I'm a Joker, I play poker, I'm a Midnight Smoker

[ThunderLund78]

OK, I changed the lyrics for the subject line, but I never liked Steve Miller anyway.  

T-minus 20 hours until mealtime - gonna do three pork shoulders overnight tonight for my son's 5th B-day tomorrow.  Reinhard, I'm following your method and using your rub recipe.  Here goes nuthin'

Friday - 8:45pm:

Three butts rubbed and ready, coming to room temp.  One boneless, two bone-in - all between 3 & 5 lbs.  Gonna get the smoker preheating in the cold in a bit.  I'll try to keep posting progress, even if it's a miserable failure.

[eyeguy 54]

bummer that you dont like steve miller. love that music.   

butts gonna be good.   did some ribs yesturday. mmmmmm!

[ThunderLund78]

Friday - 11:50 PM:

Woke up from a quick snooze, opened my door to find her hot & ready - HELLO BEAUTIFUL!

Fired-up the new accessory - 18" smoker tube from A-MAZE-N to keep steady smoke on it all night.

 

Saturday -12:15 AM:

Got everything in and now it's time for bed - I also threw one pan of hickory chips in just to get it started.  It's about 35 degrees and all windows are closed, but I can already smell it in the house.  I just peeked out the window, the smoke is pretty intense - at best I'm going to have neighbors waking up in the middle of the night curious and drooling.  At worst, the old guy across the street is gonna call the fire dept.  Good night all.

[reinhard1]

They probably won't need the longer time the larger butts need so watch for that internal temp of around 200 to 205.  Then wrap them up and let them rest.  They will stay nice and warm for some time wrapped and covered.  I'm sure everything will work out just fine.  Have a good time!!!.  good luck.

[ThunderLund78]

Saturday - 6:15 AM:

Just before dawn, rolled off the couch.  Temp held good all night, not sure when I lost the smoke, but the tube was empty - I imagine it smoked most of the night. a full 18" tube is supposed to be good for about 6 hrs. Smallest butt was at around 190 - we're almost done with that one.  The bigger guys are about 10 degrees behind it. I just about fell over when I opened the smoker door.  There are FAR worse smells to wake up to!

[reinhard1]

Now that's some nice Pig Candy right there!!!!  Love that bark!!!  I mix that right in with the rest but it get's picked on first.  good luck.

[ThunderLund78]

Saturday -11:30 AM:

I pulled the small boneless but a bit earlier, but the big two were done and the sun was brighter, so this made for the better photo op - If looks mean anything, we're gonna be eating good!  In-fact a small chunk fell off and I couldn't help myself...  wife also tried some, INSANELY DELICIOUS!  It will be even better after the rest.  In the cooler they went, now I just have to keep my mind (and stomach) occupied for a few hours. 

[Boar]

YA BURNT EM  kidding looks awsome!!

[delcecchi]

That top picture looks like a painting. 

[Boar]

by one of the Masters no doubt.

[reinhard1]

Looks very good!!!  Should work out just fine.  Great Job!!!  You sure that was a accident that a part of that butt fell off LOL.  good luck.

[ThunderLund78]

Thanks all, to wrap this up...

Saturday - 4:30 PM:

Pulled it (more like assisted it in falling apart on its own) and in the crockpot it went.  My Dad, my father-in-law, and my wife's Grandpa were like pesky kids trying to pick off little pieces of Turkey when the bird is being carved on Thanksgiving.  I literally had to start slapping hands! It all went really well, the pork got rave reviews and the party was fun.  I got too busy to take some better food shots, so the anti-climactic end to this is a boring shot of pulled pork in a crockpot - it didn't last long.  Thanks all for al the advice on my first large-quantity smoking adventure.  the confidence to try other, more complex projects is quickly building.

[Kidd]

If I might add one thing.  Experiment with taking the drippings in the aluminum foil pan and pour some of it into your baked beans.  Our if you're not having baked beans right away pour into an ice cube tray, freeze and add to a baked bean dish at a later time.

 

 

[reinhard1]

Great tip by Kidd!!  Your pulled pork turned out great!!!  Ya, that picking at  it before it's completed is done by all, including me.  good luck.

[ThunderLund78]

If I might add one thing.  Experiment with taking the drippings in the aluminum foil pan and pour some of it into your baked beans.  Our if you're not having baked beans right away pour into an ice cube tray, freeze and add to a baked bean dish at a later time.

 

 

Actually, the  drippings went back in with the pork, but we did have baked beans and I just mixed my pork and beans together - 50/50.  It was awesome.  Just finished the little bit of leftovers we had of lunch. Boy, oh boy!! GREAT STUFF!

[reinhard1]

I'm going to make some for deer camp.  Nice easy meal to have up there and with baked beans!!!!!

[Boar]

geeeeeeezzzz i gota get intot his bear meat, but I know if i do any now it will be gon before ice season. killing me! love doing pulled pork its alot of fun, TL, remeber to wright down what you did, or next time you be starting ove, even tho you tell urself I can remeber.

[ThunderLund78]

Good point, Boar! I have my own post to reference in this case, But I'll get it down in my cooking notes for sure.