How Long To Smoke Boston Butt At 225

Boston butt was made for smoking. It is juicy, tender, and has a beautiful smoky flavor. 

Want to know the secret to smoking Boston Butt? It’s smoking Boston Butt at 225°F for 8-10 hours. 

What Is Boston Butt

Most people assume Boston butt is the butt of the pig because of its name. However, Boston butt does not come from the rear of the pig. In fact, it comes from the opposite end of the pig, near the head. 

Specifically, Boston butt is the top portion of the hog’s shoulder that sits directly above the shoulder blade. 

I know what you’re thinking. If Boston butt does not come from the back of the animal, why is it called Boston butt? 

The term Boston Butt came about during the colonial period of New England. Butchers shipped meat in barrels called butts. The barrels were built to carry double the volume of meat. 

During this time, people in Boston started using pork butt, which is why it is called Boston butt. 

Compared to other cuts of pork like pork shoulder or loin, Boston butt stands out. It has a characteristic taste and texture that other cuts don’t. 

Additionally, since the animal often uses the Boston butt, it is a tough piece of meat. However, once the pork butt cooks low and slow, it will develop a rich flavor. 

What’s The Best Wood For Smoking Boston Butt

Fruitwoods are undoubtedly the best wood for smoking Boston butt. Fruitwoods have a subtly sweet flavor that will not overpower the pork butt’s delicate flavor. 

Maple, apple, cherry, and pecan woods work particularly well with Boston butt. 

If you want the Boston butt to have a stronger smoky flavor, use equal parts of apple and hickory wood to smoke the Boston Butt. This trick allows you to give the Boston butt a stronger smokier flavor without overpowering the flavor of the Boston butt. 

Do You Smoke Boston Butt Fat Side Up Or Down

Some people are all for smoking Boston butt fat side up, while others are strictly against it. The truth is smoking Boston butt fat side up or down depends on the type of smoker you are using to cook the meat. 

Nevertheless, the fat side should always be facing the heating unit. This protects the delicate meat and keeps it moist and juicy. 

However, depending on the smoker, the flow of the heat changes. 

For example, the heating unit for electric smokers is at the bottom of the unit. So, it’s best to smoke the Boston butt fat side down. 

In contrast, kettle grills, as well as other smokers, are designed with heating units on top of the unit. In this case, it’s best to smoke the Boston butt fat side up. 

How Long To Smoke Boston Butt At 225

How long to smoke Boston Butt depends on the size of the meat. Smaller cuts of meat will take less time to cook. In contrast, larger cuts of meat will take longer to cook. 

Typically, it takes about 8-10 hours to smoke Boston butt at 225°F. 

How Long To Smoke A 1-Pound Boston Butt At 225°F

It takes about 90 minutes to smoke Boston butt per pound at 225°F. A 1-pound Boston butt takes about 1 1/2 hours to cook. However, keep track of the Boston butt’s temperature to ensure it does not overcook. 

How Long To Smoke A 4 Pound Boston Butt At 225

It takes 6-8 hours to cook a 4-pound Boston butt. Check the Boston butt’s temperature after 2-3 hours and adjust the cooking time as needed.

How Long To Smoke A 5 Pound Boston Butt At 225

A 5-pound Boston Butt takes about 7 1/2 hours at 225°F. Start checking the meat’s temperature after 4-5 hours to ensure it does not overcook. 

How Long To Smoke A 6 Pound Boston Butt At 225

It takes 90 minutes to smoke Boston Butt per pound at 225°F. At this rate, a 6-pound Boston Butt takes about 9 hours to cook at 225°F. 

How Long To Smoke A 7 Pound Boston Butt At 225

The larger the cut, the longer it will take to smoke. A 7-pound Boston butt takes 10 1/2 hours to smoke. 

How Long To Smoke A 8 Pound Boston Butt At 225

It takes about 16 hours to smoke an 8-pound, 225°F. Yes, 16 hours is a long time to smoke Boston butt. But it needs to cook low and slow to get the most tender meat. 

How Long To Smoke A 9 Pound Boston Butt At 225

It takes about 15-18 hours to cook a 9-pound Boston butt at 225°F. However, check the meat’s internal temperature after 5-6 hours.

How Long To Smoke A 10 Pound Boston Butt At 225

Ten pounds of Boston butt will take 18-20 hours to smoke at 225°F. Since a 10-pound Boston butt takes so long to smoke, it may be best to smoke a few 6–8-pound Boston butts instead of 1 large piece of meat. They will take less time to cook. 

However, if you are going to smoke several smaller Boston butts, ensure they are the same size. If they are the same size, all the meat will finish cooking around the same size. 

What Temperature Is Boston Butt Done

Technically, pork butt is finished cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F. However, most experts recommend removing the Boston butt when it has an internal temperature of 180°F-190°F. 

How Much Smoked Boston Butt Per Person

You can’t smoke Boston butt without thinking about how much meat per person. After all, you don’t want to run out of Boston butt in the middle of your event. 

Generally, each person eats 1 1/2 pounds of smoked Boston butt. So to feed 5 people, you would need 7 1/2 pounds of meat. In contrast, for 8 people, you would need 12 pounds of meat. 

Final Thoughts

Your smoked Boston butt will be delicious and juicy now that you know how long to smoke it at 225°F. 

William Thomas

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.