Keeping Pulled Pork Warm for Work Lunch Party

entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Hi all, I am new to this site and new to smoking as well. I purchased a smoker about a month ago and have smoked something every weekend since. I have done ribs a couple times, chicken and yesterday I smoked a boston butt for pulled pork.

I brought some leftovers to work for lunch today and while I was reheating it in the microwave, a few of my co-workers stopped by the kitchen to see what smelled so good Smile

This got me thinking that I could smoke a few boston butts for a work lunch party sometime soon.

Since it takes so long to smoke boston butt, I would smoke them on Sunday and bring them to work the next day for the lunch party.

This brings me to my questions....

I am not sure how to serve the pulled pork hot (or at least warm). Our kitchen does not have an oven, only a small microwave so reheating a bunch of it would be too time consuming, and who wants to use a microwave to reheat if you do not have to.

I was thinking about putting the finished pork in tin foil, wrap them in towels and put them in a cooler with newspaper filling any empty space. Then leaving them that way until right before the party when I would take them out and pull them.

I think I can get it so the pork is done at 10-11pm and the party would be at noon the next day.

Do you think keeping them in the cooler would keep them warm enough for 13-14 hours?

Any other ideas on how to either keep them warm or heat them back up the next day?

Thanks everyone!

SoEzzy · Posted: Oct 05 2010 Post subject:

Double wrap the butts when you take them off the pit, warm a clean cooler with a bowl of hot water, pack the wrapped butts as tightly as possible, then surround them with towels.

If you take them off the pit at 6 or 7 in the morning, they will still be really hot at 12:00 and pretty hot at 1:00, take along gloves to pull it with while at work, take a pack of buns and a bottle of sauce, and everyone will be happy.
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entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Unfortunately, I have a cheap charcoal vertical smoker so I can't leave it unattended while I sleep Sad

I found this site: http://www.nakedwhiz.com/coolerholding.htm

It basically says the meat will stay hot in the cooler for about 5 hours. Of course I can "preheat" the cooler and can even add hot pavers to keep it warm longer but I doubt it will last for the amount of time I need.

Here is what I am thinking now...

Put the pork in the smoker for 6-8 hours and then at bedtime (10pm-11pm) put them in the oven at 200-225 degrees until morning (7am) and pack them in the cooler to keep hot until lunch.

Does that sound right?

Mike Lawry · Posted: Oct 05 2010 Post subject:

When I take pulled pork to work. I bring it in the crock pot. If you foil your butts save the juices or use a little apple juice in with the meat. Good Luck.

Mike Lawry.

entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Good idea but I don't have 3 crock pots.

My main problem now is what to do while I sleep. I would guess that after a 6-8 hour smoke, another 8 hours is a 200 degree oven (wrapped in foil) should be fine

OldBob · Posted: Oct 05 2010 Post subject:

Sleep is over rated.
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SoEzzy · Posted: Oct 05 2010 Post subject:

Well if it says 5 hours on the nakedwhiz, I'd believe them then!

You can smoke for anything past the 5 hour mark, then wrap and stick them in the oven overnight while you sleep.

You hadn't mentioned either what your cooker was or that you wanted to get any sleep so please forgive my misconceptions regarding your cook.

On a personal level, I have taken butts of the pit at 200* and I have held in a pre-warmed cooler for more than 6 hours and still needed jersey gloves underneath food hygiene gloves as they were still above the 165*, and I've done this on more than one occasion BWTFDIK?

See disclaimer below!
_________________
Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

No problem Smile

I should have been more specific.

Thanks for all the replies.

So would smoking for 6 hours and then sticking it in the oven @ 200 degrees for another 8 hours (wrapped in foil w/ a splash of apple juice) be OK?

entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Here is a pic of my first smoked boston butt from last night. It was soooo good Smile

entcee · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Posts: 6

Just want to be sure that I will be OK doing the following:

Smoking for 6 hours and then putting them in the oven @ 200 degrees for another 8 hours (wrapped in foil w/ a splash of apple juice).

Then packed in a cooler to keep them warm for another 4 hours.

Thanks again.