Pork Shoulder Cooking Times and Calculator
Pork shoulder is the primal cut that comes from a pig’s shoulder, above the forelegs. It is typically broken down into two cuts: the top, or blade shoulder, and the lower arm shoulder or pork shoulder. Pork shoulder is heavily exercised, dark in colour due to oxygen-storing myoglobin, and can be tough due to lots of connective tissue. It is also full of fat, and can be delicious if cooked low and slow.
Pork Roasting Tips
- Rub sea salt over the fat 30 minutes before cooking for perfect crackling!
- Let the meat come up to room temperature before cooking
- Roasting the meat at 220℃ 200℃ Fan / Gas Mark 7) for 30 minutes before bringing the heat down to the temperture indicated will allow the heat to reach the centre of the joint, crisp up the crackling and seal in the flavour.
- Don't cover pork crackling joints while they’re cooking, it will make the crackling go soggy.
- Don't forget to rest the meat before carving. This allows the meat to relax and distributes the juices throughout. A general rule of thumb used by chefs for resting meat is 1 minute for every 100g of meat.
