Pork Shoulder Roast recipe & Caribbean Dinner Ideas (2024)

FAQs

What makes pork shoulder tender? ›

Unlike the more lean tenderloin and chops, pork shoulder is an incredibly forgiving cut of meat. It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won't suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.

Sear it good. This is an optional step, but if you have the time, adds a lot of flavor. Heat a little oil in a large skillet or your Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Sear the pork heavily on all sides until golden brown.

Common cooking methods for pork shoulder include braising, smoking, roasting, grilling, and slow cooking. Cook pork shoulder on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. It's important to use a meat thermometer to make sure your pork shoulder reaches an internal temperature of 170°F.

Try brine: Choose a wet marinade rather than a dry one. Dry rubs may work fine but brine or a wet rub will add that extra moisture along with the flavor that will penetrate deep inside the meat. Keep a spray bottle handy: Keep spraying the meat during smoking or reheating to replace the lost moisture.

This could be your favorite pork shoulder rub, or you can always make your own. A simple blend of garlic powder, salt, and pepper will do the trick just fine. Moist and cold meat absorbs more smoke, so after your meat is seasoned, refrigerate it until you're ready for the smoker.

In a Dutch oven: Put the meat in a Dutch oven or other heavy pot, pour in just enough liquid (broth, beer, or anything else) so the meat is partially submerged, then cover it and let the pork cook slowly in a low oven for a few hours.

It is also called "picnic shoulder" or "picnic roast." It is best braised, cut up for stews, or used to make ground pork.

Prepare Pork for Roasting

Dry skin – Pat skin dry using a paper towel; Season flesh – Season the flesh sides of the pork with salt, pepper and optional fennel, with a drizzle of oil; Salt skin – On the skin side, drizzle with oil then sprinkle evenly with salt.

Tenting can be suitable for some cuts of meat, but if you want a crunchy crust on your roast, then it's best to leave it uncovered. If you notice that the roasted pork is browning too much, you can lightly cover it with aluminum foil. However, do not cover it for the last 5-10 minutes in the oven.

Washing beef, pork, lamb, or veal before cooking it is not recommended. Bacteria in raw meat and poultry juices can be spread to other foods, utensils, and surfaces. We call this cross-contamination. Some consumers think they are removing bacteria and making their meat or poultry safe.

What is the 3 2 1 method for pork shoulder? ›

This was all Steven's idea. Buoyed by the success of 3-2-1 ribs, one of our most popular blogs, Steven wondered what would happen if we treated a pork butt (aka, shoulder) to 3 hours of smoke, 2 hours wrapped in butcher paper, foil, or parchment paper, and 1 hour unwrapped.

Set the meat on a rack set into a roasting pan. Roast for 20 minutes, and then reduce the heat to 325 degrees F. Continue to cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the shoulder reads 185 degrees F, about 4 hours. Remove the pork from the oven and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes.

Because the shoulder is a hard-working muscle, the meat is very tough. A low, steady temperature cooks pork shoulder the best works to tenderize a pork shoulder. To slow-cook, place the pork shoulder in a Dutch oven or another heavy pot, then pour enough broth, beer, or other liquid to partially submerge the meat.

Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine. For easier tenderizing, use a commercial meat tenderizer by wetting the surface of the meat, and then sprinkling the tenderizer over the meat.

Pork is generally more tender than beef because pigs are usually slaughtered at a younger age than cows, and so their muscles are less developed and have less collagen than do those of cows. Fish muscles are quite different from those in mammals.

For tougher cuts of pork, such as pork shoulder or ribs, slow cooking methods are highly effective in achieving tender results. Slow cooking breaks down the collagen and connective tissues in the meat, transforming them into tender, melt-in-your-mouth goodness.

Typically, when you make pulled pork, you'll cook it in barbeque sauce or another acidic ingredient like vinegar, citrus, or Worcestershire sauce, which work to tenderize the pork. Now think about soda like any other marinade, working to help break down the meat for pull-apart results.