1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Culinary Arts

Pork Primal Cuts: Boston Butt, Picnic Shoulder and More

By Danilo Alfaro, About.com

2 of 9

Boston Butt

Boston Butt: Pork Primal Cut

Boston Butt: Pork Primal Cut

Wikimedia Commons / Danilo Alfaro

Boston Butt:

Despite what its name might indicate, the Boston butt comes from the upper shoulder of the hog. Consisting of parts of the neck, shoulder blade and upper arm, the Boston butt is a moderately tough cut of meat with a good deal of connective tissue. It can be roasted or cut into steaks, but it is also well suited for braising and stewing, or for making ground pork or sausages.

Just above the Boston butt is a section of fat called the clear plate or fatback, which can be used for making lard, salt pork, or added to sausage or ground pork.

Next page >>

Explore Culinary Arts

About.com Special Features

Conquering High Cholesterol

Learn how you can reduce your your numbers with these nutrition and exercise tips. More >

Mornings Made Easy

Reclaim the morning and your sanity with these easy recipes, tips, and timesaving ideas. More >

  1. Home
  2. Food & Drink
  3. Culinary Arts
  4. Meat, Poultry & Seafood
  5. Beef, Pork & Other Meats
  6. Boston Butt: Pork Primal Cuts Diagram - Cuts of Meat - Cuts of Pork

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.