The Church Mothers' Pork Butt Recipe

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A classic, beloved, and delicious dish, the smoked pulled pork is an iconic Southern US BBQ staple. Made from pork shoulder, or also known as Boston Butt, it is slow-cooked to perfection over a smoker or coal, and once it’s done, the meat literally shreds off the bones, as if they were being “pulled” off, and thus, the name.

A pulled pork sandwich is one of the most popular Southern American dishes and if you recently just bought an indoor smoker, then smoked pulled pork butt should definitely be the first dish you should try to cook. Or, if you fancy a more traditional way of cooking pulled pork butt, then smoking it over wood is the best way to do it.

This recipe is a simple way to cook pulled pork because it doesn’t require any fancy or hefty preparations. There are no injections needed, no wrapping, and no special tools. Basically, if you don’t have any experience with BBQ or you want a simple and easy way to cook pulled pork, then this recipe is for you.

So without further adieu, here is everything you need to know about cooking your very own smoked pulled pork.

What Materials Do You Need to Make Smoked Pork Butt?

First, you need an indoor meat smoker, which can you can buy at any appliance store. Second, you would need a meat thermometer, which is an essential tool to determine the internal temperature of the meat. The easiest way to know if your pulled pork is ready is when the internal temperature reaches 195 degrees Fahrenheit.

These are essentially the two most important tools you’ll need to cook pulled pork. Others include bowls, a slicing knife, and a chopping board.

How Do You Choose Pork Butt Meat?

Pork butt meat does not actually come from the butt of the pig. The pork butt is actually from the shoulder part of the pig. Pork butt cut is also known as Boston butt or bone-in pork shoulder.

The pork butt features many muscle groups that are bound together with tight connective tissues. These tissues make this cut of pork ideal for smoking because a slow type of cooking allows the overlapping tissues to tenderize. If pork butt is not cooked slowly, it would be very difficult to slice and you’d be chewing and chewing on the meat to no avail. It would be like chewing on rubber.

By smoking the meat, the tissues begin to break down and tenderize, and the end results are amazing strands of super tender and moist pork shoulder.

When you head to the meat shop or butcher shop, choose pork butt with a good amount of marbling. This ensures that the meat is moist and flavorful. If you have a little more budget to spare, choose free-range pork. You can look for the labels, “Animal Welfare Approved,” or “Certified Humane” on the packing to determine if it’s certified free-range.

How Long Do You Smoke Pork Butt?

To smoke a pork butt, your indoor meat smoker must be at 225 degrees Fahrenheit.

The ideal length for smoking pulled pork butt is 2 hours for every pound of meat. For example, if your pork butt is 8 lbs., the cooking time inside the smoker should be 16 hours.

To determine if the meat has cooked, it should be at an internal temperature of 195 degrees Fahrenheit. Insert a meat thermometer into your pork to check the temperature.

The meat can quickly get to 145-degrees temperature but it can take some time to get to a higher temperature. Don’t worry as this is completely normal and should be expected. This part of the smoking process is called “The Stall.” Other recipes call for the meat to be wrapped in aluminum foil or butcher paper to skip “The Stall,” and speed up the heat, but if you want that amazing exterior crust on the outside of the meat called “bark,” then there’s no need to wrap it. Simply wait it out until the temperature starts increasing.

The “bark” is that exterior crust that looks burnt but it’s actually caramelized exterior that’s extremely flavorful and favored by many BBQ enthusiasts.

So why wait until the internal temperature is at 195 degrees Fahrenheit? Because this is the temperature needed for the meat to start shredding.

If you want the meat to fall apart on its own and have a melt-in-your-mouth characteristic, then wait until the internal temperature is at 201 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Recipe

Now that you know the basic information needed to get started, let’s finally begin to put together the ingredients and start cooking. Here are the ingredients you will need:

Ingredients:

Pork butt meat 8 to 10 lbs.
2-3 tablespoon yellow mustard

For the BBQ Rub

1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon of sea salt
2 tablespoon crushed black pepper
2 tablespoons smoked paprika
2 tablespoon onion powder
2 tablespoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions:

1. Prepare the BBQ rub first. Mix all of these ingredients together in a bowl and set aside.
2. Prepare your smoker to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. Remove your pork from the packaging, then wipe it down with paper towels. Do not wash with water as all the bacteria that are present in the meat will be destroyed in the smoking process.
4. Slather the entire pork with the yellow mustard. This will act as the binder that will hold the BBQ rub on the meat.
5. Season your pork butt with the BBQ rub. Massage the meat with the rub, making sure it is completely covered.
6. Place your seasoned roast on the smoker with the fat side up.
7. Close the smoker and smoke your pork butt between 16 to 20 hours depending on the weight of the meat.
8. You can check the internal temperature of the meat every now and then with the meat thermometer. After 3 hours, it should reach at least 145 degrees. Once the 16 or 20-hour timeline is done, check if the internal temperature is at 195 degrees Fahrenheit. If it is, it’s time to take it out of the smoker and set aside.
9. Slightly cover the smoked pulled pork with aluminum foil. Do not let the foil touch the meat. Let it sit for at least an hour before shredding.
10. After an hour, you can start pulling off the meat and prepare your pulled pork sandwich, then serve.

Smoked pulled pork meat is a delicious, tender, and flavorful dish that everyone loves. Though it does take time to cook, preparation time is actually only a few minutes, and all you need to do is sit back, relax, and check the temperature of the meat as it cooks inside the smoker.

For a delicious smoked pulled pork that impresses your dinner guests, this is definitely is an easy, simple, and incredibly delicious recipe that anyone can do on their own.

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The Church Mothers’ Pork Butt Recipe

What Materials Do You Need to Make Smoked Pork Butt?

How Do You Choose Pork Butt Meat?