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Pork Butt Portion Roasts Products
The Instacart guide to pork butt portion roasts
About pork butt portion roasts
Pork butt portion roasts are delicious, easy to cook, and are budget-friendly. With Instacart, you can shop for pork butt roasts from anywhere. Use the Instacart app to place an order, and our dedicated shoppers will pick and deliver your items straight to your door. In many cases, your order can be delivered in as little as 2 hours!
Pork butt portion roasts are from the upper shoulder area of a pig. They may also be sold as "Boston butts" or "blade roasts." The name pork butt comes from the barrels (called butts) used to store pork in colonial America. This cut was also considered a New England specialty, leading to the name "Boston butt."
Pork butt roasts are slightly tough, with lots of connective tissue. They may be boneless or bone-in, and they are usually sold with a cap of fat. When simmered, pork butts are an inexpensive way to create a delicious meal for a crowd.
A three-ounce serving of pork butt roast has 227 calories, 21 grams of protein, and 15 grams of fat. The final product can be made leaner by trimming any visible fat before cooking and draining fat off before serving.
Pork butt portion roast cooking tips
Because of the high amount of connective tissue, pork butt roasts are best when slowly cooked. Pork butt roasts work well with a wide variety of spices, making them a versatile cut of meat. Here are some spice options to try on your next pork butt portion roast:
- Plain: Rubbing your pork butt roast with kosher salt, cracked black pepper, bay leaf, onion, and garlic produces meat that can be used in a wide variety of dishes.
- Herbed: Rub your pork butt roast with oregano, rosemary, bay leaves, onion, garlic, and thyme. Herbed pork is perfect for use in Italian recipes.
- Chile-spiced: Chile-spiced pork butt is the perfect protein for tacos, nachos, and barbecue sandwiches. Rub your pork butt roast with Mexican spices such as oregano, cumin, chipotle chiles, garlic, and onion.
- Asian-spiced: Asian-spiced pork is great in tacos, sandwiches, and fried rice. For this rub, use cloves, star anise, cinnamon, coriander, and fennel.
- Barbecue: Barbecue is the rub most commonly used on pork butts. For rich barbecue flavors, rub your pork butt roast with a mixture of brown sugar, dry mustard, cumin, chile powder, cayenne, oregano, onion, and garlic.
After seasoning your pork butt, allow it to sit for several hours or overnight. When you are ready to cook, allow your pork butt to warm up on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour.
Smoking is the most common cooking method used with pork butts. Pork butts can be smoked using apple, mesquite, hickory, or peach woods. Keep your smoker low (approximately 225 to 250 degrees Fahrenheit) and allow your pork butt to cook for four to six hours. Keep your pork butt moist by spritzing it occasionally with apple cider vinegar, apple juice, or beer. For pulled pork, cook your pork butt until the internal temperature is between 180 and 190 degrees.
Pork butts are also delicious braised in the oven. Place your seasoned pork butt and some braising liquid in a heavy roasting pan with a lid. Cook in a low oven for several hours until the pork is fork-tender. You can also braise a pork butt in a slow-cooker for an easy weeknight meal.
No matter how you cook your pork butt roast, always let it rest before carving or pulling. Resting allows the pork juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring a delicious, tender dish.
Pork Butt Portion Roasts Near Me
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FAQs about pork butt portion roasts
Pork butt roasts are often mistakenly referred to as pork shoulder. Here are the main differences between the two cuts:
- Pork butt: A pork butt is the upper part of the pig's shoulder. This cut is thicker, has more marbling, and is usually rectangular.
- Pork shoulder: A pork shoulder is the lower part of the pig's shoulder. This cut is thinner, less marbled, and is triangular. Also called "picnic roasts," pork shoulders are usually sold with their fat cap and skin intact.
Pork butts are slightly more tender and flavorful than pork shoulders. For the most part, you can use pork butts and pork shoulders interchangeably in slow-cooked applications.
Pork butt roasts will stay fresh in your refrigerator for up to one week. You can also freeze pork butts for up to six months in a freezer-safe plastic bag, butcher paper, or freezer paper. Store leftover cooked pork butt in your refrigerator in an airtight container or plastic bag and use within one week.
As a general rule, you should purchase a half-pound of meat per person. When calculating the size roast you need, remember the uncooked pork butt weighs more than the cooked product. A pork butt can lose up to 40% of its weight during the cooking process.