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These past few months, I’ve been asked a lot of times how to reheat pulled pork and keep it from getting dry.
I’ll start this tutorial by showing you a couple of my favorite ways to smoke a pork butt. Next, I’ll show you how to make pulled pork that tastes like it was just taken out of the smoker, even though it was cooked the day before. The meat will be more juicy than ever and taste better than when it was first taken out of the smoker. It will even have more smoke flavor.
You don’t have to do this step, but I really think you should: put the pork butt in a half-size foil pan fat cap up. If you have multiple pieces of meat, use a separate pan for each one.
Why use a pan? It keeps your smoker clean and makes sure you get all the tasty juices from the pork butt.
Apply a thin coat of mustard to the fat-cap and sides of the pork butt. This helps the rub to stick really well to the meat.
Once the rub and mustard are on the butt, let it sit for 10 minutes so the rub can mix with the mustard. Then, turn it over so the fat cap is facing down.
Note: if you are using a pellet smoker, here are some tips to help you out.
Make sure you have good smoke flowing. I used hickory wood, but you can use any smoking wood you have on hand or your favorite.
Smoke for at least four to six hours, but you can smoke the whole time if you want to.
Keep the temperature at 107°F (225°C) while smoking the pork butts. It should take about 14 hours to finish.
When it gets to 160°F (71°C), some people like to wrap or cover the pork butts, but I don’t do that often.
In the thickest part of the meat, the pork butts are done cooking when they reach 207°F (97°C). They can now be brought inside to cool down.
Heres some instructions for separating the fat from the juices if you want to do that.
Note: You can also leave the juice in the pan and pull the meat apart while it’s still wet. This is not as healthy but it tastes amazing and the meat is SO juicy and flavorful!.
With two forks, pull the meat into pieces after it has been cool for about an hour. Dont shred it too much. just let it fall apart into its natural sections.
Pulled pork is a classic BBQ dish that’s always a crowd-pleaser. But enjoying those leftovers can be tricky. You want to reheat pulled pork without it drying out or losing that wonderful flavor. Using a roaster is an excellent way to gently and evenly reheat large batches of pulled pork.
Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to properly reheat pulled pork in a roaster to achieve fork-tender meat dripping with delicious barbecue sauce flavor.
Why Use a Roaster to Reheat Pulled Pork?
A roaster, which is also called a roasting pan, is very helpful for reheating pulled pork because:
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Even, consistent heating throughout the meat
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Ability to hold large batches – perfect for big portions
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Adequate space for moisture and steam to prevent drying
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Provides opportunity to reheat sauce or add extra liquid
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Allows you to keep pulled pork warm for serving without drying it out
Tips for Reheating Pulled Pork in a Roaster
Here are some useful tips to ensure you end up with tender reheated pulled pork every time
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Preheat the roaster – Preheat your oven with the roaster inside to ensure it’s fully warmed before adding the pulled pork.
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Use low heat – Low, slow heat around 250°F is ideal for evenly reheating without drying out the pork.
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Add moisture – Adding broth, juice, or even water to the roaster provides steam and prevents the pork from drying.
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Baste periodically – Brushing the pork with pan juices helps keep it moist.
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Reheat thoroughly – Heat to an internal temperature of 165°F to ensure it’s safe to eat.
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Don’t overheat – Avoid going above 200°F to prevent the pork from getting tough.
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Let rest before serving – Allow pulled pork to rest 5 minutes before serving so juices can redistribute.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Reheating Pulled Pork in a Roaster
Follow these simple steps:
Ingredients:
- Leftover pulled pork, as much as needed
- 1⁄2 cup chicken broth, apple juice, water, or barbecue sauce
Directions:
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Preheat roaster Place empty roaster in a 250°F oven to preheat for 10-15 minutes.
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Add moisture: Pour broth, juice, or water into the bottom of the hot roaster. This will create steam to prevent pork from drying out.
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Place pork in roaster: Carefully add pulled pork, spreading it out evenly in an even layer.
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Cover Seal roaster tightly with lid or aluminum foil to lock in steam and heat
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Reheat: Roast for 30-40 minutes per pound until pork reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
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Rest and serve: Remove pork from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
##FAQs About Reheating Pulled Pork in a Roaster
What temperature should I reheat pulled pork at?
Aim for lower oven temperatures around 250°F to 300°F so the pork can heat gradually without drying out. Heat to an internal temperature of 165°F.
How long does it take to reheat pulled pork in a roaster?
Plan on reheating for 30-40 minutes per pound. A medium roaster with 3-4 pounds of pulled pork will likely need 1 1⁄2 to 2 hours.
Should I add extra liquid to the roaster?
Yes, adding broth, juice, or even water to the bottom of the roaster provides moisture in the form of steam to keep the pork tender.
Do I need to cover the roaster when reheating pulled pork?
