What is the Best Way to Keep Pulled Pork Moist? (2024)

FAQs

What is the Best Way to Keep Pulled Pork Moist? ›

Storing pulled pork

Salt will help your meat retain moisture. You can add salt directly, or use a salty liquid like soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce. And aromatics like garlic, shallots, herbs, and spices will impart flavor. When your marinade is ready, place your pork chops in a zipper bag and pour the marinade over top.

Dryness: If your pulled pork turns out dry, it might be due to overcooking or not enough fat content in the cut used. To avoid this, ensure you're using a cut like pork shoulder (butt roast) and keeping the cooking temperature low.

Add a stick of butter to the top of the meat. Note: I was short on butter while taking these pictures so I had to use a half stick on each pan to make it work. That was enough but in my opinion, a whole stick is best. During the reheating process, the butter will melt and juice up the meat.

The Freezer Bag Method

If you're only going to be keeping your pulled pork for a couple of days (I wouldn't do more than five), then you can actually just stick the meat in a container in the fridge. I usually use a freezer bag, but you can put it in a glass container as well; just make sure it's well covered.

If it is expected to be served within a few hours after smoking, it is better to store it in a crockpot set at the lowest possible temperature. Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot.

Brine the pork to maintain moisture by soaking it in a mixture of salt and water, baking soda, vinegar or even milk. You can also pour hot water over the loin to shrink the rind, which can enable better absorption of brine, milk, oil or marinade.

Slow Cooker Method: Place pork in slow cooker and pour co*ke around it. Cover and cook on LOW (recommended) 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork. Instant Pot Method: Place pork in instant pot and pour co*ke around it. Cook on Manual/High pressure for 70 minutes.

Pour 1 1/2 cups liquid, such as low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, tomato juice, light or amber beer, white or red wine, orange juice, or a mix of several liquids (and optional liquid smoke) over the pork. The pork should be only partially submerged, with some of the pork remaining above the surface of the liquid.

To achieve tender and flavorful pulled pork, it's best to cook it slowly for a long time until it's easy to shred.

How do I get more flavor in my pulled pork? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

Now, if you've wrapped the meat, open the wrapping for a minute or two. This is called “burping” the meat and will help keep it from overcooking and becoming mushy during the rest. And yes, that can happen! Reclose the wrapping or cover the meat if it was butterflied but not wrapped.

In a small prep bowl, add 2 tbsp water to 1 tbsp cornstarch and mix until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to BBQ sauce in pot, whisking until well integrated. Continue to whisk until sauce thickens slightly. (Repeat cornstarch process for thicker sauce.)

Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy. Cover and cook on low until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily.

Keep meat below 210° for tender pulled pork

According to BBQ Host, pork shoulder or butt that is cooked past this temperature will get dry, and no amount of BBQ sauce you mix in afterwards will save it.

Typically, when you make pulled pork, you'll cook it in barbeque sauce or another acidic ingredient like vinegar, citrus, or Worcestershire sauce, which work to tenderize the pork. Now think about soda like any other marinade, working to help break down the meat for pull-apart results.

How to dry pork belly. You want the skin and fat to be as dry as possible. If time allows, chill the piece of pork uncovered for 4 hours or overnight (the air in the refrigerator is very dry). If there's no time, pat the meat dry with paper towel and finish off with a hair dryer (but make sure it's on the cold setting ...

Then, if you want your pork to be extra tender, you can marinate it in a tenderizing marinade made with acids, like citrus juices, vinegar, or wine. For easier tenderizing, use a commercial meat tenderizer by wetting the surface of the meat, and then sprinkling the tenderizer over the meat.

Fat is key to keeping pork chops moist

Basting them with fat, such as butter. Add in aromatics while basting for more flavor — similar to how you might cook a steak — and then you have the added bonus of browned butter and crispy garlic and/or herbs to serve with the meat.

Using a brine or a marinade will make your life so much easier. If you're not confident in your cooking skills, there is one foolproof way to guarantee your pork ends up on the tender side, even if you cook it too long: Soak it in a brine or a marinade.