How Long Is Pulled Pork Good For?

Pulled pork is a barbecue dish which is slow-cooked for 4-6 hours in an oven until the meat is very soft, which can be easily shredded into little fibers.

This dish is found all over the world in various forms due to its delicious flavor. But, how long is pulled pork good for? Scroll on down below to find out.

Why People Often Store Pulled Pork Leftovers?

Pulled pork is tasty, so there is nothing to surprise why people want to store it to eat over and over again. Moreover, pulled pork is versatile.

I mean you can combine it with many foods to eat together, such as sandwiches, pizzas, salad, BBQ tamales, goat cheese, egg rolls, tangy cabbage slaw, etc.

Eating pulled pork is fantastic, but eating it in conjunction with others is even better. That’s why people often seek for how to store pulled pork and how long is pulled pork good for.

Just put it in the fridge and leave it alone, or there are other things to consider. This article, again, will help you solve these concerns.

How Long Is Pulled Pork Good For?

According to the Food Safety and Inspection Service, cooked meat can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days at a temperature below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Of course, this period is not the same among all kinds of meat. The refrigerator quality is another big factor.

In the case of pulled pork, if you cook it by smoking, you would have a longer storage time, lasting for a few days longer than what the Food Safety and Inspection Service recommends.

That’s because the nitrites and nitrates released during smoking can preserve the meat.

How To Store Pulled Pork Leftovers?

Choosing Correct Containers

There are several types of containers for you to select when it comes to storing pulled pork.

No matter which one you choose, it’s important to understand that our target is to try to keep the air out of the containers as much as possible. After that, you can put them in a fridge for a long and safe storage.

The best choice is Ziploc Bag which is a kind of plastic bag but features a zipper allowing very tight sealing. Besides, if there are plastic boxes in your kitchen, you can utilize them to store the food.

Another choice for you is aluminum foil. But I don’t recommend using this one alone since it can create gaps and cause messes if you don’t wrap it closely and correctly.

Instead, I’d suggest you using it in conjunction with a container. In particular, wrap your food in aluminum foil before placing it in the container.

One simple way to extend the time of storage as well as preserve the taste much better is to divide the food into different servings. This way, you have to put it in several containers and eat them one by one.

For even longer storage, you can use a Vacuum Sealer which is a machine allowing you to remove all of the air from the package before sealing. The below video shows you how to store pulled pork with a vacuum sealer.

Step By Step To Store It

The following are two steps you should follow to achieve the best storage result:

Step 1: Put It in Bags

Transfer the leftovers to bags. Don’t fill it fully, but instead, leave about 1-2 inch at the top of the bag. That’s because the food will expand while being frozen.

Also, make sure the bags are completely sealed so that no leakage can occur.

For accurate monitoring, you should write down the date you cooked your food on the outside of the bags or leave a note in the fridge.

Step 2: Put The Bags in The Fridge

Depending on how long you want to store your pulled pork, you might decide to put your bags in the freezer or the cooling compartment of your fridge.

It’s obvious that using the freezer brings the longer result. For the exact time, I’ll show you soon in the section below.

As you’re placing the bags, make sure you organize them by stacking them flatly on top of each other. This way, you’ll save a lot of space for your fridge.

Note:

Food is edible doesn’t mean it’s good to eat. So, I’d suggest you eating your pulled pork within about 3-4 months from the date you’ve put it in the freezer. This way, you’ll have to chance to enjoy its delicious taste and aromatic flavor.

Tips and Hacks

Freezing Smoked Pulled Pork

Whether you choose to refrigerate or freeze, make sure you don’t leave your pulled pork more than two hours after it has cooked in the room temperature.

The sooner you put it in the fridge, the fewer bacteria you can reduce and the less chance your food can be poisoned.

For more than several days of storage, food needs to be frozen at or below 32 degrees F. In fact, freezing pulled pork can keep it last for 6-8 months.

To be able to keep it that long, you have to extract as much air out of the Ziploc bags as possible before freezing.

Put The Meat At Internal Back of the Fridge

Let put the package internal back of the fridge is its coolest part because the freezing elements are placed near here. Besides, this part is less impacted by opening or closing the door.

Conclusion

No matter how long you store your pulled pork in the fridge, always remember that there might be the chance of smelling, discoloring or any sign that your food is getting worse.

 So, make sure you regularly check whether your pulled pork can be stored longer or you should eat it as soon as possible.

I hope that you’ve found the best answer to the question: how long is pulled pork good for?