Picnic Roast vs. Pork Butt, Boston Butt, etc

Dan in StL

I'm trying to decide which hunk of pork flesh I'm going to sacrifice for this year's 4th of July festivities. I've done a few pork butts before, and they've all turned out great. I understand that the pinic roast is essentially from the same part of the pig, but just a little bit lower down the leg as opposed to the top shoulder like the butts.

I'm interested to see if anyone here has an opinion on which one is better for pulled pork. Also if I'm looking for a single large piece of meat as opposed to two smaller ones, are the picnic roasts likely to be larger?

Thanks

Grandpas Grub

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Thirdeye's page will give you the particulars - Playing with Smoke and Fire

GG

NU2BBQ

I always use the Pork (Boston) Butt for pulled pork. Some would say either will work with the picnic giving you more of a Ham flavor and yet others have done the whole shoulder (the picnic and the butt). I have always custom ordered from the butcher I was using in Mass. so i could get the size I wanted. If you have that luxury I would do that. I on the other hand am looking for a new butcher/meat shop as I no longer travel to Mass. everyday (layoff). Good luck

Dan in StL

GG - Thanks for the link to Thirdeye's page. Have you tended to notice more a ham flavor with the picnic roast?

Sundown

Where do you live, RI?

Grandpas Grub

A little more, lately I just go for the Boston Butt bone in or bone out. I like the bone in because of the flavor of the meat in some of those bone areas - those pieces never seem make it past the cooks treat stage.

When I want more ham flavor I just cook a spiral cut ham.

An interesting thought - Next large cook, I think I will cook one of each and mix when I pull.

GG

emilluca

They are about the same size. The picnic is closer to a lean roast as oppesed to the shoulder. The differance is like between a beef chuck roasst and a beef arm roast if that makes sense to you.
E