Ham vs Butt

K80Shooter · 01-13-2013, 12:49 PM

Lets hear it guy's. Do you prefer your q made with the ham or a butt?

For me I prefer a butt, it just taste's better to me.

Carolina gamecock · 01-13-2013, 12:58 PM

I like big butts and I can not lie...

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thirdeye · 01-13-2013, 01:10 PM

The leg has a different amount of fat and muscle arrangement than the shoulder does..... I prefer the shoulder. And if I had to choose between the butt end and the picnic end, the butt would win. That said if I was cooking 3 items, I would make it two butts and one picnic.... unless I could get a whole shoulder, then I would take that.

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Gnaws on Pigs · 01-13-2013, 01:56 PM

Butt/shoulder is my favorite, but nothing wrong with ham either, especially from a young hog. A hog cooked whole and everything pulled and mixed together is mighty hard to beat.

K80Shooter · 01-13-2013, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gnaws on Pigs

Butt/shoulder is my favorite, but nothing wrong with ham either, especially from a young hog. A hog cooked whole and everything pulled and mixed together is mighty hard to beat.

I agree, I have cooked several whole hogs and they are excellent!

73 views so far and 3 replies

Come on guy's, don't be afraid to voice your opinion. Just trying to get a general idea of what most folks like.

plakers · 01-13-2013, 04:27 PM

I like butts over picnics but have never done fresh ham, but have been wanting to.

I have also done many more butts. At least monthly I do a double and freeze the second for later(things like Butt Gnarley soup, or enchiladas or??)

I was looking into a whole hog(butchered) and was wondering the same thing.

Mattmo · 01-13-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K80Shooter

I agree, I have cooked several whole hogs and they are excellent!

73 views so far and 3 replies

Come on guy's, don't be afraid to voice your opinion. Just trying to get a general idea of what most folks like.

We had a hog butchered up a few months ago...I left some of the hams fresh instead of cured. I tried to do pulled pork with one (these were 4-5) pounds, and it wasn't easy to pull. I don't think there was very much fat in it....I'm not a pro, you just said to not be afraid to voice my opinion lol I have cooked several butts and never had trouble with them pulling like that. Maybe it was the size of the ham???

chrisjen · 01-13-2013, 06:22 PM

I also have been curious about smoking a fresh ham?

thompson238 · 01-13-2013, 06:50 PM

I prefer the shoulder myself!

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K80Shooter · 01-13-2013, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattmo

We had a hog butchered up a few months ago...I left some of the hams fresh instead of cured. I tried to do pulled pork with one (these were 4-5) pounds, and it wasn't easy to pull. I don't think there was very much fat in it....I'm not a pro, you just said to not be afraid to voice my opinion lol I have cooked several butts and never had trouble with them pulling like that. Maybe it was the size of the ham???

4-5 lbs is aweful small for a ham. No there's not a lot of fat in a ham which is why I think it takes a little more practice/skill to cook one. They are not as forgiving as a butt or shoulder but tastes good.

Randbo · 01-13-2013, 10:09 PM

I have cooked both and I prefer the butt. 7 to 8 pounds is perfect.

Mattmo · 01-13-2013, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K80Shooter

4-5 lbs is aweful small for a ham. No there's not a lot of fat in a ham which is why I think it takes a little more practice/skill to cook one. They are not as forgiving as a butt or shoulder but tastes good.

Yes it is small. It is the first hog we've ever butchered and it was a mistake getting them packaged that small... We've been using them for crock pot roast etc.

martyleach · 01-13-2013, 10:38 PM

Allright so I am certainly not the expert here but I sure am interested. The shoulder has a really nice(high) fat content and hams (picnics?) don't. I have never cooked a ham, but it would seem to me that it needs to be cooked quite differently than a shoulder. Advice??

MS2SB · 01-13-2013, 11:33 PM

I've cured my own ham but never done one "fresh". Seems to me that if you're looking for a sliced product then a ham would be hard to beat. If you want pulled you've got to go with the butt. Not nearly enough fat and connective tissue in a ham for it to pull properly without being dry.

CarolinaQue · 01-14-2013, 05:21 AM

I'm not sure it's fair to even compare the 2. Ham's have a much lower fat to meat ration and the muscle groups run very different and have much less connective tissue than a butt. I only cook hams to slicing temp unless it's a whole hog cook, and then they're done when the butts are done. As far as preference...whole shoulder over a butt. But I can't get whole shoulders where I live right now, so when I want the taste and texture of the whole shoulder, I have to cook a butt and a picnic and mix after they're done.

01-13-2013, 12:49 PM	#1
K80Shooter On the road to being a farker Join Date: 10-20-12 Location: Hartwell, GA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Ham vs Butt Lets hear it guy's. Do you prefer your q made with the ham or a butt? For me I prefer a butt, it just taste's better to me. __________________ X-Large Big Green Egg

01-13-2013, 12:58 PM	#2
Carolina gamecock On the road to being a farker Join Date: 03-20-12 Location: Lake city. SC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I like big butts and I can not lie... Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ There's room for all of God's creatures.....next to the potatoes and gravy...

