How Long To Smoke Boston Butt At 250

Boston butt is one of the perfect cuts of pork to smoke. The pork will have a tender texture and a delicious smoky flavor, depending on the wood you use. 

However, to successfully cook Boston butt, you must know how long to cook it at 250°F. Smoke Boston butt at 250°F for 10-15 hours. 

Can You Overcook Boston Butt On Smoker

Yes, just like any other cut of meat, you can overcook Boston butt. If you cook the Boston butt above 210°F, the moisture in the meat will start to evaporate. 

Even if you smother the Boston butt with BBQ sauce or gravy, the meat will still be dry. So do not smoke the Boston butt past 210°F. 

What’s The Difference Between Boston Butt And Picnic Shoulder

Boston butt and picnic shoulder are often compared, but they are not identical cuts of Boston butt. Boston butt and picnic shoulder come from the same region of the pig.

They are fabricated from the area beneath the neck. Additionally, both types of pork contain relatively high amounts of fat. 

However, Boston butt is larger than picnic shoulder. Boston butt is also more uniform than picnic butt. 

It also contains a higher percentage of boneless meat. Boston butt is usually roasted, smoked, barbecued, or slow-cooked. 

In contrast, picnic shoulder is smaller than Boston butt. It’s also called a picnic ham. 

It contains more bones, but it is also easier to pull apart. This is why pork shoulder is often used for smoking, roasting, or slow cooking. 

Is It Better To Smoke Boston Butt At 225 Or 250

BBQ experts are often at odds regarding what temperature to smoke Boston butt. Smoking Boston butt at 225°F does yield a tender, juicier cut of pork. 

However, smoking Boston butt at 250°F will cook the meat faster. It will also give the meat a crisper bark. 

Whether to smoke Boston butt at 225°F or 250°F comes down to your personal choice. As long as the temperature is between 225°F and 250°F, the Boston butt will be moist and juicy. 

Bone-In Vs. Boneless Boston Butt

Boston butt is sold bone-in or boneless. Most BBQ experts recommend smoking bone-in Boston butt. 

Bone-in Boston butt has a more uniform shape and cooks more evenly. If you are worried that the bone will be hard to remove, it will slide right out once you tug on it gently.

In contrast, boneless Boston butt is less uniform and cooks unevenly. However, it does cook faster than bone-in Boston butt. 

Nevertheless, smoking bone-in or boneless Boston butt depends on your personal preference. 

What To Look For When Buying Boston Butt

In short, look for a Boston butt with a firm texture, uniform color, and a healthy amount of marbling. 

Ideally, Boston butt should have a pink color with flecks of white or grey running throughout the meat. 

Do not purchase Boston butt that is discolored or bruised. This indicates the Boston butt has been sitting in the display case for some time. 

Marbling is very important when selecting Boston butt. Marbling is the white flecks that run throughout the Boston butt. The marbling will melt as the Boston butt smokes and add flavor and moisture to the meat. 

Press down on the Boston butt before you purchase it. It should feel firm. The meat should not have any floppy or soft areas.

When To Wrap Boston Butt

If you intend to wrap Boston butt in foil or butcher paper, wrap it when the meat has an internal temperature of 150°F and 170°F. This temperature range is known as the stall. 

This is a dead zone for larger cuts of meat, where the internal temperature does not rise or fall. It comes to a standstill for hours. 

Wrapping the Boston butt with foil or butcher paper will speed up the stall. 

If you wrap the Boston butt too early, it could prevent the bark from forming. 

The bark is the crisp yet flavorful dark crust that forms on the exterior of the Boston butt. So wait until it reaches the stall to wrap the meat. 

How Long To Smoke Boston Butt At 250

How long it takes to smoke Boston butt depends on the density of the meat. Some Boston butts are larger than others, so they will take longer to cook. 

To smoke Boston butt at 250°F, it takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

How Long To Smoke A 4 Pound Boston Butt At 250

At 250°F, it will take 4 hours and 15 minutes to 6 hours to smoke a 4-pound Bost butt. Remember to keep an eye on the Boston butt’s internal temperature to ensure it cooks to the correct temperature. 

How Long To Smoke A 5 Pound Boston Butt At 250

A 5-pound Boston Butt takes about 5 hours and 20 minutes to 7 1/2 hours to smoke at 250°F. Check the Boston butt’s temperature after 5 hours to prevent it from overcooking. 

How Long To Smoke A 8 Pound Boston Butt At 250

An 8 Pound Boston butt takes 8 hours and minutes to 12 1/2 hours. Since smoking an 8 Pound Boston butt will take the entire day, it’s best to start early in the morning.

This way, your family and friends won’t be sitting around for hours after the party starts waiting for the meat to finish cooking. 

How Long To Smoke A 10 Pound Boston Butt At 250 

At 250°F, it takes 12-15 hours to smoke a 10-pound Boston butt. Since it takes even longer to smoke a 10-pound butt, it may be better to smoke smaller cuts of pork. 

You will get the same amount of smoked meat in less time. Additionally, cooking several smaller pork butts decreases the chances the meat will dry out. 

Final Thoughts

Smoked pork butt is irresistibly delicious, especially when you know how long to smoke it for at 250.

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.