Reheating pulled pork for a party

[ron50]

I'm making a few pork butts today for the game Sunday which should be done some time late tonight.
After they are done and sit in the cooler for a few hours I was going to pull them and put them in a pan in the fridge to cool, then vacuum seal them and freeze them.

We are heading to a friend house about 6PM Sunday for a Super Bowl party. What's the best way to heat them so they are back up to temperature for the party?

We are only a 5 minute ride away from their place.

Thanks.

 

[BigW.]

Since Sunday is only 3 days away, you can skip the freeze step. There are several threads on here on reheating. Depends if you have a SV, crock pot, roaster oven etc. All will work fine. I'd try and split the pork into several (5-10 containers/packages) spread out in order to cool quickly. 2 fridges or even an hour or two in the freezer may work. 3 butts will take a while to cool down. Enjoy the party.

 

[jcam222]

I'd also skip freezing any you plan on using Sunday. I like to make sure I have plenty of liquid gold that I defat. On game day I go roaster pan and mix in the liquid gold. Always gets devoured. Honestly may be better this way than fresh.

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

If it was me. I’d pull them after the rest and vacuum seal it in bags, leave in the fridge and come game day out the bags in a pot of boiling water to reheat. Should take maybe 20 minutes if you have a big pot you can do all at once or do them in batches. Make a finishing sauce to add to them and save the juice from when you pull it mix it in as you open the bags and will taste just like it came off the smoker

 

[mr mac]

If it was me. I’d pull them after the rest and vacuum seal it in bags, leave in the fridge and come game day out the bags in a pot of boiling water to reheat. Should take maybe 20 minutes if you have a big pot you can do all at once or do them in batches. Make a finishing sauce to add to them and save the juice from when you pull it mix it in as you open the bags and will taste just like it came off the smoker

Exactly what we do for church functions. Been doing it this way for years now.

 

[crankybuzzard]

I'm weird, so I'm told, I take the vac packed meat from the refrigerator, drop them into a pot, still in the vac bag, add water to cover, and then put the pot on a medium heat and let it come to a boil slowly.

Once the water begins to boil, I shut off the heat and let the bags sit for 30-45 minutes in the bag in the water.

 

[ron50]

Thanks for all the advice. I was concerned leaving the meat in the refrigerator for 3 days but it sounds like the way to go.

 

[okie sawbones]

Sous vide

 

[HalfSmoked]

3 days in the fridge is no problem as long as it was properly cool remember it's also smoked.
Heating in boiling water would be my way to go.

Warren

 

[sandyut]

I'd also skip freezing any you plan on using Sunday. I like to make sure I have plenty of liquid gold that I defat. On game day I go roaster pan and mix in the liquid gold. Always gets devoured. Honestly may be better this way than fresh.

This! Best and easiest way.

Hell I’ve done it on a stove top with beer, sauce..it’s all good. Dont freeze it for three days tho - just making it difficult.

 

[GatorAGR]

I'm in the same boat. Smoking a butt today for the game tomorrow. What kinds of finishing sauces do you guys make and do you just mix that sauce in with the pulled meat before serving?

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

I'm in the same boat. Smoking a butt today for the game tomorrow. What kinds of finishing sauces do you guys make and do you just mix that sauce in with the pulled meat before serving?

JJ’s finishing sauce. (RIP)

JJ's Tangy Pulled Pork Finishing Sauce

Tangy Pulled Pork Finishing Sauce Reposting by itself to make it easier to find...JJ☺ This is a popular Finishing Sauce to enhance the flavor of Pulled Pork, pulled Chicken or Shredded Beef. It is similar to an Eastern North Carolina style Finishing Sauce, but more complex... 2 C Apple Cider...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

I’ve used is since I found the recipe. And always got compliments. I’ll mix some in while I’m pulling the pork and leave a bottle out for people to add to it. I also make a hotter version which is pretty much the same but with a lot of cayenne.

 

[GatorAGR]

JJ’s finishing sauce. (RIP)

JJ's Tangy Pulled Pork Finishing Sauce

Tangy Pulled Pork Finishing Sauce Reposting by itself to make it easier to find...JJ☺ This is a popular Finishing Sauce to enhance the flavor of Pulled Pork, pulled Chicken or Shredded Beef. It is similar to an Eastern North Carolina style Finishing Sauce, but more complex... 2 C Apple Cider...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

I’ve used is since I found the recipe. And always got compliments. I’ll mix some in while I’m pulling the pork and leave a bottle out for people to add to it. I also make a hotter version which is pretty much the same but with a lot of cayenne.

Cool. So just add enough to keep the meat a little moist I assume?

 

[gmc2003]

I've been using this sauce recently on my PP sammies. I bought it by accident once and haven't looked back.

Chris

 

[SmokingUPnorth]

Cool. So just add enough to keep the meat a little moist I assume?

Yeah it should still be pretty moist. But I’ll give it all a little splash, taste it, another splash and go from there. It’s really up to everyone’s preference depending on how much of the flavor you like.

 

[801driver]

Late here, but I have found chicken broth works well to keep PB moist while reheating. Hope everyone has a great game day.

 

[ron50]

I'm in the same boat. Smoking a butt today for the game tomorrow. What kinds of finishing sauces do you guys make and do you just mix that sauce in with the pulled meat before serving?

I really like this finishing sauce.

SoFlaQuer's Finishing Sauce (For Pulled Pork)

I copied this to a separate post due to the requests for it! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Finishing Sauce I use is as follows: 1 Cup Cider Vinegar 2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar 1 Teaspoon Tony Chachere's Cajun Seasoning 1 Teaspoon Course...

www.smokingmeatforums.com

 

[darthdingus7]

I plan on reheating by souse vide. Can I get clarification on something? Is it best practice to let the butts rest/cool and then put the entire butt in a vac seal bag and then reheat or let it rest/cool and then shred, place in bag, and reheat?

 

[chef k-dude]

Definitely pull when the butt is cool enough to handle, then foodsaver/vac, not the whole butt, although if you have bags big enough I suppose you could!

I haven't made PP in a few years, got tired of it if you can believe that. It's usually just me and my wife, so I portion 8oz (two servings) and foodsaver those small packs. What I do is frowned upon by many, I thaw it at room temp, then pop the still sealed bag in the microwave and hit it for 30 seconds, let it rest, feel it, and bump it again if needed right before serving...right out of the bag.

Some people say the plastic is bad for you (BPA free supposedly these days though), some people will tell you microwaving the bags is bad for you. I find it very convenient for many foods. Knowing my luck I could be paranoid about plastic then turn around and get hit by a bus...life is short!...ya never know...

As far as sauce, my finishing sauce is very similar to JJ's with the Lexington option. All "to taste" as far as how much to use. I have three basic BBQ sauce recipes I use. The more vinegary Carolina style finishing sauce, a thicker heavier sort of "standard" BBQ sauce, and one tweaked right in-between. I never use the thicker sauce on stuff like pulled pork, only on Ribs, etc.. The finishing sauce is too thin for my preference for adding right at the point of eating, I use that after pulling for general moisture and tang and let the meat soak it up. The in-between sauce is what I use when serving/eating pulled pork.

 

[bradger]

if you are vacuum sealing i think reheating via the sous vid would be the best way.