 overnights. At first I was like a new Dad.... now three kids later.....
I have a Maverick and set it on my night stand ...it has yet to wake me up.
I always do two butts around the same size as yours. I'm usually at the 13 hour time frame. I use water and do not wrap, I stuff as many coals as I can fit and use minion method. If I start around 11pm I add some coals at maybe 9 am. Check the water but most times Its fine.
I pull let rest then wrap in towel and put in cooler until I'm ready to pull it apart.
My WSM has yet to let me down....... set it and forget it..... take lots of pictures and post them.
Good luck!
 
7-8# are going to cook pretty quick. Build your charcoal bin. Light your fire and build your smoker right away. Try to keep it around 190. That will get you through the night and plenty of time to pound a 6pack.
 
don't forget to save a frosty cold beer for the breakfast tacos in the morning.

good luck, take pics, drank one fer me.

don't lift the lid...
 
I presume you are talking about doing this on a WSM.

fill the charcoal wring to the brim and add what ever wood you want. Light 12 or so briquettes and pour on top, not too many or the temp will go to high fast. Put the meat on. Get the temp close to where you want it and have it stay there for 30 minutes or so and go to bed. Foiled pan and no water.
 
Biggest factor is to use the Minion Method. A WSM will hold a steady temp for at least 8 hours with a Minion fuel load. The only other advice I'd offer is to make sure you shield the WSM from any wind. I see that you're up in cold country. The low ambient temp will burn a bit more fuel, but the wind will kill the temp (but you probably already know that).

Jeff
 
As others have said, don't worry about it too much, it will go smoothly.

I'd suggest using the Minion method, it burns slowly and holds temperatures well. Usually I'll try to fire up about an hour - hour and half before I want to stop paying any attention. After that time, its usually fairly stable in terms of temperature and you can leave it unmonitored. I've never had any really bad incident leaving it unmonitored, the worst I had was in the morning once the temperature was a bit low as the wind came and burnt up a lot of the charcoal.

If you have a Maverick wireless thermometer they are great for keeping an eye on it without having to pay attention. Set a high/low alarm and forget about it.

Again, really don't sweat it, it's pretty hard to mess up, butts are resilient. Make sure to have plenty of beers and enjoy!

Daum
 
I was an over night smoker.......... now I do it Hot & Fast at 300-325 degrees. It turns out the same. I just had to get the nerve to try it. Last butt I cooked 8# in 6 hours.
You should try it sometime. You will like it.
 
AlWielgosz said:
Don't be scared!
I only have been doing this since last June and have done 4 overnights. At first I was like a new Dad.... now three kids later.....
I have a Maverick and set it on my night stand ...it has yet to wake me up.
I always do two butts around the same size as yours. I'm usually at the 13 hour time frame. I use water and do not wrap, I stuff as many coals as I can fit and use minion method. If I start around 11pm I add some coals at maybe 9 am. Check the water but most times Its fine.
I pull let rest then wrap in towel and put in cooler until I'm ready to pull it apart.
My WSM has yet to let me down....... set it and forget it..... take lots of pictures and post them.
Good luck!
Click to expand...

I don't really have much to add to that. My Weber gauge usually reads about 200* with cold butts just put on. It should come up to around 225* and hold around there if wanting to cook slow over night. If done early, I let the butts lose their steam some before I hold hot in a cooler. They WILL continue to cook if you don't, especially if there's many of them or the cooler is preheated. If using briquettes, you might need to tap the legs of the cooker early the next morning to knock some ash off the coals and rejuvenate the fire, especially if using Kingsford in the blue bag. Good luck with it.
 
Thanks guys for all the advice. I am sure this will be fun. Also, I will have some cold beverages and I will take some pics.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

 

Back
Top