The stall isn't caused by fat rendering... it's caused by evaporation. In experimentation side-by-side with a block of fat and a plain wet sponge, Dr Greg Blonder showed that a block of fat has no stall and a big sponge stalls like a motherf****er. The reason the Texas Crutch (wrapping in foil) wards off the stall is because it seals in the humidity, stops evaporation and holds in the heat. In a stall, the evaporative cooling can even cause a temperature DROP - which I experienced a bit yesterday. The melting of fat and collagen causing the stall is a myth - it's been busted. This is ALSO why a water pan in the smoker can prolong the stall - it increases humidity.
While I could have wrapped my butt in foil to forestall the stall (hehe), doing so causes a softening of the bark, which is unacceptable to me.
As posted above - this link at AmazingRibs.com explains the collagen-melting myth and the science behind the stall being caused by evaporative cooling in great detail, based on Dr. Greg Blonder's work. It's easily repeatable, and happens with a plain pain of water, with no fat. But doesn't happen in a pure block of fat. Which is pretty clear, in my opinion, and it makes a ton of sense.
While I could have wrapped my butt in foil to forestall the stall (hehe), doing so causes a softening of the bark, which is unacceptable to me.
As posted above - this link at AmazingRibs.com explains the collagen-melting myth and the science behind the stall being caused by evaporative cooling in great detail, based on Dr. Greg Blonder's work. It's easily repeatable, and happens with a plain pain of water, with no fat. But doesn't happen in a pure block of fat. Which is pretty clear, in my opinion, and it makes a ton of sense.