The Instant Pot pressure cooker/slow cooker is quite the rage these days, and rightly so. It’s an invaluable tool for the kitchen. I use mine at least a couple times per week. And, although I prefer smoking a pork butt or shoulder outdoors to make pulled pork for sandwiches, I don’t always have 10-14 hours to do so.
Here is a recipe for making pulled pork in the Instant Pot in just a couple hours. It comes out juicy, tender and delicious, even if you use non-fatty cuts of pork such as boneless loin, as I did here. This is a variation of a recipe that was first created by the Food Network Kitchen.
Ingredients:
3 Tbs brown sugar
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp mustard powder
½ tsp ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3-4 lbs. Boneless pork shoulder or loin, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 6-8 pieces
2 tsp vegetable oil
½ cup cider vinegar, plus additional to finish the pork with
3 Tbs tomato paste
Method:
1. Combine paprika, mustard powder, cumin, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 2 teaspoons salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture all over the pork.
2. Turn the Instant Pot to the high saute setting. Add the oil and once hot, add the pork and cook in two batches, turning, until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes. Switch the Instant Pot to the warm setting, remove the pork and transfer to a plate.
3. Whisk 3/4 cup water into the drippings in the Instant Pot. Add the vinegar, tomato paste, the remaining 2 tablespoons brown sugar and 2 cups water and whisk to combine. Add the pork back to the pot. Follow the manufacturer’s guide for locking the lid and preparing to cook. Set to pressure cook on high for 1 hour.
4. After the pressure cook cycle is complete, follow the manufacturer’s guide for quick release and wait until the quick release cycle is complete. Careful of any remaining steam, unlock and remove the lid and transfer the pork to a large bowl.
5. Switch the Instant Pot to the normal saute setting and simmer the juices until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. While the juices are reducing use a ladle to remove any fat that rises to the top. Season to taste with salt.
6. Meanwhile, use 2 forks to shred the pork in to small chunks.
7. Add 1-2 cups of the reduced cooking liquid to the chunked pork and season with salt and vinegar to taste. Serve in hamburger buns with barbecue sauce.
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Originally trained as an anthropologist, Ted Scheffler is a seasoned food, wine & travel writer based in Utah. He loves cooking, skiing, and spends an inordinate amount of time tending to his ever-growing herd of guitars and amplifiers.
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