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Tips for Freezing and Reheating Pulled Pork Without Sacrificing Flavor

Tips for Freezing and Reheating Pulled Pork Without Sacrificing Flavor

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Of course you can freeze pulled pork for a meal at a later date. The tricky part is being able to reheat the pulled pork without it losing its tenderness all while preventing it from being dry.

When slow cooked or smoked on a smoker, the pulled pork will literally melt in your mouth.

Prior to pulling the pork there are a couple things that can be done to assist with preventing it from losing its moisture and tenderness.

First of all, if you know you are going to have extra pulled pork don’t pull it all. This will allow the moisture to stay intact inside of the bark of the slowly cooked pork shoulder (Boston butt).

Second, keep the juices. After the pork has been pulled off the Big Green Egg, or any smoker for that matter, wrapped in towels and let it rest in the cooler.

I’ve let it rest for up to 4 hours and had it still come out of the cooler piping hot and full of delicious juices. Once ready, set it in a pan.

Can you freeze pulled pork?

This will allow you to open the pork up and transfer it to a plate all while not losing any of the juices. Pour the collected juices into a clear cup and let it cool.

Once cool you will notice a layer on the top that is a different color. This is all fat. take a spoon and pull it off and discard it in the trash. The remaining will be the perfect moisturizer when you go to reheat the pork.

How long is pulled pork good for?

Obviously the pulled pork should be in a sealed container. If you are just refrigerating the pulled pork it should last 3-4 days without going bad.

If you are looking to keep it longer simply freeze the pulled pork. In doing this make sure you get all the air out that you possibly can. When frozen the pulled pork should last about 6 months.

How to freeze pulled pork?

Boston Butt Picnic Shoulder Pork Butt

When it comes to freezing any meat, let alone pulled pork, the key is to get rid of the oxygen. The best way to do this is with a vacuum sealer but if you are like me, I have yet to invest in one.

Prior to getting the meat ready for the freezer you must first let it cool. As mentioned, to get the best freezer life out of the meat you simply need to get all the air out that you can. To do this I recommend getting some plastic wrap and wrapping the meat fairly tightly.

This method will assist in keeping the air off the actual meat. Once wrapped up place the pulled pork into the freezer bag. Prior to sealing the freezer bag try to push all the air out that you can.

Then simply add it to the freezer. This method should keep the meat good for up to three months before it will start to get freezer burn. Using a vacuum sealer you can double this time frame and the pulled pork will be good up to 6 months.

Want more options? See my article on 3 Simple Methods to Store Pulled Pork (based on storage time).

How to Reheat pulled pork? (4 ways)

How to Reheat Pulled Pork in the Oven

While you can easily reheat the frozen pulled pork in the microwave it isn’t the best method as it will be more difficult to keep moist. I personally prefer to reheat the pulled pork in the oven. To reheat the pork in the oven follow these simple steps:

  • Preheat you oven to 225-250 degrees
  • Put all the left over pork you are looking to reheat in a pan (I prefer a tin foil pan).
  • Juices should of been put back in with the meat already, but if they weren’t add the left over juices to the meat in the pan.
  • It is optional to also add your barbecue sauce at this point in which you would want to mix everything up.
  • Cover the pan of meat with either a lid or tin foil.
  • Put the pan in the oven and let the pulled pork cook until it reaches a temperature of about 165 degrees which usually takes 25-35 minutes depending on the quantity you are heating up.
  • Take the pulled pork out of the oven, give it one last mix and serve.

How to Reheat Pulled Pork on The Big Green Egg

This method is similar to the oven. To reheat pulled pork on the Big Green Egg simply follow these steps:

  • Fire up the Big Green Egg and get it dialed into 225-250 degrees.
  • Get the plate setter in so that you are reheating it indirectly.
  • Put all the left over pork you are looking to reheat in a tin foil type pan.
  • Juices should of been put back in the meat already, but if they weren’t add the left over juices to the meat in the pan.
  • It is optional but you can also add the barbecue sauce at this point in which you would want to mix everything up.
  • Put the pan on the grilling grate until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees. Similar to the oven, this usually takes 25-35 minutes depending on the quantity you are heating up.
  • Once the internal temperature hits 165 degrees, pull the pulled pork off the Big Green Egg and serve (Mix one more time if you have already added your barbecue sauce).

How to Reheat Pulled Pork in a Crock Pot

A similar way to reheat pulled pork is by using a crock pot.

  • Put the pulled pork in the crock pot
  • Juices should of been put back in with the meat already, but if they weren’t add the left over juices to the meat in the pan.
  • Add your favorite barbecue sauce and lightly mix in.
  • If you have time set it to warm until the temperature reaches about 165 which will take 2-3 hours depending on the amount you are reheating.
  • If you are looking for a faster cook simply put the crock pot on low in which it will take about an hour to heat it up to 165 (time is again dependent on quantity in the crock pot).

How to Reheat Pulled Pork w/ Vacuum Sealed Bag?

Another fancier way to reheat pulled pork is by boiling it. This method requires the pulled pork being frozen in a vacuum sealed bag.

If you have the stuff to vacuum seal the pulled pork proceed with simply just pulling it out of the freezer, adding it to boiling water for about 20 minutes in which the meat should be at 165 degrees (if less put back in the water for longer).

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