Let's Talk BBQ

FORUM SPONSORS => MAK Grills => Topic started by: TentHunteR on May 21, 2014, 03:48:16 AM

Title: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: TentHunteR on May 21, 2014, 03:48:16 AM
It's been an extremely busy past few weeks.  One of the things we did last weekend was cook Pulled Pork for the High School Band Banquet & Awards Ceremony (250 - 300 people).  Each family was to  bring a side dish and I was tasked with providing the pulled pork.

I went something like this...

First, for large crowds, a good estimate for how much pork to buy & cook is: No. People / 4 = lbs of pork. So I ran out and bought 10 butts and 1 picnic totaling about 73 lbs.

Next, 3 lbs of homemade rub mixed up and ready to go.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-T5vNihyVrTI/U3xCrAtbsBI/AAAAAAAAG1k/I9QmNIebRaA/s558/PP43001.JPG)

A big tub makes rubbing the butts a little easier.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-js39FlomyRM/U3xCrUdWG5I/AAAAAAAAG1s/UeuPu8GYMAA/s600/PP43002.JPG)


Note: If you ever wondered how much food a MAK 1 Star will hold compared to some other grills, let me tell you: The tall straight side walls and the second rack will allow you to cook 8 med - large butts (or four whole shoulders). That's enough for 200+ people!
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tiqo2UfjtGM/U3xCrZuj0OI/AAAAAAAAG10/WgqzgvyLYH0/s740/PP43003.JPG)

The Weber/Stoven picked up the overflow.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1jgo1PnoEHY/U3xCrhyxi-I/AAAAAAAAG14/O2CH34_m0MU/s640/PP43004.JPG)

Looking good, so far. Time to foil.
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V70zHSJBv9E/U3xCr8zKQwI/AAAAAAAAG2M/BUcKjrlNdrQ/s640/PP43005.JPG)

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-A_bKbdkAuao/U3xCscAyFNI/AAAAAAAAG2I/-SgNi863OyY/s640/PP43006.JPG)

Done and pulled! We ended up with four large foil pans like this:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-PM15pvWlLaA/U3xCsjQbyCI/AAAAAAAAG2Q/stjWj0b3ZO4/s720/PP43007.JPG)


It was a little bit of work, but fun cooking for a large crowd. We actually had about 225 folks show up, so there were lots of leftovers.

Thanks for looking! :)
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: HighOnSmoke on May 21, 2014, 04:17:35 AM
That is some pork goodness there Cliff! Looks delicious and I bet everyone was happy and full!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: sliding_billy on May 21, 2014, 06:09:05 AM
Awesome job!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: RAD on May 21, 2014, 06:38:16 AM
That looks outstanding. When cooking that many butts which one(s) do you monitor the IT?
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: muebe on May 21, 2014, 07:17:25 AM
That is a whole lotta pork Cliff!

Nice job!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: ACW3 on May 21, 2014, 08:37:44 AM
Nice job, Cliff!!  Looks really good.

Art
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: spuds on May 21, 2014, 08:47:48 AM
Very interesting!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: drholly on May 21, 2014, 09:26:43 AM
Great job, Cliff - way to go!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on May 21, 2014, 09:28:43 AM
Outstanding job on the pulled pork.   ;)
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: TentHunteR on May 21, 2014, 09:52:05 AM
That looks outstanding. When cooking that many butts which one(s) do you monitor the IT?

I don't.  I test for tenderness by probing after I know they've had sufficient time.  If the probe meets resistance, then the meat isn't done. When the probe slides all the way in with virtually no resistance (like warm butter), then, and only  then, do I know the connective tissues have broken down and the meat is done, no matter what the temp is.

Hope that makes sense.
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: CDN Smoker on May 21, 2014, 10:21:23 AM
Good looking batch of pulled port Cliff ;D
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: TMB on May 21, 2014, 11:24:30 AM
Nice cook Cliff
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Las Vegan Cajun on May 21, 2014, 11:26:18 AM
That looks outstanding. When cooking that many butts which one(s) do you monitor the IT?

I don't.  I test for tenderness by probing after I know they've had sufficient time.  If the probe meets resistance, then the meat isn't done. When the probe slides all the way in with virtually no resistance (like warm butter), then, and only  then, do I know the connective tissues have broken down and the meat is done, no matter what the temp is.

Hope that makes sense.

Sounds like a good method, makes sense to me.  ;)
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: smoker pete on May 21, 2014, 11:29:54 AM
Great job ...

(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Emoticons/clap_zps2530827c.gif)

I don't normally cook pulled pork for large groups (40 has been my largest to date) but when I do I usually count on ½ lb of raw butt per person.  I notice you use ¼ lb of raw butt per person.  Can you elaborate?  Is it because of all the sides that were provided?

