Expert: Keith Patton - 2/24/2008

Question
I have a big trailer smoker with the fire box on the side.  I want to smoke a javalena but never done before.  They run through my property and I want to try one but dont know the best way to cook one whole, quartered, seasoning, marinade temp.  Thanks,  Bryce

Answer
Javalena is just like pork.  In your smoker, you can roast it. I do a whole pig every year for my company.  First you want to scrape him, that is get all the hair off.  You can cut the head off, quarter him whatever, but do not skin him at this point.
Get some jamaica jerk rub or any other dry rub and rub him inside and out.

Get your fire up to about 290F and then put the meat in, keep the temp constant until done.  Use a meat thermometer and get the meat up to 165 or so.  Depending on the size, it could take half a day.  For a 130 lb pig it takes 8 hours or more.

Another alternative is skin the hams and shoulders, sear them over a grill.  Then put them on foil, cover with BBQ sauce and lots of chopped onions.  Then wrap them up good, then put in your smoker at around 250 until internal temp is 190 or more.

Keith