Covering the roaster tightly with foil or a lid helps seal in steam and leads to juicier pork, so it’s highly recommended.
Can I reheat barbecue sauce with the pulled pork?
Absolutely! Adding leftover barbecue sauce to the roaster is an easy way to add moisture and flavor.
Additional Serving Suggestions for Reheated Pulled Pork
Once your pulled pork is heated through, here are some tasty ways to serve it:
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Pile onto burger buns for classic pulled pork sandwiches.
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Mix with your favorite barbecue sauce.
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Make tacos, burritos, nachos, or quesadillas.
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Top a hearty salad or baked potato.
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Stir into baked beans, chili, or soup.
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Layer into casseroles or pot pies.
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Toss with pasta and veggies for a creamy pasta bake.
With the right roaster reheating technique, you can enjoy tender and full-flavored pulled pork again and again. Next time you have leftovers, follow this easy roaster method for finger-licking good results.
How to Reheat Pulled Pork
As I said before, I get a lot of questions about how to reheat pulled pork so that it doesn’t get dry or taste like it was cooked yesterday, even though it wasn’t. It will taste even better and more juicy than the day before if you follow this simple step:
If you can, reheat this on the smoker. If not, it will still work fine in the oven or even on the stove top or grill.
Place the meat into foil pans or even large cast iron skillets like I did.
If you have reserved juices then pour that evenly over the top of the pulled pork. Since I use these juices when I serve the meat for the first time, there isn’t much left when it’s time to reheat. No problem!.
Add a stick of butter to the top of the meat.
Because I didn’t have enough butter for the whole picture, I had to use half a stick on each pan. That was enough but in my opinion, a whole stick is best.
During the reheating process, the butter will melt and juice up the meat.
For more juice, put butter on top of the meat. Then, sprinkle more seasoning on top of the meat. I dont measure this but rather do it to taste. Add a good sprinkle then taste it. You can easily add more if needed right before you serve it up.
During cooking, I used Jeff’s original rub, which is a great mix of sweet and spicy without going too far in either direction.
During the reheat, I prefer to use Jeffs Texas style rub instead of the original rub. It tastes a little better because it has a little more salt than the original.
Set the smoker to 225°F (107°C), or if you need to get things done quickly, go as high as 275°F (135°C). Cover and heat again for 30 to 60 minutes, or until the butter melts and the meat is hot all the way through.
If you have a pellet smoker, set it to the smoke setting so that the reheating gives you the most smoke flavor. Cover the meat and heat it up again for 60 to 90 minutes, or until the butter melts and the meat is hot all the way through.
Put it back in the oven at 275°F (135°C) with the foil on top and heat it for about 30 minutes, or until the butter melts and the meat is hot all the way through.
Stir the meat well after it’s done cooking to mix in the butter, extra seasoning, and smoke (if you used a smoker).
Call dinner and enjoy watching everyone dig in!
I do this all the time, and I can tell you that it tastes just as good as the first time it came off the smoker. Some people even say it tastes better, and I don’t disagree.
Let me know how it goes in the comments below if you give it a try.
Can I Reheat A Whole Pork Butt For Pulled Pork? – How To Reheat Smoked Pulled Pork | Reheating BBQ
FAQ
How long to reheat a roaster of pulled pork?
How do you reheat pulled pork for a crowd?
How do you keep pulled pork from drying out in a roaster?
How do you keep pulled pork from drying out when reheating?
How to reheat pulled pork?
The best way to reheat pulled pork is by warming it in a pan over low heat on the stove, adding a splash of water or apple cider to keep it moist. This method is quick, efficient, and conserves energy, ensuring your pulled pork stays juicy and flavorful. 1.11. Stovetop Method: Quick and Controlled 1.22. Oven Method: Slow and Steady 1.33.
How do you cook pulled pork in the oven?
Preheat the oven to 250ºF. Place the pulled pork into a baking dish with leftover juices (or apple juice) to keep it moist. Cover it with aluminum foil. Bake until the pulled pork reaches an internal temperature of 165ºF (about 30 minutes). Mix the pulled pork to evenly distribute all of the juices. Add more BBQ sauce and serve.
How do you reheat pulled pork in a slow cooker?
Here’s how you can do it: Place your pulled pork in the slow cooker and add a small amount of liquid, such as BBQ sauce or broth, or a little bit of apple juice to prevent dryness. Set the slow cooker to low heat and let the pulled pork reheat for approximately 2-3 hours. Stir occasionally to distribute heat evenly and maintain moisture.
Can You reheat pulled pork in the microwave?
The microwave might not be the first choice for reheating pulled pork, but it’s undeniably convenient: Microwave-Safe Dish: Transfer your pulled pork to a microwave-safe dish. Add Moisture: Pour a little bit of broth, water, or apple juice over the pork to keep it moist.