Pellet Fan

Here's How I.... => Cook Pork => Topic started by: Bentley on December 27, 2017, 04:43:50 PM

Title: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 27, 2017, 04:43:50 PM
I was asked to put this up.  It maybe a little more then Basic, but I think some of the steps you can just not use and it will be pretty Basic.  I am going to do it over the next couple of days!

I have never been one to scrutinize Pork Shoulder.  I have used the famous Kurobuta (Berkshire Breed) at a Ridicules $6/lb., to Swift, IPB and Smithfield brands at .99 cents/lb and I can discern no difference.  If you can tell a difference, use your preference.

Boneless or Bone in?  Again, for me, no difference.  It is all a factor of what is cheapest or on sale for me.  This is a bone in.

(https://i.imgur.com/sfLwKpvh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 27, 2017, 04:51:20 PM
There is not a lot of prep for me.  The person who asked me to do this thread has given me a few points to touch on and I appreciate that as, I am never quite sure what to include.  There was a 1/2 inch thick, 8x8 patch of fat I trimmed off the underside of this.  Also, I was asked to address what we think maybe the lymph node, some times mistakenly referred to as the butt gland!  As you can see by the pictures, the butcher got all but about 1/2 inch of it!  Checked underneath where it was and it looked good!


(https://i.imgur.com/PE8mu6Gh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/ZQv8YOCh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 27, 2017, 05:11:05 PM
Here is where I will venture off the "Basic" plan.  When I 1st started competing in 2003, I used to brine my pork.  For the 1st time in 14 years, I am going back to that. 

I will usually use a 6% brine.  That is 1 gallon of water and 1 cup salt and 1 cup sugar.  Usually I will not brine anything longer then 12 hours with a 6%.  I wanted to brine this butt for 48 hours, so I am doing a 3%.  And I am doing a little bit of a twist.  Then next few steps you can either skip all together or use all or parts of it.

I have 1 gallon of water, 1/4 cup table salt, 1/4 cup Koshar salt, 1/2 cup Gatorade, 2 Tbs. Sodium Phosphate.  The Phosphate is for flavor transmutation and moisture retention.

(https://i.imgur.com/CHmXpqNh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 27, 2017, 05:14:17 PM
We will brine this butt for 48 hours, then since the sodium phosphste is already in the brine, we will inject the butt with about 10% of the brine, doing it right in the brine vessel so that there is no mess. 

Will be back here in about 2 days and we will continue.  I take direction real well, so if you have suggestion, please make them!

(https://i.imgur.com/KmDNMJNh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Ross77 on December 29, 2017, 09:35:26 AM
I noticed on the label that it already has a 12% solution of pork broth and salt. Will brining make it too salty?
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: pmillen on December 29, 2017, 10:53:09 AM
We will brine this butt for 48 hours, then since the sodium phosphste is already in the brine, we will inject the butt with about 10% of the brine, doing it right in the brine vessel so that there is no mess. 

Are you injecting brine that the butt has been soaking in?
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 02:43:56 PM
Yes!

I was just thinking about this.  As soon as Kristin get out of the kitchen I am going to and then put it on the Memphis for an overnight cook.  It is to be 16° tonight, so I will have a new record for the next time that question is asked!

And It never dawned on me that the Sodium Phosphate would be in a brine solution, I was fully cognizant that I would be injection Gatorade ( I like that citric acid component in pork) but had forgotten about the brine part.  As I said, I hope that folks will be able to take from this... How To...what they feel they can use.  I know it is not a traditional Basic, X, Y and Z format...but I am to lazy to start again!

Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 02:45:44 PM
There is no such animal for me, and this is going to go to family...so!  And I maybe wrong on this, but I think the science of it says it will still reach an equilibrium even if it has been enhanced!

I noticed on the label that it already has a 12% solution of pork broth and salt. Will brining make it too salty?
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 04:19:50 PM
I may not be the one to do these from here on out...Hey cured pulled pork!  Right, back to the lesson.  48 hours and after being injected with the brine/sodium phosphate/Gatorade solution and it looks like this.

(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0008.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0003_1.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 04:30:25 PM
We do not BBQ much in this household, therefore w do not have BBQ rubs!  So I took 1 cup of Dark Brown Sugar, 1/4 cup of Kosher salt, a Tbs of Black Pepper, 1/4 cup of Gatorade powder and 1 tsp. of each of these seasonings.  Ended up with about 1 1/2 cups of rub.  A coat, about 1/2 cups worth of molasses and then all the rub.

(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0004.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0007_1.jpg)
(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0009.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 04:34:11 PM
I was going to wrap and put on about 10pm...But I figured what the heck.  Most folks think low n slow is anything from 12-20 hours.  I figured we would smoke this at 200° for 6 hours, then BBQ this at 250° for 12 hours...and in the morning, probably pan and foil for a couple of hours to mellow that bark.  Will make that call in the morning!

(http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n90/lwnna/Pork%20Butt/IMG_0011.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 29, 2017, 10:09:38 PM
After 6 hours at 200° on a blended pellet.  Just turned up to 250°.  We will see how it looks in the morning!


