To foil wrap or not to foil wrap . . .

[Big Man Dan]

I'm smoking a pork butt as I type and I have a question. Most of my Traeger recipes call for foil wrapping with a bit of apple juice at some point. My dad, an old school smoker who has had amazing results, says the foil wrapping step is entirely unnecessary for a well marbled pork butt. Is there something about the pellet smoker that makes foil wrapping a necessity? I've only made on pork butt before and I wrapped it. It was delicious. What do you guys do?

 

[Slimpicker]

Foil wrapping comes after the butt is done, then wrap in foil, a towel and in a cooler for 2 hours... take out and "pull"

My dad, an old school smoker who has had amazing results, says the foil wrapping step is entirely unnecessary for a well marbled pork butt.

He's right if he means 'during the cook'... but wrapping AFTER the cook is completely necessary IMO and years of experience.

 

[Slimpicker]

The main reason is you need a good tasty hard bark on a pork butt to add flavor and seasoning to the rest of the meat when mixed during the 'pull'. A butt will stay moist during the cook without wrapping, and get even more moist after once wrapped... that's the science of 'post wrapping'

 

[Timmy]

I don’t wrap during the cook anymore and I split the butt or shoulder in half for more bark. Wrap when it goes into the cooler.

 

[Big Man Dan]

I don’t wrap during the cook anymore and I split the butt or shoulder in half for more bark. Wrap when it goes into the cooler.

Thanks Timmy! You've actually answered 2 of my questions. The stated one about wrapping but I've also been wondering about splitting a roast to get more bark and shorten the cook time.

 

[Timmy]

Thanks Timmy! You've actually answered 2 of my questions. The stated one about wrapping but I've also been wondering about splitting a roast to get more bark and shorten the cook time.

These took around 10 hr at around 200f. I didn’t use my FireBoard so I don’t have the records for it. I did these on my Bronson 20 out camping.

 

[Slimpicker]

I've also been wondering about splitting a roast to get more bark and shorten the cook time.

I make 9lb into 2 4.5lb everytime... again as Timmy said, MORE BARK!!!! this method has worked for me for years and years... besides, the little butts are kinda cute....

 

[Big Man Dan]

For anyone who has been following this thread . . . I did not wrap with foil during cooking and I got the best results I've had to date. Thanks for helpful inputs.

 

[BobbyQ]

I make 9lb into 2 4.5lb everytime... again as Timmy said, MORE BARK!!!! this method has worked for me for years and years... besides, the little butts are kinda cute.... View attachment 7069

So you have one with the bone and one without?

 

[Outta The Box BBQ]

I'm smoking a pork butt as I type and I have a question. Most of my Traeger recipes call for foil wrapping with a bit of apple juice at some point. My dad, an old school smoker who has had amazing results, says the foil wrapping step is entirely unnecessary for a well marbled pork butt. Is there something about the pellet smoker that makes foil wrapping a necessity? I've only made on pork butt before and I wrapped it. It was delicious. What do you guys do?

While several good cooks in the forums will dispute this, I wrap in foil when the butt temp is 165 beneath the meat in the area opposite the blade bone (aka money muscle). I pull at 200 and let rest for at least an hour. Then open foil to vent and lightly pull (I always do this with my hands) to open the butt up some and apply rub of your choice so some flavor gets into the milder internal meat - then back on the Trager at 180 for about 20-30 minutes.

Hope some of that is useful.

 

[Outta The Box BBQ]

I make 9lb into 2 4.5lb everytime... again as Timmy said, MORE BARK!!!! this method has worked for me for years and years... besides, the little butts are kinda cute.... View attachment 7069

I have not tried this approach - would have been beneficial when I did 2 10lb butts for a retirement party a couple weeks back. Thanks for the idea Slim