In a word, yes. If pork shoulder or pork butt is allowed to cook past 210 degrees or so, the meat will begin to dry out. This will affect the quality of your pulled pork, even if you smother the meat in barbecue sauce before serving it.
Is it possible to overcook pulled pork?
Yes, it is possible to overcook beef and pork. The muscle fibers go through stages of tough-tender-tough, so yes, after too long a time you get tough, dry meat. Also, the cut of meat matters.
What happens when you over cook pulled pork?
By the way, just as it’s possible to overcook beef in a beef stew, it’s quite possible to overcook pulled pork. You want your pork to be pull-apart tender—an indication that the connective tissue has broken down—but not so cooked that the muscle fibers themselves start to lose structure and turn to mush.
Does pulled pork get more tender the longer you cook it?
Don’t worry about messing up pork shoulder.
It becomes more tender as it cooks and benefits from a lengthy cook time, so even if it stays on the heat a few minutes too long, you won’t suddenly end up with something dry or rubbery.
Can you overdo pulled pork?
Overcooked meat is a common issue, especially among beginners. If you cook the meat too fast over high heat, the meat won’t achieve the fall-apart texture that makes pulled pork so desirable. In fact, it may be quite dry and tough.
Why is my pulled pork tough?
If you don’t cook the connective tissue properly, it will be tough and rubbery. The connective tissue has to break down and literally melt away in the meat. This takes time.
What does overcooked pork look like?
Some products may brown before reaching the target endpoint temperature combination. Others may be pink when prepared to the proper temperature. Cooking all pork to a white or tan color will result in overcooked meat that often is less flavorful, juicy and enjoyable.
How do you know if pork shoulder is overcooked?
If the pork shoulder is still tough at the end of the cooking cycle, and sort of rubbery and dry, great chances are that it’s overcooked. Pork shoulder that’s perfectly cooked should be tender and juicy, and not dry and tough, or too tender, mushy with no texture.
Why does pork shoulder take so long to cook?
If the meat is too cold when it hits the grill, it will take even longer to cook. You can also take this time to season the pork butt with a BBQ rub if you haven’t already done so.
How do I know if my pulled pork is done?
The pork is done when it is fork-tender (when the meat can be easily pierced with a fork without resistance and easily falls apart with a little pressure). If you’re cooking pork on the bone, the meat should be falling off the bone.
How do you keep pulled pork from mushy?
I love having my pulled pork on a bun, but it can get sloppy. There’s an easy way to avoid this, though. Simply place your buns inside-up on a baking sheet and place under the broiler in your oven for 1-2 minutes, until it turns golden brown. This helps to keep your buns from getting super soggy.
How long does pulled pork have to be cooked for?
Cover and cook on LOW (recommended) 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until pork is tender and shreds easily with a fork.
What temperature does pulled pork fall apart?
Return pork to the grill (or smoker) The pork is finished cooking when it pulls apart easily and reaches an internal temperature of 190 to 195 degrees F, about another 1 to 2 hours.
Can you slow cook pork for 24 hours?
Put the joint into the preheated oven with the fat side up and roast for 30 minutes, then turn the heat down to 110C and be brave and leave it for 24 hours! Basting every few hours will help; you’ll be amazed how much fat comes out. These juices can be later added to your gravy or to roast your potatoes.