How to Cook Frozen Jack Daniel’s Pulled Pork to Perfection

Cooking frozen pulled pork can seem intimidating. Many people worry it will turn out dry or bland. However, with the right techniques, frozen Jack Daniel’s pulled pork can turn out just as delicious as fresh. In this article, I’ll walk you through step-by-step how to cook frozen Jack Daniel’s pulled pork so it turns out juicy, flavorful and melt-in-your-mouth tender every time.

Thaw Properly

The first step is thawing the pulled pork properly. You’ll want to allow plenty of time for it to thaw. Don’t be tempted to thaw it on the counter or in hot water. This can cause the outside to thaw faster than the inside, leading to bacterial growth.

The best way is to plan ahead and thaw it slowly in the fridge. Figure 1 pound of frozen pork needs about 8-10 hours in the refrigerator. Remove the pork from freezer the night before and let it thaw in the fridge overnight.

If you’re in a pinch you can thaw in the microwave using the defrost setting. This thaws more evenly. Just be sure to cook the pork immediately after thawing this way.

Choose Your Cooking Method

Once thawed, you have a couple options on how to cook the pork. The easiest is the microwave, but the oven and slow cooker work great too.

Microwave

This is the fastest, easiest route. Remove the plastic sleeve and leave the pork in the tray Puncture the inner pouch several times with a fork. Microwave on high 2-3 minutes until hot, adding time if needed Allow it to rest a minute before carefully removing the inner pouch and transferring the pork to a serving dish.

Oven

Preheat your oven to 350°F Remove the pork from packaging and place in an oven-safe dish Cover tightly with foil, Bake 12-15 minutes until heated through, The advantage of the oven is you can easily make a larger batch,

Slow Cooker

Add the thawed pork to a slow cooker with a bit of bbq sauce or chicken broth. Cook on high for 2-3 hours or low for 5-6 hours. The slow cooker keeps the pork incredibly moist and gives the flavors time to meld.

Add Moisture and Flavor

Pulled pork dries out easily when reheating. Adding liquid while cooking helps keep it moist and tender. Try using:

• Chicken or pork broth
• Apple cider
• Beer or root beer
• Barbecue sauce
• Jack Daniel’s whiskey

A splash of liquid like chicken broth or root beer adds moisture every time. Or drizzle on some extra barbecue sauce for sticky, saucy pulled pork.

If you want to infuse even more flavor, try adding a splash of Jack Daniel’s whiskey. This complements the smoky Jack Daniel’s barbecue flavor already in the pork.

Brown and Crisp the Pork

For pulled pork with crispy bits, brown the outside after cooking. You can do this a couple ways:

Oven: Preheat broiler. Spread pork in an even layer on a baking sheet. Broil 2-3 minutes until browned and slightly crispy on top.

Skillet: Heat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add just a bit of oil or butter. Add pork and cook 2-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and crispy on the edges.

Browning the pork adds fantastic texture and really brings out the savory flavors.

Serve and Enjoy

Once hot and delicious, all that’s left is deciding how to serve it. Pulled pork sandwiches are classic, but don’t limit yourself. Some fun ways to serve Jack Daniel’s pulled pork:

• Pulled pork sandwiches with coleslaw
• Tacos or burritos with salsa
• Baked potatoes or nachos topped with pork
• Omelets or breakfast sandwiches
• Pulled pork pizza or flatbread
• Over rice, pasta or mashed potatoes
• In soups, chili or pasta sauce
• As an appetizer on crackers or in puff pastry
• In a pulled pork breakfast hash

You really can’t go wrong when it comes to serving pulled pork. It’s incredibly versatile. Get creative and have fun with it!