The art of cooking pulled pork can be a delightful culinary experience, but the choice between using a big cooker or a slow cooker can often leave you wondering which method will yield the best results. Whether you're looking for fall-off-the-bone tenderness or a succulent, smoky flavor, both cooking methods have their own unique advantages and drawbacks. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the world of pulled pork, comparing the big cooker and slow cooker techniques to help you make an informed decision and achieve finger-licking pulled pork perfection.
Let's cook with our recipes!
BIG V'S SLOW-COOKER PULLED PORK
A wonderfully easy, exceptionally tender pulled pork recipe. The meat literally falls off the bone and the marinade adds an excellent flavor that can complement any BBQ sauce. This recipe is great if you're looking for a make-ahead meal. Pulled pork is great served on fresh baked rolls or pita bread with sharp cheddar cheese and coleslaw. You can serve the pork as is or mix in your favorite BBQ sauce.
Provided by Brad Villanueva
Categories Main Dish Recipes Pork 100+ Pulled Pork Recipes
Time 18h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix beer, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt in a bowl until honey is dissolved. Pour a small amount of the beer marinade into a slow cooker; add pork. Pour remaining marinade over pork. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning pork occasionally.
- Cook pork on Low in the slow cooker for 8 hours, basting occasionally. Add water if the pork becomes dry. Drop onion around pork and continue to cook until pork is very tender, about 2 hours more.
- Pull and shred pork with two forks, discarding any pieces of fat. Transfer pork to a serving dish. Skim remaining onion from the slow cooker using a sieve and add to pork.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 422 calories, Carbohydrate 19.7 g, Cholesterol 108.1 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 28.5 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 785.5 mg, Sugar 13 g
ULTIMATE SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK
Pulled pork is perfect for the slow cooker. Cooking the pork low and very slow is the secret to the juiciest and most tender pulled pork. Serve the pork as is or feel free to stir in your favorite barbecue or other sauces at the end of cooking.
Provided by Adam and Joanne Gallagher
Categories Dinner
Time 8h30m
Yield Makes approximately 3 1/2 pounds, 10 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Rub the pork with salt and pepper, and then set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients. (See notes below if you plan to sear the pork first).
- Heat oil in a wide skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic then cook, occasionally stirring, until they are sweet and browned around the edges. Stir in the tomato paste, chili powder, and cumin. Cook, stirring until the tomato paste turns from bright red to orange in color; about 3 minutes. Add the water, apple cider vinegar, and fish sauce and cook for about 1 minute, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
- Rest the seasoned pork in the bottom of a slow cooker then pour the onion and spice mixture on top. Wiggle the pork around the bottom of the slow cooker so that some of the onion and spice mixture slides underneath. Cover with lid and cook until the pork can be easily shredded; LOW for 6 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 to 6.
- Turn off the slow cooker and transfer the pork to a cutting board. If the pork has a bone in it, remove and discard it. Use two forks to shred the meat, discarding any connective tissue, and large clumps of fat.
- Remove the cooking liquid and skim most of the fat from its surface. Discard the fat then set the cooking liquid aside.
- If using barbecue sauce, add it to the slow cooker and stir in the shredded pork. For even more flavor, add back some of the reserved cooking liquid. If you're not using barbecue sauce, add the shredded pork and the cooking liquid back to the slow cooker. Taste and season with salt, additional vinegar, or hot sauce as needed.
Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 1/10 of the recipe (assumes 10 servings), Calories 404, Protein 28 g, Carbohydrate 2 g, Fiber 0 g, Sugar 1 g, Fat 31 g, SaturatedFat 11 g, Cholesterol 109 mg
BEST DAMN SLOW COOKER PULLED PORK
Tender, succulent and juicy pulled pork made to perfection in your slow cooker. Made with a simple dry rub and slow cooked in a savory mix to create the most delicious homemade pulled pork.
Provided by RecipeTeacher
Categories BBQ
Number Of Ingredients 13
Steps:
- Cut meat into 4-6 equal sized pieces. Trim fat as desired.
- In a bowl, mix salt, pepper, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika and cayenne pepper and rub all over meat.
- Add chicken broth, cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and liquid smoke to slow cooker and whisk it together. Place meat into slow cooker.
- Slow cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
- Remove meat to a bowl and shred with two forks. Serve with juices from slow cooker or add your favorite BBQ sauce.