I bought 20 lbs for my last cook for 40 and my DIL said they wiped the pan clean.  I was thinking next year to up the tonnage.   ;D  ;D
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Smokerjunky on May 21, 2014, 02:58:09 PM
That looks fantastic Cliff!
Title: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Pappymn on May 21, 2014, 05:17:12 PM
Great cook Tent. I have a large cook coming up and this was helpful!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: RAD on May 21, 2014, 06:23:01 PM
That looks outstanding. When cooking that many butts which one(s) do you monitor the IT?

I don't.  I test for tenderness by probing after I know they've had sufficient time.  If the probe meets resistance, then the meat isn't done. When the probe slides all the way in with virtually no resistance (like warm butter), then, and only  then, do I know the connective tissues have broken down and the meat is done, no matter what the temp is.

Hope that makes sense.

Sounds like a good method, makes sense to me.  ;)
Sure does - Thanks
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: fishingbouchman on May 21, 2014, 07:00:19 PM
Been thinking of doing some butts for the next team meeting at work.  Glad to know I can get a few butts in the Mak and how many to cook now.  Nice job. 
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: drholly on May 21, 2014, 09:10:38 PM
Great cook Tent. I have a large cook coming up and this was helpful!

What do you have in the works, Pappy?
Title: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Pappymn on May 21, 2014, 10:17:00 PM
Great cook Tent. I have a large cook coming up and this was helpful!

What do you have in the works, Pappy?

Grad party for my senior. Not really sure how many to expect. It will be the most PP I have ever done. But not as much as Tent did.
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: drholly on May 21, 2014, 10:20:02 PM
You will do great and I bet it will be a wonderful day! Have some fun and get someone to take pictures for you - you're not going to have a chance!  ;) ;D
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: pz on May 21, 2014, 11:18:45 PM
WOW that's a lot of pork; looks great!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Smokin Don on May 22, 2014, 01:04:21 AM
A great cook with that much pork Cliff!!! Looks mighty good!!! Don
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Vir on May 22, 2014, 01:55:52 AM
I am going to even more round than I already am if I keep seeing all this great looking food!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Wing Commander on May 22, 2014, 06:34:16 AM
Great job, Cliff. Pork looks fine.
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Saber 4 on May 22, 2014, 10:00:37 AM
Awesome job on the PP!
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: Kora Smoker on May 22, 2014, 10:40:30 AM
That's a huge cook, glad everything worked and the boy and gals got to eat that great looking pulled pork.
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: KyNola on May 22, 2014, 11:12:27 AM
I don't normally cook pulled pork for large groups (40 has been my largest to date) but when I do I usually count on ½ lb of raw butt per person.  I notice you use ¼ lb of raw butt per person.  Can you elaborate?  Is it because of all the sides that were provided?

I bought 20 lbs for my last cook for 40 and my DIL said they wiped the pan clean.  I was thinking next year to up the tonnage.   ;D  ;D
Cliff, I'm confused on your math as well. 
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: TentHunteR on May 23, 2014, 06:47:28 PM
I don't normally cook pulled pork for large groups (40 has been my largest to date) but when I do I usually count on ½ lb of raw butt per person.  I notice you use ¼ lb of raw butt per person.  Can you elaborate?  Is it because of all the sides that were provided?

I bought 20 lbs for my last cook for 40 and my DIL said they wiped the pan clean.  I was thinking next year to up the tonnage.   ;D  ;D
Cliff, I'm confused on your math as well. 

Trust me; for large groups, the math works!

If 40 people ate 20 lbs of pulled pork then sides were either scant or there were a lot of folks who had to be carted to their cars in wheel barrows afterwards!  :D

If there's one thing I've learned from the 30 or so large group cooks I've done it's this:  1/2 lb of meat per person is simply TOO MUCH!

► Sides play a HUGE role. Buns and sides, especially starchy sides (potatoes, Mac-N-Cheese, etc), are very filling. 

► You always get a few who will eat more, but you also get some who eat less and in a large group you are bound to have at least a few who won't eat any meat at all.

In fact that math works pretty well for sides too. But if you plan to cook extra of something make it the sides, because they cost less.




Try this: go to Burger King and order a Double Whopper (1/2 pound meat) with only one side (fries) and a drink. See how full you are after eating it. I am miserable if I eat that much.  ???


Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: spuds on May 23, 2014, 09:19:00 PM
Very informative thread,Thank you everybody! ;)
Title: Re: Pulled Pork for 300!
Post by: tlg4942 on May 23, 2014, 10:01:57 PM
That looks outstanding. When cooking that many butts which one(s) do you monitor the IT?

I don't.  I test for tenderness by probing after I know they've had sufficient time.  If the probe meets resistance, then the meat isn't done. When the probe slides all the way in with virtually no resistance (like warm butter), then, and only  then, do I know the connective tissues have broken down and the meat is done, no matter what the temp is.

Hope that makes sense.
it makes perfect sense. You can test each one quickly before pulling it.  I have found if the bone slides right out with no resistance it's done as well.