Used to wrap my pork shoulder in foil after 4 hours, now I just let it ride.
My buddy in Kansas City saw me do it and said I was just steaming the bark away. Tried his way on my next cook and the bark was way better, dark and crunchy. Anyone else ditch the wrap for pork butts?
My last foil-wrapped butt was the juiciest one I've ever made. That steam keeps all the moisture locked in so it doesn't dry out. A little soft bark is a fair trade for perfect pulled pork.
Understand why you wrap it, but I miss that crispy bark too much. The chew and smoke flavor in the bark is my favorite part. I just spritz more often to keep things moist without steaming it soft.
Try a foil boat instead of a full wrap. It protects the bottom from burning but lets the top stay exposed to the smoke. You keep most of the bark texture without losing all the juice.