That BBQ Joint

Asked about Boston butt vs pork barrel, a person, who is not particularly keen on what he eats, will surely say that both are the same; after all, he is just eating the same meat. But if you would ask an expert, the expert would tell you that there are similarities and differences between the two.

Boston Butt and Pork Shoulder: Similarities and Differences

Some recipes will ask you to buy Boston butt while others will tell you to buy pork shoulder. Moreover, you may sometimes ask which is better to buy between the two. You can’t, however, resolve this question if you don’t know the differences and similarities between the two.

Boston Butt

Boston butt, of course, is an American name for a certain cut of pork. This cut is derived from the upper section of the pig’s shoulder, just right above the front leg. It may also contain the blade bone.

Boston Butt is also referred to as the “pork-shoulder-on-the-bone.” Moreover, it is the most common cut of pork for pulled pork which is the staple of barbecue popular in the southern parts of the United States. In the UK, however, Boston butt is referred to as “pork-shoulder-on-the-bone.”

The name “Boston butt” originated from the pre-revolutionary years of New England. In New England before, butchers usually took less-prized pork cuts like shoulders and hams, and then, packed them together using barrels for easy storage and transport.

These barrels were known as “butts”—a term that is etymologically derived from “buttis” which is a Latin word for barrel or cask. Soon after, the name “Boston butt” has been casually used to refer to a particular shoulder cut. The use of this term, however, first officially appeared in print in the year 1915.

Pork Shoulder

Pork shoulder, on the other hand, is a cut of meat that refers to where it comes from. This cut specifically comes from the pig’s forelimb’s shoulder. Other terms for the pork shoulder include “picnic roast” and “picnic shoulder.” The pork shoulder is best cut-up for stews, braised, or used for making ground pork.

The pork shoulder is characterized by a triangular cut derived from the area of the pig’s body, right above the front leg. This cut is often not expensive. It also contains the skin and fat layer when sold. The picnic ham cut includes this cut and more often it contains the leg bone.

This pork shoulder cut is derived from an area that is well-exercised. Hence, it is flavorful, but it doesn’t contain much fat marbling. Moreover, the meat of this cut is tough and needs to be cooked properly.

The pork shoulder is best cooked using a long and slow cooking process. With slow cooking, you can tenderize it as well as melt its fat. You can best cook the pork shoulder by braising or by stewing it. It can also be baked or fried if it has been turned into ground pork. Furthermore, it is best for serving in slices

Boston Butt vs Pork Shoulder

The Boston butt and the pork shoulder are taken from the same section of the pig’s body. So, if you would ask me which between the two is better tasting, I would say they almost have the same taste. Pork shoulder, however, comes from the triangular-shaped end of the pork shoulder.

The Boston butt, however, is taken from the same area just above the pork shoulder. This area is thicker and more marbled than the pork shoulder. Both are also derived from the front limbs and not from the hindquarters.

When it comes to cooking, the pork shoulder is considered by many as best cooked when whole. The Boston butt, on the other hand, is best for other recipes and for making pulled pork wherein the meat is meant and allowed to fall apart. What I mean is that since the Boston butt has more marbled fat, this marbled fat usually falls apart easily once you cook or tenderize the Boston butt. 

Conclusion

Both Boston butt and the pork shoulder are great cuts. You can use them interchangeably in many recipes and you will find it hard to tell which is which when cooked. So, the phrase Boston butt vs pork shoulder is really irrelevant because both cuts are almost the same and are interchangeable in many recipes.

Charcoal-grilled foods are some of the best-tasting foods in this world. Yet if you add a smoke box on top of your charcoal grill, you would surely further add flavor to your favorite foods. However, finding the best charcoal grill with smoke box attached is not easy. You need to consider several factors like the type of grill, its size, its design, and many other factors.

Factors to Consider When Buying a Charcoal Grill with Smoker Box Attached

Aa mentioned above, there are several factors that you need to consider when buying a charcoal grill with a smoker box and here are these factors:

Size and Type

There are myriads of charcoal grill models on the market today. Some come with a special smoker box that is attached to the charcoal grill’s side. The box, called “firebox” comes with its lid. While other types come with a smoke box that you can fill with different types of wood. Some come with optional smoke box and may cost less than those with a smoke box attached to them. Charcoal grills also come in vertical or horizontal forms.

So, if you want to buy one of the best charcoal grills for your needs, you should choose something that has a large cooking surface. Something with 500 square inches to make the cooking process easy for you.

Choose Something with Good Design!

Great charcoal grills come with adjustable air vents underneath the burning charcoal area. These vents let you control the heat and temperature of the grill. It also helps oxygen flows into the grill to keep the coal burning. Thus, when buying a grill, you should also consider the position of the vents if they are well-positioned. Carefully consider also the quality of its grates. The grates should be able to withstand intense heat. It should be cast-iron to get the best results. You should also consider its shelves. If you intend to cook vegetables, you should go for something that comes with many cooking shelves. You should also go for stainless steel grills to ensure it can handle intense heat.  

It Should be Easily Transportable!

Some grills don’t have casters or wheels for easy mobility. However, when you buy a grill, you should go for grills with wheels or casters. This will allow you to easily move the grills from one place to another.

Trays and Accessories

You will surely need worktables that readily fold out on each side for extra space for food during, before, and after cooking. You should also choose something that allows for added accessories. Some accessories also include special cooking pans and cooking woks.

How Ashes are Collected!

Beneath the cooking grates, you would put burning charcoals during the grilling process. If there is no ash-collection mechanism underneath, you will surely find it hard to clean the grills after using it. The coals are usually suspended above the area where the ash remains. Thus, if the ashes disposed of easily, then, the coals would burn better, and the air circulation would improve within the grill. Thus, in its design, the ask collection for disposal should be quick and easy.

How to Smoke Food Using a Charcoal Grill?

If you have a charcoal grill, you can enhance the flavor of your food by simply creating a smoker box. Here are some simple steps on how to create your own smoking grill. If your grill doesn’t have a ready-made smoker box, you can then buy a smoker box. You can use this smoker box to enhance the flavor of the meat that you are grilling by putting wood or wood chips onto your disposable smoker box. Each wood can usually add a distinct flavor to the food that you are cooking. You will be needing several handfuls of wood chips during the grilling process.

You should arrange the coals for indirect cooking. You should ensure that one side is cooler than the other side. Then, place the smoker box on top of the coals. If you want to smoke food, you should regulate the temperature of the grill to slow down the cooking process. Lastly, the length of cooking usually depends on which type of meat you are going to cook. If you have money however, the best way is to buy a charcoal grill with smoke box attached to use specifically for smoking food.