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Cooking & Food Talk => Charcoal Grilling & BBQ => Topic started by: jdefran on January 03, 2017, 10:22:56 AM

Title: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: jdefran on January 03, 2017, 10:22:56 AM
 only using 18.5" WSM and 26" kettle? Do you think it's possible?

Assuming each butt is 9 lb average, I figure I can get 4 on the WSM and 2 on the kettle.

This would give me 54 lbs of meat. Assuming 1/2 lb of raw meat person, this may yield leftovers or extra for unexpected guests.

I'm cooking for a church function and offered to help out..although i wasn't expecting this to be the head count.

If I need to leave the house at 4:15 pm, I assume a 10 hour cook time between 300-325 is adequate timing and can start my fire at 5 am. Alternatively, I could set up the cook so it starts the night before and can adjust temp/time as needed the next day.

Please provide any insight you may have!
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: JEBIV on January 03, 2017, 10:29:23 AM
I did 4 butts on my 26 for a total of 32 lbs with the snake for about 15 hours at 225-250 just be sure and error on the side of caution and leave yourself plenty of time my cook was for family about 55 people had leftovers your 1/2 lb per person sounds about right best of luck
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: Mr.CPHo on January 03, 2017, 10:56:29 AM
@jdefran, I see you're in Tally.  LMK if you need extra room and wanna borrow another 18.5" WSM.


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Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: jdefran on January 03, 2017, 11:15:07 AM
@Mr.CPHo While that sounds fantastic and I am grateful for the offer, I don't know if traveling to Jax would be economical/feasible. I feel like my set up will work, but yes, if I had another WSM I would use that over the kettle.
Thank you for the offer!
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: Mr.CPHo on January 03, 2017, 11:17:56 AM

Quote from: jdefran on January 03, 2017, 11:15:07 AM
@Mr.CPHo While that sounds fantastic and I am grateful for the offer, I don't know if traveling to Jax would be economical/feasible. I feel like my set up will work, but yes, if I had another WSM I would use that over the kettle.
Thank you for the offer!
I would've met ya half way in Lake City.  If you change your mind, LMK.  Good luck and have fun. 


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Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: pbe gummi bear on January 03, 2017, 12:16:37 PM
Are you comfortable doing an overnight cook? I'd put it in right as before you go to bed. You can pull it in the morning and place it in a cooler or foil into oven to rest. It will hold temp no problem until you serve it.
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: JDann24 on January 03, 2017, 01:17:31 PM
Quote from: pbe gummi bear on January 03, 2017, 12:16:37 PM
Are you comfortable doing an overnight cook? I'd put it in right as before you go to bed. You can pull it in the morning and place it in a cooler or foil into oven to rest. It will hold temp no problem until you serve it.

+1. You don't want to be in a rush.
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: Travis on January 03, 2017, 01:32:08 PM
+2


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Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: jdefran on January 03, 2017, 04:31:15 PM
I am comfortable with an overnight cook on both. I would start them low, say around 225-250, around 10pm and expect them to be in the stall upon getting up around 6am. From there I can increase temp as needed to meet schedule.
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: JDann24 on January 04, 2017, 06:14:25 AM
Let us know how they turn out. I might be doing a similar cook for crowd here soon.
Title: Re: Pulled pork for 100...
Post by: jdefran on January 09, 2017, 10:17:49 AM
@JDann24 So it appears the 18.5" WSM can handle 55# of pork butt. I had 3 on each rack; the 3 on the bottom were laid flat and the 3 larger up top standing on their side kind of in a tee-pee formation. The bottom ones were cooking faster so I rotated 3/4 of the way through.

It was the coldest night in Florida I've ever cooked in, around 25 degrees, which introduced a large factor of uncertainty. I had to reload the charcoal basket twice and the slight wind required more vent adjustment than usual. My temps were all over, after a nap between 12:30-4:30 am, the WSM was at 200. Towards the end of the cook I cranked it up to 300.

With all that meat, my terra cotta heat sink overflowed a little (while removing body to refuel) and caused a small grease fire. Thankfully it was easily extinguished by closing a couple vents.

Overall the cook was successful and a learning experience. Next time I will start 24 hours in advance to provide larger buffer and rotate butts sooner in the cool. Total cook time was approx. 16-18 hours..those bottom butts finished earlier and after rotating the top ones never really caught up.