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Pork shoulder

Meat · Pork

Pork shoulder

Well-marbled pork shoulder (butt, collar): the cut for pulled pork, char siu, carnitas and slow roasts.

Also called: pork butt, boston butt, pork collar

A kind of pork

46 recipes with it

Photo: Mark Miller, via Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

What it is

Pork shoulder comes from the upper front leg; the top part is called butt or Boston butt in the US and includes the collar (neck). It is marbled with fat and connective tissue, which renders during long cooking into juicy, tender meat that pulls apart. It is sold bone-in or boneless, with or without skin.

How it’s used

  • Pulled pork and carnitas
  • Char siu (Cantonese barbecue pork)
  • Stews, vindaloo and adobo
  • Slow-roast shoulder with crackling
  • Minced for sausages and dumplings

Characteristics

Taste
Rich, sweet and porky.
Texture
Juicy and tender after slow cooking.
When cooked
For pulling, cook slowly until about 90–95 °C internal so the collagen breaks down. Collar slices can be grilled quickly.
Sold as
fresh, frozen
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for grilling, Suitable for boiling

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep sealed on the bottom shelf of the fridge or freeze.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Food-safety guidance for whole cuts of beef, lamb, veal and pork is 63 °C (145 °F) in the centre followed by a 3-minute rest; slow-cooked cuts are taken far higher for tenderness.
  • Store raw meat sealed on the bottom shelf of the fridge and keep separate boards for raw meat and ready-to-eat food.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
236 kcal
Protein
17.18 g
Carbohydrate
0 g
Fat
17.99 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
0 g

USDA FoodData Central: Pork, fresh, shoulder, whole, separable lean and fat, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

  • Pork belly — 1:1 in braises; much fattier.
  • Chicken thigh — For a lighter version of stews; much shorter cooking.

Related ingredients

Recipes with pork shoulder

See all 46

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