I joined this list do to my interest in Snoots and other goodies! My only other post asked where raw snouts could be found. I found them by asking the butcher manager at Valle Produce in Glendale Heights. He had none in stock but told when to return. He uses them for carnitas. I've made both carnitas and snoots but always thought they used different parts of the pig. I got a six pound bag for about $5. Here is how I cooked them...
Put snouts in a pot of water and bring to a boil. This is not to cook them but to facilitate trimming. When the water starts to come to a boil, you can start trimming.
Cut off the nostrals and score the underside in a diamond pattern to prevent them from curling up. Also, cut off any chunks of fat that might be attached. The nostrals can be cooked as well for a treat for the cook, snoot fingers!
Cook over indirect, low heat (230-250) and use mostly charcoal as opposed to wood ( I made a horribly smokey batch some years back). In other words wood is great for ribs and shoulder but go light with snouts. I added hickory and oak to the charcoal as you do want some smokey flavor. There have been places in East St. Louis that cooked them only in a deep fryer, OK but we can do better.
You don't have to turn them very often, but rather move them around the pit for even cooking. This is more a rendering process than smoking. There is a ton of fat in them that you want out.
The cooking took about 6 hours and you know their done when you tap them with a tong and it it like tapping on wood. A chewy snoot is not a good thing!
You can hold a cooked snoot for a while and it will be fine. It's like a slow cooked pork rind at this point, but much more hearty.
When ready to serve, dunk in hot BBQ sauce and place on white bread. I know this sounds bad, but it is authentic. While there is nothing wrong with beer with snoots, an orange or even grape soda goes quite well!