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  1. Home
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  4. How to Make Pulled Pork

How to Make Pulled Pork

By Food & Wine Updated September 30, 2016
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Variation: Western Carolina Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
Chef Sean Brock is a Carolina-barbecue scholar, too. Here, his grill-and-oven method for Carolina pulled pork, plus three key sauces.
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The Mission: DIY Pulled Pork

How to Make Pulled Pork: Toss Pork with Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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  • Chef Sean Brock's Tips for Pulled Pork

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First: Roast the Pork

How to Make Pulled Pork: Brush Pork with Mustard Mixture
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Set the pork shoulder, fat side up, in doubled 14-by-18-inch disposable aluminum roasting pans. Brush the pork with the mustard mixture.

  • Best Wines for Barbecue

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Roast the Pork
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Roast, uncovered, until the meat is very tender and is pulling away from the shoulder bone. Tilt the pan and pour the roasting juices into a medium bowl; you should have about 1 1/4 cups.

  • Pork Recipes and Cooking Tips

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Skim the Fat
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Refrigerate the juices for 30 minutes. Skim off the fat before using.

  • Pulled Pork Recipes

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Next: Grill the Pork

How to Make Pulled Pork: Hot Coals
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Meanwhile, light 10 of the charcoal briquettes. When the coals are hot, cover them with the remaining 40 briquettes. When all the coals are hot, arrange 6 cups of the soaked wood chips around the coals.

  • Grilling Tips from Star Chefs

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Smoke the Pork
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Set the roasting pan on the grill grate over the coals and wood chips. Cover the grill, partially open the air vents and smoke the pork shoulder.

  • Tips for Smoked Foods

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Pull Pork Off the Bones
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Transfer the pork to a work surface and let rest for 30 minutes. Pull the meat off of the bones; discard the bones, gristle, skin and fat.

  • Chef Sean Brock's Tips for Pulled Pork

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Shred the Pork
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Using tongs and a fork, or your fingers, finely shred the meat and transfer it to a large bowl.

  • Best Wines for Barbecue

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Toss Pork with Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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Toss the shredded meat with 1/4 cup of the reserved roasting juices and serve with one of the three barbecue sauces.

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Eastern Carolina Sauce

How to Make Pulled Pork: Eastern Carolina Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup of the reserved roasting juices with white wine vinegar and cider vinegar.

  • Tim Love on How to Make the Best BBQ Sauce

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Eastern Carolina Sauce
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Add dark brown sugar and sweet smoked paprika, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

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How to Make Pulled Pork: Eastern Carolina Sauce
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Season with salt, pepper and hot sauce.

  • Recipe for Eastern Carolina Barbecue Sauce

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Variation: Southern Carolina Barbecue Sauce

Variation: Southern Carolina Barbecue Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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To make Southern Carolina Barbecue Sauce, stir yellow mustard into the Eastern Carolina Sauce. Simmer over moderate heat for 30 minutes, until thickened.

  • Recipe for Southern Carolina Barbecue Sauce

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Variation: Western Carolina Sauce

Variation: Western Carolina Sauce
Credit: Photo © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com
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To make Western Carolina Barbecue Sauce, stir ketchup into the Eastern Carolina Sauce. Simmer over moderate heat for 30 minutes, until thickened.

  • Recipe for Western Carolina Barbecue Sauce

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    1 of 14 The Mission: DIY Pulled Pork
    2 of 14 First: Roast the Pork
    3 of 14
    4 of 14
    5 of 14 Next: Grill the Pork
    6 of 14
    7 of 14
    8 of 14
    9 of 14
    10 of 14 Eastern Carolina Sauce
    11 of 14
    12 of 14
    13 of 14 Variation: Southern Carolina Barbecue Sauce
    14 of 14 Variation: Western Carolina Sauce

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