Chef John's Paper Pork Shoulder

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 750 min
Servings: 6
Yield: 6 servings

Description

Wrapped in parchment and aluminum foil, this pork shoulder roast cooks in a slow oven for hours, and the resulting tender and juicy meat makes great pulled pork sandwiches.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons onion powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 (7 pound) pork shoulder roast
Unbleached parchment paper
Heavy duty aluminum foil

Directions

1 Preheat oven to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C).
2 Mix salt, black pepper, paprika, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper together in a bowl.
3 Sprinkle rub mixture evenly and thoroughly on each surface of the pork roast, pressing it onto the surface.
4 Cut a 4-foot piece of unbleached parchment. Place roast at one end and roll roast tightly in the parchment. Cut a second piece of parchment and roll the roast, positioning it in the opposite direction before rolling.
5 Cut a long piece of heavy duty aluminum foil and tightly wrap the parchment-wrapped roast. Wrap the roast in a second piece of foil, and then a third, rotating the position of the roast each time. Place wrapped roast in a roasting pan with folded edges facing up to minimize leaking.
6 Place in preheated oven and roast until tender, about 12 1/2 hours (or 1.75 hours per pound of pork).
7 Remove pan from oven and allow the wrapped roast to rest at least 1 hour before unwrapping. Brush roast with accumulated juices in the parchment paper.