Juicy, smoky pulled pork cooked low and slow is classic comfort food at its finest While you can use a slow cooker or oven, an electric roaster is the ideal appliance for producing mountains of flavorful shredded pork with minimal hands-on effort.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to make competition-worthy pulled pork easily in an electric roaster
Benefits of Using an Electric Roaster
Electric roasters provide steady, even heat essential for low and slow cooking. The enclosed design holds in moisture and flavor unlike an open oven. Large capacity easily handles sizable cuts like pork shoulder. And convenience features like timers and heat controls take the guesswork out of cooking times and temperatures.
Other advantages include:
- Large batch capacity – cook up to 20 lbs of pork
- Consistent heat circulates all around
- Locks in juices for tender, fall-apart meat
- Provides hands-off cooking
- Distributes spice rubs evenly over meat
- Requires minimal countertop space
For effortless pulled pork that’s juicy, infused with flavor and ready right on schedule, an electric roaster can’t be beat.
Select the Right Pork for Pulled Pork
Choosing the best cut of pork is key for flavorful shredded results. Opt for a boneless Boston butt or pork shoulder, ideally around 5-7 lbs. This shoulder cut has the perfect balance of fat and connective tissue.
The marbled fat bastes the meat from within as it slowly breaks down during cooking. And the collagen melts into rich gelatin that keeps pork tender and moist.
Look for an even shape with a good fat cap on one side. Avoid oddly shaped or very fatty cuts. And confirm the shoulder is boneless for easier cooking and shredding later.
Prepare the Pork Shoulder
Proper prep before cooking is important for optimal flavor and texture. Follow these tips:
- Rinse pork and pat dry with paper towels
- Trim excess hard fat, leaving about 1⁄4 inch layer
- Apply rubs or marinades into all creases (more on this later)
- Refrigerate seasoned pork 6-12 hrs for flavors to penetrate
- Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before cooking
Plan on 12-15 minutes per pound at low heat for ideal doneness. A 6 lb shoulder will need 9+ hours cooking time.
Season and Flavor the Pork
One of the biggest factors impacting flavor is how the pork is seasoned. A few options include:
Dry Rub
Coat pork all over with a dry spice mix. Common flavors include brown sugar, chili powder, cumin, garlic and onion powder, mustard, paprika and salt and pepper. The rub forms a crispy, flavorful bark during cooking.
Wet Marinade
Soak pork in a seasoned liquid bath. Use ingredients like vinegar, citrus juice, broth, Worcestershire, soy sauce, herbs and spices. Marinating keeps pork extra moist and imparts lots of flavor.
Brine
Submerge pork in a salt, sugar and water solution for 8-12 hours before cooking. The brine seasons the meat while also helping it retain moisture.
Injectable Marinade
Inject flavorful liquid deep into the meat’s interior using an injection needle. Great for quickly infusing boneless cuts with extra juiciness.
Get creative and try different spice and flavor combos until you find your perfect pulled pork mix.
Cook Low and Slow
The key to melt-in-your-mouth pulled pork is cooking low and slow. Long cooking times at moderate heat let tough collagen and connective tissue break down into luscious gelatin.
For an electric roaster, temperatures between 225-275°F work best. Cook times vary based on meat size:
- 4-5 lbs – 8-10 hours
- 6-8 lbs – 10-14 hours
If using a smoked pork picnic shoulder with bone, extend times up to 18 hours for delicious shred-worthy results.
Maintain Moisture
Keeping pork moist throughout the long cooking time can be tricky. A few tips to lock in juice and flavor:
- Place pork fat side up to self baste
- Add liquid like broth or cider to the roaster
- Spritz pork with apple juice or water hourly
- Wrap pork in foil if browning too quickly
- Check and top off liquid level as needed
Having plenty of moisture ensures tender pork that shreds easily rather than drying out.
Monitor Temperature
While cooking times serve as a guide, checking pork’s internal temp is the best way to confirm doneness. Well done pulled pork should reach 195-205°F internally.
Use an instant read thermometer to monitor temperature every 1-2 hours without letting too much heat escape. Insert into the pork’s thickest part.
Once the target temp is reached, pork should shred easily with forks. If underdone, continue cooking until tender.
Rest and Shred
After cooking, always let pork rest about 20-30 minutes before shredding – this allows juices to redistribute evenly.
Use two forks to shred pork, discarding any excess fat pieces. You can also use tongs or your hands to pull meat into bite-size strands.
For easy large batch shredding, use a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Just work in batches to avoid overloading the bowl.
Finish with Sauce
No pulled pork is complete without lashings of barbecue sauce. Layer sauce on top or mix some in while shredding to evenly coat strands. Sweet tomato-molasses, tangy mustard or vinegar-pepper sauce all pair deliciously.
For customizable saucing, serve pulled pork piled high with sauce options on the side. Buns, pickles, slaw and sides like baked beans and potato salad complete the mouthwatering feast.
Roaster Tips and Tricks
- Use a meat thermometer for precise temperature monitoring
- Add liquid like broth, cider or beer to the roaster
- Clean out grease drippings halfway through cooking
- Crank up heat at end to develop a nice crust
- Mix sauce in or serve on the side as desired
- Make sandwiches or enjoy pork solo
With the right cut, prep, seasoning and cooking technique, electric roasters make whipping up incredible pulled pork fuss-free. Experiment until you create your signature flavor profile that family and friends request time and again.
Pulled Pork Cooked in a Roaster Oven Less Heat in the Kitchen
FAQ
How do you keep pulled pork moist in a roaster?
How much pulled pork fits in a roaster?
Can you slow cook in a roaster oven?
What temperature is best for pulled pork roast?
How do you cook pulled pork in an electric roaster?
Add about 1-1/2 cups of water or chicken broth to the bottom of the pan to keep the meat moist while it cooks. 4. Cook at Low Temperature: Set the electric roaster to 300°F and cook for 4-6 hours (1 hour per pound), turning the roast every hour. The low temperature will help the meat cook slowly and evenly, resulting in tender, juicy pulled pork.
Can you cook pulled pork in a roaster?
Traditionally, pulled pork is roasted over a low fire for hours to create a tender and succulent meat. But cooking for hours over an open flame isn’t always an option, and you may be searching for ways to prepare your pulled pork in roaster.
How do you cook a pork roast in an electric roaster?
Place the roast in the electric roaster and cook at 300°F for 4-6 hours, or until the meat is fork-tender. 2. Wet Rub Method: Similar to the dry rub method, this method involves rubbing a mixture of spices and liquid onto the pork roast before cooking it in the electric roaster. The liquid helps to keep the meat moist and tender while it cooks.
What temperature do you cook pulled pork in a roaster?
But, whether it’s pulled pork in roasting pan or pulled pork in roaster, the USDA recommends you cook the pork until it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The fat in the Boston butt is essential for creating the juicy, tender meat you expect from your shredded roast pork.