(https://i.imgur.com/fc2sB8Fh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: cookingjnj on December 30, 2017, 12:40:22 AM
Looking pretty good Bentley.  Thanks for the play by play.  Looking forward to seeing how it looks in the morning.  Gnight!
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 10:34:32 AM
Here is a good lesson for the beginner.  I turned this up at 10pm, then 2nd guessed myself at Midnight before I went to bed and turned it down to 225°.  I knew I was gonna sleep in and ask Kristin to check it in the morning.  At 8:30 I think she said it was around 170°, when I just checked it at a little after 10 it was 175°.  So was my pit running true in this 16° weather?  I don't know cuz I did not moniter it or the IT of the meat?  Lesson, don't 2nd guess your cooking plan!

Nothing hurt, it is in pan, foil and Gatorade.  Did turn it to 275°, will see where we are in 90 minutes!

(https://i.imgur.com/ZhPWnXhh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bar-B-Lew on December 30, 2017, 10:44:05 AM
Based on my experience with my Memphis, I suspect your pit was running pretty close to set temp because you did not have the lid open frequently.  I rarely monitor the pit temp on my Memphis because of its reliability when set at a temp and lid not being opened.
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 10:46:17 AM
Hey Man, I am trying to teach here...I am just kidding, we both know you are right...Just checked, 187°, will give it another hour!
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 01:33:20 PM
OK, its done and this is the remaining juice and fat.  It is currently in the freezer, so when it coagulates, the fat will be used in tamales and the butt jello put back in meat and vac sealed.  Once hard, I am gonna guess about a 1/2 inch of orange fat.  Will post a picture when hardened.

Not even close on the thickness of fat!

(https://i.imgur.com/NwiVsrjh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/3YFZftnh.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/iCzeh7Eh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 01:42:44 PM
Those that have known me from Pelletheads.com will know I am pretty honest when it comes to my cooks.  Those that don't, when they read this will probably just say he is full of himself!

This was the best butt I have ever cooked.  Including the KCBS Perfect 180 I got at Imperial Beach Competition in 2003.  Kristin has a luncheon for 100-150 Master Gardner's in March and has already said we will be following this recipe.

If there are questions, I will be happy to answer them, anything more is just self serving!

Thanks to you know who for suggesting I do this...I now not only have a new recipe for competitions, I have documentation of how I did it.  I just need to figure out how to duplicate 48 hours in a brine in 12!

(https://i.imgur.com/Pdd24R1h.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/2UjOeOmh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Mudflap on December 30, 2017, 02:01:48 PM
Nice pulled :pig: and thanks for taking the time to post all this info.
man am I hungry

Just wanted to ask if this is the timeline for your cook?
48 hr Brine
Add your rub
6 hrs at 200 on grate
2 hrs at 250 on grate
10 hrs at 225 on grate
put in pan add fluid and foil pan turn grill up to 275 for 90min then checked
Gave it another hr at 275

About 20 1/2 hrs?
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Kristin Meredith on December 30, 2017, 02:04:08 PM
It was the best pulled pork he has done in, I can't remember now long!!  Moist, tender, but I do have one criticism -- it was a little salty.  He said he did not even taste any salt!
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 02:45:10 PM
Slaw with the Port Cranberry Reduction sauce.  1st time I have eaten a pulled pork sandwich since...I have no idea.

(https://i.imgur.com/HNtguFPh.jpg)
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 30, 2017, 02:47:32 PM
That is exactly it.  About a 1/2 cup of liquid in pan with foil.  And to be honest with you, if I had to do it again, I would not have turned it down to 225°.

Just wanted to ask if this is the timeline for your cook?
48 hr Brine
Add your rub
6 hrs at 200 on grate
2 hrs at 250 on grate
10 hrs at 225 on grate
put in pan add fluid and foil pan turn grill up to 275 for 90min then checked
Gave it another hr at 275

About 20 1/2 hrs?
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: pmillen on December 30, 2017, 06:26:52 PM
I'm in a pulled pork slump.  I expect each one I smoke to be as good as the previous ones or, hopefully, better.  Coaches always go back to basics to break a slump so this S×S process is precisely what I need.

I'm going to get it all on one page...Ingredients and Directions.  Then I'll have it for the next pulled pork cook.

Thanks for posting this, Bentley.
Title: Re: Basic Pork Shoulder/Butt
Post by: Bentley on December 31, 2017, 12:50:18 PM
I played football when there was one flavor, there were just coming out with that new fangled orange stuff, but that did not cut it.  For me, there is still only one flavor! So Lemon-Lime...

(https://i.imgur.com/XPsiR2qh.jpg)

I like the Citric Acid component on pork, ribs or butts.  So I decided, hey, why not put Gatorade in the brine, since you are going to inject the brine right into the meat. This was a 1st with this type of injection, I had never even considered injection a brine solution into the meat, it was always just used to soak, that is why I put the sodium phosphate in the brine. I also used the powder in the rub because it has a small amount of salt, a large amount of sugar (good for bark) and that citric component.  I would venture to guess if it is left out, the results will not change much.  Maybe a slight taste difference. 

The major factor in my injections is the sodium phosphate, I can always tell a difference between my competition butt (always injected) and my home butt (usually never injected due to laziness), the injected are simply more moist and have more flavor.  This butt for me was slightly saltier then usual, but for me a very minor taste difference, but I really enjoy salt.  But after Kristin's comments (will see what the 2 siblings and their spouses think), I will have to probably adjust.  Either inject less of solution, or make separate injection solution with just Gatorade and sodium phosphate.  She ate this meat naked, you start saucing it and I believe the salt is not going to be an issue, I think it will be a flavor enhancer.