BIG V'S SLOW-COOKER PULLED PORK
A wonderfully easy, exceptionally tender pulled pork recipe. The meat literally falls off the bone and the marinade adds an excellent flavor that can complement any BBQ sauce. This recipe is great if you're looking for a make-ahead meal. Pulled pork is great served on fresh baked rolls or pita bread with sharp cheddar cheese and coleslaw. You can serve the pork as is or mix in your favorite BBQ sauce.
Provided by Brad Villanueva
Categories Pulled Pork
Time 18h15m
Yield 6
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Mix beer, mustard, honey, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, cayenne pepper, and salt in a bowl until honey is dissolved. Pour a small amount of the beer marinade into a slow cooker; add pork. Pour remaining marinade over pork. Cover and refrigerate overnight, turning pork occasionally.
- Cook pork on Low in the slow cooker for 8 hours, basting occasionally. Add water if the pork becomes dry. Drop onion around pork and continue to cook until pork is very tender, about 2 hours more.
- Pull and shred pork with two forks, discarding any pieces of fat. Transfer pork to a serving dish. Skim remaining onion from the slow cooker using a sieve and add to pork.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 422 calories, Carbohydrate 19.7 g, Cholesterol 108.1 mg, Fat 23.1 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 28.5 g, SaturatedFat 8.4 g, Sodium 785.5 mg, Sugar 13 g
BIG RED SLOW-COOKER PULLED PORK
The pairing of barbecue and Big Red Soda is super-popular throughout the South, so why not combine the two in one killer dish? The sweet, cult-favorite cream soda, originally from Texas, is often compared to cinnamon bubble gum, but also has notes of lemon, orange, and vanilla. Here, it's combined with barbecue sauce as a cooking liquid for slow-cooked, spice-rubbed pork shoulder, with results that are sweet, spicy, and as uniquely flavored as Big Red itself.
Provided by Rhoda Boone
Categories Grill/Barbecue Pork Backyard BBQ Sandwich Texas Slow Cooker
Yield 8 servings
Number Of Ingredients 17
Steps:
- Cook the pork:
- Mix salt, black pepper, cumin, paprika, and cayenne in a small bowl. Rub all over pork.
- Stir soda and barbecue sauce in slow cooker. Place pork in slow cooker, cover, and cook on low, spooning juices over top of pork or turning occasionally, until meat is very tender and falls apart when shredded with 2 forks, about 8 hours.
- Transfer pork to a rimmed baking sheet and let cool slightly. Shred pork with 2 forks. Discard large pieces of unrendered fat or gristle.
- Make the Big Red barbecue sauce:
- Stir barbecue sauce and 2 Tbsp. soda in a medium bowl. Taste and add up to 1 Tbsp. Big Red, depending on sweetness of barbecue sauce. Toss shredded pork in desired amount of sauce and drizzle more sauce over. You can also spoon some cooking liquid over pork for extra flavor. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.
- Serve pork with Big Red sauce alongside, or make sandwiches with buns, pork, slaw, pickles, and an extra drizzle of sauce, if desired.
- Do Ahead
- Pork can be coated in spice rub 1 day ahead; chill. Pork can be cooked and shredded up to 3 days ahead; transfer to an airtight container and chill.
Tips:
- Choose the right cut of pork: Pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) is the best cut for pulled pork because it has a good amount of fat and connective tissue, which helps to create tender, juicy meat. You can also use pork loin, but it will be leaner and less flavorful.
- Season the pork well: Use a generous amount of salt, pepper, and your favorite spices to season the pork. This will help to create a flavorful crust on the outside of the meat and keep it moist and juicy on the inside.
- Cook the pork slowly: Pulled pork is best cooked slowly and low, either in a slow cooker or in the oven. This allows the meat to break down and become tender, without drying out.
- Shred the pork: Once the pork is cooked, use two forks to shred it into small pieces. This will make it easier to eat and will help to absorb the barbecue sauce.
- Serve the pulled pork with your favorite sides: Pulled pork is a versatile dish that can be served with a variety of sides. Some popular choices include coleslaw, mashed potatoes, baked beans, and cornbread.
Conclusion:
Pulled pork is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for a casual get-together or a special occasion. Whether you use a slow cooker or the oven, you can be sure that your pulled pork will be tender, juicy, and flavorful. So next time you're looking for a crowd-pleasing dish, give pulled pork a try!
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