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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.
Pork shoulder, also known as Boston butt, is one of the most flavorful cuts of pork. When slowly roasted or smoked for hours, it becomes fall-off-the-bone tender and succulent. Leftover pork shoulder makes for amazing sandwiches, tacos, soups and more. But reheating this large cut of meat can be challenging.
If you’ve got leftover cooked pork shoulder, don’t let it go to waste. With the right technique, you can revive the juicy texture and robust flavor. Follow this guide to discover foolproof methods for reheating whole pork shoulder using your oven, slow cooker or microwave.
Why Proper Reheating is Essential
To bring leftover pork shoulder back to its peak deliciousness it’s important to
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Warm the meat thoroughly and evenly without drying it out,
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Maintain juiciness by retaining or adding moisture.
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Heat gently to keep the tender meat from toughening up.
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Restore any crustiness or crispiness to the exterior bark.
With the proper process, reheated pork shoulder can be just as mouthwateringly succulent as it was the first time around.
Oven Reheating Method
The oven is ideal for evenly reheating large cuts of meat without stripping away moisture.
To reheat pork shoulder in the oven:
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Pre-heat oven to 300°F. Low, ambient heat is key.
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Place pork shoulder on a baking sheet or pan.
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Tent loosely with aluminum foil, leaving some openings for steam to escape.
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Warm for 1-2 hours until heated through.
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Rest 10 minutes before slicing or shredding.
The low oven temperature prevents the pork from drying out while allowing it to heat all the way through.
Slow Cooker Method
Using a slow cooker mimics the initial long, slow cooking.
To use a slow cooker:
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Add 1 cup broth, cider, wine or water to the slow cooker. This provides moisture.
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Place pork shoulder in slow cooker.
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Cook on Low for 4-6 hours, until pork reaches 165°F internally.
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Shred pork and toss with cooking liquid to moisten.
The slow cooker gives pulled pork irresistible flavor.
Microwave Method
For quick reheating, the microwave works in a pinch.
To microwave:
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Place pork in microwave-safe dish. Add some liquid.
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Cover dish with a lid or vented plastic wrap.
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Microwave in 2-3 minute intervals until warmed, flipping halfway.
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Allow to rest before serving.
Frequent stirring and liquid are needed to prevent dry spots. Letting it rest afterward allows heat to equalize.
Tips for Reheating Pork Shoulder
Follow these tips for the best results:
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If reheating a second time, add extra liquid to prevent drying.
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Cut shoulder into smaller chunks to allow quicker, more even reheating.
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Top with barbecue sauce or gravy after reheating for added moisture and flavor.
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Use an instant read thermometer to check the internal temperature.
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Let rest 10-15 minutes before pulling or slicing to allow moisture to redistribute evenly.
With the proper technique, leftover pork shoulder can be just as sublime as fresh off the smoker.
Food Safety Tips
When dealing with large cuts of meat, food safety is also crucial. To avoid bacteria growth:
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Refrigerate any uneaten pork within 2 hours of cooking.
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Store leftovers in shallow containers for faster chilling.
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Use leftovers within 4 days. Freeze for longer storage.
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Reheat fully until internal temperature reaches 165°F again before serving.
Follow safe practices when storing and reheating.
Step Up Your Sandwich Game
Leftover pulled pork shoulder makes for incredible sandwiches. Try these delicious combos:
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Pulled pork, bbq sauce, pickle slices on a bun
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Pulled pork with smoked gouda, onion rings, chipotle mayo on a pretzel bun
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Pulled pork, ham, swiss, mustard on sliced sourdough
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Pulled pork, coleslaw, fried onions on a potato roll
Take your sandwich up a notch with reheated pulled pork!
Alternative Uses for Leftover Pork
Don’t limit leftover pork shoulder to just sandwiches. Get creative with these ideas:
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Tacos with salsa, onion, cilantro
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Pork fried rice or pasta stir fry
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Eggs with pulled pork breakfast hash
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Baked potatoes or sweet potatoes topped with pulled pork
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Tortilla soup, posole or ramen loaded with shredded pork
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Enchiladas, tamales or empanadas filled with pulled pork
Transform leftovers into brand new dishes!
With the right reheating technique, leftover pork shoulder can be revived to be as mouthwateringly delicious and tender as it was originally. Using the oven, slow cooker or microwave, you can give the meat new life. Just be sure to retain moisture and avoid overcooking.
Now you can reheat that leftover pork with confidence and reduce waste. Turn yesterday’s roast into today’s incredible meal. Pull out your fork and dig into tender, juicy pork perfection.
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
How to reheat a pork shoulder?
To reheat a pork shoulder, use an oven as it evenly heats the large cut of meat without requiring you to cut through it while cold. Here’s how: The Oven Method Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the whole pork shoulder on an over-safe dish.
How do you reheat pulled pork?
It’s also especially useful if you have a large amount of pork to reheat. Step 1. Preheat your oven to 250°F/120°C. Remove any remaining fat layer from the chilled pulled pork, and add a little apple juice if the meat needs more moisture. Step 2. Transfer the meat to an oven-safe bowl and cover with aluminum foil.
How to cook a pork shoulder in the oven?
To cook a pork shoulder in the oven, preheat it to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the whole pork shoulder on an over-safe dish, add some liquid like mopping sauce, cider, or even just water to sustain the moisture, and then cover the pan with aluminum foil.
How long should pork be reheated?
That being the case, the first step in moist and tender reheated pork is proper storage. For the grilled in advance pork, keep it whole unless you know you’ll only have 15-20 minutes to reheat and serve. The longer it’s in one piece, the better it will hold onto its moisture.