Pork Collar vs Pork Shoulder
Finding the right cut of pork for roasting, slow cooking or smoking can be confusing. There are several other names for pork shoulder. The terms pork shoulder, pork collar, pork butt and Boston butt are all in the mix.
It turns out the butt isn’t from the back of the animal, a shoulder is generally just a piece of the shoulder, and then there is a collar. Confused yet?
While these cuts are from the same area, it’s important to know the differences. At Snake River Farms we offer two Kurobuta pork cuts that fill the bill:a whole bone-in pork shoulder and a pork collar. Let's clear up the differences between the two
THE PORK SHOULDER
What makes the Snake River Farms pork shoulder different? Most pork shoulders are broken into two pieces; a pork shoulder (also referred to as a “picnic shoulder”) and a pork butt or Boston butt.
The Snake River Farms whole bone-in shoulder is exactly that. The whole shoulder with the shank bone left intact. This includes the Boston butt, picnic shoulder, fore shank, and pork collar.
Cut from Kurobuta pork, our bone-in shoulder is rich with fine marbling and full of delicious pork flavor. This generous cut averages 17 pounds and is a fantastic starting point for incredible pulled pork or slow cooked for a memorable pork roast.
THE PORK COLLAR
The pork collar is sourced from the shoulder portion that runs from the neck to the tip of the loinTechnically it's described as a “center cut boneless pork butt”.
Most pork in the U.S. is broken into two pieces at the shoulder; a pork shoulder (also referred to as a “picnic shoulder”) and a pork butt or Boston butt. When your needs call for a smaller cut, our pork collar is the perfect solution.
With an average weight of four pounds, the pork collar is smaller than traditional pork butts. Like the full shoulder, the collar is full of beautiful rich marbling for impressive flavor. It's perfect for roasting and braising to slow smoking or cutting into pork steaks.
THE NEXT STEP
Now that you know exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to the ever-confusing pork shoulder and pork collar. We encourage you to try a few of our favorite recipes featuring these amazing cuts.
