Smoked Pork and Turkey

My last pork butt smoked on the gas grill was okay but not what I’ve come to expect from myself, so I changed up my method a little.  To ensure the juice collecting pan was not exposed to direct heat, I set it on a rack in a sheet pan so the grill operated more like a real smoker.  With the two end burners on low, it maintained a 240-250F temperature and I used oak and apple wood for the smoke. 

I also smoked a six pound turkey breast and used Emeril’s Essence to rub it and used my Billy Bones concoction on the pork.

After the following pic was taken, the pork was the dark mahogany color I wanted at an internal temp of 155F so I put it down into the pan and covered it with foil.  At 2:15 pm, I added the turkey breast to the right side of the grill (pork to the left) and raised the temperature to 310F.  The pork was done at 4pm (nine hour cook) and the turkey at 4:30pm (two and a quarter hour cook). I wish I had left the temps alone as more time would have given the turkey a more smoky flavor. 

Here are the finished versions.

Both meats were just right on the inside as the turkey was moist and tender and the pork pulled easily but was still moist.  Here it is broken apart to cool a little for pulling.

We served the meat with a choice of baked russet or sweet potato and I decided to go with sweet for a totally new dish for me.  I split and squeezed the potato, seasoned with S&P, added a big scoop of the pork, and topped with Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce.

The Verdict:

A potato stuffed with pulled pork will definitely be eaten here again and next time we’ll be sure to have some slaw to add on top for those who like it.  My buddy Joe and our neighbors were also here and even though it was a little cool, everyone seemed to enjoy their meals and our socially distanced outside gathering.

Covid Update

Cindy and I got our second vaccine shots the next day so we are now within two weeks of all of us having reliable immunity – it’s been a long year, as you well know.

Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them and the blue words are links.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by Almost Heaven South.

Larry

3/16/21 meal date