Introduction

Pork shoulder is a versatile cut of meat that can be used for braising, roasting and smoking. It’s a favorite for many home cooks because it has deep flavor and plenty of fat to keep the meat tender during long cooking times. The problem is that there are so many variables in play when it comes to cooking pork shoulder: The size of your roast will affect how much time it takes to cook, but so does whether or not you use the bone and what temperature you choose to cook at.

One-half to 1 pound of pork shoulder with the bone in will take about 4 hours to cook at 350 F

To calculate the cooking time, you will need to know how much pork shoulder you’re dealing with. The general rule of thumb is that one-half to 1 pound of pork shoulder with the bone in will take about 4 hours to cook at 350 F. However, if you want to cook your roast faster or slower than this estimate, simply adjust your oven temperature accordingly:

• If you want your roast cooked more quickly (and potentially risk drying out some of its delicious fat), turn up the heat and set it as high as 450 F.
• If you want it done more slowly (and thus retaining all its moisture), lower the heat and set it no higher than 300 F

A 3-pound pork shoulder will take about 8 hours to cook at 350 F

A 3-pound pork shoulder will take about 8 hours to cook at 350 F.

The length of time it takes to cook your pork depends on the weight of your roast, as well as how hot you set your oven. If you’re using an instant-read thermometer (like this one), we recommend inserting it into the center of the roast when it has been in the oven for 30 minutes and checking its temperature every 20 minutes thereafter until you reach 160 degrees F (the USDA recommends 165 degrees F).

A 5-pound pork shoulder will take about 16 hours to cook at 350 F

• A 5-pound pork shoulder will take about 16 hours to cook at 350 F.
• The more meat you have, the longer it will take to cook.

Cooking time depends on the weight of your pork shoulder.

The cooking time also depends on the weight of your pork shoulder, as well as its size. A smaller piece of meat will cook faster than a larger piece because there’s less surface area for heat to penetrate.

The temperature you cook at is another factor that affects how long it takes for your pork to be done. If you’re using an oven or grill, this means turning down the heat if necessary so that your meat doesn’t burn before reaching its optimal doneness.

Conclusion

Cooking time depends on the weight of your pork shoulder.