Do you know how to reheat pork shoulder?
A pork shoulder is a great cut of meat. It costs relatively low, and can be enough to serve a whole crowd. It is also very flavorful, and can be very versatile to cook.
One minor issue that comes with is that it can take a little longer to cook, especially if you are cooking a whole shoulder. Even cut down potions can take relatively long. So it can be convenient for people to cook a large batch at a time, and store it for future uses.
The large size also results in leftovers more often than not. So whether you are planning to cook a large batch ahead of time, or have ended up with leftovers after a party, it is an essential to learn how to successfully reheat pork shoulders.
Store Pork Shoulder
Once cooked, the pork shoulders should not be kept at room temperature for more than 2 hours, as the bacteria will start to develop afterwards.
So place any leftover meat or shoulders you plan to use in the future in an airtight container, or wrap it tightly with a heavy-duty aluminum foil or a thick plastic wrap.
If kept airtight and stored properly, cooked pork shoulders will last up to 3 to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer.
Although it can last longer in the freezer, but it maintains the best quality for up to 3 months.
Reheat Pork Shoulder
The best way to reheat pork shoulders is to use an oven. An oven can evenly heat the large cut of meat without you having to cut through the shoulder while cold. Here’s how to do it:
The Oven Method
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place the whole pork shoulder on an over-safe dish.
- Add some liquid like mopping sauce, cider or even just water to sustain the moisture of the shoulder.
- Cover the pan with aluminum foil.
- Place the dish in the oven and reheat it for 30 to 40.
- If you have a food thermometer, keep a check until it reaches and internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
If you have smaller cuts, you can follow the same method to reheat them in the oven, but reduce the time to 20 to 30 minutes depending on the size of the cut or until the internal temperature is 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Reheat Smaller Cuts
If you have smaller cuts, or can’t use the oven to reheat pork shoulders, you can instead try to microwave the pieces.
If you have a large shoulder, separate it into its individual large muscles. You can do this by cutting along the natural seams of the shoulder with a sharp knife, and then pull them from the bone. Slice across the grain and slice each piece separately until you have a reasonable size of meat.
The Microwave Method
- Place the cuts of meat on a microwave safe plate.
- Loosely cover it with wax paper.
- Heat the pork at a medium setting for 2 minutes.
- Check the meat at 1 minute intervals, and let it microwave longer if it isn’t heated through in 2 minutes.
- It should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Remove from the microwave and serve.
So take full advantage of this versatile cut of meat by learning these simple way of reheating it.