Shank.
Tough and delicious after a long braise. Osso buco, birria, curry.
Goat shank is done when it is probe tender, usually between 195 and 205 F. The number is a checkpoint. USDA FSIS calls goat safe at 145 F with a 3 minute rest. Tenderness comes later.
Where it comes from
As lamb shank. FSIS: braise or stew. The smoke-then-braise method gives a goat shank smoke flavour without drying it.
USDA FSIS primal: shank/breast (as lamb). Same seven regions as lamb.
- Best methods:
- braise, smoke then braise, stew
- Slice:
- On the bone.
- Rest:
- From the pot.
Scores are Pit Log editorial, anchored to FSIS tenderness notes.
What you will see at the counter
| Cut | Methods | Finish | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goat shank | braise | probe tender, 195 to 205 F (craft) | Fall-off-the-bone is the target, well past any doneness scale. |
Safe. Then done.
145 F (62.8 C), then rest at least 3 minutes before carving or consuming
Steaks, chops and roasts (whole muscle). Food thermometer in the thickest part, away from bone, fat and gristle, read before removing from the heat source. This is a food safety floor, not a preference. Where any other number on this page is lower, this one governs.
Source: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart, page updated 2025-04-14, read 2026-09-02.
195 to 205 F, probe tender
Lamb and goat shoulder, shank and breast are collagen cuts. The American Lamb Board says shoulder benefits from slow cooking to break down connective tissue and shanks practically melt off the bone when slow cooked; FSIS says less tender goat cuts should be braised or stewed. For pulling, backyard convention finishes them probe tender around 195 to 205 F. Goat is very lean, so wrap early and keep the pit gentle.
- Probe where:
- thickest part away from the blade bone
- Pit:
- 225 to 275 F
- Planning time:
- roughly 1.5 hours per pound at 250 F for a bone-in shoulder. American Lamb Board braise guidance for shanks: 1 to 2 hours per pound. Approximate.
- Stall:
- Present on a whole shoulder.
Two sources disagree: american-lamb-board-time-temp: shoulder roast to 145/160/170 F by doneness vs. pulled-shoulder convention 195-205 F. Two different dishes. A sliced roast follows the Lamb Board scale; pulled shoulder follows the tenderness window. State which one the page is describing.
More on the goat temperature page and the full chart.
Smoke
- Oak: Balanced, clean, dependable. The all-purpose smoke and the Central Texas standard (post oak).
- Mesquite (light): Intense, earthy, fast-burning. Best for hot-and-fast beef; turns harsh over a long cook.
What ruins it
- 01Dry heat only.
Cook it
No Pit Log recipe for this region yet.
- Dutch ovenSmoke-then-braise for shanks, hocks, goat.
As an Amazon Associate, Pit Log earns from qualifying purchases. We pick these by name and type, checked against Amazon’s own records. Not by what pays best. We show no prices. A price on a page goes stale fast. Checked 2026-09-03.
Then write down what happened
Pit temp, wood, wrap, final temp, rest, result. The chart says what usually works. Your log says what worked for you.