Does Trader Joe’s Sell Pork Shoulder? A Look at Their Pork Offerings

Trader Joe’s is a popular American grocery chain known for its unique, affordable foods and beverages. With over 530 stores across the country, it has cultivated a loyal following amongst shoppers.

One frequently asked question is – does Trader Joe’s sell pork shoulder? Pork shoulder, also known as Boston butt or Boston shoulder, is a common cut used for pulled pork, carnitas, or roasting.

As a full-service grocery store Trader Joe’s carries a wide selection of pork products. Let’s take a deeper look at what types of pork cuts and items they offer.

Overview of Pork at Trader Joe’s

First, some background Trader Joe’s offers both fresh and packaged pork products

• Fresh pork – This includes raw pork cuts like loin, shoulder, ribs, etc. They carry popular cuts for roasting, grilling, braising, etc.

• Cured/smoked pork – This includes ham, bacon, sausages, etc. Trader Joe’s has its own branded cured meat products.

• Prepared pork entrees – Fully cooked pork meals like carnitas, ribs, pork roasts, etc. for quick heating at home.

Trader Joe’s sources their fresh pork from responsibly raised animals fed a vegetarian diet. The pork is free of antibiotics and added hormones.

Now let’s look specifically at pork shoulder.

Does Trader Joe’s Sell Fresh Pork Shoulder?

Yes, Trader Joe’s does sell fresh, raw pork shoulder or Boston butt in the meat department.

It is typically packaged in cryovac plastic wrap on large foam trays. The pork shoulder is usually cut into 3-5 lb sections.

The availability of fresh pork shoulder can vary by location and season. According to Trader Joe’s site, they carry it year-round nationwide, but individual stores may experience temporary shortages.

The pork shoulder is already trimmed of excess fat and skin. It is suitable for oven roasting, slow cooking, pulled pork, or carnitas.

Trader Joe’s fresh pork shoulder costs around $2.99 per lb which is very competitive pricing.

What Other Fresh Pork Does Trader Joe’s Sell?

In addition to pork shoulder, Trader Joe’s sells a variety of other fresh pork cuts:

• Pork loin – Center cut, rib, sirloin, tenderloin
• Pork chops – Bone-in, boneless, center cut, rib chops
• Pork roasts – Loin roast, crown roast
• Pork ribs – Baby back, country-style, loin back
• Pork leg – Fresh ham roasts
• Pork belly – For making bacon or roasting
• Ground pork – Ground pork for sausages, patties, etc.

They carry the most common pork cuts for roasting, grilling, braising, and stewing needs. Prices are value-driven like the pork shoulder.

So while pork shoulder is regularly available, you can also find a full pork selection for any recipe at Trader Joe’s meat department.

Does Trader Joe’s Sell Prepared Pork Shoulder?

In addition to raw pork shoulder, Trader Joe’s sometimes carries fully cooked, ready-to-eat pork shoulder for quick weeknight meals.

For example, this past holiday season they offered Trader Joe’s Braised Pork Shoulder with Fig & Apricot Sauce. It contained pulled pork shoulder braised in a sweet fig and apricot compote.

The pork came pre-cooked in a microwaveable pouch. You simply heated and served.

Reviews of the prepared pork shoulder were a bit mixed. While tasty and convenient, some found the pork a little dry. The fruit sauce was quite sweet.

But products like this demonstrate Trader Joe’s interest in ready-to-eat pork shoulder meals for time-strapped customers.

They have offered similar prepared pulled pork, carnitas, or pork roasts in the past. Keep an eye out for them seasonally near the packaged meat case or freezer section.

Does Trader Joe’s Sell Smoked Pork Shoulder?

Trader Joe’s does not sell smoked or cured pork shoulder hams like a traditional deli offers. Their focus is more on fresh pork.

However, you can sometimes find fully cooked pork shoulder entrees that are oven roasted rather than smoked.

For example, around Thanksgiving they carried an Oven-Roasted Turkey Breast Pork Shoulder Dinner for two. It came with a roasted boneless pork shoulder cooked in turkey drippings.

So while not classically smoked, Trader Joe’s will offer oven-roasted pork shoulder as part of ready-made meals. But no sliced deli-style smoked shoulder ham.

Other Pork Products at Trader Joe’s

Beyond just pork shoulder, here are some other popular pork items found at Trader Joe’s:

• Bacon – Thick-cut bacon, turkey bacon
• Sausages – Bratwurst, Italian sausage, chorizo
• Ham – Sliced black forest ham, prosciutto
• Lunch meats – Salami, sopressata, capicola
• Frozen foods – Pork dumplings, pork buns, pork gyoza
• Snacks – Pork rinds, pork crackers

Trader Joe’s has its own TJ-branded cured meats, sausages, bacon, and ham that customers love. Their products contain no artificial nitrates or nitrites.

You can find both raw and cooked pork products used in Trader Joe’s prepared frozen foods and ready meals as well.

And they sell non-pork alternatives like turkey pepperoni and bacon. Vegetarian pork substitutes are also carried.

Does Trader Joe’s Pork Have Any Restrictions?

Here are some dietary guidelines to note about Trader Joe’s pork selection:

• No Pork Enzymes – Their pork and pork products contain no added pork enzymes.

• Not Organic – Trader Joe’s pork is responsibly raised but not certified organic.

• Non-GMO – Their pork comes from animals fed a non-GMO vegetarian diet.

• No Antibiotics – The pork contains no antibiotics or added hormones.

• Not Labeled Halal – Trader Joe’s pork is not certified halal or kosher.

The Verdict

Does Trader Joe’s sell pork shoulder? Yes, both fresh Boston butt and prepared seasoned pork shoulder can be found at Trader Joe’s.

Their fresh pork shoulder is affordably priced and suitable for pulled pork and carnitas recipes. Fully cooked pork roasts and entrees are offered seasonally.

Beyond shoulder, Trader Joe’s provides a wide range of pork products – chops, ribs, ham, bacon, etc. Their own TJ-branded cured meats are very popular.

While not certified halal or organic, their pork does meet responsible raising criteria.

Overall, Trader Joe’s is a great source for pork shoulder and other pork items. Check your local store’s meat case for availability. Then get ready to make perfect pulled pork at home with their fresh pork butt!