Traeger vs. Big Green Egg on Pork Butts

[wallyjar]

I have done prob 100 butts on green egg. Really looking forward to first one on my new 575. Wife would not eat pulled pork till I got an egg. She will be the one I have to please!

 

[Ironyoder]

Howdy,

First pulled pork on the Traeger. Just to let y’all know, I’ve smoked over a ton of pulled pork (over 2,000 lbs) on my 2 large Big Green Eggs over the last 16 years for parties, fund raisers for swim, rowing teams, scout troops, catered parties and just for the family & friends. Those butts took on average 22 hours to finish and this butt was fine in just over 9 hours. It turned out tasty, tender, and moist, but since it was wrapped at 160, the bark was not formed as well and that’s the big difference according to SWMBO. It was good, but she prefers never wrapped 22 hour pulled pork off the Big Green Egg.

In any event, I got the results I expected and it’s the first same day pulled pork for me ever. There’s a place for that especially since I can cook 9 pork butts at one time on the Ironwood 885.

Bottom line, since I have Big Green Eggs, pork butts will continue to be cooked on them if I am not pressed for time or space.

I'm happy to have the best of both worlds and each has it's sweet spots.

Traeger cannot be beat for Wings, Chicken, Fish, Pork loin, tenderloin, & ribs, Veggies (including bacon wrapped stuffed Jalapenos), but the ceramic grill is still king on pulled pork, brisket, burgers, & steaks.. Just sayin from experience. I will try one more butt, without wrapping, but keeping it spritzed and a water pan under it to keep moisture in the pit, but expectations will not be the same as what I get from the ceramic grill.

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On your Egg did the 22 hours include resting or was it 225 the entire cook. I have smoked pork butts on my Egg for 13-16 hours depending on the weight.

 

[GrillMeister]

On your Egg did the 22 hours include resting or was it 225 the entire cook. I have smoked pork butts on my Egg for 13-16 hours depending on the weight.

The entire cook. I now do the same on the Traeger. Key is the water pan to keep things from drying out.