How long to smoke pork shoulder?

[30-30]

First time smoking in an offset smoker. I have two 4 pound shoulders. How many hours should I bank on smoking them? I have heard roughly two hours per pound...?

Will be monitoring with a Bluetooth thermometer. Take it out to rest at what temp?

[BolilloLoco]

Take it to 203° if you can get it there.
Could take 10-12 hours. Depends on how hot you run it.

[brokeno]

Internal temp of 165.

[oktx]

If you want to pull it it needs to be 198°+. My last one I took to 201 and it was awesome.

[Txbownut]

You should be good to figure around two hours per lb at about 250°. Like above, 203° internal is just about perfect for pulling. Save a little rub to sprinkle on it after you pull it and it's still hot. Call us when it's ready!

[TTU TX Hunter]

Internal temp of 165.

This isn’t what I would advise. 195 start probing for tenderness and cook to desired tenderness, this will vary time wise. The best advise I can give you is to let them rest for at least an hr before you eat or pull them apart. Good luck and have some fun!

[swanjts]

I cook to internal of 190 which is usually about an hour and a half per pound at 225. Then wrap up in foil and a towel and put it in an cooler for at least an hour. It will continue to break down in there.

[30-30]

Thanks all.

I should have clarified: What time do I need to wake up and start the smoker in order to serve at 6:00pm? I’ll be monitoring the temp.

This was an 8 pound shoulder that I cut in half when I was expecting fewer people for dinner. So I’m smoking two 4 pound halves. Will it take half the time the full 8 pounder would have? Or still 12+ hours because it’s 8 pounds total?

[Arrowslinger1]

Until it squeals

[TB80]

Thanks all.

I should have clarified: What time do I need to wake up and start the smoker in order to serve at 6:00pm? I’ll be monitoring the temp.

This was an 8 pound shoulder that I cut in half when I was expecting fewer people for dinner. So I’m smoking two 4 pound halves. Will it take half the time the full 8 pounder would have? Or still 12+ hours because it’s 8 pounds total?

Pork butt is pretty forgiving. I would have the grill temp at 250-300. Should take around 60-90 mins per pound.

I cook mine until around 200-203. At around 198-200 I start probing and one it feels like a hot knife through butter I pull it off. I typically wrap in towels and put in a cooler for a few hours if I have time to let it rest.

Your two four pound butts should take 4-6 hours assuming you cook them separately and don’t tie them together. If you want to eat at 6, I’d start the fire around 8, put it on around 830-9 (once the fire is ready) and then pull it off when ready and wrap it up and let it rest until dinner.

[TTU TX Hunter]

Thanks all.

I should have clarified: What time do I need to wake up and start the smoker in order to serve at 6:00pm? I’ll be monitoring the temp.

This was an 8 pound shoulder that I cut in half when I was expecting fewer people for dinner. So I’m smoking two 4 pound halves. Will it take half the time the full 8 pounder would have? Or still 12+ hours because it’s 8 pounds total?

A lot will depend if you plan to wrap with foil/butcher paper or if you aren’t wrapping at all. I tend to wrap when I get the color on the meat I am looking for. I would think you wouldn’t need more than 7 hrs of cook time and 1 hr of rest time before you prepare to eat.

[30-30]

Not planning to wrap in foil.

Thanks for all the info, y’all.

[sir shovelhands]

Internal temp of 165.

Maybe if you're planning to serve it sliced. It won't pull at 165.

[skeeter]

240-250 degrees, 2 hours per pound

[Outback77]

https://www.smokedbbqsource.com/smoking-times-temperatures/