In my book, pulled pork is the obvious choice when preparing something simple yet delicious for a gathering. Its rise to popularity is no wonder; it is perfect for most occasions, be it a family reunion, a birthday party, or a simple gathering with friends. Never have I heard any complaints about pulled pork; it’s always a hit, a true crowd-pleaser.
In this guide, you will learn:
- How much pulled pork per person do you need?
- What to do with leftover pulled pork?
- How to store leftover pulled pork?
- And more!
But before asking how much you need per person, a better question is the following.
Can you actually have too much pulled pork?
I want to mention that pulled pork is a wonderful dish, and you can never go wrong by making too much. I always make more since the leftovers are amazing as well, and I’m always looking forward to munching on them the following day. But more on that later; here’s how to estimate the correct amount to buy or how much pulled pork per person you should buy.
How much pulled pork per person should you buy?
In short, the general consensus is 1/3 pound per guest.
This is pretty much spot on, in my opinion as well. However, bear in mind that the meat can lose up to half of its weight during the cooking process, so when we are calculating how much raw meat we should get, you can double that number.
Let’s say you have six people as guests, all grown-up adults with a healthy appetites. In this case, you multiply the 1/3 pound by 6, giving you 2 pounds in total.
When it comes to buying raw meat, I will go for around 4 pounds of meat, maybe a bit less, since it will lose about half of its weight after cooking. But I usually just stick with the 1/3 since, in the worst-case scenario, I will end up with more pulled pork than what’s consumed, which, as I mentioned before, is not bad.
Things to keep in mind:
- Children will eat less, calculate about 1/4 pound or even less for each kid.
- Raw meat will lose half of its weight during cooking, so don’t forget to double the number you get.
- The variety and number of side dishes will affect the meat consumed; the more side dish, the less pulled pork required.
Read more >> What is the ideal internal temp of pulled pork?
What to do with leftover pulled pork?
Alright, I’ve been beating around the bush for a while now. So, here’s what do we do with the excess pulled pork? The answer is easy since pulled pork is really good, even if it’s a day or two old, just store it in the fridge and reheat it later when you get hungry.
How to store leftover pulled pork?
- Save as much juice as humanly possible; moisture is your friend.
- Seal the container tightly and put it in the fridge. It can be stored for up to two days or around three months if you plop it in the freezer. Note that freezing pulled pork will make the meat dry out the longer you let it sit.
Related >> How long can cooked pork sit out?
What is the best way to reheat pulled pork?
To reheat, there are multiple options, from using a grill to microwave, depending on how much time you have or how lazy you feel that day.
- Grill: When reheating using a grill, remember to put the meat in the indirect heat zone, a.k.a. not above the heat source, but next to it. Wrap the meat in tin foil, and don’t forget to add some water, too, so the meat won’t dry up. If you want to have a seared finish, put it in direct heat for the last few minutes.
- Microwave: If you’re in a rush, then this is for you. The taste of the dish will suffer in change for convenience, so I suggest this method only if you are in a rush and don’t have time for the other methods mentioned.
- Oven: One of the easiest ways to do it, and far superior to microwave for sure. Just put the meat in a preheated oven at 250F. Using an aluminum foil seal, it in; also, don’t forget to add some water or juice to keep the meat moist!
Whichever method you choose, in general, it’s better to remove the accumulated fats, which will be very visible after the meat cools down. This won’t do you any favors while reheating.
Leftover pulled pork recipes
With the reheated pulled pork, you can go for:
- Pulled pork tacos: Combine the warmed-up pulled pork with taco shells, add cheese, tomatoes, avocado, salsa, or whatever you prefer as toppings, and boom, it’s done.
- Pulled pork sandwiches: Put the meat in a bun and add coleslaw and pickles with your favorite BBQ sauce.
- Pulled pork hash: For breakfast, you can sauté some diced potato and onions until they become tender, then add the pulled pork, stir it together and cook until it’s all nice and hot and you are pretty much ready to serve. Add a fried egg on top for a hearty breakfast.
- Pulled pork fried rice: Fry rice with some diced veggies of your choosing, add an egg and scramble it all up, and finish it by adding your leftover pulled pork for a delicious filling meal.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pulled pork is a real crowd-pleaser, perfect for any occasion, with leftovers that can be enjoyed the following days. When it comes to how much pulled pork per person to buy, the simple answer is 1/3 pound. Double this when buying the raw meat itself.
The leftovers can be stored in the fridge for a few days or freezer for a few months and can be reheated using a variety of methods, like oven, grill, or microwave. Ultimately, I always go for getting more than necessary since I can just store the leftover in the fridge to enjoy at a later date.
