As relatively tough and fatty cuts, both benefit from long, slow cooking methods such as roasting, stewing, and braising. For me, the best roast is the shoulder since it’s high in fat and connective tissue making it the most flavorful part of the pig. “When you see competition barbecue,” professional butcher Joe Cates tells me, “they’re nearly always using this cut.” The combination of bone and fat insulates the meat and prevents it from drying out as it cooks for many hours. Make 2021 the year of “Why not?” in the kitchen with Digital All Access. Just like the Boston butt, this cut is great for pulled pork. Even better, it cooks completely on the stove. Unless you’ve taken on the daunting task of cooking an entire 20 pound pork shoulder, you’re either cooking the picnic shoulder or the pork butt. You will also receive free newsletters and notification of America's Test Kitchen specials. He's a contributor to the Washington Post, New York Magazine, Vice, and this excellent website. Unless you’re looking for a portion of the shoulder with skin still intact, this is our cut of choice. If a recipe calls for a choice between pork shoulder and pork butt, we highly recommend choosing pork butt. The Shoulder Cut . Will add to the recipe rotation. This cast iron pizza recipe is the easiest method for making a crisp-crusted, airy, chewy pan pizza at home. In colonial New England, butchers packed inexpensive cuts of meat into large barrels, called butts, for … Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! Post whatever you want, just keep it seriously about eats, seriously. The actual rear of the pig is called the ham. Traeger pulled pork is the best way to go about cooking this pork cut from the upper shoulder portion of the pig or hog. Not braised in cola, broth, or other liquids. Learn real cooking skills from your favorite food experts, The iconic magazine that investigates how and why recipes work, American classics, everyday favorites, and the stories behind them, Experts teach 200+ online courses for home cooks at every skill level, Kid tested, kid approved: Welcome to America’s Test Kitchen for the next generation. Like many cuts of meat, there are multiple names about the same thing. The pork shoulder is typically cut into two parts, the Boston butt and the picnic roast. If you’re looking for a cut that is versatile—able to cook either low and slow or hot and fast—this is the one. When we talk about roasting pork shoulder, or ask our butcher for three pounds of shoulder meat, we’re often speaking in much vaguer terms than we intend—I’m certainly guilty of this. Get all our recipes, videos, and up-to-date ratings and cook anything with confidence. This is the most frequently used cut of meat throughout the South for pulled pork, because of its nice distribution of fat. The picnic shoulder is almost always sold bone-in and skin-on, and that’s a large part of what makes it so desirable. Understanding the nuances of these cuts can help you better choose which to buy, and how to cook them both. It’s pork shoulder that throws me off, sending me into a frantic internet-searching void until I finally admit to the butcher that I have no idea what I’m looking at. Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Put a water bowl in your smoker to add moisture. All you would need to do differently is remove the skin, and adjust your cooking time since this is a much smaller cut. At 195 degrees, pork is easily shredded but still extremely … Pork Butt AKA Boston Butt or Pork Shoulder. John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? Good for family and company dinners too. https://www.bigoven.com/recipe/pulled-pork-boston-butt/338733 Pork shoulder is our cut of choice when making a pork roast that calls for crackling-crisp skin (such as our Cuban-Style Oven-Roasted Pork), since the cut is sold with the skin on. A pork butt, also known as a pork shoulder or Boston butt, is a cut that tastes especially good when cooked slowly at a fairly low temperature. Both come from the shoulder of the pig, but pork butt is higher on the foreleg, while pork shoulder is farther down. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. As opposed to the pork butt, this is a well-used muscle on … Using cotton … Yes, you got that right: the butt does not actually come from anywhere near the rear of the animal. We’ll clear up the difference between these two cuts. It's the most popular cut of meat for making pulled pork. The classic cut for pulled pork is a pork shoulder, which you may also see named at the store as pork butt or Boston butt. Sear the pork (optional). The shoulder meat packed into these barrels became known as pork butt, and the name stuck. Shopping for pork shoulder can get confusing fast. Otherwise, it'll be dry and chewy. best street foods. Learn the difference between Boston butt and picnic shoulder so you never panic at the butcher's counter again. The pork shoulder is the entire front leg and shoulder of a hog. Since pork butt has more fat marbling throughout the meat and a more uniform shape, it’s the best cut for stewing and braising as well as for making fall-apart-tender pulled pork for a barbecue or for tacos. For a leaner pulled pork, you can get away with using the top loin boneless roast, but it won’t be as moist as your typical pulled pork. Because of the tapered shape of the leg, it can be difficult to cut a picnic shoulder into consistently sized pieces. These iconic tacos feature juicy, spit-roasted marinated pork that’s crispy at the edges and fork-tender within. Pulled pork is most commonly prepared by smoking a pork shoulder, also referred to as a Boston butt or a picnic roast. Although, just because this cut is a little tougher than the Boston butt, that doesn’t mean it’s only good for pulling. Also known as "picnic shoulder" or "picnic roast", Typically has less intramuscular fat and marbling, If boneless, typically sold in netting; when netting is removed, meat "unfolds" into uneven layer. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. If a recipe calls for a choice between pork shoulder and pork butt, we highly recommend choosing pork butt. During cooking, the bone ensures the pork stays moist, while the skin renders, crisps up, and insulates the meat. Since pork butt has more fat marbling throughout the meat and a more uniform shape, it’s the best cut for stewing and braising as well as for making fall-apart-tender pulled pork for a barbecue or for tacos. Boston butt or pork butt is the American name for a cut of pork that comes from the upper part of the shoulder from the front leg and may contain the blade bone. Could we achieve that same trademark texture on the grill? The most common cut for making pulled pork is the shoulder. We wanted to transform it into a roast for company. No other meats qualify for this recipe. There are some instances where we opt for this cut over Boston butt. Will add to the recipe rotation. The primal shoulder cut is divided into two sub-primal cuts—picnic shoulder and pork butt, also known as Boston butt. Bone-in pork shoulder, Boston butt roast, or pork butt are just different names for the same thing. It is cooked dry with an appropriate rub. Pork shoulder is also called pork picnic shoulder and is found directly below the pork butt on the animal. He’s the author of Flavors of Oakland: A Cookbook in 20 Stories, a book about home cooks and their food cultures. