How Long Should You Cook an 11 Pound Pork Shoulder for Perfect Pulled Pork?

An amazing slow-roasted pork shoulder recipe for the oven. Your kitchen will smell delightful all day!

He serves steaks, swordfish, a pork butt (Boston butt) and Spatchcock chicken (I had to look that word up!).

Pork shoulder, also known as Boston butt, is one of the most flavorful cuts of pork and is ideal for making succulent pulled pork. With its generous marbling of fat, pork shoulder turns deliciously tender when slow roasted or smoked low and slow. But a large cut like an 11 pound pork shoulder requires careful cooking to ensure it turns out moist and fork-tender.

Average Cook Times

The general rule of thumb when cooking pork shoulder is to allow 1-1.5 hours of cook time per pound For an 11 pound pork shoulder, you can expect to need 11-165 hours of total cook time. This long, slow cooking allows the tough connective tissues in the meat to break down into gelatin, resulting in irresistibly tender and pull-apart meat.

Adjust for Thickness

However cook times can vary depending on the exact size and shape of your particular pork shoulder. A shorter thicker cut may take a little longer than a longer, thinner roast. For a very thick 11 pound shoulder, add up to 2 hours to the cook time to ensure the center cooks through. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

Low and Slow Is Key

To achieve properly cooked pulled pork it’s essential to roast the pork shoulder “low and slow” at a temperature between 225-275°F. This slower roasting gently breaks down the collagen without drying out the meat. Aim for 275°F to reduce total cook time.

Internal Temp Matters

Regardless of total cook time, you should always cook a pork shoulder until it reaches an internal temperature of 195-205°F. This high internal temp ensures the tough connective tissues fully render and the pork shreds easily.

Let It Rest

Once your pork shoulder reaches the target internal temp, remove it from the oven or smoker and let it rest tented with foil for at least 30 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute so they don’t run out when you shred the meat.

Add Smoky Flavor (Optional)

For even more flavor, cook the pork shoulder on a smoker instead of the oven. Use wood chips like hickory, oak, or apple to infuse a delicious smoky flavor. Just maintain a consistent temp between 225-275°F.

Make It Ahead

You can also smoke the pork shoulder a day or two ahead of time. Simply reheat gently to serve. Leftover pulled pork also freezes well for up to 3 months.

Moist Heat Crucial

Be sure to cook the pork shoulder covered or wrapped in foil for most of the cook time to trap in steam and keep the meat incredibly moist. Only uncover at the end to crisp the skin.

With the right temperature and ample time, an 11 pound pork shoulder will transform into the star of your next barbecue feast. Give yourself plenty of time and let that pork cook slow. Your patience will be rewarded with insanely delicious pulled pork.

how long to cook a 11 pound pork shoulder

Pork Shoulder Roasts: Bone-In versus Boneless Pork

When making this recipe, I wasn’t sure whether to get the boneless or bone-in pork shoulder roast.

I’ve always heard that the bone-in pork shoulder roast would yield a more flavorful dish.

So, as you can see for this recipe, I decided to go with a bone-in pork shoulder. I think any cut of pork roast with the bone in will do.

But here’s what happened: I bought a pork shoulder roast with the plan of roasting it in the oven, but I didn’t have a recipe for roasting a bone-in pork shoulder in the oven.

how long to cook a 11 pound pork shoulder

Oven Roasted Pork Shoulder

A pork shoulder is a large cut of meat, but it usually sells at a very reasonable price.

This bargain always draws me in at the grocery store!

You can oven-roast this cut, or you can smoke it, or grill it.

Typically, my husband smokes a pork shoulder or a pork butt on his Green Egg.

But, I don’t want to have to rely on him to cook this all the time. I wanted to create my own recipe that I could use in our oven.

While you may think that I could rock this recipe because I’m a registered dietitian (and don’t all professional nutritionists cook?!), I don’t intuitively know how to cook meats.

Which means, I had to do a little research.

This article tells you how to cook a pork shoulder shoulder, how long it should be cooked, and some of my favorite side dishes to go with a roasted pork shoulder.

What Temperature Should I Cook My Pork Butt At

FAQ

How long should a 12 pound pork shoulder take at 225?

If your shoulder is boneless, cook for 1-1 ½ hours per pound. For bone, cook it 1 ½ l- 2 pounds per hour. Tip: Bone-in pork shoulder takes slightly longer to cook.

Which is the best cooking method for a pork shoulder?

Pork shoulder benefits from long, slow cooking that tenderizes the meat and melts the fat. The best cooking methods for pork shoulder are braising or stewing, but it may also be fried, baked, or made into ground pork.

What is the 3 2 1 method for pork shoulder?

What is this? This was all Steven’s idea. Buoyed by the success of 3-2-1 ribs, one of our most popular blogs, Steven wondered what would happen if we treated a pork butt (aka, shoulder) to 3 hours of smoke, 2 hours wrapped in butcher paper, foil, or parchment paper, and 1 hour unwrapped.

How long to smoke a 10 lb pork shoulder at 250 degrees?

A basic rule of thumb, but in no way is it an exact guide, is 90 minutes of smoking time per pound at 225° to 250°. Another way is to use a thermometer the entire time for indications of when your pork may be done. Remove it from the smoker once it reaches an internal temperature of 165°.