1st Butts - how to reheat?


 
R

Randy D

TVWBB Member
I smoked 2 pork butts on my WSM yesterday. They averaged about 7 1/2 pounds and took about 10 hours to cook in the 225 to 275 degree range. I pulled them last night and am having my son and his family over around 5:30 today for dinner.

I had planned to reheat the pork in an electric roaster that I have but I'm starting to second guess myself because the wasn't much in the way of juice when I pulled the butts and I'm afraid the pork may dry out. I added some of Kevin Kruger's (Kind of) Carolina sauce as I was putting the pulled pork into disposable aluminum pans. I'm reluctant to add much in the way of water or even apple juice to the meat and put it in the roaster for fear of diluting the flavor. When I took the butts off the smoker and placed them in disposable aluminum pans to rest, I expected some juices to collect in the bottom of the pans. There weren't any! Now I'm afraid of drying out the meat when reheating. Any suggestions?
 
Yes. You can do a couple things, your choice.

Keep the pork in the pans, covered with foil, and reheat in the oven. Or use the roaster.

If you have any finishing sauce left you can add it if necessary during the reheat, just a splash here and there, and then stir.

Me, I'd reheat in the pans because the heat in gentler. That said, no need to heat at low oven temp. 300 is fine. Go 20-25 min then open the foil and stir, lifting the pork on the bottom of the pan to the top (kind of flip it). Recover, go 10 min more, stir again and check for temp - just taste some. If it needs to be hotter, simply recover and go another 5-6 min, repeating again only if necessary.

Alternatively, do the same in your roaster, stirring a bit sooner than noted for the oven.

In either case, add a little sauce if it seems needed. If you have no more of that, a little splash of chicken stock, or a.j., or a little water won't hurt.

Reheating well is all about getting it to a good serving temp, not so hot that it cooks more. (Serving temp translates to ~150, btw.) As long as you keep this in mind it will not overcook - which is what would make it dry. Doesn't take long.
 
Kevin,

Thanks for the quick response. I'm more than a little unsure of myself because these are the 1st butts I've ever done.

Randy D
 
That's okay. You'll be fine. Follow the caveat not to 'over-reheat' and all will be well.

Enjoy your butts!
 
I 2nd K Kruger's instructions for reheating in oven at 300 with foil on top. I would also recommend using a 50/50 or 60/40 apple juice to water mixture to add to the meat for reheating.

Most of all, do not overheat and dry it out. Count on a hour for reheating. It should take less time, but be safe.
 
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