How to Make Pulled Pork

“Grilling, broiling, barbecuing – whatever you want to call it – is an art, not just a matter of building a pyre and throwing on a piece of meat as a sacrifice to the gods of the stomach.” –James Beard

How to Make Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a popular and easy dish to make. There is very little prep time and the recipe can easily expand to suit a crowd.The basic recipe involves slow cooking a generous portion of seasoned pork.

The Pork

You should start with a quality cut of pork. Many people buy a pork tenderloin for pulled pork. Your grocery store or butcher can cut the tenderloin for you if you prefer not to cook the whole piece at once. Another cut of meat that could be used is a pork butt. Most often pork butts are smoked.

Pulled Pork Seasonings

How to Make Pulled PokerPulled pork is often seasoned using a BBQ rub. An easy rub consists of salt, black pepper, red pepper, cumin, and garlic powder. You may add ingredients such as seasoned salt, liquid smoke, mustard (dry or liquid), honey, beer and brown sugar. The rub can be applied to the pork right before cooking or far in advance, like a marinade.

Cooking the Pork

There are three different ways to slow cook the pork.

Slow Cooker Method – How to Make Pulled Pork in a Crockpot

A slow cooker, or crockpot is a handy way to cook pulled pork. Most slow cookers use very little electricity. In addition, your oven is free for other dishes while the pork cooks. Best of all, if you are transporting your pulled pork to another location, such as a party or potluck, or serving your dish buffet style, the pork can remain in the slow cooker on a low or warm setting throughout your event.

  1. Season the meat.
  2. Put the seasoned meat into the slow cooker. Add chopped onions if desired.
  3. Add a cup of water.
  4. Put the lid on the slow cooker.
  5. Turn the slow cooker on to low. Check periodically, and cook until the meat is tender and falls apart.
  6. Shred the meat using two forks or carefully with your hands and heat safe gloves.

Oven Method

Pulled pork can be braised in the oven in a covered roasting pan. You must make sure the roasting pan remains tightly sealed after you check the pork.

  1. Season the meat.
  2. Put the meat into a roasting pan. Add chopped onions if desired.
  3. Add at least a cup of water, maybe 2 cups.
  4. Cover the roasting pan with the lid or cover tightly with foil.
  5. Turn the oven onto 275-300 degrees.
  6. Put the roasting pan in the oven.
  7. Cook until the meat falls apart. Check periodically. Make sure you cover the pan tightly after checking.
  8. Shred the meat using two forks or carefully with your hands and heat safe gloves.

Smoker Method

Pulled pork is often made with pork smoked outdoors. Most often, the a pork butt is made in a charcoal grill or smoker. This method takes the most time, and requires the most skill. The meat must be cooked very slowly at a low temperature to ensure it does not dry out. Enthusiasts prefer this method because of the smoky flavor that ends up in the meat.

  1. Season the meat. Marinate overnight if desired.
  2. Start the smoker. Use a fruity wood if the flavor is desired. Keep the coals far away from the meat, and check them frequently to ensure there is low even heat in the smoker.
  3. Put the meat in the smoker and close the smoker. You can put it into a foil pan or just put it on the rack.
  4. Check the meat frequently (at least every hour). Baste the meat to keep it juicy. You can use the drippings from the pan (if used) or use a brush or sprayer to do this.
  5. Cook the meat until it falls apart. This will take several hours.
  6. Transfer the meat into a container. Shred the meat using two forks or carefully with your hands and heat safe gloves.

Saucing the Meat

While you can cook the meat in sauce, the pork usually comes out juicier if you sauce the meat after cooking. To save time, a commercial sauce can be used as a base and then it can be customized to your liking with additional ingredients. You can also decline to sauce the meat and offer the sauce on the side, to be added right before eating.

Serving Pulled Pork

Serve the pulled pork on good quality buns or on top of baked potatoes. The pork can also be used in burritos or tacos or on top of salads. The possibilities are endless.

Related posts:

  1. How to Make Sticky Rice
  2. How to Make Meatballs
  3. How to Cook a Ham
  4. How to Make Fried Rice
  5. How to Make Beef Jerky

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 30th, 2009 at 1:25 pm and is filed under Food, Holidays, Parties. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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