It can be overwhelming to cook a joint of meat as large as a pork shoulder if you’re not experienced in the process.
If you’re new to cooking pork shoulder and aren’t sure how long you should smoke the meat at 225 degrees, you’re in the right place.
In this article, I will cover how long you should smoke pork shoulder at 335 degrees Fahrenheit.
Without further ado, let’s begin.
How Long Should You Smoke Pork Shoulder: 225 Degrees Fahrenheit
The first thing you should be aware of before smoking pork shoulder is that it requires time. This isn’t a quick piece of meat to smoke, and it’s important to remain patient.
The key to cooking pork shoulder is to cook it low and slow, as cooking the joint of meat too quickly at a higher temperature can result in a tough texture.
You’ll have to plan ahead to ensure your smoker stays hot enough to get the job done.
When cooking a pork shoulder joint at 225 degrees Fahrenheit, it will roughly take around 60 to 90 minutes per pound of meat.
As a result, smoking an 8-pound pork shoulder at this temperature means it should take from 8 to 12 hours to cook.
That being said, there are many variables that can impact this cooking time, such as how consistent your smoker’s temperature is as well as the type of pork shoulder joint.
For instance, boneless pork shoulder takes less time to cook than bone-in pork shoulder.
As a result, you will need to adjust the cooking time in conjunction with these variables. For the most accurate results, you should check the back of the package that your pork shoulder comes in.
The USDA recommends cooking pork shoulder until it reaches a minimum temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, to shred your pork, you need the pork meat to be tender enough, meaning that it should be cooked to an internal temp of 195 degrees.
To check the internal temperature, you will need to insert a temperature probe into the thickest part of the meat to get the most accurate reading.
How To Tell When Pork Shoulder Is Done
Pork shoulder is a large joint of meat, and appearance alone isn’t enough to gauge whether it is done or not.
The only way of accurately determining whether your pork shoulder is cooked to the correct temperature is to use a calibrated meat thermometer.
To use a meat thermometer properly, you will need to insert it into the thickest part of the pork shoulder. You will need to be wary to not hit any cartilage or bone, as this will provide an inaccurate reading.
It’s also important to mention that just because your pork shoulder has reached a safe internal temperature time, doesn’t mean that it is ready to be removed from the smoker.
This comes down to the fact that being safe to eat doesn’t mean that it is the right texture yet, and you will want to wait patiently to achieve the most tender texture.
How long you cook your pork shoulder will depend on how you want it cooked. As I’ve already mentioned, pork shoulder should be cooked to 195 degrees if you want to shred it with a couple of forks.
On the other hand, if you want to slice your pork into thin, tender slices, you should remove it once it reaches the internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
You will also need to allow your pork shoulder to rest once you have removed it from the smoker.
It’s important to note that during the resting period, the pork will increase in temperature, and this is where people get tripped up.
Generally speaking, you should allow your pork shoulder to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes. That being said, you can allow it to rest for as long as 2 hours if necessary.
A Note On Pork Shoulder Bark
For many barbecue enthusiasts, a joint of pork shoulder isn’t the same without a crust on the exterior of the meat known as bark.
Bark is something that you should aim for during the cooking process, as it’s one of the benchmarks for an authentic barbecue.
Bark forms when particles of smoke cling to the seasoning on the exterior of the meat and harden to create a crisp outer shell.
This creates a nice variation in texture when you come to dig into the meat. Delicious!
Should You Wrap Pork Shoulder In Foil Whilst It Is Smoking?
Wrapping your pork shoulder in foil is known as the “Texas crutch,” as it significantly reduces the cooking time by trapping steam and heat inside the foil.
So, is it necessary to wrap your pork shoulder in foil whilst smoking?
When using the Texas crutch method, you will need to remove the pork shoulder from the smoker when it reaches around 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
Following this, you will need to wrap the pork shoulder in aluminum foil or butcher paper. Make sure that it is tight.
Once you have wrapped the pork shoulder up, you will need to place your meat back into the smoker.
