Expert: John Langenfelder - 8/7/2008

Question
John - I'm having pull pork sandwiches for a party next month. With 30-40 people, I'm figuring on about 4 eight lb pork shoulders on a Weber Smokey Mountain. I've heard that in cooking one shoulder, you should figure about 60-90 minutes per pound at 250*. Does that hold when you cook four at the same time? Thanks! - Bob

Answer
whoa bob, you must want plenty of leftovers.  That much pork will feed about 50-60 people at least.  Figure a half pound per person.  I would go for 3 pork butts.

I would figure an hour per pound.  Use some apple juice in a pan under the meat if you have room.  Use a meat thermometer in two of the butts.  Cook fat side up, after 4 hours, flip the butts fat side down. After 6 hours wrap in aluminum foil fat side up and finish.  Figure 8 hours + 1/2 hr cook time, 1/2 hour or so to rest.  Try for a meat temp at about 185 degrees.