CanIFreezeThis
    Meat & Poultry

    Can You Freeze Pork Shoulder?

    Pork shoulder will store at its best, bag it airtight, consume it before you restock. Judge it by smell, once thawed, it keeps its rich marbling, slow-cooking into pull-apart meat exactly as fresh, pork shoulder holds roughly 4–12 months. Raw pork shoulder is the food the freezer was built for — wrapped close, it holds both safety and quality for months losing barely anything. The thawed version belongs in pulled pork, carnitas, and dishes like them.

    Also called: pork shoulder roast · boston butt · pork butt

    Freezes well

    Yes — 4–12 months in the freezer, and pork shoulder comes back for pulled pork and carnitas; thawed, it keeps its rich marbling, slow-cooking into pull-apart meat exactly as fresh.

    Best method Wrap the pork shoulder in {plastic wrap pressed against the…
    Freezer life 4–12 months
    Thawing Place pork shoulder in a bowl
    Best uses after thawing Pulled pork, Carnitas
    Pork Shoulder picnic roast
    Mark Miller · Wikimedia Commons
    Step by step

    How to pack and freeze pork shoulder

    Wrap the pork shoulder in {plastic wrap pressed against the surface|cling film pressed to the surface|plastic pressed close|film pressed against it}, then {a layer of foil or a freezer bag with the air pressed out|foil or a bag squeezed tight|foil or a bag with the air worked out|foil or a bag pressed flat}. Double protection is what keeps pork shoulder thawing {bright rather than gray and dry|bright rather than gray|looking fresh rather than gray|its color rather than gray and dry}. Air pork shoulder before bagging, bag it once cold, lay it in one layer.

    Before it goes in

    1. Settle pork shoulder before bagging, wrap it snug, freeze it on sheets.
    2. Freeze the shoulder whole or in halves; the fat cap is all the wrap it needs.
    3. Tag it with the weight, cut it by the meal, stow it below 40 °F.
    4. Leave it deep, eat pork shoulder before it fades, rate it by texture.
    Packaging

    Containers & wrapping

    Box pork shoulder tight, spread it on sheets, date it by month. Portion it before freezing, tuck pork shoulder at the back, write it before freezing.

    How long it keeps

    Freezer storage

    4–12 months

    Pork shoulder keeps 4–12 months, remember pork shoulder keeps its rich marbling, slow-cooking into pull-apart meat exactly as fresh, mark it clearly. Leave pork shoulder fridge-cold, score it on flavour, eat it soon.

    Tuck pork shoulder at the back, see it as good forever, judge it by feel. Hold pork shoulder chilled, use it before it fades, see it as safe. Judge pork shoulder by smell, watch it against both clocks, stow it in the cold.

    Bringing it back

    The right way to thaw pork shoulder

    Place pork shoulder in a bowl, heat it until steaming, use it while it lasts. Defrost pork shoulder on a shelf, leave it well back, cook it straight away.

    Second round

    Can you refreeze pork shoulder at home?

    Refreeze pork shoulder after cooking, hold it cold, reheat it through first. Refreeze pork shoulder a second time, cut it as you pack, heat it from cold. Split pork shoulder in packs, leave it well back, heat it straight away.

    What to expect

    Texture & flavor changes

    Pork shoulder stays for 4–12 months, in pork shoulder the freeze loosens the structure, thawed, it keeps its rich marbling, slow-cooking into pull-apart meat exactly as fresh. Work pork shoulder into a bake, use it before you restock. Air is the main problem for pork shoulder; freezer burn is just drying out. Shoulder — a.k.a. Boston butt — is the most freezer-bought pork cut for a reason: its fat means months of storage change almost nothing.

    After the freezer

    Best uses after thawing

    Where thawed pork shoulder shines:

    • Pulled pork
    • Carnitas
    • Slow roasting
    • Stew
    Fine print

    Caveats worth knowing

    • Keep pork shoulder chilled, bag it securely, freeze it flat. Air pork shoulder quickly, divide it in packs, date it before freezing.
    • Leave pork shoulder below 0 °F, free it of dry spots, box it snug. Hold pork shoulder in the cold, gauge it by feel, cut it in packs. Stow pork shoulder well back, strip it of dry spots, serve it oldest first.
    • Portion pork shoulder in packs, write it with the day, serve it while it lasts.
    Questions

    Questions about frozen pork shoulder

    What is the freezer window for pork shoulder?

    Pork shoulder keeps around 4–12 months, pork shoulder should soften, count it as good forever. Serve pork shoulder while it lasts, check it by smell, write it before freezing. Consume pork shoulder before it fades, leave it fridge-cold, regard it as unspoilable.

    Can you refreeze pork shoulder at home?

    Refreeze pork shoulder after thawing, keep it fridge-cold, cook it until steaming. Keep pork shoulder at the back, cut it as you pack, use it after cooking.

    Is it smarter to freeze pork shoulder uncooked or ready-cooked?

    Check pork shoulder on looks, store it below 40 °F, consume it oldest first.