Ella Walter
Pulled pork is a delicious and tender dish that can be made in a mini Instapot. The pressure cooker environment traps flavours, ensuring that the spices and seasonings penetrate the pork for a rich taste. With simple ingredients and minimal prep, making pulled pork in the Instant Pot is a hassle-free cooking experience. The first step is to add a rub to cubed pork and let it marinate for 30-60 minutes. Then, sauté the pork in oil and deglaze the pot with chicken or beef broth. Next, add the meat, barbecue sauce, and broth to the pot and pressure cook for 40 minutes to 1 hour. After cooking, let the pressure release naturally for 10-20 minutes, then shred the meat and serve on soft hamburger buns with your favourite toppings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Meat | Pork shoulder/butt, pork loin roast |
| Weight | 2.5-4 lb |
| Marinating time | 30-60 minutes |
| Cooking time | 40-115 minutes |
| Natural pressure release time | 10-20 minutes |
| Additional ingredients | BBQ sauce, chicken/beef broth, water |
| Temperature | 203° Fahrenheit |
| Equipment | Mini Insta Pot, sheet pan |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right cut of pork
Type of Pork:
Select pork cuts that are suitable for slow cooking or braising. Pork shoulder, Boston butt, or pork butt are excellent choices as they have a good amount of intramuscular fat, which helps keep the meat moist and tender during the long cooking process. These cuts also have a lot of connective tissues that break down during cooking, resulting in juicy and flavourful pulled pork.
Bone-in or Boneless:
You can choose either a bone-in or boneless pork cut for pulled pork. Bone-in pork may take a little longer to cook, but the bones add flavour to the dish. If you opt for a boneless cut, it will be easier to handle and shred, but you might miss out on some of the extra flavours that bones impart.
Fresh or Frozen:
Fresh pork is ideal for searing and achieving a nice brown crust before pressure cooking. However, if you're short on time, you can also use frozen pork in your mini Insta pot. Keep in mind that cooking frozen pork may take slightly longer, and you won't be able to sear it first.
Weight of the Pork:
The cooking time for pulled pork in an Insta pot varies depending on the weight of the meat. As a general rule, for every pound of pork, plan on cooking it for at least 15 minutes, and if it's frozen, add an extra 5 minutes per pound. For example, a 3-pound pork shoulder roast should cook for around 60-70 minutes, while a 4-pound pork shoulder may need up to 90 minutes.
Marbling and Fat Content:
Look for pork cuts with a decent amount of marbling, which refers to the thin fat streaks running through the meat. This fat will help keep the pork moist and juicy during the cooking process. Avoid extremely lean cuts as they may dry out, especially with the long cooking times required for pulled pork.
In summary, when choosing the right cut of pork for your mini Insta pot pulled pork, opt for cuts like pork shoulder or butt, consider bone-in or boneless based on your preference, and choose fresh or frozen according to your convenience. Pay attention to the weight of the pork to adjust your cooking time accordingly, and always look for marbling to ensure a juicy and flavourful final dish.
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Marinating the meat
Firstly, select the right cut of meat. Pork shoulder or butt is ideal for pulled pork due to its high fat content, which results in juicy and tender meat. Aim for a 3-4 lb pork shoulder for a generous serving.
Next, prepare a dry rub for the meat. A simple yet effective dry rub can be made with spices such as coconut or brown sugar, sea salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, chili powder, pepper, oregano, and cayenne. You can also use a pre-made BBQ rub if you prefer. Generously apply the dry rub to the pork chunks, ensuring each piece is evenly coated.
Once the meat is rubbed, transfer it to a sealable bag. It is important to seal the meat in the bag to prevent moisture loss and ensure the flavours penetrate the meat effectively. Leave the sealed meat in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to an hour. This marination process allows the spices and seasonings to deeply penetrate the pork, resulting in a rich and flavourful final product.
After the meat has rested, you can begin cooking. Heat some oil in your mini Insta pot and add half of the cubed pork, sautéing for about 5 minutes until browned on all sides. Repeat this process with the remaining meat. By browning the meat in batches, you lock in the juices and create a delicious crust.
Finally, deglaze the pot by adding either chicken or beef broth and scraping up the browned bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. These browned bits are full of flavour and will enhance the overall taste of your pulled pork.
By following these steps for marinating the meat, you will be well on your way to creating mouthwatering pulled pork in your mini Insta pot.
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Cooking time and temperature
The cooking time and temperature for pulled pork in a mini Insta pot will depend on the weight of the pork and whether it is fresh or frozen.
For a 2.5-3 lb roast, you should cook the pork for a minimum of 70 minutes on high pressure and then allow for at least 15 minutes of natural release. If you are cooking frozen pork, the cooking time may increase by 10-15 minutes. For a 4 lb pork shoulder, you will need to cook it for 90 minutes to get it fall-apart tender, plus an extra 5 minutes per pound if it's frozen.
Some recipes recommend cooking the pork on manual high pressure for 40-45 minutes, followed by a natural release for 10-20 minutes. Another recipe suggests cooking the pork on high pressure for 115 minutes (1 hour and 55 minutes), which produces super tender gluten-free pulled pork that shreds easily. If you are cooking a double batch, you may need to cook it for 125 minutes.
It is important to note that the desired internal temperature for pulled pork is typically about 203°Fahrenheit, but this may not be achievable in an Insta pot as one user reported only reaching an internal temperature of 170°Fahrenheit.
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Releasing pressure
Once the cooking time is up, you can release the pressure from your Instant Pot by following these steps:
Natural Release
Allow the instant pot to release pressure naturally for at least 10 minutes. This step is important as it ensures that the meat is cooked through and reaches the desired internal temperature for pulled pork, which is typically around 200-203 degrees Fahrenheit.
Quick Release
After the natural release, you can then quick release any remaining pressure. Be cautious when performing a quick release as the steam escaping from the vent can be extremely hot.
Release Duration
The total release duration can vary depending on the size of your pork roast and the cooking time. For a 2.5-3 lb roast, a natural release of at least 15 minutes is recommended. For larger roasts or longer cooking times, a natural release of 20 minutes or more may be necessary to ensure the meat is fully cooked.
Pressure Release Complete
You'll know the pressure release is complete when the pin drops. Once the pressure is released, you can carefully open the lid and proceed to the next steps of your recipe, such as shredding the meat and adding your favorite BBQ sauce or other toppings.
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Serving suggestions
Once your pulled pork is ready, remove it from the mini Insta Pot and shred the meat using two forks. You can discard any excess fat at this stage if you prefer. You can then stir in a cup of BBQ sauce and serve the pulled pork on soft hamburger buns.
You can also serve the pulled pork on rice, as mentioned by a user on AllergyFreeAlaska.com, who adapted the recipe for their granddaughter with allergies.
If you want to add a bit of crunch to your pulled pork, you could broil it for a few minutes in a sheet pan after it's done cooking in the Insta Pot. This will give you some crispy bits!
Pulled pork sandwiches or sliders are also a classic way to serve this dish. You could also get creative and use your pulled pork to make nachos!
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Frequently asked questions
A 3-4 lb pork shoulder typically takes about 60-70 minutes of high-pressure cooking, followed by a natural pressure release of about 15-20 minutes.
Pork shoulder or butt is ideal for pulled pork.
You can add BBQ sauce to the pulled pork to thicken it.
You can add a rub to your pork and seal it in a bag to marinate for 30-60 minutes before cooking for maximum flavour.
