Revive Your Pulled Pork: Expert Tips for Fixing Dry Meat? [Complete Guide]

Who doesn’t enjoy some juicy, tender shredded pork in their sandwich? Just the idea of it is enough to make you drool! When pulled pork is a

Has your pulled pork become too dry? There are multiple reasons why this happened to your pork. But don’t worry, it’s fixable, and we are here with solutions!

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How to fix dry pulled pork?

Adding beef and chicken broth to your pulled pork in a 1:1 ratio is a way to fix dry pulled pork. Once you’ve mixed your pulled pork with the broth, add apple juice or bbq sauce to jazz up the taste. The broth masks the flavor of the bbq sauce, so the taste is not too overpowering.

We know how disappointing it can be to bite into pulled pork that has dried out. After all, pulled is loved for its tender texture and juicy taste. Lucky for you, there are ways you can fix this.

We have put together this article for all those of you that are worried about your dry pulled pork! Here is everything you need to know.

2 Reasons Why Is My Pulled Pork Dry

Everyone who craves pulled pork expects a rich, juicy taste and moist texture. Dry pulled pork doesn’t strike the taste buds the same way.

So, how can pulled pork become dry? Find out how to stay clear of such situations!

1. Inadequate Rest Time

Giving your pork enough time to rest after cooking is essential. The meat becomes moist while it’s cooked. This moisture can only seep into the meat and settle down when it has enough time to cool.

So, reducing the rest time can result in dry meat. The edges of the pork shoulder may still be juicy, but the central portion becomes dry.

2. Cooking at Excessively High Temperatures

Typically, cooks like their pulled pork have an internal temperature of not more than 205 degrees. This temperature is enough for the texture to become soft and moist.

Cooking pulled pork at higher temperatures can leave it dry. So, to avoid overcooked pulled pork, keep the cooking temperature under 205 degrees.

Fixing Dry Pulled Pork

It is impossible to make dry pulled pork taste exactly like perfectly cooked pork, but you can get close!

We’ve discussed precisely what you must do if you have dinner to serve and need a quick fix!

Overcooking pulled pork is not a mistake you can come fully come back from. But don’t worry, there are always ways to improve the taste of dry pulled pork.

You can add certain liquids to your pulled pork to make it tastier again. These include apple juice, apple cider vinegar, bbq sauce, and chicken broth.

Picking the best product on the market always helps you get good results.

Here are our top recommendations:

Mott’s 100% Apple Juice
Sweet Baby Rays Barbecue Sauce (Gluten-free option)

Some others also prefer using compound butter. If you want to use compound butter, we recommend using the Oxley Compound Butter.

Please don’t forget to check the expiry on the package; you don’t want to be using stale, old butter!

The liquids we use for the pulled pork, such as vinegar and bbq sauce, have an overpowering flavor.

If the flavor is too strong for your taste, you can add beef or chicken broth to balance it out.

If none of this worked and you’re still disappointed with your pulled pork, here’s plan B:

Firstly, wrap the pork with foil to preserve the juiciness and moisture. Foil paper helps to contain all the juice and grease in the meat, ensuring a moist texture.

Next, adding a 1:1 ratio of beef and chicken broth helps too. Please keep in mind to add the broth before adding bbq sauce.

As we mentioned earlier, the broth helps balance out the sauce’s overpowering taste.

Preventing Dry Pulled Pork – Tips!

It is best to avoid being in dry pulled pork situations. When you’ve cooked for your loved ones, it’s painful to disappoint them!

So, we have listed two ways to prevent your pulled pork from becoming dry. Read further to find out these handy tips!

Tip #1 Using Foil Wrap

One way of ensuring your pork shoulder doesn’t dry out is by wrapping it in foil. Using foil to wrap your pork while it cooks helps the meat retain moisture.

Wrapping pulled pork prevents the meat from becoming dry but containing all the juice and grease. The foil keeps the meat moist while it cooks and offers a richer flavor.

It is ideal for your pulled pork to have an internal temperature of 160 degrees while it cooks.

It is essential not to allow the temperature to become exceedingly high. Please pay attention to the pork when it cooks, as overcooking is a common mistake.

Tip #2 Cooking in a Water Pan

It is helpful to add a water pan if you want juicy, moist pulled pork.

Cooking pulled pork in moist surroundings contributes to its moisture texture as well. If the surroundings are too dry, the heat can suck all the moisture out of your meat.

You can get the best results by cooking in a humid climate. Your pork won’t get too dry and retains moisture due to moist surroundings.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can I prevent drying out my pulled pork while reheating it?

You can prevent your pulled pork from drying out by following the steps listed below:

First, preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
Place the pulled pork in the oven. You can use a baking dish.
You can add the leftover juices from the meat to add flavor and cover it with a lid.
Let your pork bake until the internal temperature of the pork is about 165 degrees.
Finally, give the pork a nice mix.

What should I do if my pulled pork is overcooked?

Overcooking pulled pork is a common mistake many make during this cooking process. You can improve the taste by popping it in a roasting pan.

Once you’ve placed the meat in a roasting pan, add the juices and the grease. Next, add salt. It may not taste exactly like perfectly cooked meat, but it can improve the taste.

How to fix dry pulled pork?

If you’ve dried out your pulled pork, there are still ways you can partially bring the flavor back.

Add any of the following to your pulled pork:

Apple juice
Apple cider vinegar
Bbq sauce
Chicken stock

Next, cover the dish with double-layered foil.
Pop it in the over. Please place it in the middle of your oven tray for the best baking results.

Final Words

We’ve reached the end of the article. If you’re pulled pork has become too dry, please relax!

As we’ve discussed earlier, there is still hope for dry pulled pork. It is common for people sometimes to overcook their pork, especially beginners.

While you cannot fully resurrect the original taste, there are always ways you can make it better.

We hope our apple juice/bbq sauce adding technique can taste a notch higher! To prevent your roast pork from drying out, you can also add the apple cider vinegar.

You’d be in quite a pickle if you have people to serve, but your pulled pork isn’t doing it for you.

So, please follow our tips to avoid being in dry pulled pork situations. Let us know how it works for you.

Until then!