I went out to buy a Boston butt tonight, but could only find a picnic.
Bought a 4.5 pounder, but when I unwrapped it, it fell in two equal
pieces.

So, when I smoke the two halves tomorrow, should I figure the time to
smoke a 4.5 pound picnic or a 2.25 lb picnic? I usually go 1.5 to 2
hrs. per pound, so would go 7-9 hrs. for a 4.5 pounder.

I guess the short version of the question is, how long do I smoke two
2.25 pound pork picnic roasts?

"Steve Brown" > wrote in message
...
>I went out to buy a Boston butt tonight, but could only find a picnic.
> Bought a 4.5 pounder, but when I unwrapped it, it fell in two equal
> pieces.
>
> So, when I smoke the two halves tomorrow, should I figure the time to
> smoke a 4.5 pound picnic or a 2.25 lb picnic? I usually go 1.5 to 2
> hrs. per pound, so would go 7-9 hrs. for a 4.5 pounder.
>
> I guess the short version of the question is, how long do I smoke two
> 2.25 pound pork picnic roasts?

Until they are done, of course.

Smaller pieces will be done sooner. It is not so much the weight as the
cross section of meat. If you take a cube of beef, 6" on a side that weighs
say, 5 pounds, you cook it until it reaches your desired temperature, maybe
an hour to 90 minutes. Take that same piece of beef, cut it into 1/4" slab
that is 24 x 36 x 1/4", it will cook up in a few minutes.

You may find the two pieces dry out faster so keep an eye on them.

Steve Brown > wrote:
> I went out to buy a Boston butt tonight, but could only find a picnic.
> Bought a 4.5 pounder, but when I unwrapped it, it fell in two equal
> pieces.
>
> So, when I smoke the two halves tomorrow, should I figure the time to
> smoke a 4.5 pound picnic or a 2.25 lb picnic? I usually go 1.5 to 2
> hrs. per pound, so would go 7-9 hrs. for a 4.5 pounder.
>
> I guess the short version of the question is, how long do I smoke two
> 2.25 pound pork picnic roasts?

They're 2.25 lbs. Smoke 'em for that.

--
Nick. Support severely wounded and disabled Veterans and their families!

Thank a Veteran and Support Our Troops. You are not forgotten. Thanks ! ! !

"Steve Brown" > wrote in message
...
>I went out to buy a Boston butt tonight, but could only find a picnic.
> Bought a 4.5 pounder, but when I unwrapped it, it fell in two equal
> pieces.
>
> So, when I smoke the two halves tomorrow, should I figure the time to
> smoke a 4.5 pound picnic or a 2.25 lb picnic? I usually go 1.5 to 2
> hrs. per pound, so would go 7-9 hrs. for a 4.5 pounder.
>
> I guess the short version of the question is, how long do I smoke two
> 2.25 pound pork picnic roasts?

The total cooking is lessened by having two pieces of meat with the same
weight as one piece, but not by one half.
When you roast meat in any fashion, the roasting time is determined by the
time it takes to heat the center of the meat to a desired temperature,
obviously longer with low heat and shorter with higher heat. The time it
takes to roast a brisket
is dictated more by its thickness than anything else. If you cut the long
part into two shorter pieces which have the same thickness you haven't
altered anything in that axis. Heat now is absorbed from four ends of two
pieces, rather than two ends of the single piece. Roasting time to the
desired temperature is less with two rather than one pieces, but not that
much. I've never believed in hours per lb for that reason. It works with
turkey vs chicken, but not for standing ribs, spare ribs, or brisket.
Kent