Pork Butt

This large, flavorful cut (often labeled Boston butt or pork shoulder at markets) can weigh as much as 8 pounds when sold with the bone in. Many markets take out the bone and sell this cut in smaller chunks, often wrapped in netting to hold the roast together.

To coax the most from pork butt, a tough, fatty, relatively inexpensive cut from the upper part of the pig’s shoulder, slowly smoke, roast, or braise it to tenderness. This cut—also called Boston butt—comes bone-in or boneless, weighs 6 to 8 pounds, and is often shredded after cooking. If we don’t plan to shred it, we tie the roast before cooking.