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Shoulder Blade Roasts Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to shoulder blade roasts
About shoulder blade roasts
Whether you're planning a roast or you want to grill in the backyard, pork shoulder blade roasts fit the bill. If your fridge is looking a little bare, it's easy to order what you need through Instacart. Shop your favorite butcher shop or supermarket, order via Instacart, and have your groceries delivered on the same day!
When you browse the meat section at your local grocery store, you're likely to find shoulder blade roasts with a few different labels. You can also call this cut of pork:
- Pork shoulder roast.
- Shoulder blade chop.
- Top loin blade roast.
- Pork loin blade end roast.
- Boston roast.
- Boston-style shoulder.
- Fresh pork butt.
No matter what you call it, a shoulder blade roast comes from the area above the forelegs, behind the ears, and in front of the loin. Don't get confused if you see it labeled as a “pork butt” either. Contrary to what the name suggests, the butt or shoulder comes from the front half of the pig.
Because the shoulder area usually includes a mix of fat and muscle, it often has nice marbling. The fat makes this cut particularly tender and juicy and can add a lot of flavor to your favorite pork shoulder blade roast recipes. You can purchase pork shoulder with or without the bone, and it tends to be one of the least expensive parts, making it great for cooking on a budget.
Shoulder blade roast cooking tips
Although the name of this cut suggests that it only works for roasts, shoulder blade chops are great braised or grilled too. Some of the most popular ways to prepare shoulder blade roasts include:
- Roasting: When you want a tender, slow-cooked pork shoulder, roasting is a smart choice. Most recipes call for rubbing the shoulder with a simple paste of garlic, salt, pepper, and herbs. Then roast the shoulder at 450 degrees for about 30 minutes before turning the heat down to 250 for at least six hours.
- Braising: When you want a juicy, flavorful dish, braising is a good option. Most recipes call for applying a dry rub before searing the shoulder on each side. Then braise the shoulder in a mixture of wine and herbs for about two hours.
- Grilling: If you're craving pulled pork sandwiches, grilling a pork shoulder is a great way to get started. Most recipes call for massaging a dry rub into the fresh shoulder and grilling the roast fat side up at about 225 degrees for approximately 90 minutes per pound. When it's cooked, remove it from the grill, let it rest for about 30 minutes, and use forks to pull the meat.
Any way you prepare your shoulder blade roast, be sure to cook it to a safe temperature. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recommends cooking fresh pork to an internal temperature of 145 degrees. Because pork shoulder is one of the thicker cuts you can purchase, it isn't always easy to tell whether the roast is fully cooked. When in doubt, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature before serving.
Shoulder Blade Roasts Near Me
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FAQs about shoulder blade roasts
Although the name of the cut sounds like it should come from the rear of the pig, pork butt comes from an area closer to the front. The pork butt is part of the shoulder, one of the four primal cuts of a pig. Altogether, a pork shoulder includes the butt, the upper shoulder, and the picnic, which is the lower part of the shoulder.
Culinary historians believe that the term “pork butt” originated with the barrels that typically stored pork hundreds of years ago. Because the barrels were called butts, so were the pork cuts. Since these barrels came from New England, the term “Boston butt” also became popular.
Yes, and no. A pork shoulder includes a Boston butt or a pork butt, and a pork blade steak is a portion of the butt roast. Butchers can call it a steak, a chop, or a roast, as these terms can all mean the same thing. Pork blade roast and Boston butt can both come boneless or be bone-in.
Yes, you can definitely use a pork shoulder blade roast for pulled pork. In fact, the pork shoulder is the classic cut for pulled pork, so there's no better choice.
To make pulled pork, season the shoulder roast with salt and pepper or your favorite dry rub. Then use a slow cooker to cook the pork for about eight hours. Remove it from the slow cooker and let it rest for about 15 minutes before using forks to pull the meat. Pour the liquid from the slow cooker onto the pulled pork and enjoy.