Can you Texas Crutch a pork butt?

Wrap the pork.

Use grill-safe heavy duty foil, or food grade butcher paper to wrap the pork shoulder, then place it back on the smoker until it reaches 203 degrees Fahrenheit, about 4-5 hours. This is called the Texas Crutch Method.

When should a pork butt be wrapped?

Wrap in foil: At the 5-hour mark the internal temp should be in the 160 range. Wrap in aluminum foil to keep the meat from getting too much smoke and to catch the moisture being released during the cooking process.

Do you wrap a pork shoulder when smoking?

While not all pitmasters wrap their meat in the final stages of a cook—in barbecue circles, wrapping in foil is known as the “Texas crutch”—wrapping is an effective way of finishing a long cook time without drying out the smoking meat (after 10 hours, a bone-in smoking pork shoulder should register an internal ...

Should you wrap pulled pork?

Wrapping in Foil

Meat will generally be juicier and more tender. However, do not overcook. Meats like brisket and pork shoulder are best when taken to an internal temp of 203 degrees. Meat will cook faster and power more easily through the stall (see above).

Is the Texas Crutch necessary?

Some people opt to not wrap and leave their meat naked. This entire article has detailed why the Texas Crutch is necessary, however due to taste preferences some people prefer not to do so. Unwrapped meat is in direct contact with smoke for the entire cook. The bark is noticeably darker and crunchy.

Boston Butt - Wrapped Vs. Unwrapped - Pitts

What temperature is the stall on pork shoulder?

The stall occurs when the pork butt has reached an internal temperature between 150 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit. At this point, the meat will appear to stop cooking for several hours. You have two options: Either wait it out, or enlist in a shortcut to hasten the process.

Does foil ruin bark?

Foiling the brisket won't ruin the bark, but it will inevitably soften it. You can reduce this by wrapping the brisket in butcher paper instead of aluminum foil or, if you like the bark nice and crusty, not wrapping it at all.

Can you overcook pulled pork?

Can you overcook the pork? It's hard to overcook the well-marbled and fatty shoulder cut. However, it can become mushy due to the acids in the sauce if the cooking continues too long beyond the recommended cook times. Make sure to keep an eye on the pork and take a bite for the best gauge of doneness.

Can you wrap pork butt 150?

If you're planning to wrap your pork butt in foil, the best time to do it is when the pork butt has achieved an internal temperature of 150 to 170 degrees, or about two-thirds of the way through the cooking time. This will give it the best possible combination of flavor and texture.

How do you keep a pork shoulder moist when smoking?

Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot. To add a strong flavor during the process, white wine can also be sprayed. You can shred the pork during smoking or in the crockpot.

How long does it take to smoke a pork shoulder at 225?

At 225, figure roughly 2 hours per pound of meat, so the same piece of smoked pork shoulder takes from 12- 16 hours at 225. There are a lot of factors in how long it takes, including the humidity in the air, how consistent the grill holds temperature, the outside temperature, and more.

What temperature do you pull a pork butt to?

Pork butt needs to be cooked to 195 degrees Fahrenheit before it's tender enough to shred. If it's allowed to cook to 200-205 degrees, the meat will be even softer, which makes it that much easier to pull apart.

How long do you let a pork shoulder rest after smoking?

The minimum time that you should rest a pork butt is about 15 minutes. Keep in mind that the internal temperature of your pork butt will continue to climb as it rests. You may see as much as a 10-degree rise from when you remove the roast to when you shred it.

How long does the stall last when smoking Boston butt?

Many first-time smokers lose their minds and crank the heat, or transfer to a hot oven, and never see the back end of a stall. A brisket stall or pork butt stall can last anywhere from 2-6 hours, but 4 is about average.

Does pork butt get more tender the longer it cooks?

It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won't suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.

How do you keep a pork butt from drying out?

How do you salvage overcooked pulled pork? To save overcooked pulled pork, you can put it in the refrigerator for a few hours, preferably wrapped in tin foil. This process will help reabsorb some of the moisture and pull the pork back to a more desirable texture. You can also turn to a good sauce or moist toppings.

Why is my pulled pork mushy?

By overcooking on the pit or by holding too hot for too long in a cooler you'll get mushy AND dry bbq.

Do you smoke a Boston butt fat side up or down?

We think it's best to cook the pork butt with the fat side facing up. The fat will slowly baste the pork as it renders, keeping the meat tender and moist. This method will also help you avoid flare-ups, which could occur if the melting pork fat was in direct contact with the heat source.

How long does pork butt take to smoke?

Smoke the pork butt for 6 hours at 250°F, then turn the temperature up to 275°F to crisp the skin and smoke until probe tender. This should be around an Internal Temperature of 202°F, about another 4 hours. So make sure you start smoking early because this should take about 10 hours to turn out perfection.

Is butcher paper better than foil?

Butcher paper is more breathable and traps less steam, keeping the brisket moist without making the bark soggy. If you prefer a super crispy, crunchy bark you can also leave the brisket unwrapped, though you'll need to be careful it doesn't dry out.

How do you get the best pork shoulder bark?

Can I wrap a pork butt at 145?

If you notice the pork begins to stall at 145°F, take it out and wrap it. Once the pork is past 180°F you can unwrap it and allow the bark to form for the last part of the cook.

What temp does pork shoulder fall apart?

Return pork to the grill (or smoker) The pork is finished cooking when it pulls apart easily and reaches an internal temperature of 190 to 195 degrees F, about another 1 to 2 hours. Let rest for 1 hour, then unwrap the pork butt and pull the bone out.