Fresh Pork Shoulder vs. Bone-in Butt?

[TimmyR]

Hey experts,

I used to cook pulled pork with bone-in butts exclusively (easy to find). One of my local butchers does not offer this anymore, and instead offers fresh pork shoulders (bigger and not same shape of course). They weigh more than I am used to seeing when I cook just the butt and they have a hefty thick cap of fat and maybe skin on one side. My questions are:

1. Is the whole shoulder any better or worse than planning pork butts?
2. Is the shoulder just the butt and some of the picnic?
3. What's your preference?

I am cooking for around 12-15 meat-eaters on Saturday for my son's high school graduation party.

Thanks for any advice. I'll probably ask the question on the pulled-pork recipe too.

[RonB]

A local bbq joint that is now out of business, had great pulled pork. They used the whole shoulder including the fat cap and skin. I think you should be good to go, butt it should be cheaper by the lb than a bone in butt 'cause you have a higher % of bone to meat, and you may or may not want the skin and/or fat cap.

[LA Pork Butt]

Just be aware that the butt (shoulder) cooks and tastes different that the picnic (shank) portion of the entire leg.

[TimmyR]

Thanks for the replies, since it was for a party, I went with what I knew and my wife found two bone-in butts at BJs (8.47# apiece). I smoked those to 203 on my BGE for about 20-21 hours. As expected, they were delicious.

I'm going to give the shoulders a try sometime. The butcher/market that sells them leaves the fat and skin pretty think on one side and they are a little more expensive than the butts I get from BJs (like a Sam's or Costco).

Cheers,

Tim

[mrichie1229]

Glad that the party was a success!

[Bkhuna]

I prefer to use butts, bone in or boneless for making BBQ. I will use a whole shoulder for roasting precisely because I want the crispy skin. There are millions of good recipes for making Pernil or Lechon using whole shoulders.

[Spinaker]

• Is the whole shoulder any better or worse than planning pork butts?
• I don't think it matters either way. Contrary to popular belief, the bone does not add flavor. (As MH explains here, Myth: The Bones Make The Meat Better)
• Is the shoulder just the butt and some of the picnic?
• "....Pork butt (or the larger pork shoulder which is made up of the butt and the picnic) (An Easy BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe With Mouthwatering Results)
• What's your preference?
• I think boneless are better, because you are not paying for a bone you won't eat.