01-13-2013, 01:10 PM	#3
thirdeye Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 01-14-06 Location: At home on the range in Wyoming Downloads: 2 Uploads: 0	The leg has a different amount of fat and muscle arrangement than the shoulder does..... I prefer the shoulder. And if I had to choose between the butt end and the picnic end, the butt would win. That said if I was cooking 3 items, I would make it two butts and one picnic.... unless I could get a whole shoulder, then I would take that. You never want to see me in a Baskin Robbins store, I drive 'em crazy, then settle for chocolate. Heheheee. __________________ ~thirdeye~ I Play With Fire and Smoke *KCBS - CBJ* Big Green Eggs, Big Drum Smokers, Big Chiefs, Weber Smokey Joe "Custom Tall Boy" Oil Patch Horizontal Visit my Cookin' Site by clicking HERE Barbecue is not rocket surgery

01-13-2013, 01:56 PM	#4
Gnaws on Pigs is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 05-22-10 Location: Smoky Mountains, NC Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Butt/shoulder is my favorite, but nothing wrong with ham either, especially from a young hog. A hog cooked whole and everything pulled and mixed together is mighty hard to beat. __________________ ...Half a yard full of crap to cook on like everybody else... Slow-to-average-speed GRAY Wal-Mart thermometer Just a hungry hillbilly lookin for a dead critter to cook Four Zeros in one throwdown, baby!

01-13-2013, 04:27 PM	#6
plakers On the road to being a farker Join Date: 04-16-12 Location: Springfield, OR Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I like butts over picnics but have never done fresh ham, but have been wanting to. I have also done many more butts. At least monthly I do a double and freeze the second for later(things like Butt Gnarley soup, or enchiladas or??) I was looking into a whole hog(butchered) and was wondering the same thing. __________________ Pete-my first UDS,a brick pizza WFO, a leaky Chargriller offest, wifes Weber Genesis gasser, and now a Lightening Fast RED Thermapen

01-13-2013, 06:22 PM	#8
chrisjen Got Wood. Join Date: 04-08-12 Location: Folsom Louisiana Downloads: 1 Uploads: 0	I also have been curious about smoking a fresh ham? __________________ Weber Kettle, WSM 22 with DigiQ2 and saving for Cajun Bandit rotisserie and ribolator

01-13-2013, 06:50 PM	#9
thompson238 Got Wood. Join Date: 07-18-12 Location: Toney Alabama Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I prefer the shoulder myself! Sent from my DROID RAZR __________________ Weber Performer,SamAdamsWeber,Smoky Joe,22.5 WSM, Weber Genesis E-310,red thermapen(the fast one)

01-13-2013, 10:09 PM	#11
Randbo is one Smokin' Farker Join Date: 06-06-11 Location: Brookings Oregon Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I have cooked both and I prefer the butt. 7 to 8 pounds is perfect. __________________ 3 UDS, One charcoal eating fire breathing home bulit trailer pit,

01-13-2013, 10:38 PM	#13
martyleach Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-17-10 Location: Pleasanton, Ca Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	Allright so I am certainly not the expert here but I sure am interested. The shoulder has a really nice(high) fat content and hams (picnics?) don't. I have never cooked a ham, but it would seem to me that it needs to be cooked quite differently than a shoulder. Advice?? __________________ Large Big Green Egg, Cold smokehouse, UDS with hinged lid, Santa Maria pit 26.75" Weber OTG, Weber Performer, WGA MAK One Star General Pellet Pooper Hasty Bake Gourmet Custom wooden handles for BBQ's made by Marty Leach (oh, that's me) www.amlwoodart.com

01-13-2013, 11:33 PM	#14
MS2SB is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 06-28-10 Location: Bothell, WA Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I've cured my own ham but never done one "fresh". Seems to me that if you're looking for a sliced product then a ham would be hard to beat. If you want pulled you've got to go with the butt. Not nearly enough fat and connective tissue in a ham for it to pull properly without being dry. __________________ Traeger lil Tex, 2 Weber 22.5", UDS Mop, Sauce & Two Smoking Barrels BBQ Team "Go Cougs!" They call me "Dave" Veteran Noobian Warlord

01-14-2013, 05:21 AM	#15
CarolinaQue is Blowin Smoke! Join Date: 06-23-07 Location: North Berwick, ME Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	I'm not sure it's fair to even compare the 2. Ham's have a much lower fat to meat ration and the muscle groups run very different and have much less connective tissue than a butt. I only cook hams to slicing temp unless it's a whole hog cook, and then they're done when the butts are done. As far as preference...whole shoulder over a butt. But I can't get whole shoulders where I live right now, so when I want the taste and texture of the whole shoulder, I have to cook a butt and a picnic and mix after they're done. __________________ Tim “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” - Mark Twain - Beautiful family - Home made trailer mounted reverse flow offset w/ vertical chamber, Weber OTG and an ECB