Slow Baked BBQ Pork Recipe - Dish Ditty (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to pulled pork? ›

Low and Slow

After achieving a beautiful, deep brown sear, lower the heat to 325 to allow the pork to become tender. The shoulder will cook in its own juices, creating deeply savory and succulent meat. Covering the meat keeps the moisture internal, resulting in the perfect bite.

You can smoke your meat the day before. Pull it, put it into foil pans, and cover it with foil. Make absolutely sure you cool the meat correctly. Then pull your smoker out to the party the next day for show and use it to heat the pork in the foil pans.

Wrap the top with a double layer of aluminum foil, pinching around the edges of the pan. Doing this will trap the heat inside better and cook the pork faster. You can still track temp of meat by sticking probe in pork before wrapping.

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.

Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot. To add a strong flavor during the process, white wine can also be sprayed.

Apply the sauce after the meat has been cooked. Depending on the cooking temperature and the type of sugar, a sweet sauce can get gummy or even burn. So, apply the sauce at the end, about 15-30 minutes before removing the pork to add rich flavor.

Make ahead of time: The pulled pork can be made ahead of time and refrigerated, covered for a day or two. It can also be frozen for several months. It's easy to reheat, and tends to keep it's flavor and moisture better than other reheated meats.

Add about 1/4 Cup Liquid Per Pound of Pork

Aromatics aside, the actual liquid you put in the crock pot is what will flavor the pork the most. I use the term "liquid" loosely—some of your liquid could be ketchup or barbecue sauce or mustard.

Preparing the pork

I prefer to season the meat before adding it to the slow cooker with my favourite spices, along with salt and pepper. I also recommend browning the meat slightly prior to slow cooking which will help maximise the flavour. However, this is a step that can be left out if you don't have enough time.

If you find it does need a little extra liquid, just add a little beef stock, a bit at a time. Can you leave Pulled Pork in the slow cooker too long? Like any dish, if you leave meat cooking for too long it will begin to dry out and toughen up.

Should you rub pulled pork overnight? ›

After seasoning with salt and pepper, liberally coat all sides of the pork with the barbeque rub so that all of the meat is coated in rub. Wrap the pork tightly in plastic wrap and let it sit in your fridge overnight. About 6 hours before you plan on smoking, take the pork out of the fridge and unwrap it.

What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork? Pork shoulder is ideal for pulling purposes. It has an optimum fat content that yields to create tender, melty meat, but it's essential you cook it slowly to allow the protein to break down properly.

The acid from the apple cider and apple cider vinegar help to tenderize the meat while also keeping it juicy and flavorful. The low and slow cooking method makes it fall apart as soon as your fork touches it and shreds beautifully.

After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat. It also helps mellow out the darker, gamier-tasting parts of the butt. This makes enough for a 8 pound pork butt/shoulder.

All you'll need to do is pour an entire can of root beer into your slow cooker — or whatever vessel you're using to make your pulled pork — and let the soda work its magic. The sugar and carbonization will work together to flavor your meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender.