Pork Butt aka Boston Butt (2.75 - 3.5 lbs)

Many people think the pork butt roast comes from the rear of the animal, but it’s actually taken from the upper shoulder area. The name refers to the large wooden barrels or ‘butts’ that were used for storage before the advent of refrigeration. Unlike the tapered pork shoulder, the pork butt shoulder roast is rectangular with more marbling and fat cap on top of the cut. The uniform shape and higher fat content make it more forgiving when roasting low and slow in the oven as the meat is less likely to dry out. The intramuscular fat also makes the pork butt a prized candidate for smoking. In fact, smoked pork butt is the go-to summer choice for making juicy, fall-apart pulled pork. That said, you can also achieve amazing results in a Dutch oven or slow cooker.