Oftentimes, you make pulled pork in large batches. It’s no surprise that you may have opted to freeze some for later on. If you’re wanting to reheat the pork to make a delicious pulled pork sandwich, then you’ll have a few options to choose from below.
You can use the oven, the microwave, or the stovetop to reheat your pulled pork after it’s been frozen. You can choose to defrost your pulled pork or simply heat it straight from frozen.
Pulled pork can be a great addition to many dishes or it can be enjoyed on its own. It’s a popular barbecue dish and you’ll be able to enjoy it whenever you want. That’s the benefit of having some stashed away in your freezer for a last-minute dinner rescue!
Depending on how you have your pork sealed, it could last up to six months in the freezer. With pulled pork, it’s a good idea to vacuum seal it if you have the means to do so. This ensures that the pork retains its original quality and doesn’t dry out.
However, if you have the pork in a firmly sealed container — it should stay just fine for many months. You’ll want to date the pork when you put it into the freezer, so you remember when it was originally frozen.
It can be smart to freeze the pork in individual portions so you can remove what you want to eat. Once you defrost pulled pork, you don’t want to refreeze it. This will be detrimental to the overall quality of the meat.
While you don’t have to defrost your pulled pork for all recipes, it can be beneficial to the overall texture. It’s less likely to have a chance to dry out since you won’t have to heat it for as long.
If you decide you want to thaw out your pulled pork, the best way to do this is by letting it defrost in the fridge overnight. However, you can also use a cool water bath if you’re short on time.
For the overnight method, you’ll simply want to remove your pulled pork from the freezer and place it into the fridge. Depending on how much you’re defrosting, this may take up to 8 hours. By the next day, your pork should be thawed and ready to use in whatever recipe you have in mind.
How to Reheat Frozen Pulled Pork in the Oven
When warming up your frozen pulled pork, you ideally want to do it low and slow. This ensures the pork retains its original moisture and doesn’t dry out on you. The oven is a great method for doing this, as you can slowly heat the pork at a low temperature.
Preheat your oven to 250 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place your pulled pork into a baking dish, adding a splash of water or broth to it.
Heat the pork for 20-25 minutes, depending on how much you have.
Carefully remove the dish from the oven once the pork is heated.
Allow the pulled pork a few minutes to cool down before enjoying your meal.
The splash of water or broth is beneficial towards keeping the pork moist. After being in the freezer for a few months, it’s only natural it would be a bit drier. Overall, this is the ideal method for reheating your frozen pulled pork.
If you are reheating your pulled pork from frozen, you’ll simply want to increase the baking time. You should start checking the pork after 20 minutes and adding increments of 5-7 minutes from there.
How to Reheat Frozen Pulled Pork in the Microwave
Due to the steam created in the microwave, you don’t have to add extra water or broth to your pulled pork. Unsurprisingly, the microwave will be the quickest option for reheating your pulled pork. It may only take you a few minutes in total.
Place your pulled pork into a microwave-safe dish.
Heat the pork for 1-2 minutes before checking on it.
If the pork is still cold in the center, heat for another minute or two.
Remove the dish from the microwave and give the pork time to cool.
Serve up your pork however you wish and enjoy!
If you want to microwave pulled pork from frozen without defrosting it first, you can certainly do so. You’ll want to increase the microwave heating time to 3-4 minutes. You may find that you need to mix the pork around to ensure it’s heating evenly.
How to Reheat Frozen Pulled Pork on the Stovetop
The stovetop method can be a great choice when reheating frozen pulled pork. Whether it’s defrosted or still frozen, you can follow the same steps and adjust the cooking time.
Preheat your pan on low heat, with a splash of water or broth.
Add in your pulled pork (either frozen or defrosted).
Heat the pork for a few moments before stirring it and adding more liquid if necessary.
Continue heating the pulled pork until it’s warmed all the way through.
Turn off the stove and remove the pork before enjoying it.
The length of time that you heat your pork will depend on the quantity that you’re working with. If you have a single serving, it may only take a few minutes. If you’re feeding a family, it may take 10-12 minutes in total.
In Conclusion
Pulled pork can be an incredibly versatile dish and can be enjoyed with a variety of different sides. If you have some stashed away in your freezer, it’s probably time to take it out and enjoy it again.
Depending on your timeframe, you can use the oven, the microwave, or the stovetop to reheat your pork. All of these methods work wonderfully and the steps are simple to follow. If you have smoked pulled pork, you have similar methods to follow.
You may find that you need to add a splash of water or broth to the pork. This is to keep it extra moist while it’s reheating. Pulled pork can dry out easily, so you want to avoid this using a few tips above.
