TentHunter
Moderator
Howard started a great thread with a couple questions about pork butts: http://www.pelletsmoking.com/mak-central-14/couple-questions-preparing-pulled-pork-1103/.
After reading some of the comments I realized the more I stick around this forum the more I see just how much personal preference plays a role in how we cook this fabulous cut of meat.
There's one difference I don't think we've discussed here yet and was curious about your preferences.
Now, I know most of you know the difference but some folks reading this might not. So, for clarification's sake - There are two shoulder cuts: A Pork Butt (or Boston Butt) is actually the butt end (top half) of a pig's shoulder (not its rear end). And the Picnic cut (sometimes called a picnic ham) is the bottom half.
Here's a chart: pork_cuts.jpg
To get a better price, here's a whole 16.25 lb. shoulder I got from the butcher and had him cut it in half. The left half is the Picnic cut, the right half is the Butt end.
Which cut do you like to use for what purposes? Why? Does cost play a role? What are your preferences?
After reading some of the comments I realized the more I stick around this forum the more I see just how much personal preference plays a role in how we cook this fabulous cut of meat.
There's one difference I don't think we've discussed here yet and was curious about your preferences.
Now, I know most of you know the difference but some folks reading this might not. So, for clarification's sake - There are two shoulder cuts: A Pork Butt (or Boston Butt) is actually the butt end (top half) of a pig's shoulder (not its rear end). And the Picnic cut (sometimes called a picnic ham) is the bottom half.
Here's a chart: pork_cuts.jpg
To get a better price, here's a whole 16.25 lb. shoulder I got from the butcher and had him cut it in half. The left half is the Picnic cut, the right half is the Butt end.
Which cut do you like to use for what purposes? Why? Does cost play a role? What are your preferences?