Question on Boston Butt

[Papa Rick]

I got two packed together at Sam's Club, and the sticker states:  Pork Shoulder Boston Butt Cov. (Not sure what the Cov. stands for??)  Was wondering is this bone in BB or does it state that on the label as well?  Going to brine them overnight and cook them tomorrow.  Thanks

 

[Papa Rick]

I have not tried them on my #2 yet, but everything else has people thinking I am a Master Chef, ha ha.  Took some time and read the sticky on the brining process of doing BB.  This will be my first one and really looking forward to the results.

 

[elkins20]

Hey Rick, Found an answer for you about cov. COV on the label means it is packaged in the cryovac bag (the heavy plastic), which is standard when it comes from the major packing houses. This is a good sign that the meat has not been disturbed. Do your BB have the bone still in them, if so you did good job. I have read is better to have with the bone in. Without is called a picnic roast I believe. Good luck with your smoke and don't forget the pictures.

 

[Papa Rick]

I have not opened them up and without sounding stupid I don't know how to tell just by looking at them in the package if it has a bone in it or not.  The label does not tell on it?

Hey THANKS  ;D ;D on finding out about the COV.  I appreciate that very much!

 

[elkins20]

I have not opened them up and without sounding stupid I don't know how to tell just by looking at them in the package if it has a bone in it or not.  The label does not tell on it?

Hey THANKS  ;D ;D on finding out about the COV.  I appreciate that very much!

Hey Rick, without opening the package you should be able to see the bone at one end and kind of high. Or if they are not frozen just feel around on the ends, you can tell as will be very hard compared to the meat. But, not a big deal. They just seem to have a better flavor with the bone in. It should also say on the label.

 

[Papa Rick]

it is not thawed out enough yet to tell, but looked over the label and cannot see where it states on there.  Thanks

 

[NDKoze]

All of my butts from Sam's are bone-in 2-packs, so I would imagine yours is too. The butts that I get average about 7-8 pounds which is perfect.

Costco on the other hand only has boneless. So, I do not get my butts there unless I am making Buckboard Bacon.

If you follow the recipe/instructions in Tony's post on brining, you should have awesome results. This is the only way I smoke my butts anymore other than trying different rubs occasionally. The brining/smoking process is always the same though.

Good luck!

 

[Papa Rick]

Thanks Gregg

 

[DivotMaker]

Without is called a picnic roast I believe. Good luck with your smoke and don't forget the pictures.

Sam's only sells bone-in Boston butts.

A picnic cut is not a Boston butt at all, it's actually the lower part of the front leg (looks more like a ham shank, and definitely has a big leg bone in it).  The Boston butt is the upper front shoulder, and the blade bone in it is part of the shoulder bone. 

The reason the Boston butt cut of pork shoulder is great for pulled pork, imo, is it's different muscle than the picnic, and has less connective tissue (just a bone and some good internal marbling).  The picnic is the upper leg muscle, so it's naturally a tougher muscle.  At least that's the theory that sticks in my brain.

 

[NDKoze]

Picnics are OK for slicing, but not optimal for pulled pork.

 

[Papa Rick]

Thanks Tony and Gregg, I appreciate the reply! ;D

After I opened them up, they were as was told to me they do have the bone in.  I have so much to learn and really appreciate the info.

 

[elkins20]

Hey Richard, looks like you are well on your way to some good pulled pork for the holiday.

 

[Papa Rick]

Thanks Gregg, I sure hope so.  I appreciate the advice from everyone on here.