Can you freeze pulled pork? Yes, you can freeze cooked as well as raw pulled pork. When you freeze pork, you want to keep as much moisture as possible so that the meat doesn’t get dry after it has thawed. Sealing the pulled pork with a vacuum pack prior to placing it in the freezer is the easiest and fastest.
Freezing your pulled pork in a tight vacuum pack or a container can last up to 4 months in your freezer.
If you’ve ever cooked pulled pork, you’ll be aware that it requires cooking a large portion of meat. This obviously leaves plenty to be used up.
When I was a chef at a few different restaurants, the pulled pork was one of the most popular meat dishes we were always serving in the summer – we had tonnes of it frozen down because of the sheer size of the meat.
Find out whether you can freeze pulled pork, the best method for freezing it, the length of time it can be frozen, and more.
How To Freeze Cooked Pulled Pork
You can store cooked pulled pork in a freezer, but you have to ensure that it’s properly cooked to ensure that it is delicious, flavorful, and tasty when it is thawed like it was freshly cooked.
If you love freezer meals or you are seeking a method to store the leftover pulled pork and other meats, freezing it is an excellent method of storing it in a safe manner in order to use it for weeks or months!
When properly frozen the pulled pork cooked remains succulent and tender, and shouldn’t cause an issue with defrosting it in the future.
Because of the pulled pork’s smooth texture, you might want to keep it frozen in a manner that stops the meat from drying. Additionally, it is important to be aware of what other sauces might influence your freezing procedure.
When you want to freeze pulled pork that has been cooked The best method to achieve this is by vacuum sealing the pork because it blocks the exposure to oxygen. This prevents freezer burn, preserves the taste and texture, and helps make the process of reheating simpler.
If you don’t own a vacuum sealing machine, you can follow these step-by-step steps to achieve the most effective results:
- Allow the pulled meat to sit for a few minutes before bringing it down to ambient temperature if still hot from the cooking.
- Divide the meat into smaller portions, according to the amount you’ll need at any given moment. This can help you avoid having to defrost all of the batches when you want to use only a portion of them.
- To prevent contact with air to prevent air from entering the meat, wrap it in a thin layer of aluminum foil. Then, place each piece of meat on an individual piece of plastic. Wrap it tightly, making sure that the corners are secured.
- Once wrapped, put the meat into large, freezer-safe bags that can be resealable, pushing to release the most air possible before sealing the bags.
- Tag the bag with the day, and put these bags into the freezer.
How To Prevent Frozen Pulled Pork From Drying Out
To avoid loss of tenderness and moisture, there are two ways to prevent it:
Tips 1: Cut only the amount of pork you require and leave the remainder of the meat intact to be frozen. This allows the moisture to stay within the meat once it has been frozen.
Tips 2:Do not throw away cooking juices. After the cooking liquid is cool off, scoop out the excess fat away and discard it. The rest of the fat can be frozen and added to it to the pulled pork while the heat brings more moisture and flavor to your pulled pork.
How To Freeze Pulled Pork With Sauce
It is possible to freeze the pulled ribs with sauce, but be sure to be aware of the kind of sauce you use because some sauces do not freeze well.
Barbeque sauce most frequently used to accompany pulled pork, freezes well and should not have any issue freezing it along with the meat.
Emulsified sauces, such as vinaigrettes made from homemade mayonnaise are different since they do not freeze.
They will keep for a while but once they are thawed they’ll lose their original taste and texture. This is why it is recommended to add sauces later to the pulled meat after you defrost and heat it.
If you are freezing pulled pork that has sauces, you can freeze portions in the same way as you would store simple pulled pork. Scoop the portions into a freezer-safe bag that is resealable and press it out of the air before sealing it.
How To Thaw Vacuum-Sealed Pulled Pork
To allow the dried pulled pork in the freezer, immerse the entire package of meat into the water in a pot and allow it to boil for between 5 and 10 minutes. It might take longer based on the size of the portion.
Switch off the flame and let the sealed food remain inside the water another 10 minutes prior to taking it out and using it in your dish.
This ensures that the juices remain intact and that they do not freeze in the same way as meat leading to a more tender, juicy, and moist product.
Can You Refreeze Pulled Pork?
It is not advised to refreeze pulled pork after it is frozen and defrosted. Refreezing it will alter the texture and taste of meat which can result in pork that is hard and chewy.
If the pulled pork frozen in the freezer hasn’t completely thawed and is in the refrigerator, you can freeze it without risk.
To not have to refreeze the pulled pork and risk destroying its flavor, you can keep it frozen in portions, so that you can defrost just the amount that is required at any given moment.
How To Use Pulled Pork After Freezing
When you’re talking about the frozen pull pork that you can freeze, there are no limitations on what you can apply it to.
You can use frozen pulled pig similarly to how you would cook freshly pulled pork. Be sure to ensure it’s safe to thaw and properly heated prior to making use of it.
If it is properly defrosted and frozen and properly, you’ll be in a position to distinguish between freshly pulled pork from one that’s been stored on the counter for more than a month!
A few dishes you can make use of frozen pulled pork for include:
How To Reheat Frozen Pulled Pork
There are a variety of methods to heat the frozen pork that you have pulled. You can pick the most effective method based on the resources you have at hand. The key to each method is to cook the meat to the point of not drying it out.
Whatever method you pick regardless of your method, you’ll need to get the meat thawed prior. The best method for doing this is to put it in the refrigerator for a night. It is also necessary to ensure that the meat is at the temperature of 165°F to ensure food safety.
1: Slow Cooker
Slow cooker cooking is simple and nearly impossible to fail. Add the meat in the slow cooker, and then top it off with some liquid. You can also mix it up with barbeque sauce.
