Boston butt — also called Boston shoulder — is a fairly inexpensive piece of meat that comes from the top of the pig's shoulder. It has lots of juicy, marbled fat, which keeps it tender during cooking. Often, it is sold without the bone (bone-out), which makes it easier to cut and serve, but some people opt for bone-in Boston butt, since the bone adds flavor. Usually, a recipe will indicate whether the cut should be bone-in or bone-out.