Being a noob to making my own BBQ and living in NJ, my experience with pulled pork has mostly been with crock-pot braised versions.
Since my first butts on the WSM, the difference in my taste for pulled, chopped, or shredded pork has changed quite a bit. I've had 3 different versions of pulled pork that were all done in crock pots and while they're good, they don't come close to standing up to the real smoked flavor of meat and the wonderful bits of bark that we get in a smoker.
Case in point was tonight. My roomate got a recipe from his mother for some pulled pork. He used a butt and a bunch of other ingredients and it sat in a crock pot for a few hours, then was pulled and finally had some sauce added. It was good, juicy, and tender... but without that smoke it is SO different. I found myself longing for the crunchy/chewy texture of bark and a little turned off by the wetness that came with the braising liquid.
Long story short... smoking butts has ruined my ability to really enjoy mediocre pulled pork.
Since my first butts on the WSM, the difference in my taste for pulled, chopped, or shredded pork has changed quite a bit. I've had 3 different versions of pulled pork that were all done in crock pots and while they're good, they don't come close to standing up to the real smoked flavor of meat and the wonderful bits of bark that we get in a smoker.
Case in point was tonight. My roomate got a recipe from his mother for some pulled pork. He used a butt and a bunch of other ingredients and it sat in a crock pot for a few hours, then was pulled and finally had some sauce added. It was good, juicy, and tender... but without that smoke it is SO different. I found myself longing for the crunchy/chewy texture of bark and a little turned off by the wetness that came with the braising liquid.
Long story short... smoking butts has ruined my ability to really enjoy mediocre pulled pork.
Now go forth and convert others to the power of Q!