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. This muscle isn’t used as much by the pig as the picnic shoulder—we’ll get to that—so the meat is less tough and sinewy. While pork butt might be the best choice for pulled pork, pork shoulder is best if you want a bit of crisp to your meat. I'm going to make pulled pork tomorrow for the first time. This is available either bone-in or boneless. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. Being from the deep south, BBQ was synonymous with pulled pork. Pork shoulder, pork butt, Boston butt are all interchangeable names for the front shoulder of a pig. Otherwise, pork butt is usually sold bone-in but skinless. Because pork butt pairs well with sweeter or fruitier flavors you can blend your favourite sweet or fruity wood with hickory at a 50:50 ratio for a perfect combination of both smokiness and sweet or fruitiness. Pull-apart tender meat and ultra-crisp skin: It's not the most gorgeous roast in the world, but you'd be hard pressed to find one more flavorful. If you see something not so nice, please, report an inappropriate comment. When you’re talking about pork cuts, “butt” means … I prefer a boneless roast that has been tied, but you could do a bone-in cut as well. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue. Cooking a Pork Butt Fat Side up. It’s a nicely marbled, fatty piece of meat, and while it takes well to a low and slow roast or braise, it also adapts well to other preparations: cut it into thin steaks to grill or sear in a hot pan, or truss it up and roast it before slicing the meat into juicy medallions. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous! We’ve always believed that a gas grill just can’t match charcoal when it comes to flavor. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. Pork shoulder is a relatively tough and inexpensive cut of meat layered with fat that comes from the pig’s shoulder region. What are all these cuts of meat? I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. A "make again" as my family rates things. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy! Some HTML is OK: link, strong, em. Confused? In your grocery store, you will usually find this divided into two cuts: the Boston butt (also known as the Boston roast) and the picnic roast. Because pork butt is a large chunk of meat and takes on flavor well, hickory helps the smokiness really stand out. Pork butt comes from above the pig’s shoulder blade, directly behind its neck and head. Use pork butt or pork shoulder only. All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. Although you technically can cook smaller pieces, the whole pork butt will taste best. Get FREE ACCESS to every recipe and rating from this season of our TV show. Pork shoulder is our cut of choice when making a pork roast that calls for crackling-crisp skin (such as our, Cuban-Style Grill-Roasted Pork on a Gas Grill, Cuban-Style Grill-Roasted Pork on a Charcoal Grill. Sweet, pulled pork! The terminology for pork shoulder can vary widely depending on the region. Is the butt the same as the shoulder, or does that enormous hunk of meat come from the animal’s hindquarters? Whole30 Pulled Pork is really flavorful pork butt that is seasoned with a sugar free dry rub. When butchers break an animal down, they separate the largest muscle groups from the body into what are called primal cuts. But after months of testing, our gas-grilled pulled pork didn’t just match charcoal—it beat it. A Boston butt, contrary to the way the name sounds, is actually a pork shoulder cut. Flavors of Oakland: A Cookbook in 20 Stories, Serious Eats' Halal Cart-Style Chicken and Rice With White Sauce, The Non-Judgmental Guide to Getting Seriously Into Tea, Why You Should Keep Instant Dashi in Your Pantry, 5 Delicious Cheeses You Should Throw on the Grill. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest recipes and tips! I brought these questions—and more—to our Serious Eats culinary editors, then checked in with Joe Cates, a longtime friend and professional butcher, to end my love-hate relationship with this wonderful yet confusing cut of meat once and for all. Recipes for other meats listed below and in the Pulled Pork Recipe Roundup. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. Pork butt and pork shoulder are frequently confused—and misleadingly named—cuts of meat. More than once I’ve found myself standing in a butcher shop, staring with confusion at the cold case. America's Test Kitchen will not sell, rent, or disclose your email address to third parties unless So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. Leave a comment and join the conversation! I had wanted bone-in, but he didn't realize that all they had was boneless and that's what they gave him. Pork shoulder is one primal cut; the others are the loin, the belly, and the hind leg. Your email address is required to identify you for free access to content on the site. Pulled Pork or Chopped Pork Boston Butt Summary: Buy a pork shoulder, Boston butt or picnic; Apply “It’s My Rub!” Power Blend or Smooth Blend with Kosher Salt (best vacuum seal for 5 days, but at least apply 8 hours ahead) Stabilize smoker at 250 degrees at the dome level for indirect cooking. Good for family and company dinners too. Can I cook a picnic shoulder and a Boston butt the same way? All rights reserved. That is just wrong. Elazar Sontag is a writer from Oakland, California, living in Brooklyn. Garlicky, citrus-infused pork is a natural for the backyard grill, and it's just as delicious when made in the oven. The picnic shoulder is located directly below the Boston butt, and includes all of the leg until the hock, right above the pig’s front foot. Though pork butt is our choice for most low and slow cooking preparations, and is better when it comes to higher heat and faster cooking as well, the picnic shoulder wins out when we’ve got shatteringly crisp skin on the brain. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Not better than gas or even charcoal grilled we may earn a commission on purchases, as described our. 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