How to cook the Perfect pulled pork?
Stuffed pork tenderloin ingredients
- pork tenderloin – about 1 pound or a little over
- cream cheese – can use whipped, light, or regular
- spinach – fresh spinach leaves rinsed and dry first
- garlic cloves – minced
- basil leaves – fresh parsley – flat parsley, not curly parsley which has a more vibrant flavor than flat parsley
- salt – table salt or pink salt
- ground black pepper
- Meat thermometer
What are the best sides with pulled pork?
What to Serve with Pulled Pork Sandwiches – 8 BEST Side Dishes
- Potato Salad. This is a classic pulled pork sandwich accompaniment thanks to its mild flavor and creamy, slightly sweet taste.
- Corn Pudding. You need to give this side dish a try with pulled pork sandwiches. ...
- Cole Slaw. ...
- Fried Grits Cakes. ...
- Crispy Onion Rings. ...
- Instant Pot Collard Greens. ...
- Cabbage With Leeks. ...
- Simple Southern Succotash. ...
What is the best meat for pulled pork?
Vacuum Sealing and Boiling Benefits:
- Vacuum Sealing helps to prevent air from getting to the meat, which helps with preservation.
- Once you have sealed your bag and have placed it into the refrigerator there are no other flavors which could ruin your meat.
- The bag helps to retain moisture so that it doesn’t evaporate whilst you have it in the fridge or dry out when cooking.
What is the best way to cook pulled pork?
Ingredients
- Prep and Pour Pre-sear the meat, or cut the tenderloin in half and place it in a 3-qt. slow cooker. ...
- Cook Low and Slow Cover and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the meat is tender. Then, remove the meat and shred it with two forks. ...
- Serve and Enjoy
What is pulled pork?
Pulled pork is simply shredded pork that is usually smoked or slow-cooked to have a soft texture and is typically served on a simple bun with some sauce and coleslaw or on its own.
What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?
When it comes to pulled pork, most experts agree that the pork butt, also known as the Boston butt, is the best choice due to its tenderness, texture, and flavor.
Best practices for choosing the best meat for pulled pork
Okay, now that you know your options, let’s talk about quality. Here’s what to look for when picking out your pork shoulder:
How to cook pulled pork like a pro
Now, let’s get to the good part. Here are a few “secrets of the trade” the team at US Wellness Meats have learned over the years.
Our favorite pulled pork recipes
And finally, here are a few of our favorite recipes. We included a few that don’t use a grill in case you don’t have one or aren’t able to grill at the moment. That’s obviously the best way, but it’s still possible to get delicious pulled pork without one.
Next steps for perfect pulled pork
After you choose the right pork shoulder, all you have to do is get to cooking. As far as specific flavors, rubs, and sauces go, pulled pork is very forgiving. So grab a non-GMO pork shoulder, fire up the smoker, and happy cooking.
This easy recipe starts with choosing the correct cut
Derrick Riches is a grilling and barbecue expert. He has written two cookbooks.
The Shoulder Cut
The most common cut for making pulled pork is the shoulder. The pork shoulder is the entire front leg and shoulder of a hog. In your grocery store, you will usually find this divided into two cuts: the Boston butt (also known as the Boston roast) and the picnic roast.
Boston Butt vs. Picnic Roast
If you can't find a whole pork shoulder at your local store, you can get either or both of these cuts and you will still have just what you need. Both the Boston butt and picnic roast will weigh between 6 to 8 pounds individually, but the Boston butt will have less bone than the picnic.
Preparing the Meat for the Smoker
No matter if you have the whole pork shoulder or the Boston butt and/or picnic roast, the meat you choose should have a good quantity of fat to make preparing it for smoking really easy.
Adding a Rub to the Meat
If you choose to use a rub, do so liberally—remember that you are trying to flavor a large piece of meat (or two smaller pieces). To apply the seasoning, take the piece of pork, trimmed of unnecessary fat and skin, and rinse with cool water and pat dry. Then sprinkle the rub over the surface of the meat, massaging it in a bit.
How to choose pork for shredding?
It is important to know how to choose pork for shredding. Some people are looking for a specific cut of meat, while others may be looking for the best price. You can use this guide to help figure out which cuts are best suited for your needs:
Best pork for shredding
Now you know the three main factors that come into play when choosing the pork for shredding. But what cuts of pork should you buy to make this dish? Check the following suggestions of the best pork for shredding from us:
The bottom line
So which cut of pork will you choose for pulled pork? Well, it depends on your preference because these pork cuts are not significantly different in flavor profile and texture. The best part about all these cuts is they are affordable.
What Is Pulled Pork?
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty and take a deep dive into the world of buns in an attempt to discover which of them is the ideal choice for a pulled pork sandwich, it’s important to understand what pulled pork is and where it comes from. We’ve already mentioned that pulled pork was, and is, an integral part of Southern barbecue and owes its existence to the determination and dedication of the smokers and slow cookers who made sure that every part of the humble pig was used and transformed into a dish that set taste buds on fire all over the world.
All The Way From France - The Brioche Bun
Contrary to popular belief, the word “brioche” is the same in English as it is in French, and is simply the name that this delicious bread was given when it was first baked in the fifteenth century.
Staying In Europe - The Kaiser Roll
If you’re anything like us as soon as you hear the word “Kaiser” you’ll start thinking about ‘The Usual Suspects’, but don’t let that film cast a dark cloud over this incredible Austrian bread, as it was originally made for rulers and gentry, before being passed down to the rank and file who soon became besotted with it.
The Italian way - Ciabatta
It’s time we gave way to the open-faced sandwich devotees and took a look at the best bread to make their favorite kind of pulled pork sandwiches with. There’s no better way to embrace the way of the open face, than with a little taste of Italy, and ciabatta bread.
The Hipster Way - Adding A Little Sourdough Flavor
We’re not saying that the surge in popularity of pulled pork sandwiches has anything to do with the emergence of hipster culture, but the two have kind of walked hand in hand with each other, and if you look too closely at their timelines, they do tend to mirror each other.
A Little Bit Of Indian Flavor - The Naan
Don’t worry, we know. Technically naans aren’t rolls, they’re leavened flatbreads, but if you thought that the only meal that this staple of Indian cuisine should be paired with is a curry, you’re doing yourself, pulled pork and naans a taste filled disservice.
To Toast Or Not To Toast, That Is The Question
There’s a school of thought that thinks it’s always better to toast the bun that you use for your pulled pork sandwich.