Set the temperature to medium and allow it to rest for between 2 and 3 hours. If you’re short on time, you could cook it at low heat for between 1 and 2 hours.
Be sure to constantly monitor your meat, and mix it frequently. The meat will be ready for serving once the internal temperature is the temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
2: Oven
Utilizing the oven is an excellent method that will take around thirty to forty-five minutes. Just heat the oven to 225°F. put the pork in a roasting pan and add the liquid that you prefer to add moisture.
Then cover it with aluminum foil and allow it to cook until the meat is well-cooked. If you’d like to, you can sprinkle some BBQ sauce at the end of five minutes.
3: Grill
Preheat the grill to low. Place the roast in an aluminum disposable pan and add a liquid that you prefer.
Place your grill on the rack, and allow it to simmer for about 30 to 45 mins or until the meat is cooked to your liking. You can add BBQ sauce towards the end If you’d enjoy it.
4: Stove
Add the meat along with the liquid you prefer to a large pan or saucepan, and turn the heat to low.
It is recommended to cook the beef for between 10 and 20 minutes, stirring often. Keep a watch on the liquid and add more water if necessary to avoid the meat drying out.
5: Instant Pot
Instant pots are the perfect and efficient method to keep your pulled meat fresh soft, juicy and tender. Begin by adding the right amount of liquid in the instant cooker so that it can be brought to pressure.
Place the trivet in the pot, and place it on top in a dish that is heat-safe. Seal the pot and close it, and allow the timer for 5 minutes. The pressure will let naturally or use an instant release after the cooking time is over.
6: Microwave
The microwave is a fantastic kitchen appliance that is always in use whenever you’re in need of an easy and quick method to cook or cook something.
Put the meat in a microwave-safe dish, then add some liquid or BBQ sauce, then cover the dish. It will be heated on high for approximately 2 minutes up to the point that it’s hot.
What Is Pulled Pork?
Pulled pork is a popular barbeque recipe that is prepared using slow-cooked, shredded barbecue sauce and pork. The meat is slow-smoked or roasted with low heat until it is super soft and easy to cut into shreds.
The meat is then mixed with barbeque sauce. It is served on sandwiches with pickles, onions, sliced onions coleslaw, and even additional barbeque sauce.
It is usually served with traditional American barbeque side dishes like baked beans, potato salad, and macaroni and cheese. You can also serve it in tacos, with nachos or even on its own.
What Does Pulled Pork Taste Like?
If cooked correctly when cooked properly, pulled pork develops a spicy, savory taste with a melting-in-your-mouth taste.
When blended with BBQ sauce the flavor develops into the flavor of a sweet and smoky flavor. It can be served with many recipes.
How Long Does Raw Pulled Pork Last?
In the case of meat the fresher the more delicious. If you’re looking to keep it in storage for a time it is possible to do this in both the refrigerator and the freezer. The length of time it lasts in both will vary.
The pork chops that are pulled like pork butt or the pork shoulder can be kept in the refrigerator for up to five days. To ensure the highest high-quality, the temperature in the refrigerator should be maintained under 40 degrees at all times and the meat must be stored inside an airtight container that is in the coldest area of the refrigerator.
If you’re looking to store the meat in its raw form for longer then you can freeze it for 4 -12 months. When you’re ready for cooking it, allow it at least 24 hours to let it thaw.
How To Cook Pulled Pork
There are many ways to slow-cook pulled pig. The most efficient method would be to grill it outdoors with wood, or slow-roast in the oven of a Dutch oven.
It is also possible to use either a pressure cooker or slow cooker, but this technique does not produce a crisp and delicious caramelization that is a distinctive feature of pulled pork prepared in the first two ways.
This is due to this slow cooker/pressure cooker method needing more liquid and does not include the section in which the meat is grilled.
Larger, stronger cuts of pork work well to cook pulled pork. A large amount of connective tissue requires some time to be broken down and prevents the pork from becoming dry throughout the long and slow cooking process.
Make these cuts of beef to make the most delicious pulled pork:
- Pork roast butt roast or Boston butt
- Pork shoulder
- Center-cut pork loin roast
How Long Can You Store Pulled Pork After Cooking?
It is not uncommon to end up with leftovers that require to be properly stored. There are a few ways to keep pulled pork in a safe place so that it maintains its flavor and flavor and can be eaten later.
Pulled pork should be kept refrigerated for 2 hours following it has been cooked. If it is left at room temperature for more than 2 hours won’t alter the taste, but it could expose the meat to other elements as well as contaminants.
The pulled pork can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. If you would like your leftover pulled pork in a longer time, it’s recommended to store them in a freezer.
Pulled pork can be kept frozen for 3 months following which even though it will be safe to eat but the quality could decrease. It is possible that the pork will get mushy and won’t be as tasty.
For a comprehensive guide to the length of time, pulled pork can last we recommend reading our previous post: How Long is Pulled Pork Useful?
Other Questions Asked
Now that you are aware of the process of freezing pulled pork, and how to keep its flavor and texture here are a few more concerns we believe you could be asking.
Can you eat cold pulled pork?
As long as the barbecued pork has been cooked first, at the proper internal temperature, you are able to consume it cold.
How do you know whether pulled pork is good or not?
The most effective way to determine the difference between pulled pork that has gone bad is to smell it. The pulled pork that has been soiled will produce a sour scent that will get stronger with time.
If you attempt cooking it in the oven, its unpleasant flavor and odor will get stronger. Also, look at whether the flesh is tender. If it becomes a slimy layer, or you observe strange growths, it’s the right time to dispose of it.
Last updated and verified on August 24th, 2022 by our editorial team.
