Pulled Pork - After the Cook

HofstraJet

Preparing to cook my first Boston Butt this weekend for pulled pork.  I found numerous threads on how to cook it and can handle that part, but what do I do with it once cooked? Rest? FTC? How do you pull and serve it? Favorite condiments? Sides? Other tricks?

I will, of course, post pics as the journey progresses.

Thanks!

lkapigian

I like to,rest butt/brisket several hours the I beak up with tongs, don't like it fully shredded ....sides , coleslaw IMO is a must ...liking forward to pictures 

lousubcap

What follows is a classic pulled pork recipe:
http://www.nakedwhiz.com/elder.htm  Much more than you likely are looking for but take away what you want.  No rest required depending on your skill to nail the finish time.  Rest (FTC) won't hurt the cook.  FWIW-

Legume

Personally, I like it best as a sandwich, but it's great most any way.

I prefer Kings Hawaiian bread, rolls or buns (you pick the shape).  Sauce the pork well with a sauce that has plenty of vinegar - you can make your own from a recipe or you can mix cider vinegar and a basic BBQ sauce 50/50.  Mix it into the pork.  Put whatever you want on the sandwich, but I like to make sure I've got plenty of onion and a few good pickle slices - bread and butter if you've got em.  Simple is always good.

Then go crazy with the leftovers, tons of great ideas on the forum, like pizza, nachos, eggrolls, tacos, on and on.

Carolina Q

You won't go wrong with Elder Ward.

Personally, I never rest or FTC a butt. Unless it finishes before time to eat. When it's done, it comes off the egg and gets pulled and/or chopped, depending on my mood. Then, it gets sprinkled with a little eastern NC vinegar sauce (see Ward for a recipe), mixed well and served (with more sauce of course).

MUST serve with cole slaw (I prefer KFC style. Topsecretrecipes.com has a great KFC clone if you'd prefer to make your own.  I like it on a cheap hamburger bun.

Baked beans are good. Fries of course. Or chips. 

Enjoy!

Elijah

If it does get done early, wait until the last minute to pull it. After you pull it it'll dry out quick.

SmokeyPitt

Pulled pork is one of my favorites. I feel like I could go on and on so but I will try to list some highlights:

• Vinegar based sauce. Even if you think you don't like vinegar based sauce...get some vinegar based sauce. 
• If you expect leftovers, try to bag them as soon as you pull. Food saver is great here or just ziploc. Add some of the aforementioned vinegar based sauce to the bag. 
• Totally agree with @lkapigian on not fully shredded. I like a "chunky" pull. I like to use heat resistant silicone gloves. 
• Cheap white buns, cole slaw, pickles, a few of different sauces. I like to have the vinegar based, mustard based, and a "crowd pleaser" like sweet baby rays. 
• Consider slider buns so you can experiment with different sammiches.

Carolina Q

@SmokeyPitt, tell me you didn't really suggest SBR!!

SmokeyPitt

Carolina Q said:

@SmokeyPitt, tell me you didn't really suggest SBR!!

The "crowd pleaser"...for the unrefined palates. 

lousubcap

Unfortunately I know where @SmokeyPitt is coming from.  And he is right for the "fan favorite" sauce.  Offered to please the guests but when it is intentionally withheld a learning experience happens as they try something else. 

StillH2OEgger

There is no wrong way to enjoy a pork butt, unless you really want to get weird with it.

Judy Mayberry

I've heard of and tried adding real Coca Cola to the pulled pork. That was years ago, and it was very good. My favorite was told to me by Pork Butt Mike: half Kraft BBQ Sauce and half Wishbone Italian Dressing. It's my standby, in a squirt bottle in the refrigerator.

HofstraJet

Thanks, everyone. This cook got postponed so into the freezer it goes. 

Legume

Tease.

THEBuckeye

Buzz Kill