Pulled Pork - How to pull?

Puckeater · June 28, 2008, 08:07:58 PM

What's the process like for actually pulling the pork once a 7Lb. butt is done. Use my fingers, how long will it take to pull the whole thing? Is it long pieces that I need to then chop with a knife? If I'm going to a party should I pull it at my kitchen first or take it whole in the cooler and pull it there?

Arcs_n_Sparks · June 28, 2008, 08:11:26 PM

Puckeater,

It would normally be too hot to pull using your fingers. Large forks or bear claws (thread here with URL links: http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=5580.msg27376;topicseen#new) work best.

Arcs_n_Sparks

Gizmo · June 28, 2008, 08:19:27 PM

As Arcs said, it should be too hot for the fingers. I start with the bear claws as they work great for picking up a butt that wants to fall apart. Large pieces will usually slide off when it hit the cutting board. I will slide off any fat that still lingers then shred with the claws. Forks work as well, cutting or chopping is also appropriate. How fine/small you want your pieces will determine if you shred or chop.

FLBentRider · June 29, 2008, 04:15:32 AM

I use the bear paws. Once I have the butt broke "open" I separate it into the individual muscle parts, and get rid of the fat.

I don't shread with the bear paws until time to eat. If I shread it all beforehand, it can get dry.

I used to use forks, with the bear paws, I can completely process a pork butt in under 10 minutes.

West Coast Kansan · June 29, 2008, 11:11:00 PM

I tried the bear claws at Gizmos house and they work nice. Still using forks though a better approach I have been trying lately is leaving them in FTC until the guests arrive and hand a couple of forks to them to help out. Interesting thing is they have all loved doing it... ;D

Habanero Smoker · June 30, 2008, 02:33:23 PM

Hi Puckeater;
Welcome to the forum.

I use the claws and they work great, even shredding finer if you want to. I usually don't have much fat left. I shave off the bark and chop that up well. Then put the butt in a roasting pan and start shredding. Placing it in a roasting pan you can really go at it, and prevent the meat from flying off the table, if you get a little over zealous. :) After its shredded I mix in the bark and add vaunted vinegar sauce.

La Quinta · June 30, 2008, 05:16:22 PM

I like to fork it...two forks to be specific.

Smoking Duck · June 30, 2008, 05:20:08 PM

I use my hands....sometimes, if I remember when I'm at the store, I'll buy surgical gloves which help some with the heat. Otherwise, I just suffer through the heat. It does help with the adulation from the family when they're chowing on the pulled pork and they hand you two cold adult beverages to cool your fingers off ;D

Toolmaster · July 03, 2008, 02:44:48 AM

I use my hands. Brown cotton gloves with surgical gloves over them keeps the heat away.

Carter · July 03, 2008, 10:22:34 AM

I'm with La Quinta. I like to Fork the Pork. I also like to fork it right in front of our guests. Sometimes you have to smack their greedy little hands away and sometimes you let them get involved. Beware, once they taste what you've got in that roasting pan you wont be able to keep them away. Renowned Mr. Brown with Vaunted Vinegar is my favourite way to go.

Carter

FLBentRider · July 03, 2008, 11:16:39 AM

Keeping the minions at bay while pulling is definitely a smokeupational hazard:

http://forum.bradleysmoker.com/index.php?topic=7327.0

Scotty-G · July 03, 2008, 10:08:51 PM

Puckeater,
I used to use forks but then I got the bear claw
Big difference in time and effort :o
Still use a fork for picking out the few small pieces of congealed fat
Claws have found their way into other uses too - picking up and transfering large pieces of meat/bird for one

Carter · July 04, 2008, 09:43:59 AM

I'll bet those claws would be good for removing Beer Can chicken from the stand, which because of all the boiling liquids involved always makes me a little nervous.

Do most kitchenware type stores carry them?

deb415611 · July 04, 2008, 10:03:06 AM

Just when I thought I had purchased everything I needed........ ;D

Wildcat · July 04, 2008, 10:24:11 AM

Quote from: Carter on July 04, 2008, 09:43:59 AM
I'll bet those claws would be good for removing Beer Can chicken from the stand, which because of all the boiling liquids involved always makes me a little nervous.

Do most kitchenware type stores carry them?

A couple of those stores carried them when I looked at them here locally. By the time I decided to get them, they all stopped carrying them. That is another thing I need as well.