Meat Grinders Guide: How to Shred Pulled Pork
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Hello, pork lovers! Are you craving for some delicious pulled pork that is homemade and will rock your world? It could be difficult to master the appropriate process to cook flavorful pulled pork, but this article is here to be your salvation.
Here are some easy step by step procedures to making tender and juicy pulled pork that will melt your mouth. Additionally, this article will include the process to making shredded pork and a simple recipe the whole family will love. So get ready to take some recipe notes!
Also, take a look at Cave Tools new shredding tool; it will change your life!
How to Cook Tender Pulled Pork
When beginning to make amazing pulled pork, first you will need the appropriate piece of meat. A great piece of pork is the boneless pork shoulder (this is highly recommended; it is cheap, fatty and great to work with) or pork butt. Buy around 3 to 6 pounds, but base this off how many people you plan to feed. Here are easy steps to handling this awesome beast!
Step 1 – Prepping the Pork: Trim off any excess fat that is on the exterior of the meat and cut the meat into thick portions. In a mixing bowl add all the ingredients and season pork with kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, maybe add garlic powder or chili powder, dry mustard to taste and rub it in with your hands. Make sure the rub is evenly distributed. There is also the option of brining the meat, too.
Step 2 – Searing: Sear the pork on the frying pan on all sides and cook each side for around 3 minutes each to cook in the seasoning. Then partially submerge the pork in liquid smoke and bring the liquid to a simmer with medium-high heat on the stove top.
Step 3 – Slow Cook the Pork: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F and in a cooking pan or dish. Place the pork that is still submerged in the liquid smoke into the oven. Cook the pork for 4 to 6 hours. Slow cook the Pork until tender (the meat should be able to be easily pierced by a fork). Follow the cooking time to get the best results.
Then transfer the meat to a cutting board and get ready to pull!
How to Shred Pulled Pork Perfectly
This will be the easiest thing you will have to do and it is because of this tool!
These Cave Tools claws will tear through any meat that you would like to be pulled. Additionally, these claws are great to shred meat such as holding it in place to slice or transport to another plate.
Easy Pulled Pork Sandwich Recipe
Of course you can just use a slow cooker and get the needed results, but here is a tasty and easy recipe for a delicious pulled pork sandwich. Now that you have the shredded meat, all you need is the slaw and the sauce!
BBQ Sauce:
To make your own delicious barbecue sauce, combine in a bowl one cup of ketchup, two tablespoons of Dijon mustard, two tablespoons of dark brown sugar, two tablespoons of maple syrup, two tablespoons of cider vinegar, two tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce, one tablespoon of pepper, two shots of bourbon, two cloves garlic (finely chopped) and a half cup of orange juice.
Place this sauce in a small pot and simmer with a medium-low heat.
Cook the sauce for 20 minutes and stir every 5 minutes.
Green Apple Slaw: Toss in a bowl one third of a cup of vegetable oil, three tablespoons of cider vinegar, half teaspoon of salt and pepper, juice of one lemon, half a red onion (grated), half pound of shredded cabbage, one peeled green apple (grated).
Combine the pork in the sauce and place one a toasted bun.
Add the slaw and pickles on top (optional), and enjoy this succulent sandwich!
Thanks for keeping up with the latest Meat Grinders blog entry; check out our next article for how to carve a leg of lamb!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you make shredded pulled pork?
The best way to make a tender, shreddable pulled pork is to start with a tough cut of meat. We like the pork shoulder best, although you can also use the Boston Butt or the picnic shoulder. Then, cook it low and slow on the grill, in a smoker, or in a Crock Pot until the meat pulls easily. You can use forks or tongs to shred the meat, but our shredding claws work the best!
What temperature is pulled pork ready?
Although the USDA says pork is safe to eat at 145 degrees F, you want to continue cooking your pulled pork until it reaches 190 to 195 degrees F. At this temperature, the tough muscle fibers from the shoulder will break down and create collagen, coating the meat with juicy flavor.
What is the best cut of meat for pulled pork?
We like the pork shoulder best for shredded pulled pork, although the Boston Butt and picnic shoulder will also work. A pork sirloin roast will work too, but it won’t be as fatty and unctious as the pork shoulder. Be careful if you’re using something called a “pork roast.” This might come from the loin, which is too lean to create tender shredded pulled pork.
How do you shred meat quickly?
Our shredding claws are the quickest, most efficient way to shred pulled pork. You simply grab one in each hand and dig into the pork! The shreds will easily pull away from the meat if it’s cooked to the proper temperature. You can also use forks or tongs, although this method is not as fast and it can be quite a bit messier.
Can you shred pork in a food processor?
We would definitely not recommend using the regular blade of the food processor for shredding pork. It will break down the pork too rapidly, causing it to turn to mush. If you must use your food processor, use the slicing blade attachment and pulse the food processor, letting gravity feed the pork into the chute. But, we would definitely recommend shredding by hand if you can.
