Question:
What's your preference--bone-in or boneless pork butt, and why?

Regards,
Chris

Choices:
I prefer bone-in pork butt
I prefer boneless pork butt
I don't have a preference

 

I've cooked both and both were great.

I like the solid feeling to the meat with the bone-in.

I've cooked both and have no preference for pulled pork. HOWEVER, for jerk pork I prefer bone out - it's kinda hard to jook the pork with a bone in the middle!

Prefer bone-in, only because I use the bone to help determine how the cook is progressing. When the bone starts to loosen up, I set the temp probe and know we're gettin' close!

I have never been able to find a bone-in butt. So I do boneless, and love every last bit of it.

Only use the bone it butt. As noted by Kevin, the bone helps me to determine when I am getting close to doneness. Although, I still rely on my trusty NU-temp wireless units which I purchased from the special deal from this board. I also believe that the bone it stays together better without the need for any tying. I am currenty buying bone in butts for $1.59/lb. Boneless are always a bit more. It is also a great crowd pleaser to pull the bone out cleanly during the pulling process, not to mention the look on our dogs face when she knows there is a treat coming her way.

Bone in all the time.. unless it is for Buckboard Bacon!

Chris, I have now completed about 8 cooks on the butts. I have done both, and the only difference I find is that the boneless butts I purchased were already trimmed and netted. Made it convenient for prep, but the net got messy when cutting it to pull. Although a good test to pull the bone, I have always depended on my nutemp thermometers to bring all my pork to 195 minimum before letting rest one hour then pulling!

My first smoke was a small boneless butt. Then I later did a bone-in from the same store. Boneless was a bit dryer. Since the bone on the 6 pounder only weighed a bit over 2 ounces, the bone-in was a LOT cheaper per pound of meat than the boneless.

I'll never cook a boneless again.

The Costco near me sells boneless in a complete shoulder pack, i.e., the picnic and the butt are in one package. The price is real good and I've found that by using the boneless I can use almost 100% of the product. I havean't had a problem at all with moisture or tenderness. In fact the last one was the best one yet.

As I have mention before, I am blessed w/ a butcher who raises his beef, pork, etc organic free range. He does have some stuff frozen, but most of it is really fresh. With a little advanced notice he can do about anything. He is a bit more expensive than the grocery store, but the taste is well worth it.
Although I have done both bone-in and boneless, I prefer bone in. I do think it helps hold things together and add some flavor and juice to the mix.

Whatever is of good quality and on sale. They both are great for Mr Brown.

I've never had a boneless butt, and I don't know of any reason that I'd buy one, so count me in the 'bone in' group.

Honestly, I have only ever cooked with bone-in. I like being able to pull out the bone in front of my guests; when I do, they think I am the man!

Tony

The price on boneless is huge. It was a 36¢ more a pound to have the bone removed. Thats $2.73 more for a 7# butt. Not to be a cheap skate, but why pay that extra? The bone doesn't weigh that much, and if cooked properly the bone just pulls right out.

Just another reason to buy bone-in.

Whichever is cryovac'd at BJ's. Dislike paying for bone but not a big deal.

Piuloling a clean bone from a cooked PB in front of guests makes you a super hero!!!

Bone in . It's my visual thermometer.

I prefer boneless as I slice rather than pull my butts. I do buy as boneless however and ask the butcher to remove the bone. Boneless isn't sold in the store I purchase from.

I've tried bone in a few times and hate the hassle and the texture of the meat around the bone. In general I notice no difference in taste or quality of the finished product.