Shoulder — Barbecue · 111

Look for even fat cover; young lamb (under a year) stays milder than mutton. Cook Shoulder as Barbecue to 70° at the centre. Plate as Shawarma-style shoulder. Angle 3: check thickness before the clock. The everyday roasting joint of the sheep: enough fat and collagen to stay juicy for hours, large enough to feed a table. Bone-in holds shape; boneless rolls for even slicing. This is the cut behind most weekend lamb roast traditions.

A thick fat cap bastes the meat as it renders — do not trim it bare before roasting. Low oven, long time. Cover for the first half if the surface browns too fast. Cook Shoulder as Barbecue to 70° at the centre. Thick grain needs more time. A cut’s grain comes from how much the muscle worked. Shoulder needs heat through to 70° before “Barbecue” makes sense. 70 is a stage of that heat, not a luxury score. The same cut becomes a stew, a grill, or a braise, so a steak minute does not cover a pot. Thick connective tissue wants time, not a hard sear alone. This is not medical advice.

Cook Shoulder as Barbecue to 70° at the centre. Thick grain needs more time. A cut’s grain comes from how much the muscle worked. Shoulder needs heat through to 70° before “Barbecue” makes sense. 70 is a stage of that heat, not a luxury score. The same cut becomes a stew, a grill, or a braise, so a steak minute does not cover a pot. Thick connective tissue wants time, not a hard sear alone. This is not medical advice.