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Pork shoulder yield is best explained as how much you can expect to get out of the size, cut of meat, and how many pounds versus how much the meat will shrink. It also depends on if the meat is deboned or not. We will walk you through the different scenarios of what to expect with pork shoulder yield.
Bone-in Pork Shoulder Yield
This is the most common pork shoulder cut, and it typically weighs 6 to 8 pounds. A bone-in pork shoulder will yield about 50% to 60% meat.
That means, for a 6-pound roast, you can expect to get 3 to 4 pounds of meat. The rest of the roast will be bone and fat. This is a good option if you are feeding a large crowd or making multiple meals from one roast.
Boneless Pork Shoulder Yield
A deboned pork shoulder roast will yield about 70% to 80% meat. So, for a 6-pound roast, you can expect to get 4 to 5 pounds of meat. This option is best if you are looking for more meat per pound.
Pork shoulder yield is an excellent way to estimate how much meat you will get from a roast.
Keep in mind that the weight of the meat can vary based on the cut and whether or not it is bone-in or boneless. Use these percentages as a guideline and adjust accordingly. With a little know-how, you can make the most of your pork shoulder roast!
How Much Weight Do You Lose When Cooking Boston Butt?
When cooking a Boston Butt, you can expect to lose about 30% weight.
This means that a 6-pound roast will shrink to about 4 pounds after being cooked. So, make sure you plan for enough meat per person.
If you are serving a large crowd, or want leftovers, go with a larger roast. The main objective should always be to have leftovers. There is no worse feeling than not having enough food for your guests.
For chefs, there is so much more learning in culinary school because it is about how to cook and how much to cook. This is one of the many basics you will learn in culinary school.
How Much Will a Pork Shoulder Shrink?
When you are cooking a pork shoulder, you have to consider the shrinkage. The meat will shrink anywhere from 30% to 50%.
This means that a 6-pound roast will shrink to about 3 to 4 pounds after being cooked. So, make sure you plan for enough meat per person. If you are serving a large crowd, or want leftovers, go with a larger roast.
The meat shrinks because the collagen and fat cells break down during cooking.
This is why pork shoulder is a good choice for pulled pork or carnitas – the long cooking time breaks down the tough collagen, resulting in tender, flavorful meat.
When you are planning your menu, always take into account the shrinkage factor.
If you are serving a 4-pound roast, then plan on serving 3 or 4 people. And, if you want leftovers, go with a 6-pound roast.
That will give you plenty of meat to feed a crowd or have enough for several meals!
How Many Pounds of Pork Shoulder Do I Need to Feed 50 People?
This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends on the pork shoulder roast’s size and how many people you are serving.
A good rule of thumb is to plan on 1 pound of cooked pork shoulder per person. So, if you are feeding 50 people, you will need 50 pounds of cooked pork shoulder.
However, remember that the meat will shrink by 30% to 50%, so you will need closer to 65 to 85 pounds of raw pork shoulder.
If you are making pulled pork or carnitas, you will need even more pork shoulder, about 1.5 to 2 pounds per person.
When planning your menu, always take into account the shrinkage factor! And, if you are not sure how much meat you will need, ask your butcher for advice.
They will be able to help you plan the perfect menu for your next party or gathering!
Caterers, chefs, travel cooks, butchers, and other people who make their living in the culinary world must know within a few seconds how much meat goes to feed however many people.
Make no mistake about it; there is little to no room for error, so you always want to be sure before purchasing the meat.
It is better to have more than not enough, but you also do not want more and have no one to give it to.
This calculation can also waste food, which is almost as bad as not having enough for your party guests.
Final Thoughts
Pork shoulder is a versatile cut of meat that can be used in various dishes. However, the yield can vary significantly.
As you can see, there is quite a bit of variability when it comes to how much meat you can expect to get from a pork shoulder.
However, with a little bit of planning and some careful butchering, you should be able to get the most out of your pork shoulder.
So, there you have it, everything you need to know about pork shoulder yields. Now you know the hard part of being a cook is the quality and the quantity.