Mastering the Perfect Pork Roast at 225 Degrees

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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!).

Smoking or roasting pork roast at a low temperature of 225°F produces incredibly moist, tender and flavorful results. But exactly how long does it take to cook pork roast at 225 degrees? Follow this complete guide for tips on times temperatures wood smoke flavors and more for pork roast perfection.

How Long to Cook Pork Roast at 225°F

Cooking time depends on size and cut of the pork roast:

  • Pork loin roast – 1.5 to 3 hours, depending on thickness. Rotate and monitor temperature.

  • Pork shoulder/butt – Minimum of 60-90 minutes per pound, An 8 lb roast takes 8-12 hours,

Always cook to temperature, not time. Cook pork to 145°F for loin, 195°F for shoulder.

Preparing Pork Roast for Smoking

Proper prep is key for great smoked roast:

  • Remove silver skin or trim fat
  • Tie roast for even shape
  • Coat with mustard binder
  • Apply dry rub
  • Prepare mop sauce for basting
  • Preheat smoker to 225°F
  • Use pan to catch drippings
  • Insert probe thermometer

Best Woods for Smoking Pork at 225°F

Use flavorful hardwoods like:

  • Hickory – Strong, smoky flavor
  • Cherry – Slightly sweet
  • Oak – Medium smoke flavor
  • Pecan – Nutty, sweet
  • Apple – Mild, fruity

Soak wood 30+ minutes before using.

Setting Up Smoker for 225°F

  • Use charcoal, wood chunks and chips
  • Wood chips give more smoke, chunks for longer smoke
  • Briquettes burn steady, lump charcoal best for flavor
  • Ideal temp range 200-250°F
  • Avoid leaving vents fully open
  • Adjust vents to control temperature
  • Check with air probe near food
  • Add fuel every 2 hours
  • Avoid opening smoker often

Monitoring Pork Roast Temperature

  • Use a digital meat thermometer
  • For loin, check after 1 hour, then every 30 minutes
  • For shoulder, check after 4-5 hours, then hourly
  • Cook to 145°F for loin, 195°F for shoulder

Wrapping Pork Roast

  • Wrap at 160°F internal temp during “stall”
  • Helps speed cooking and retain moisture
  • Foil keeps moisture, butcher paper allows steam to escape
  • Affects bark texture – foil is softer, paper crisper

Resting and Slicing Pork Roast

  • Rest 15-45 minutes before slicing
  • Temperature will continue rising
  • Slice against the grain for tenderness
  • Remove excess fat before slicing shoulder
  • Don’t rest longer than 2 hours

Proper temperature, time, wood smoke and rest all lead to incredible 225°F smoked pork roast. With these tips you’ll achieve juicy, tender and mouthwatering roast pork every time.

how long to cook pork roast at 225 degrees

How to Cook Pork Shoulder in a Low Temperature Oven

I knew I’d need to do some research before I ventured into roasting this big hunk of pork.

My family wasn’t around when I bought the pork, so it didn’t make sense to roast a big pork shoulder just for me. (But it did make sense to get the great price I did!).

So I put it in the freezer and set out to research the perfect slow-roasted pork shoulder recipe.

I read through a lot of recipes and looked into the cooking time because I knew it was going to be very important.

Ultimately, after all that investigation, I came up with my own recipe.

(That’s often what I do with cooking: research a bunch of recipes to get the general gist of ingredient combinations, get inspired, and create my own. I did that with this Slow Cooker Shredded Beef recipe.)

And, from that, I created a rubbed and pulled pork recipe in the Crock Pot.

If you hang out with me on my Facebook page, you know I’ve been looking for a super easy way to make roasted pork shoulder using a low and slow cooking method.

Some of you even gave me your tried and true recipes!

After weeks of thinking about it, I did it.

I finally pulled that 10# pork shoulder out of my freezer, defrosted it (that only took a full day!) and roasted it for a Sunday night dinner.

It was lovely. (Just look at that picture!)

It filled the house with an incredible aroma.

And, it gave me leftovers…ah, leftovers. Hello, barbecue pork sandwiches! Pork nachos!

how long to cook pork roast at 225 degrees

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 pork roast at 225 degrees

What Temperature Should I Cook My Pork Butt At

FAQ

How long to cook a roast at 225 per pound?

The size and shape of your roast makes a difference in cooking time. As a general rule of thumb, at 225°F, cook your roast for about 30 minutes per pound, after the initial browning (for a medium rare). But be sure to check at least 30 minutes before it should be done, just to make sure.

How long to cook a 7 lb pork roast at 250 degrees?

Place it on a wire rack that is on a foil-lined baking sheet. What is this? Place it in the middle-rack of the oven at 250 degrees F and let it cook for 7-8 hours or until the internal temperature reaches 190-200 degrees F (use a meat thermometer) for the best pulled pork.

Can I slow cook pork roast at 200 degrees?

Preheat the oven to 200 to 250 degrees F. Place the pork shoulder on a sheet pan fitted with a rack. Roast the pork until the internal temperature of the roast registers 200 degrees F, 8 to 9 hours, or overnight.

How long to smoke 8lb pork shoulder at 225?

With your smoker running steady at 225 degrees F, you can typically plan about 2 hours of cook time per pound of pork. For example, an 8-pound pork shoulder will take about 16 hours from start to finish. Quick note! Every cut of meat is a little bit different, so plan ahead for variations in cook time!

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