Definition

Noun 1. A specific cut of pork: "picnic shoulder" refers to the lower section of a pig's front leg, specifically the shoulder cut that includes the upper part of the foreleg. It is typically sold with the skin on and contains a significant amount of connective tissue and fat, making it well-suited for slow, moist cooking methods. It is often cured or smoked.

Usage

The term "picnic shoulder" is used to specify a particular cut of meat from a pig for culinary purposes. * The recipe calls for a picnic shoulder to be braised for several hours. * For pulled pork, many pitmasters prefer a picnic shoulder over the Boston butt. * I bought a smoked picnic shoulder to make sandwiches.

Advanced Usage

• Butchering/Culinary Context: In professional and home cooking, "picnic shoulder" is a precise term to distinguish it from the "Boston butt" (which is the upper shoulder). The picnic is the arm section, while the butt is the blade section.
  • When ordering from the butcher, be sure to specify if you need the picnic shoulder or the Boston butt.

Variants and Related Words

• Picnic ham: This is a common name for a cured and smoked picnic shoulder. It is not a true ham (which comes from the hind leg), but its preparation and appearance are similar.
  • We served slices of picnic ham for dinner.
• Pork shoulder: This is a broader term that can encompass both the picnic shoulder and the Boston butt, especially when the two cuts are not separated.

Synonyms

• Pork picnic: A less common but equivalent term.
• Pork shoulder (lower): A descriptive synonym specifying the part of the full shoulder.

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Smoked picnic shoulder: The most common preparation method indicated by the term.
• Picnic shoulder roast: Describes the cut when prepared as a large roast.

Noun

1. shoulder of a hog usually smoked