Pulled pork, usually shoulder cut (sometimes referred to as mixed cuts), is commonly slow-cooked by a smoking method, though a non-barbecue method might also be employed using a slow cooker or a domestic oven. In rural areas across the United States, either a pig roast/whole hog, mixed cuts of the pig/hog, or the shoulder cut (Boston Butt) alone are commonly used, and the pork is served with or without a vinegar-based sauce.
Before cooking, it is common to soak the meat in brine; it provides the extra moisture needed for a long, slow cooking process. Start with the right cut of meat. Most barbecue restaurants use whole pork shoulders, but they're rarely available in grocery stores. If you find a whole shoulder, use it. Otherwise, we recommend a Boston butt, which is half of the shoulder, the other half being the picnic shoulder.