how to reheat pulled pork without drippings

No doubt, your taste buds beg for more after tasting pulled pork, but learning how to reheat pulled pork without drippings can make things even better.

If we eat pork right after it comes off the grill, we get to experience its whole range of flavors and softness.

Meat that has been left over must be reheated carefully to prevent a rapid decline in quality.

Reheat it the wrong way and you risk turning soft meat into something hard and chewy, leaving a nasty taste in the mouth.

So, what liquid to use to reheat pulled pork and how to do it properly?

You can use broth, apple juice, ACV, or a BBQ sauce to reheat pulled pork and do it in many different ways, using the oven, microwave, or crock pot. 

 How to Reheat Pulled Pork without Drippings?

how reheat the pulled pork without drippings

Reheating pulled pork without losing any of its original flavor or moisture requires careful storage in the first place.

You can try many different ways to reheat any leftover pulled pork using liquids like apple cider vinegar, apple juice, or broth.

And if you are worried about drippings or creating a mess, you can always vacuum seal it before cooking.

Tip: Always reheat thoroughly, as eating pulled pork when warm enough may increase the chances of getting Listeria and Salmonella. 

How to Store Pulled Pork to Reheat without Losing Flavor?

how to store the pulled pork

For starters, always vacuum seal your pulled pork in individual portions.

It can be frustrating to try to squeeze as much food as possible into the fridge when you consider the containers.  

The leftover barbecue can be saved by letting it cool fully, then dividing it into portions and sealing it in vacuum bags.

When you vacuum seal food, you prevent food from going to waste at home. More than that, though, it affects how you keep frozen foods. 

Note

You can quickly bring the temperature down to below 40F by placing it in a waterproof bag and then burying it in an ice-filled cooler. 

How Many Times Can You Reheat Pulled Pork after Proper Storage?

Reheating pulled pork repeatedly exposes it to temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees, where germs thrive.

how many times can you reheat

Technically, you lower the risk of bacterial overgrowth in reheated pork when it is cooled quickly.

This means pork can be reheated, cooled, and refrigerated multiple times. However, the meat’s quality will suffer greatly if you reheat it more than once. 

Note

You can get Salmonella by reheating pork more than once, so it is best to store it in single-serving containers and only reheat it once. 

How Do You Reheat Pulled Pork without Drippings?

You can try a number of ways to reheat pulled pork and turn it into something delicious again.

But, if you are more concerned about creating any mess, you can always opt for the sous vide technique.

Tip: Try fritters with pulled pork for a crunchier option that even toddlers would love. 

How to Heat Pulled Pork Sous Vide Style

how heat pulled pork

The method of reheating via sous vide is excellent. It is a method that involves cooking meat in a vacuum pack by letting it sit in boiling water.

You should have vacuum-sealed the pulled pork before storing it so it may be reheated in a pot of boiling water.

Here are the steps to follow: 

Step # 1: Heat the Water

As per the USDA recommendations, you need to cook pork up to 160F. Therefore, it is best to start by heating water in a saucepan to 170F. 

Note: You can reheat your pulled pork to higher temperatures, but 170F is a safe temperature. 

Step # 2: Put the Pulled Pork into the Pot

put pulled pork in pot

Take your vacuum-packed pork and add it to the pot for cooking.

By creating a vacuum with the pack and boiling water, the pulled pork within your pack gets warmed.

This will help your pulled pork have a lot of the same flavor and texture it had after being smoked or grilled for the first time. 

Note: It is a good idea to soak your pulled pork in water for at least half an hour. Leave it in for about 45 minutes if you reheat frozen pulled pork.

Step # 3: Get the Pork Out of the Bag

After removing the bag, wait a few minutes. After that, carefully cut open the vacuum pack and serve the warmed pulled pork.

Tip: Serve the pulled pork with cornbread because they are a time-honored combination, so pairing these two is a safe bet. 

How Do You Reheat Pulled Pork in Microwave?

how to reheat in microwave

If you are on the lookout for the quickest way to reheat pulled pork, you should go you’re your microwave.

The microwave is great for reheating pulled pork because of how easy and convenient it is to use.

It is a good idea to reheat a small amount at a time to get the best results.

Here is how to do it: 

Step # 1: Put the Pork into a Dish

Take a microwave-safe container or dish and place the pulled pork in it.  Always go with smaller portions or as much as you can eat in one sitting. 

Step # 2: Use a Liquid

Be sure to use some BBQ sauce or ACV to add a bit of juice to your pulled pork.

Never ignore this important step or there will be no juice for reheating and your pulled pork will turn out to be dry. 

Step # 3: Put it in the Microwave

put in the microwave

Once you have prepared the pulled pork, you need to place it in the microwave.

Turn on the heat and let it sit for a couple of minutes.

Step # 4: Check the Temperature

To ensure you have warmed it nicely, you need to ensure that the internal temperature is around 165F.

If it is under the desired temperature, you may want to reheat it for another 30 seconds. 

Step # 5: Serve!

Once warmed, take your pulled pork out of the microwave and recheck the temperature.

If it looks perfect, you are ready to serve it! 

How Do You Reheat Pulled Pork in Oven?

how to reheat in the oven

In case you have the time and oven space, we strongly advise you to use this approach to reheat pulled pork.

This is a healthier option for reheating large quantities of pulled pork and may be a smart choice if you have a lot of pork to reheat.

  1. Preheat your oven to 250F only, as higher temperatures can dry it out.
  2. Add pulled pork to a baking dish.
  3. Add some liquid before you begin cooking.
  4. Cover the pan using foil after adding some juices to the meat.
  5. Leave it covered and put it in the oven.
  6. Keep heating for a few minutes or until the internal temperature is 165F.
  7. Take it out of the oven and recheck the temperature.
  8. Add some more sauces and juices before serving. 

How Do You Reheat Pulled Pork in the Crockpot?

With a crockpot, you can put food in it and walk away for a while.

You do not have to keep an eye on the meat as it warms in an oven at 250 degrees for an interminable amount of time.

If you cooked the meat and set aside any of the drippings or fluids, this technique will work even better.

Then you can put that in the slow cooker to keep the food wet and flavorful.

  • Take your pulled pork and put it in the crockpot.
  • Add whatever leftover juices you have to the pot before cooking.
  • Set the crockpot to the “warm” setting and let it cook for 2-4 hours.
  • Keep cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165F.
  • Remove it from the crockpot once the desired temperature is achieved. 

Important Considerations for Reheating Pulled Pork

an important considerations

Reheated food, especially pork, poses a significant health risk due to the proliferation of harmful microorganisms.

Therefore, you should ensure that you cook it for long enough to eliminate salmonella, E. coli, staphylococcus, and other bacteria.

Be sure to invest in a good thermometer to check the internal temperature accurately.

Tip: To amplify the overall taste of pulled pork, you can always pair it with some spicy collard greens, which work great for those looking for southern side dishes. 

Takeaway

Learning how to reheat pulled pork without drippings can save you from a lot of hassle while bringing that stored pork back to life.

You can try various methods, and reheat the shredded pork in the oven, microwave, or crockpot.

Just be sure to use the right sauce or liquid before cooking to ensure your pulled pork turns out juicy and flavorful.