Are you left with a little bit of leftover pulled pork juice after cooking your delicious pork dish?
Don’t worry, I’ve got some great ideas for you on how to reuse that flavorful goodness.
From adding it to a stir-fry to using it as a marinade, read on for our top tips on how to make the most of your leftovers.
Let’s check them out right now.
Make a BBQ sauce
If you have around two cups of pulled pork juice, try using it to make a BBQ sauce.
Just season your juice with salt and pepper to taste, then stir in one cup of ketchup or chili sauce, half a cup each of brown sugar and vinegar, plus three tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce.
Bring this all up to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes.
This way, you’ll be using up the last little bits of your leftover in a delicious BBQ sauce.
Add to stir-fries
The leftover juice can also be added to stir-frys or even soups for an extra boost of flavor.
You can add it when you sauté meats like beef or chicken, in addition to vegetables like peas, corn, and green beans.
Use as a marinade
If you have any leftover juice, don’t forget that it can even be used to make pulled pork sandwiches.
Just add your juice to a saucepan and cook until reduced by half its original volume (this should only take five minutes).
Then mix with pulled pork to make a delicious marinade.
Add to soups
As mentioned above, you can also try adding leftover juice to soups.
Just add your juice along with some fresh vegetables like carrots or celery then simmer until the vegetables are cooked through.
You can even use the same method as in No. 2 to make a tasty soup base.
Add to stews
Next, you can try adding your leftover juice to stews, either before cooking or after.
Just be sure not to add too much juice, as this could affect the flavor of your meal.
Make a sandwich spread
If you want to use up your leftover juice fast, why not try making a sandwich spread?
Just combine equal parts of mayonnaise and pulled pork juice then season with salt and pepper.
Use this as a sandwich spread (like you would if you were using mustard) and enjoy it with crackers or veggies.
Add to rice for an extra flavorful side dish
Another great option is adding the leftover juice to a pot of rice.
Just add your juice and some additional veggies, either fresh or frozen peas, green beans, corn kernels, or carrots.
Then simmer for 15 minutes with a lid on – that’s it.
Drizzle it over some roasted vegetables for an added boost of flavor
Finally, try drizzling your leftover pulled pork juice over some roasted vegetables.
This is especially good if you still have some fresh bell peppers or squash that are about to go bad – just cut them up into cubes and coat in oil, salt, pepper then roast until tender.
Then splash on some leftover pulled pork juice for a tasty boost of flavor.
Do you drain the juice from pulled pork?
Yes, you should do that.
If you are cooking pulled pork, you should add liquid smoke.
Put the pork in a slow cooker and cook it on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours.
When it is done, take it out and shred it.
Drain the juice from the slow cooker and put the pork back in.
Then add barbecue sauce.
Can you overdo pulled pork?
Yes, if it is hard to pull the meat apart, it is either overcooked or undercooked.
You can also use your fingers to pull the meat apart.
However, this might make the meat too mushy if you pull it too much.
Why is my pulled pork watery?
It’s because the pork will absorb the flavor of the sauce and make it even more tender.
If the sauce looks too thin and runny, while the pork is in another bowl being shredded, pour BBQ sauce into a pan.
Reduce your BBQ sauce to the consistency you desire.
This usually takes around 10 minutes.
How do you keep pulled pork moist?
If the pork is overcooked, it will be dry.
You can add water or chicken stock to a slow cooker to help the meat stay moist.
If there are leftovers, eat them within 3 days.
How do you make pulled pork less greasy?
You can use a lean cut or remove some fat before cooking it.
After it is cooked, pull the meat right before you shred it and set it aside.
Next, strain the juice and remove the fast as much as you can.
What liquid do you cook pulled pork in?
You can cook pulled pork in water, apple juice, broth, or beer.
Put everything in a large slow cooker and let it cook until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily. (source)
Should I drain fat from pulled pork?
Yes, you should.
As the pork cooks, the flavors and juices will mix in with the sauce, making it more delicious.
So, if you don’t want the sauce to be greasy, remember that most of the fat should be removed.
For the remaining liquid, you should thicken it into something like a tomato BBQ sauce (source)
Can you overcook pulled pork?
Yes, it is possible to overcook pulled pork.
This is because the connective tissue breaks down and the muscle fibers turn to mush.
You want your pork to be pull-apart tender, but not so cooked that it becomes mushy. (source)
How do you remove fat from pulled pork juice?
To remove the fat from pulled pork juice, pour it into a container such as a jar.
Put a cover on it and place it in the fridge.
Once it gets cold, the fat will turn solid at the top and leave the tasty juices at the bottom.
Remove and discard the solid fat with a spoon.
Why is my pulled pork tough?
The connective tissue in the meat has to break down and melt away for the pork to be cooked properly.
This takes time.
How do I know my pulled pork is finished cooking?
You know it’s finished when you can pierce it with a fork easily and falls apart by applying just a small pressure on it.
If the pork is cooked on the bone, it should be falling apart at this stage. (source)
Conclusion
If you’re looking to use up leftover pulled pork juice, then don’t worry.
There are plenty of delicious ways that you can do just that.
I’ve provided some ideas on how to reuse your leftovers in this article and I hope it helps you get started thinking about what tasty dishes will be coming off the stove soon.
Which of these tips did you find most useful?