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11 replies

Amerique Help

S smokenqueQ'n n Brew'n
Got the new AQ and seasoned it..

My first cook is three small butts, each between 4-5 lbs.. all butts are on same shelf.. the one immediately above the box probe. I set the controls at:
Cook: 225º
Probe: 200º

Put the meat in at 12 noon and it is now 8 Pm. They should b done by now based on my experience with my 008. However, they are only at 154º.

The cook temp is reading 224-225 and holding very steady.. and it seems the unit is cycling every second or so.. that seems like a LOT.

When I place a long stemmed thermometer, which is pretty dern accurate, the box at the smoker probe (no the meat probe) is reading only 170.

Any thoughts? I'm thinking of pulling and puttig in the oven at 225 until done. I know about plateaus.. but the thing concerning me is the box is only 170 after 8 hours.
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S smokenqueQ'n n Brew'n
I never open my door or you'd kick my butt Big Grin

I don't know what size butt's you cook.. but all I ever do are the ones I buy at the local supermarket.. and they run, as I said above, 4.5-5.5#. So figure about 1.5 hrs per pound.. we are looking at about 6 hours.. which is what my 008 does with all the butts I've done in the past. I'm sure if I had a 10# butt, I'd be looking at 18-20 hours which is what most of the discussions mention..

They are not in the kitchen oven at 225 and the temp is gradually rising.. for what it's worth.. these 4.5#ers have been in the smoker for 10.5 hours and they only went from 150 to 154 in the past three hours.

I know about plateaus as I mentioned.. but, I think something is wrong here.. I'll call Tony in the morning.
S smokenqueQ'n n Brew'n
Still waiting to hear from Tony.. man, he must be busy.. with dumb questions like mine..

+++++++
"Toms" sed: I don't know but could it be that three 5 lbers is equal to 15 lbs?
+++++++

Can't say that my experiences have been usual or unusual.. However, as mentioned above.. in my 008, I can put in one chicken or four chickens and the time doesn't change. However, If I put in one LARGE chicken.. also known as a 12# turkey.. the time does change because it's one piece of meat.. added thickness for the heat to penetrate. I've cooked two butts in my 008 and the times have been about 6-8 hours for the 4-5 pounders.
FM Former Member
I heard somewhere along time ago " It's DONE when it's DONE ". I too have an AQ and have longer cook time's, LARGER cooker perhap's ?? I've had two 10#'s go almost 23 hrs.. Alot depend's on fat content, probe placement (might have hit a fat pocket) to close to the bone ?? Ya just need to allow enough time, you can alway's foil wrap and cooler if thing's end early .. Just my .02

Mark
FM Former Member
Hey Smokenque,

Did Tony get back with you? I'm not really familiar with the AQ, but I am with Cookshacks in general. I've never cooked pork butts that small, so I can't comment on the cooking time.

The fact that your cook temp is reading near 225, while your independent thermometer is reading about 170 would concern me, as it did you. If the AQ has a similar internal "box" temperature probe like the other CS units, the pork isn't touching the probe is it? If not, I'd be concerned about a faulty part, especially since you said the elements seemed to be cycling on and off frequently.

Anyway, it's probably a done deal, but I think your call to CS is right on in this case.

Matt
FM Former Member
Just my two cents worth, but I've found that smaller butts seem to take longer per pound to cook than larger ones do. No way to judge exactly how long a butt will take to cook, just keep the door closed and it's done when it's done. Also a good idea to check your probe in boiling water and ice water to see if it's reading the correct temperature.
wheelzwheelzSmmmmoooookin'!
Smokenque -- Have you:

1. Calibrated or checked your digital therm (ice 32˚ amd boiling water 212˚) to make sure you are getting accurate reaings?

2. Have you check the temp inside your AQ to make sure it is actually getting to the temp shown on the read-out?

If either one of these are off or out of whack you really can't sufficiently deduce the problem correctly. I would check these two items first.

Just my $0.02

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