No oak for pork butts.....what do I do?

[Ron F]

Doing 4 butts Fri. night to be ready for Sat. night. Don't have any white oak, and cannot find any. Too late to order online. I have hickory, mesquite, and apple. Any thoughts? Doing the 'mr.brown' recipe....

Ron

 

[Chet Johnson]

Apple is very nice with pork butt.

 

[Jim Minion]

Hickory is the classic wood of choice for pork.
Jim

 

[Joe McManus]

Ron,

I usually mix hickory and apple with good results. 2-3 chucks of apple, 1-2 chunks of hickory.

 

[John L]

Exactly what Joe said in your case. If given the choice (for pork), I'll usually use 3 chunks pecan, 1 chunk apple, 1 chunk hickory. Too much hickory, can make it ickory.

 

[Greg Rempe]

Ron, I always use Mesquite! I like the flavor it makes in the pork but Mr. Minion is right...hickory is the classic wood of choice for butts!

 

[Paul G.]

Hickory or Hickory/Apple combo.

Paul

 

[Susan Z]

I'd do apple/hickory, or just hickory. But....you could always try a 3-way combo (prolly use just a wee amount of mesquite, and go heavier on the other two woods).

 

[Tom Raveret]

I ould think the mesquite too harsh on pork but hey ..there is always something to learn. I think you can't go wrong with a blend of hickory/apple. I love apple and love its taste on Pork its a sweeter and bit milder than hickory by itself

 

[Greg Rempe]

Tom, you're missing out for sure! Just have to be careful with the amount!

 

[Tom Raveret]

i will definately try it!! I've had iot with brisket but not pork.


thanks

 

[Bryan S]

Tom, My 2 cents, Apple 2 to Hickory 1 ratio. Bryan

 

[Keri C]

Yup - 2 parts apple to 1 part hickory. Personally, I detest mesquite on pork. 'Course then, I'm not just real fond of it on ANYTHING.

Keri C, smokin' on Tulsa Time

 

[John L]

Same here Keri, 'cept maybe for grilling steaks.

 

[Bryan S]

Keri, John, I third that.

Threw a butt out when i first started smoking because of that noxious shrub/tree. Like it when grilling steaks though.

Bryan

 

[Greg Rempe]

Feeling threatened....worried...but, still using mesquite for my cook this weekend!!

 

[Ron F]

OK!...not worried anymore. Guess I'll go with the apple/hickory combo. I'm doing 4 at once, so how much smoke wood should I use? I'm thinking 3 tennis ball size chunks of apple and 2 smaller size pieces of hickory...

Ron