How Many Ounces of Pulled Pork are in a Cup?

Pulled pork is a classic BBQ staple that’s served up generously in sandwiches, tacos, salads, nachos, and more. When making your own pulled pork at home, most recipes call for pork shoulder and give cooked weights. But for portioning out leftovers or figuring out the right amount of pulled pork for other dishes, it’s handy to know the answer to “how many ounces are in a cup of pulled pork?”. Let’s find out!

Weight of Pulled Pork Per Cup

According to general food weight guidelines

• 1 cup of pulled pork equals approximately 5-6 ounces in weight.

This average is based on lightly packed, shredded pork shoulder meat without bones or extra fat. It can serve as a helpful benchmark when working with pulled pork.

However, a few factors can cause the ounces per cup to vary:

• Fat content – Fattier cuts like pork belly may have slightly more ounces of meat for the same cup measurement.

• Shred size – Finely shredded or chopped pork tends to pack down more densely, resulting in more ounces per cup. Larger shreds equal fewer ounces per cup.

• Moisture content – Juicier pulled pork weighs a bit more per cup than drier shredded meat,

• Packing – Lightly filled cups contain fewer ounces than firmly packed pork.

• Bone content – Pieces with bone weigh more than pure meat for the same cup amount

So while 5-6 ounces is a fair standard, the specifics of your batch may alter the ounces per cup somewhat in either direction.

Cup Amounts for Common Pulled Pork Recipes

Many pulled pork recipes give the final yield by weight. Here are some typical cooked weights and the approximate cup amounts they produce:

• An 8 pound pork shoulder yields around 10 cups of pulled pork

• A 5 pound pork shoulder makes approximately 6 cups

• A 3 pound pork roast produces around 4 cups pulled pork

• 1 pound of boneless pork shoulder pulls into roughly 2 cups

These values can help you estimate how many servings your final pork yield will provide based on cups. Or determine how much raw pork to start with to produce your desired cup amount of finished pulled pork.

Why Measure Pulled Pork in Cups?

Measuring shredded pulled pork by the cup rather than weight in ounces or grams comes in handy for a few reasons:

• Cups make it easy to portion pulled pork for meal prep or leftovers.

• Allows you to conveniently substitute in recipes calling for cups of shredded pork.

• Lets you quickly scale recipes up or down based on cup measurements.

• Provides an easy way to visually estimate portions when plating dishes or serving a crowd.

• Works well for making sandwiches where the pork is mounded in cups rather than weighed.

• Allows you to compare brands when buying pre-packaged pulled pork by the cup rather than weight.

Both ounces and cups have a place in the pulled pork kitchen!

Nutrition Information Per Cup

To get a sense of the nutritional value of pulled pork, here are the approximate macros and calories in a 1 cup serving:

• Calories: 550-650

• Protein: 45-55g

• Fat: 35-45g

• Carbs: 0-3g

As you would expect given the high protein and fat content, pulled pork delivers a powerful nutritional punch! The carb count is negligible.

These nutrition stats are based on pork shoulder without sauce or rubs. Any barbecue sauce or seasonings would alter the results. But plain pulled pork offers outstanding protein in every mouthwatering cup.

Uses for Pulled Pork by the Cup

Knowing the cup amount equivalencies opens up all kinds of recipe ideas for enjoying pulled pork:

• Pile cups of pork into slider rolls for easy game day sandwiches

• Top salads with 1-2 cups shredded pork

• Fill tortillas with 1/2 – 1 cup pork for tacos and burritos

• Mix into baked beans, soups or chili using cup measurements

• Add 2 cups into a skillet to make hash with veggies

• Use cup portions to make stuffed peppers or sweet potatoes

• Fold cups of pork into egg scrambles or omelets

• Mix up to 2 cups into mac & cheese or rice dishes

• Stir cup amounts into any BBQ sauce for quick sloppy Joes

Get creative with the flavors and possibilities are endless for meals and snacks featuring fantastic pulled pork!

Storing Leftover Pulled Pork

To save pulled pork for later usage, transfer leftovers into airtight containers with the following guidelines:

• For short term storage in the refrigerator, portion into cups or ounces for easy grabbing and use within 3-5 days.

• To freeze pulled pork, pack measured cup or ounce quantities into freezer bags or containers. Thaw in the fridge before using.

• For longest shelf life, cover with broth or sauce to prevent freezer burn.

Pre-measuring your pork makes it simple to defrost just what you need for future recipes based on cups or ounces. Avoid wasting any leftovers!

Pulled Pork Cups and Ounces Cheat Sheet

To sum up key points on measuring pulled pork:

• There are approximately 5-6 ounces per cup of shredded pork.

• Actual weight varies based on pork cut, moisture content, shredding, packing, etc.

• An 8 lb pork shoulder yields roughly 10 cups pulled pork.

• Nutrition per cup is around 500-650 calories and 45-55g protein.

• Cup measurements make it easy to portion for meal prep and recipes.

• Freezing pre-portioned cups or ounces helps reduce waste of leftovers.

So don’t be afraid to pull out those cups and ounces for perfectly portioned piles of luscious pulled pork! Enjoy this versatile shredded meat in all kinds of mouthwatering dishes and creations.