How Do I Cook a Pork Shoulder Blade Roast? A Step-by-Step Guide

Pork shoulder blade roast, also known as Boston butt or Boston shoulder, is a flavorful and juicy cut of meat that can make for an amazing centerpiece dish when cooked properly But if you’ve never cooked pork shoulder before, you may be wondering – how exactly do you cook this cut to perfection?

In this article, I’ll walk through a simple, foolproof method for cooking pork shoulder blade roast in the oven. With just a few basic ingredients and steps, you’ll have tender, mouthwatering pulled pork in just a few hours.

Benefits of Cooking Pork Shoulder Blade Roast

Before jumping into the cooking instructions, let’s first go over why pork shoulder makes such a great roast Here are some of the benefits

• It’s budget-friendly – Pork shoulder tends to cost much less per pound than other pork roasts like loin or tenderloin. This makes it more accessible for everyday cooking.

• Extremely juicy and flavorful – The high fat content keeps this cut super moist and imparts tons of rich, porky flavor.

• It is hard to overcook pork shoulder because it stays tender even when cooked at higher temperatures. You don’t have to stress about pulling it at a precise instant.

• Versatile – Shredded pork shoulder is delicious in tacos, sandwiches, bowls, soups and more. It also pairs well with many global cuisines.

• Easy and hands-off cooking – Just season it up, pop it in the oven and let it slowly roast while you relax or work on sides.

Ingredients Needed

To cook pork shoulder blade roast, you just need a few simple ingredients:

• 3-5 lb pork shoulder roast
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil or vegetable oil
• 1-3 tablespoons of dry rub or seasoning blend
• 1/2 – 1 cup chicken broth, apple juice, beer or other cooking liquid

Some examples of seasoning blends that pair well with pork include:

• Chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, oregano
• Brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, pepper
• Salt, pepper, sage, rosemary

And that’s it! Now let’s get to the cooking steps.

Step-by-Step Cooking Instructions

Follow these simple steps for oven-roasted pork shoulder blade roast:

1. Prepare the Roast

• Take the pork shoulder roast out of the packaging. Rinse if needed and pat dry with paper towels.

• Apply a light coating of oil all over the roast. This helps the seasoning stick and promotes browning.

• Generously season all over with your favorite spice rub or herbs. I like using a chili-based blend or just salt, pepper and garlic.

2. Brown the Roast

• Preheat your oven to 300°F.

• Place a large dutch oven or oven-safe pot on the stove over medium-high heat. Add 1-2 tbsp oil.

• Once hot, carefully place the seasoned pork roast in pot and brown for 2-3 minutes per side. This adds a lovely caramelization.

3. Add Liquid and Transfer to Oven

• After browning, transfer roast to a plate. Add your broth, beer or other liquid to the pot.

• Use a wooden spoon to scrape any browned bits from the bottom. This adds flavor.

• Place the roast back in pot and add enough liquid to come about 1/3 up the side of the roast.

• Cover pot and transfer to preheated 300°F oven.

4. Roast in Oven

• Roast for approximately 1-1.5 hours per pound, until fork tender. For a 3 lb roast, this is about 3-4.5 hours.

• Halfway through roasting, you can baste or flip roast if desired. This helps moisten and evenly cook.

• Once done, the internal temperature should reach 195-205°F. The meat should shred easily with a fork.

5. Rest and Shred

• Carefully remove pot from oven. Transfer roast to a cutting board and tent foil over it.

• Let rest 15-30 minutes so juices can absorb back into the meat.

• After resting, use forks or hands to shred and pull pork apart into bite-sized pieces.

• At this point the pork is ready to serve! You can toss it with bbq sauce, serve in tacos, pile on sandwiches or whatever you like.

And that’s it! By following these simple steps, you’ll have succulent, flavor-packed shredded pork shoulder roast. The hands-off oven roasting ensures it stays incredibly moist and juicy.

Cooking Tips

Here are some extra tips to ensure pork shoulder roast success:

• For more smoke flavor, add soaked wood chips to pot when browning.

• Use apple juice, ginger ale or root beer instead of broth for sweet flavors.

• Apply rub up to 24 hrs before cooking so seasoning fully penetrates.

• Use leftovers for quesadillas, omelets, pizza, casseroles and more.

• Shred and freeze portions in an airtight container for quick meals later.

• Add roasted vegetables like potatoes or carrots to the pot to cook alongside roast.