Hickory Smoked Pork Tri-Tip Sirloin Roast

posted in: Pork 2

No, there is no TYPO!!  You read correctly … It’s a Pork Tri-Tip and not a Beef Tri-Tip.  I know you’re skeptical but then so was I when I first noticed this 1¾ lb Pork Shoulder Tri-Tip Boneless Roast.  At least that’s what SaveMart stores located mostly in Central/Northern California call this roast.  I never would have looked and found this Pork Tri-Tip if Beef Tri-Tip wasn’t priced at $7 /lb !!  Insane … Beef Tri-Tip right now is the same price as a NY Steak.  It’s not like I’m back East where most have never heard of a Tri-Tip.  This is Central California … The birthplace of Tri-Tips.

Spoke with the meat department and yes, it’s a cut that has been around for quite a while.  I was thinking they might be capitalizing on the “Tri-Tip” name until I did a google search.  At $2.99/lb vs $6.99/lb it was worth a try and I learned something new.  It is rather lean compared to a shoulder and many say it’s pretty much tasteless but then they probably haven’t smoked one low-and-slow.

Rubbed the Pork Tri-Tip Sirloin Roast with Annie’s Roasted Garlic EVOO and Fagundes Seasoning.  Normally I might have thrown it into the fridge overnight but I had to fix something for dinner and didn’t have that luxury.

Preheated the MAK 2 Star General Wood Pellet BBQ Smoker-Grill to 250ºF with Hickory wood BBQ pellets.  Note how this cut has a pronounced resemblance to a Beef Tri-Tip and is exceptionally lean compared to a Pork Shoulder (Butt).  Kept the temperature at 250ºF for the entire cook since I had no idea how this Pork Tri-Tip was going to behave.

The more I use my MAK 2 Star General the more I am impressed with this wood pellet smoker-grill.  Not only does it produce a copious amount of smoke when using the SMOKE setting (180º) but it also produces a lavish amount of smoke at the 225º – 250ºF range and as usual, it didn’t disappoint me.  Took 3 hours at 250ºF to reach an Internal Temperature of 160ºF.

While the Pork Tri-Tip Sirloin Roast was resting under a foil tent for 20 minutes I boiled some Corn on the Cob on the Camp Chef 3 Burner Stove.

I’m still a traditionalist and find 160ºF to be a good temperature to take Pork to.  Others may choose to pull it earlier but that just won’t do in this household.  Everyone to his/her own!  Pork Tri-Tip Roast thinly sliced and ready to serve.

The simple Summer meal Money $Shot$ …  A few slices of Pork Tri-Tip Sirloin Roast and some Corn on the Cob … I could make a meal of the corn alone.  I was pleasantly surprised at how flavorful, tender, and moist the roast turned out!!  We could have easily added some beans, rice, or potatoes to this meal but it didn’t appear to need it.  Besides, leaves more room for the Frozen Yogurt Dessert.

With the price of everything going up, up, and away I will be searching for more bargain cuts of meats no matter how exotic and/or strange their names might be.  I will definitely be doing Pork Tri-Tip Sirloin Roasts again.

2 Responses

  1. James Walker
    | Reply

    Hey thanks for the article, I’ve seen these at my local Santa Cruz Market but never heard of them either so bought one and smoked it for 3 hours on my Traeger with some mesquite seasoning and you were right, awesome cuts of meat especially for 1.69/lb. I bought four more today, and plan on doing up some more.

  2. cliff
    | Reply

    I bought 4 of them from Costco and smoked them at 225 with applewood for 6 hrs and organizations tender, juicy, and full of flavor

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