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Pork Butts to inject or not inject

Posted on 4/6/20 at 11:40 am
Posted by gringeaux
DFW
Member since Oct 2008
1915 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 11:40 am
I was finally able to get to the store an grab a pork butt on Sunday. I plan on smoking it Saturday.

My question to the FDB smoke kings is do you inject (and with what) or not, and why? I have cooked a few w/ both a pellet smoker and on a Webber Kettle, but have never done one with an injection.

TIA
Posted by CAD703X
Liberty Island
Member since Jul 2008
77940 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 11:46 am to
no.

they're fatty as hell. you don't need to do a damn thing to get a juicy tender butt out of the smoker.
Posted by El Segundo Guy
SE OK
Member since Aug 2014
9561 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 11:46 am to
Nope.
Posted by Tadey
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2012
542 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:00 pm to
It definitely wouldn't hurt anything if you felt like experimenting, but it is really unnecessary. Like the others have said there is already plenty of fat.
Posted by drdoct
Atlanta, GA
Member since Oct 2015
1609 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:03 pm to
I've never tried it, but I wouldn't think it would be good. Maybe you can try it once the apocalypse is over and some pork butts are on sale.
Posted by Captain Ray
Member since Nov 2016
1589 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:09 pm to
neva tried it but sure it would get the seasoning in there. I do it the old fashioned way mostly traditional I stick a knife in the roast repeatedly and stick my finger in the hole and open it some then I stuff it with a sorta paste I make with finely chopped onion garlic and cajun seasoning.
Posted by SixthAndBarone
Member since Jan 2019
8130 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:11 pm to
Well, the above posters have made it clear that injection is not needed to make the butt juicy due to the fat. However, injecting it injects seasonings inside the butt, so injection is a good method of seasoning the inside of the cut. When I make bbq pulled pork, I do not inject and would not recommend as it is not needed.

But, I do smoke butts and make pork roasts. These I inject and sometimes stuff with garlic and green onions. When I inject a butt, it has nothing to do with the juiciness or the fat content of the butt, and all to do with the added flavor of the injection.
Posted by Epic Cajun
Lafayette, LA
Member since Feb 2013
32368 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:16 pm to
I don't inject, but I do throw in some rub when I'm pulling the butt.
Posted by fatboydave
Fat boy land
Member since Aug 2004
17979 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:22 pm to
I inject apple juice, garlic powder and pepper. It will be juicy without it but I like the flavor.
Posted by heatom2
At the plant, baw.
Member since Nov 2010
12810 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 12:23 pm to
quote:

I don't inject, but I do throw in some rub when I'm pulling the butt.





FTR, this is how I do it as well. That is just a funny sentence.
Posted by BigDropper
Member since Jul 2009
7608 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 2:56 pm to
IMO, the best butts are the ones you manipulate the least.

Season with salt & pepper and cooked with charcoal & one large chunck of oak & hickory.

Wrap it in foil @ 202°F & allow it to cool enough to pull. Add any drippings back to the meat adjust seasoning with salt & pepper.

Natural pork flavor with a hint of smoke.
Posted by Got Heeem
Georgia
Member since Sep 2012
3631 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 3:23 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/6/20 at 3:32 pm
Posted by CP3LSU25
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2009
51150 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 3:51 pm to
a lot of people say no but I inject with Dales seasoning and Pineapple or orange juice
Posted by Centinel
Idaho
Member since Sep 2016
43318 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 4:40 pm to
quote:

I don't inject, but I do throw in some rub when I'm pulling the butt.


I also don't inject, but instead of just adding some rub when I pull, I make a finishing sauce that consists of:

1 Cup Cider Vinegar
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1 Teaspoon Slap ya Mama
1 Teaspoon Course Black Pepper
1 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

Nuke it for about 30 seconds then add to the pulled pork.
This post was edited on 4/6/20 at 4:41 pm
Posted by TigerFanatic99
South Bend, Indiana
Member since Jan 2007
27472 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 5:46 pm to
I don't inject. I do take the extra time though and remove all of the silver skin between the two muscles and pack that with rub though. Makes it a little more floppy, you have to handle it more gently, but it makes a different.
Posted by Shotgun Willie
Member since Apr 2016
3765 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 6:26 pm to
I've done it both ways. If injecting I prefer the Chris Lilly recipe.

3/4 cup apple juice
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup white sugar
1/4 cup table salt
2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce
Posted by SoItGoes
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2016
821 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 7:31 pm to
As others have said, Pork Butts are good without injecting, but it does add some flavor.
Injecting doesn’t add near as much upside as it does on other cuts, like a brisket.
Similar effects will be obtained wrapping in pink butcher paper, BTW.

I definitely recommend experimenting for yourself! It definitely will not hurt the butt and you will gain quality experience to apply in smoking future cuts.

Posted by ruger35
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Feb 2009
1588 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 8:40 pm to
Ive found when using a packaged injection like Kosmos Q pork injection it causes the meat to pull differently.

I'd rather no injection.
Posted by Sidicous
Middle of Nowhere
Member since Aug 2015
17127 posts
Posted on 4/6/20 at 9:52 pm to
Not an injector fella here.

I did make a variation of the old standard pork chops baked in mushroom soup and rice subbing leftover smoked butt tonight.

Slices of butt in lieu of chops. Added black olives, red onion, more mushrooms. Came out pretty tasty.
Posted by dLSUm22
Shreveport
Member since Aug 2012
586 posts
Posted on 4/8/20 at 10:02 pm to
No.
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