Instant Pot Apple Cider Pulled Pork Recipes

PRESSURE COOKER PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Rub Pulled Pork Dry Rub: Mix all the dry rub ingredients and rub it all over the pork shoulder picnic pieces. Then, put the pork shoulder picnic in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight.
• Heat up Pressure Cooker: Heat up your pressure cooker (Instant Pot: press Sauté button). Make sure your pot is as hot as it can be when you place the pork shoulder meat into the pot (Instant Pot: wait until the indicator says HOT).
• Optional Step - Brown Pork Shoulder (See Tips): Add 1 tbsp (15 ml) olive oil into the pot. Ensure to coat the oil over the whole bottom of the pot. Add the pork shoulder pieces into the pot. Brown the pork shoulder on all sides. Remove and set aside.
• Add BBQ Sauce and Deglaze: Pour in half of the Pulled Pork BBQ Sauce and deglaze the bottom of the pot. Then, add in the remaining BBQ sauce mixture.
• Pressure Cook Pork Shoulder (See Tips): Place all the pork shoulder pieces into the pot. If you left the skin on, make sure the skin side is facing up. Close lid and pressure cook at High Pressure for 60 minutes (see notes). Turn off the heat and fully Natural Release (roughly 15 minutes).
• Fork Tender Check: Open the lid carefully. Take one piece of pork shoulder out and see if you can shred through the meat easily with two forks. If it is not fork-tender, cook for an additional 10 to 20 minutes at High Pressure, fully Natural Release.
• Shred Pork & De-Fat the Sauce: Use some cool Pulled Pork Shredder Claws or two regular forks to shred the pork shoulder meat. Use a fat separator to separate the fat from the BBQ sauce.
• Season, Reduce, Serve: Reduce the BBQ sauce to your desired thickness. Taste the BBQ sauce and add in additional brown sugar or kosher salt if desired. Place the pulled pork back into the BBQ sauce. Mix well and serve!

INSTANT POT® APPLE CIDER PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Combine maple syrup, mustard, and salt in a bowl. Rub mixture all over pork.
• Turn on a multi-functional pressure cooker (such as Instant Pot®) and select Saute function. Cook pork until starting to brown on all sides, about 8 minutes. Pour in apple cider; use a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pot.
• Close and lock the lid. Select high pressure according to manufacturer's instructions. Set timer for 35 minutes; allow 10 to 15 minutes for pressure to build.
• Release pressure using the natural-release method according to manufacturer's instructions, 10 to 40 minutes.
• Unlock and remove the lid. Transfer pork pieces to a cutting board. Skim fat off the surface of the cooking juices; select Saute function and bring to a boil. Simmer until reduced by half, 8 to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, shred pork with 2 forks. Return pork to the pot and stir to coat with juices.

SLOW COOKER BBQ APPLE CIDER PULLED PORK

Steps:

• Place pork into the bottom of a slow cooker and pour cider over the meat until it is covered. Add brown sugar and cinnamon, making sure they're in the cider and not on the sides of the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on Low until pork shreds easily, 7 to 12 hours.
• Transfer pork carefully to a plate or bowl, being careful it doesn't fall apart in the cider. Shred using 2 forks. Stir in barbecue sauce.

INSTANT POT PULLED PORK

Steps:

• COOK THE PORK: In a bowl, stir together the garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Rub it all over the outside of the pork.
• Add the oil to the Instant Pot and turn to SAUTE. Once the oil is hot, add the largest of the pork pieces and brown on two sides. This will take about 2 minutes per side. If your Instant Pot issues a "hot" or "burn" warning, turn the heat down (if you have that option), or if not, turn it off entirely and sear the pork in the residual heat. If the pot cools too much to brown, turn it back on. Remove the pork to a plate. Repeat with the remaining 2 pieces-you can cook the last 2 pieces at the same time as long as they do not overlap. Remove to the plate.
• Add half of the broth to the Instant Pot. With a wooden spoon, scrape up all of the stuck-on bits of food and seasoning.
• Add the remaining broth and the onion.
• Return the pork to the Instant Pot. Cover, seal, and cook on HIGH (manual) pressure for 40 minutes (for pork loin) or 1 hour (for pork shoulder/butt).
• Once the pressure has built and the cook time has elapsed, allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes (do not open right away or the meat may be tough). Vent to release any remaining pressure then carefully open the Instant Pot.
• Remove the pork to a large bowl. With a slotted spoon, scooped out most of the onions and add them to the bowl with the pork. Carefully pour all but 1 cup of the pork cooking juices into an extra-large measuring cup or bowl with a spout. Keep the extra liquid handy.
• PREPARE THE BBQ SAUCE: Turn the Instant Pot to SAUTE. Whisk in the tomato sauce, tomato paste, vinegar, syrup, molasses, Worcestershire, paprika, chili powder, mustard, garlic powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Cover the pot loosely with the Instant Pot lid, still leaving some room for steam to escape (this sauce loves to splatter). Let simmer, whisking every few minutes, until thickened, about 5 minutes.
• Once cool enough to handle, shred the pork with two forks or with your fingers. Stir the shredded pork, onions, and any juices at the bottom of the bowl into the pot with the sauce. If the sauce is too tight to easily coat the pork, splash in additional cooking juices so that the pork is nicely coated with sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Pile onto buns, top with slaw, and enjoy!