I finally dropped the mop sauce after a judge at a cookoff in Waco set me straight

Grant Nelson · 2026-11-05T21:10:04.13227+00:00

I had been mopping my pork butts every 45 minutes for years, thought that was the only way to keep them from drying out. Back in April I did a backyard cookoff in Waco and a judge came by my tent after turn-in. He said my bark was mushy and asked how often I was mopping. When I said every 45 minutes he just shook his head and said I was steaming the meat, not smoking it. He told me to try one butt with no mop at all and just spritz the edges if they got crusty. Next cook I left two of the four butts alone and the dry ones had way better bark and the same moisture inside. Now I want to know how many of you still mop, and if you do, what are you actually putting in it.

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I finally dropped the mop sauce after a judge at a cookoff in Waco set me straight | BBQ Pitmasters - Librear