The Texas BBQ Forum

Finally did my first whole hog (domestic) this weekend, many thanks to Matt Hamilton with Local Yocal in McKinney for setting me up with a 57 pounder. Rubbed up the interior with a combination of Hog Waller and some other rubs I like, shoved three slit apples into the cavity, and then did 13 hours in my cooker Rosebud burning nothing but clean clear hickory. Kept the skin moisturized periodically with plain apple juice. Came into a beautiful mahogany red color before going nearly full black from the smoke. Pig's destined for consumption for a hog hunt a friend of mine is putting on today. What you see is what they get.

What did the Rack of Ribs say to the Pig ?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelxpEZr0Cw

That should be some juicy and tender "cholesterol additive" rat'cher

Never done a whole pig. Sure would like to give it a go. You cooked it belly down?

Yep, belly down. Given the layout in my cooker going belly up meant going spread eagle, and as you can see it were a wee tight anyway, much less being spread eagle. Was worried that the hinds would get just blowtorched down at the hot end and that the hams, shoulders, and torso would all cook at different rates and be a real mess. By doing it running style, it kept it more compact, and everything cooked closer to an even speed, though I did have to wrap and shield the hams early on (5 hours) to keep them from over cooking ahead of the shoulders. At that point they were running 160 and the shoulders were running 150, so I knew I had to even things out. I think it probably stayed juicy this way too, though there was no way to mop inside.

If I did it another time differently, I might build out a concrete box and spread eagle it Carolina style, or maybe even better, dig out a hole and cook it South Texas style. Didn't do it that way this time because I'd never done that before and because I've been digging all over Firefly Farm for going on 15 months now like a demented gopher, digging flowerbeds, trenches for water lines, trenches for electrical lines, digging up and repairing sprinkler heads, repairing and patching irrigation pipe, cutting and installing French drains, you name it. Geez, am I sure tired of digging, I think I am growing buck teeth and whiskers.

Makes sense. It's easy to dry out the hams from what I read.

So what is it gonna be, Beaver Boots or Gopher Boots?

I'm thinking Grinnin' Boots at this point. Because I'm pretty much done with all the digging.

get you a pet Cat I know, bad joke but I'm old and entitled OK?

Nice work Boots

Thanks Egg, treasured compliment from a Zegg Master. And Parts, while we have sworn off cats for the duration (great diggers, but always a Cracker Jack surprise in the bottom of the hole), a pet CAT would indeed be a great Christmas gift idea. Will tell that to Mrs. Boots and then duck.

Looking good there boots - I need to give that a try too.

What time's dinner[THUMBS UP SIGN][THUMBS UP SIGN][THUMBS UP SIGN][THUMBS UP SIGN]

Would like to try this one day as well as a gator. Need to find the link but there was a place selling them whole based on desired length.

Again, congrats.

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Looks great! I'm a fan of the skin, hands down!