Pulled Pork Finishing Sauce (2024)

FAQs

What is a finishing sauce? ›

A finishing sauce is typically lighter and more delicate in flavor compared to a regular sauce. It is meant to complement the main dish without overpowering it, whereas a regular sauce may be more robust and used as a main component of the dish.

Season after cooking so that you can use it in any dish. Barbecue: Cumin, paprika, brown sugar, and dry mustard. This is perfect for pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, and pizza.

These sauces are perfect for the most traditional of barbecue, have balanced flavors and use simple ingredients. Pulled pork sauces are frequently optional, and are never added while the pork is cooking, only after it is pulled. Serve it on the side for guests to decide how much, if any, they'd like to have.

This thin, vinegar-based finishing sauce, which differs from a BBQ sauce, is the secret ingredient to kick up my smoked pulled pork. After you've pulled your pork butt, drizzle over the meat and combine. The vinegar adds contrast to the smoky flavor and cuts through the fat in the meat.

Remember that the three basic elements of a finished sauce are a liquid, a thickening agent, and additional seasoning and flavoring ingredients.

A glaze is typically added near the end of a cook that's not tomato based and is typically sweet and somewhat thick. A finishing sauce is added after the cook and can just about anything, but is added just before serving usually.

Try brine: Choose a wet marinade rather than a dry one. Dry rubs may work fine but brine or a wet rub will add that extra moisture along with the flavor that will penetrate deep inside the meat. Keep a spray bottle handy: Keep spraying the meat during smoking or reheating to replace the lost moisture.

Pull the pork from the fridge to take the chill off while you chop a few onions and smash garlic cloves. Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy.

This easy Pulled Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder (or butt), pantry spices and co*ke to tenderize the meat and add sweetness to the seasonings. The result if perfect, tender and juicy pork cooked in the oven, slow cooker or instant pot!

The gelatin also thickens a bit as the meat cools during the rest, so more of it stays in the meat when sliced or pulled. Many competition barbecue teams will wrap briskets and pork butts in aluminum foil during the final stages of cooking and add broth, juice, or other flavorful concoctions to the foil package.

What makes pulled pork better? ›

We use brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, a good amount of salt & pepper, and a pinch of cayenne! Make sure you use all of the seasoning! Also, really rub it into the pulled pork, get all of the nooks and crannies!

Your liquid should not cover your pork in the slow cooker: it should only come up about a quarter of the way up the sides. The pork will make more liquid as it cooks, and you need to leave room for that. And 10 hours later, this huge hunk of meat is tender and ready.

Storing pulled pork

If it is expected to be served within a few hours after smoking, it is better to store it in a crockpot set at the lowest possible temperature. Additionally, spray chicken broth or apple juice on the meat to prevent it from losing more moisture in the crockpot.

During the resting period, cover meat loosely with aluminum foil to prevent the surface from cooling off too fast. Make sure the meat is on a cutting board with a “gravy groove” or a rimmed baking sheet pan to catch any juices.

To reheat leftover pulled pork, spread it into the bottom of the slow cooker or crockpot, add a splash of leftover barbecue sauce, broth, apple juice, or other flavorful liquid, set the crockpot to warm, and allow it to heat for a minimum of two and up to four hours.

Put the pork into the hot oven for about 40 minutes until well browned, then take out and turn down the heat to 125C. Pour the liquid smoke over the pork if using, then fold the foil over the top to make a sealed parcel.