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Difference Between Pork Shoulder and Butt?

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ChargerGuy
ChargerGuy Posts: 357
edited November -1 in EggHead Forum
Can someone please help me out? I want to do some pulled pork and I have seen Pork Shoulder(picnic) and Pork Shoulder Butt (Boston)? Which is the right one to use?
Thanks,
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Comments

  • WhackMaster719
    WhackMaster719 Posts: 307
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    Chargerguy, I always use the Boston Butt. Mine have always come "bone-in" but I think Costco and probably other places also carry a boneless version.


    Hope this helps!
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  • Mark0525
    Mark0525 Posts: 1,235
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    When I made mine 2 weeks ago I used a Boston Butt bone in. From reading on here everyone told me to make sure you get one with a bone.
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  • ChargerGuy
    ChargerGuy Posts: 357
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    Thanks, I think I will have to Renew my Costco Membership. Sams here only sells Butts by the Case!
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  • Fidel
    Fidel Posts: 10,172
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    A whole pork shoulder is normally divided into two sections, the picnic and the boston butt. The boston butt is from higher up on the animal and contains the shoulder blade bone. The picnic is from the upper arm and is the lower half of the entire shoulder cut.

    Either can be used for pulled pork and are usually cooked the same way. A picnic will normally have the skin left on one side, the butt will be sold with a fat cap only, skin removed.

    The picnic is a little more lean and has a bit more sinew and darker meat, and will cook a bit faster as a result. The flavor is deeper with the picnic, but the meat is a bit more dry when cooked.
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  • ChargerGuy
    ChargerGuy Posts: 357
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    Mark, Butt Bone in for flavor no doubt. Do you brine first?
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  • Fidel
    Fidel Posts: 10,172
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    The bone isn't going to add any flavor, but a bone-in butt will typically retain moisture a bit better than a boneless butt simply because it hasn't been cut open and has less surface area.
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  • ChargerGuy
    ChargerGuy Posts: 357
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    Thanks Fidel, that was exactly the info I was looking for being a rookie and all!
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
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    What that guy Fidel said, absolutely.
    But there is nothing wrong with boneless butt either. If that's what your store had for a reasonable price, get it. It cooks up wonderfully.
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  • Florida Grillin Girl
    Florida Grillin Girl Posts: 4,972
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    I have done all 3, bone in, boneless, and picnic. I just usually buy the one on sale. I like the bone in butt the best, but in a pinch the other 2 work fine.

    Faith
    Happily egging on my original large BGE since 1996... now the owner of 5 eggs. Call me crazy, everyone else does!
     
    3 Large, 1 Small, 1 well-used Mini
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  • Mark0525
    Mark0525 Posts: 1,235
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    Faith, would there be any difference in the way they cook? Maybe one being more forgiving than the other. You know me I'm always looking for the easiest way :) and less chances of screwing them up.
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  • ChargerGuy
    ChargerGuy Posts: 357
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    LOL, I hear you on that one! :laugh:
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  • joe@bge
    joe@bge Posts: 394
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    My butcher was out of butts so he substituted a shoulder for me one time...no comparison. Go with a butt bone in. B)
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  • Bacchus
    Bacchus Posts: 6,019
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    Butt is part of the Shoulder. Maybe you are referring to picnic.
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  • Sun Devil Brett
    Sun Devil Brett Posts: 440
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    This may have already beem answered above, A shoulder has two parts, a "boston" butt and the picnic. The picnic tastes a little "hammier" than the butt. Also the picnic has skin that needs to be trimmed or scored. We have done both with great success. We prefer the bone in Butts. But you can't beat costcos price on the two pack. Here in Az. they have always come boneless. Hope that helps. Have a good weekend. Brett
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