At this stage, you will need to closely watch the temperature of your meat, as it’s pretty easy to cook once you’ve wrapped it up tightly.
When the meat reaches within 10-15 degrees of the target temperature, remove the foil for the rest of the cooking time.
What is the Best Smoking Time and Temperature for Pork Shoulder to Achieve Delicious Flavor?
When it comes to creating mouthwatering smoked pork shoulder recipes, the best smoking time and temperature for pork shoulder is around 225-250°F for 1.5 hours per pound. This slow, low-temperature cooking allows the pork to become tender and flavorful, resulting in a delicious meal.
Cooking Tips For Smoked Pork Shoulder
There are a variety of tips that you should bear in mind to get the most consistent results when smoking a joint of pork shoulder.
These tips include but are not limited to:
Get A Reliable Thermometer
As cooking times can be impacted by a number of variables, the easiest way to know whether your pork shoulder is ready to remove from the smoker is with a reliable thermometer.
You can get high quality meat thermometers online and in many cooking shops.
Keeping it nearby your smoker will allow you to regularly check the temperature of the meat, so that you don’t remove it too soon or too late.
After all, the margins can be quite small depending on the size of the joint!
Don’t Be Precious About Cooking Times
It’s important to note that the cooking time given in recipes, and in this article, should be taken with a pinch of salt.
As I’ve discussed, many factors can impact the cooking time of your pork shoulder, and you will need to be prepared to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
As a temperature probe is the most reliable way of gauging whether your meat is done, don’t be too precious about cooking times!
Choose The Right Smoking Wood
There are many different types of wood that you can experiment with to complement the pork shoulder.
Maple wood, for instance, is great as it perfectly complements the richness of the smoked pork. Alongside this, apple is a natural choice as many pork recipes call for apple accompaniments like apple sauce.
While choosing the right smoking wood can come through trial and error, luckily for you, there are many types of wood that work with pork.
Do your research, experiment, and get creative!
Choose The Right Location To Place Your Smoker
It’s not new information that your smoker’s heat retention can be impacted by strong winds if you don’t choose the right location.
This can affect how efficiently your smoker works, and can therefore impact your pork shoulder as it cooks.
It’s important that you place your smoker in a sheltered location to give it the best chance of producing consistent cooks.
In addition to this, it’s often recommended by barbecue enthusiasts to invest in a blanket or smoker cover to keep the internal temperature steady, even during the winter and colder months.
Should You Spritz Your Pork Shoulder Joint?
Spritzing meat of any kind, involves spraying the meat with liquid during the cooking process.
However, in this instance, we don’t recommend spritzing your pork shoulder joint.
The best way to cook pork shoulder is low and slow. This temperature is low enough that it should prevent the pork from drying out, as it retains much of its moisture as long as you remove it from the smoker before it overcooks.
Bearing this in mind, it’s not necessary to spritz the pork shoulder, as too much moisture could increase the risk of you making your pork a mushy texture.
In addition to this, every time you lift the lid of the smoker to spritz your meat, you let out a lot of the heat that is required to keep your pork cooking at a consistent temperature.
For tender meat that’s perfect for your guests, skip this step.
In Summary
So, that’s how you cook pork shoulder!
I hope this article has given you a clear indication of how long you need to smoke pork shoulder.
Although it can feel like an overwhelming feat to achieve, the more experience you get the more confident you will feel smoking whole joints of meat.
Good luck cooking your pork shoulder to perfection!
I decided to follow my passion for BBQ and share this love with other people. That’s what led me to co-found BroBBQ, along with my friend Tommy. Through this website, I can share my love and knowledge of barbecuing with the world, and connect with other BBQ enthusiasts from all corners of the world.
In addition to grilling, I also love to travel the world and try the local cuisine - particularly anything meaty! I am always on the lookout for new recipes and new exotic flavors. My travels are where I draw a lot of my inspiration from.
I’m glad to share this journey with you. Happy grilling!
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