Smoking pulled pork is hard work and you don’t want even a single piece to go to waste, right? On the other hand, you may be sick of that leathery leftover meat. If all this is true for you, you’re in the right place!
Here, we’re covering everything related to proper pulled pork storage to keep it in peak condition. Moreover, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to reheat pulled pork so that you can enjoy its tender and juicy taste the second time around. Shall we begin?
Best Ways To Reheat Pulled Pork
Below, you’ll find 5 different yet effective methods so that you can find the best way to reheat pulled pork that works for you.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork In The Oven
An oven is a versatile method to cook and warm up almost any meal. It’s one of the best ways to reheat ribs, brisket, steaks, and, of course, pulled pork. Reheating pulled pork in the oven is easy, and time-saving.
Here’s what you should do:
- Set the oven to preheat to 225˚F.
- To reheat the whole pork shoulder or shredded meat, place it in the ovenproof pan and add cooking sauce / broth / apple juice or cider vinegar to replace the lost juices.
- To lock in the moisture, cover the pan with 2 layers of foil and put it into the oven.
- Bake until the internal pulled pork temp reaches 165˚F.
- Unwrap the meat and let it broil for several minutes to restore some of the crispness of the bark.
- If you cooked the pork but whole, shred it using a pair of oven-proof gloves.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork On The Grill
To avoid meat drying out, use a two-zone indirect cooking method. If using a gas grill, keep one burner turned off while another must be set to high. For a charcoal machine, place the charcoal on one side of it to make a hot zone.
Follow these steps to reheat pulled pork on the smoker:
- Preheat the indirect side to 225°F.
- Wrap the meat in a double layer of foil, adding ¼ cup of moisture to keep it juicy.
- Place the package into the cool zone. Let it sit there until its internal temp reaches 165°F.
- Unwrap your pulled pork and place it over direct heat for several minutes to crisp up the bark.
- If you reheat the whole Boston butt, shred it and add the remaining liquid from the wrap before serving.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork Using Sous Vide Method
How to reheat frozen pulled pork? If you don’t have 24 hours to properly defrost the meat, the sous vide method may be the best solution for you. This method uses a warm water bath to cook or reheat vacuum-sealed food. All you need is to take the sealed meat from the fridge or freezer and place it into the Sous vide – either a specially designed appliance or an ordinary large pan. Using this method, you’ll never dry out your food.
Here’s what to do:
- Heat the water to 165° F.
- Place vacuum-sealed pork into the Sous vide and let it take a warm bath for about 45 min. per inch of the meat thickness. If you are cooking frozen meat, let it sit there for another 30 minutes.
- This method utilizes indirect heat to warm up the food, leaving it moist and tender, so there is no need to add any liquids.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork In The Microwave
How to reheat pulled pork the next day with minimum effort? Toss it into the microwave! Maybe it’s not the best method, but it’s still good!
- Place the meat into a microwave-safe glass container and cover it.
- Add a splash of liquid to adjust for its loss.
- Cook on a low or medium setting for a minute at a time until the meat comes up to 165°F. This will only take several minutes.
Do avoid reheating your food in any plastic packages, including vacuum bags! Most of them contain health-hazardous chemicals phthalates, and bisphenol-A (BPA). If in contact with fatty foods like meats, plastic wrappings can leach these chemicals. So, opt for phthalate- and BPA-free storage bags, or simply decant your meal into a microwave-safe dish.
How To Reheat Pulled Pork In A Slow Cooker
If you are restricted in time or simply feel lazy, try reheating your pulled pork in the slow cooker.
Here’s what to do:
- Set your slow cooker to low heat and place the meat there.
- Sprinkle the pulled pork with your favorite liquid, however, do not overdo it since the slow cooker does an excellent job of retaining moisture.
- Wait until the meat’s internal temperature comes up to 165° F, the whole cooking process will take a few hours.
Tips To Reheat Pulled Pork Without Drying It Out
Nobody wants to eat tough, chewy meat! In this paragraph, we’ve consolidated well-tried tips on how to reheat smoked pulled pork so that you can enjoy its succulent taste!
- If you smoke the Boston butt in advance, keep it whole and shred it only after you’ve warmed it up. This way it’ll retain all its juices.
- If you want to pull the meat before storage, do so while it’s hot to touch. Don’t forget to put on heat-proof gloves.
- Place the pulled pork into the vacuum-sealed bag, it’ll help to seal in juices as well. Those juices won’t escape until the bag is cut open.
- Remember, your pork was cooked low and slow, hence you should reheat it this way too. It’ll help to preserve its moistness and flavor.
- Completely defrost your pull pork in the fridge, giving it 24 hours to do that.
Reheating Safety
When improperly storing and reheating, meats can easily become a breeding ground for harmful microorganisms. If you let the pulled pork sit at a temperature higher than 40°F, bacteria like E. coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus will double in number in as little as 20 minutes. Do not keep the meat at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.
Next, according to the USDA recommendations, when you cook or reheat pork, ensure that the meat’s internal temperature is not less than 145°F before you serve it.
How Many Times Can You Reheat Pulled Pork?
Every time you reheat the pulled pork, you increase the chances of contamination by moving the meat through changing temperatures. Besides, all those freezing, defrosting, and reheating significantly degrade the taste and flavor of your pulled pork. So, technically, if chilling the meat directly after warming it up, you can reheat, cool, and re-refrigerate your pork a few times. However, we’d recommend sticking to only one reheat and store your pulled pork in single-serving portions.
How To Store Pulled Pork
The key to having your pulled pork tender, juicy, and most importantly safe is proper storage. To keep the meat safe, you should chill it immediately after cooking. Mike Wozniak method will help you to do so:
- When your pulled pork is cooked, wrap it tightly in the foil. There should be no holes!
- Place the package in the watertight plastic bag and bury it in ice.
- When you lower the temp to 40° F, you can move the sealed pulled pork to the refrigerator.
How long does pulled pork last in the fridge? According to the Shelf Life Guide, your meat will last up to 4 days at temperatures low than 40°F.
What about freezing pulled pork? It’s a good idea to vacuum seal single-serve portions and label them with the date. The frozen pulled pork will last about 3 months, you can consume the meat after this time, but its taste might degrade.
What To Do With Leftover Pulled Pork
Want to spoil your family with a finger-licking meal? Have some leftover pulled pork? Here are a few great ideas:
- Loaded nachos: This meal takes minutes to make, but it tastes heavenly! You’ll only need some pulled pork, grated cheese, guacamole, some sour cream, and bbq sauce. Cook it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350°F.
- Tacos: This Mexican-inspired recipe keeps things simple. It’ll allow you to experiment a little with toppings while using up your leftover pulled pork.
- Cuban sandwich: This is one of the easiest things you can make with your pulled pork leftovers. You’ll need the following ingredients: some pulled pork, Cuban baguette or hoagie roll, unsalted butter, pickles, some ham, and cheese. Enjoy your lay dinner!
Conclusion
How to reheat pulled pork? Now you know the answer! Follow one of these methods, and not an ounce of your amazingly delicious pulled pork will go to waste! Just remember to properly store it and keep it juicy while reheating, and you’ll enjoy this succulent meal again!