There is no question that smoked pulled pork takes the crown every time. But if you really want that juicy pulled pork sandwich quick, Instant Pot pulled pork will do the trick. The problem with pulled pork made in a pressure cooker is that it tends to taste bland and the meat comes out a little dry and tough in my opinion. The added liquid required for building up pressure dilutes the flavor and ruins the texture. My solution to make pressure cooked pork butt taste better is to cook it in isolation from any added liquids. You want the pork to cook in its own fat and juices. This way the meat will be more flavorful, juicy and have a softer texture.
The best way to make pulled pork in a Instant Pot
So, how do you do that? It’s very simple. All you need to do is cook the meat in mason jars. Just cut up 3 pounds of pork butt into 2-inch pieces, stuff into four 16-ounce mason jars, put the lids on and cook in a pressure cooker. This method is not new, this is how canned meat is made anyway, and is similar to canned pork. But it works like magic for making pulled pork. Sounds pretty simple, right? Does it make a difference? Absolutely! Cooked this way, pulled pork tastes a dozen times better and has a superior texture.
What if you don’t have or don’t want to use mason jars?
No problem! Simply wrap seasoned pork pieces tightly in several layers of heavy duty aluminum foil, place on the rack inside your Instant Pot and cook like that. I tested this method several times and it works very well too.
How long to cook pork using this method?
This depends on what kind of texture and tenderness you want to achieve. Here is a summary table that will be of help.
Dry rub for pork butt
Oh, and don’t forget to put a good rub on the meat. Even smoked pork benefits from a good dry rub. If you want to give the meat that awesome smoky flavor you can add some liquid smoke. I provided the recipe for my special homemade pulled pork dry rub below. I’ve been using this rub for years on anything from pork butts to pork loins and even chicken. It makes any meat taste great.
Tips
Do let the pressure cooker depressurize naturally. If you don’t a fair amount of the liquids from the jars will get expelled. You want all the juices to stay inside the jars. This is less of an issue if using foil. The liquid inside the jars will be very hot even after a 20 minute natural depressurization. Carefully remove the jars from the pressure cooker using a jar lifter, or a towel, and let cool down for about 20 minutes before opening. Open the jars slowly and carefully to avoid spilling hot liquids. Any unopened jars must still be refrigerated. They will keep in the fridge for a few weeks easily. When wrapping pork butt in foil, keep all seams at the top to prevent water from getting in and natural juices from leaking out.
Must try recipes that use pulled pork
Diana Rattray’s Macaroni and Cheese with Pulled Pork Pulled Pork King Ranch Casserole by Serene from House of Yumm Diana Rattray’s Pulled Pork Barbecue Biscuit Cups Pulled Pork Shepherd’s Pie by Steve from The Black Peppercorn Marian Blazes’ s Arepas With Pulled Pork and Cilantro Garlic Mayonnaise Leftover Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese by Janelle from Num’s the Word Derrick Riches’s Fresh Pulled Pork Spring Rolls With Mustard Barbecue Dipping Sauce Diana Rattray’s Pulled Pork Barbecue Biscuit Cups
