Picnic Shoulder

This affordable cut can be sold bone-in or boneless. It is rich in fat and connective tissue.

Just below the pork butt, where the pig’s front leg meets its torso, is the picnic shoulder, also called the pork shoulder. Like the pork butt, the shoulder is fatty and needs long cooking, but unlike the butt, it’s usually sold bone-in. The picnic shoulder has a considerable cap of fat and skin—perfect for making crackling. Don’t confuse picnic shoulders with picnic hams: The latter are typically smoked.