Though a longer process, it is easy to make real pulled-pork right at home on your charcoal grill. Follow these tips to smoke your pork shoulder.
What Should I Buy?
Purchase either a whole pork shoulder, picnic shoulder, or "Boston butt." The picnic shoulder is the leaner and lower half of the pork shoulder, and the "Boston butt" is top of half of the should with a great blend of both fat and lean meat.
How much should I buy?
Though these cuts may look huge. You will lose up to half in trimming, bones and shrinkages. We recommend estimating a low yield of 50% of the raw weight. So from an 8 pound shoulder, you should receive around 4 pounds of pulled pork.
How long will it take?
Plan for six hours of marinade time, and about 1 1/2 hour per pound for cook. You will also want to account for a rest time of 2 to 4 hours. If using an 8 pound shoulder, allow for 20 to 22 from marinade to serve.
Extra equipment to have on hand.
In addition to your normal grilling gear, you’ll want a meat injector, a half-sized steam pan, a food-safe spray bottle and roughly 4 cups of wood chips.
At least 6 hours before cook time, inject the pork. Inject at locations evenly all over the pork.
Season your pork and refrigerate for 6 to 12 hours.
Preheat your charcoal grill to 275°F, planning for a longer cook. You will want to incorporate wood chips into your briquettes as well as use a steam pan.
If using a Kettleman™ grill, position 80 charcoal briquettes, side by side, in almost a complete circle around the edges of your Kettleman grill. Sprinkle about 2 cups of hickory chips on top of those briquettes and then top those with another 20 briquettes in a single circle. Heat about 15 briquettes in a chimney starter and then pour onto one end of the coal circle. Put the half-sized steam pan in the center of the circle and fill it half full with water, apple juice or other liquid of your choice. Place the grate on the grill, close the lid with the vents barely open, and allow to to come to 275°F.
Remove pork from refrigeration and place on the grate above the steam pan. Close the lid and let smoke.
Once an hour, check to see if the pork's surface is drying. If it is, spritz it with apple juice.
After about 4 hours, check your your coals and wood. It may be time to replenish.
If using a Kettleman™ grill, lift the grate, with the pork still on it. Place it on the bottom rack of the Kettleman. Knock down the spent coals. Starting at the end of remaining unlit coals, put more briquettes and wood as in the beginning. Repeat as needed during the cooking process.
With a nice dark bark and an internal temperature of about 160°F, double wrap the pork in aluminum foil.
When the pork reaches an internal temperature of 195°F to 200°F, rest your pork for 2 to 4 hours.
Remove the pork from the foil, retaining any juices. Remove the bone and break the meat into pieces. Shred with forks or meat claws, removing any noticeable pieces of fat. Season with additional rub, if desired.
