Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

http://www.genuineideas.com/ArticlesIndex/stallbbq.html

Turns out it's evaporative cooling causing the stall in larger pieces of meat.

Yep, I've seen a few other studies that did the same thing.  That's why the "Texas crutch" works. (Wrapping a brisket tightly will effectively raise the pressure, so the evaporation happens at a higher temperature.)

Personally, I just learned to ignore it and wait 'til it's done.  No crutch for me.

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Though thinking about it, I don't see that the physics works for raising the pressure (with a foil wrap, that is).  Probably something else going on with "the crutch."

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While not raising the absolute pressure, you are probably affecting the absolute humidity inside the foil pouch. Basically, it gets to be a saturated atmosphere inside the pouch, so you end up killing off any evaporative cooling and just end up steaming the meat. Hence, no stall.

I agree. Elimination of the evaporation kicks the stall in the pants.

It's all about the vapor pressure. That's why sweating isn't as efficient when it's humid out.

I only wrap when there is a time issue.