Reheating pulled pork is easy to do using any heat source provided the temperature is kept low and it is heated gently to avoid drying it out. It is essential to thaw pulled pork completely before reheating it and add liquid to the meat while it warms to remain moist. Once it reaches 165°F, it is ready to eat.
You can reheat cooked pulled pork in a microwave, on the stovetop, in an oven, in an instant pot, on the grill, in a dutch oven, or even in boiling water. However, not all reheating methods are ideal because some may result in moisture loss, which will dry out your meat.
How to Reheat Pulled Pork to Keep it Moist
Pulled pork is delicious, but it can be challenging to reheat. These simple steps will allow you to reheat pulled pork while keeping it moist and flavorful!
Store pulled pork properly.
If you want to reheat pulled pork, you must take care to store it properly. That means you should place leftover meat in a vacuum-sealed bag that will make it easy for you to reheat it in boiling water later without losing any juices.
Add liquid to your pulled pork.
Adding liquid to the meat will help keep your pork moist when reheating it. You can add broth or water, but if you want a more flavorful option, you can add ketchup, BBQ sauce, apple juice, or apple cider vinegar.
Thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator.
Thawing your meat in the fridge before heating it is another excellent way to prevent dryness. You want to avoid reheating frozen meat suddenly, so make sure you thaw the pork before putting it in the oven or microwave!
Reheat it using a low-temperature setting.
Heating your pulled pork aggressively will end up with an inconsistent temperature throughout, and nobody wants that! The reheating process should be slow and gentle for the best results.
Make sure the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
When reheating, it’s good practice to measure the internal temperature, just like raw meat. So ensure your leftover pulled pork reaches a safe internal temperature of 165°F.
Cook your pork well from the get-go.
This may be obvious, but a well-cooked pulled pork that is delicious and juicy is more likely to be tasty and juicy even after you’ve reheated it.
What are the Best Ways to Reheat Pulled Pork?
If you stored your pulled pork in a vacuum-sealed bag, the best way to reheat it is to place the bag into boiling water and allow it to heat through for 5 minutes. This method is called the sous vide method, which means reheating in a water bath. You can use a pot of water or a sous vide machine.
If you didn’t store the pulled pork in a vacuum-sealed bag, the best method is in the oven.
Oven Method to Reheat Pulled Pork
This is a quick and easy method for reheating that makes pulled pork taste fresh!
Preheat
First, you’ll have to preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place meat in an oven-safe baking dish.
Place your pulled pork meat in a baking dish.
Restore the moisture by adding liquid.
Add some liquid to your meat, such as BBQ sauce, apple juice, or cider vinegar to help maintain moisture during the reheating process.
Lock in moisture.
Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
Place in the oven.
Reheat the meat until the internal temperature reaches 165°F and make sure to test this temperature using a meat thermometer.
BBQ Grill Method to Reheat Pulled Pork
There’s only one right way to reheat pulled pork on a gas grill/charcoal grill: the 2-zone cooking method. If you’re using a smoker, the temperature will be steady, so you only have to heat the foiled meat at 225°F until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Set up 2 zones.
Keep one of the burners turned off and the other turned on high heat. If you have a charcoal grill, add charcoal to the side with the burner that is on high heat.
Allow the temperature to reach 225°F
Keep the hot side of the grill on until the cold side reaches a temperature of 225°F.
Make a foil packet and add moisture to the meat.
After completely defrosting your meat, wrap it in two layers of foil and add a little water to retain moisture (about ¼ cup). Alternatively, coat the meat in BBQ sauce before placing it into the foil.
Place the wrapped pork on the grill.
Put the foiled meat on the “cool” side of the grill (indirect heat) and grill until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Then remove from the grill and serve.
Crockpot Method to Reheat Pulled Pork
This is probably the easiest way to reheat pulled pork.
Defrost your pulled pork.
Make sure you completely defrosted your meat.
Set your crockpot temperature.
Set your crockpot/slow cooker to low heat.
Add liquid to the crockpot.
Place the meat or pieces of meat in the crockpot and add a little bit of liquid.
Once the meat reaches 165°F, it’s done!
The meat will reach the ideal internal temperature after a couple of hours, but you should check by using a meat thermometer.
Meal Ideas for Reheated Pulled Pork
Pulled pork can be even better the next day. If you have leftover pulled pork from the day before and don’t know what to do with it, here are a few ideas on how to serve it!
Tacos
Add some salsa, lettuce, sour cream, and cheese, and you’re good to go!
Sliders
Make mini sandwiches or turn this into a platter by layering shredded pork on top of buns (use toothpicks to hold them together) and garnish with shredded lettuce, tomato slices, and pickles.
Nachos
This is an easy one: add chips to a baking sheet, cheese sauce on top (or melted cheese), then layer on your pulled pork leftovers and any other toppings you desire!
Add to Soup
Add your leftover pork to a pot of chicken noodle soup for extra protein, texture, and flavor!
Pulled Pork Hash
Chop leftover pulled pork and add potatoes, onions, peppers, garlic powder, and eggs for an easy breakfast hash!
Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Make a sandwich with pulled pork on Texas toast or brioche buns. Add pickles and barbecue sauce if desired.
Chili
Add some tomato paste and beans to your leftover pulled pork.
Burrito Bowl
Make a burrito bowl with rice, beans, salsa, and guacamole—then add some pulled pork on top! It’s easy to get all your favorite flavors together in one place.
Best Recipes for Pulled Pork
These fabulous pulled pork recipes are some of my favorites!
Smoky Pulled Pork Butt
Smoky Pit Boss Pork Butt Recipe
Easy Smoked Pulled Pork Recipe
Best Side Dish Ideas for Pulled Pork
If you’re a pulled pork fanatic, you know that the only thing better than a plate full of meaty goodness is a plate full of meaty goodness with great sides.
Quick Country Coleslaw Recipe
Classic Rice Pilaf
Baked Beans with Ground Beef and Bacon
Jalapeno Cheddar Scones
Best Method for Storing Pulled Pork
The best way to store pulled pork (and for the longest time) is by freezing it in a vacuum-sealed bag. That’s why it’s worth investing in a vacuum sealer to ensure your meat stays juicy for many months. If you freeze pork, it can last about 4-6 months at peak quality.