This Is How Long Pulled Pork Lasts In The Fridge, According To An Expert

Southern Living Barbecue Pork Pizza shredding the pork
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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

A delicious barbecue with friends and family is all fun and games until it’s time to pack up a pile of leftovers trying to determine what will still be good in a couple day’s time. When it comes to pulled pork, you only have a few days to consume it before it’s time to take action.

How Long Does Pulled Pork Last?

“Pulled pork can be refrigerated for three to four days before it needs to be thrown out or moved to your freezer,” Alabama-based dietitian Chelsea Edwards tells Southern Living.

The USDA recommends using cooked pork within four days and always making sure it’s kept  refrigerated at 40-degrees Fahrenheit or less.

“Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within three to four days,” the USDA website states.

The Best Way To Store Pulled Pork

To maximize the shelf-life of pulled pork, it should be stored in an airtight bag in the refrigerator. If you know you won’t enjoy leftovers in the immediate future, Edwards says that pulled pork can also be frozen.

How To Freeze Pulled Pork

In the freezer, pulled pork should maintain its quality for about three months. 

“If you have a cooked pork butt that has not been pulled, you can let it cool then wrap it in plastic wrap, followed by foil and then put it into an airtight bag,” Edwards explains. “This will reduce the surface area exposed to the freezer, which can better maintain the pork's quality.”

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Caitlin Bensel, Food Stylist: Torie Cox

How To Thaw Frozen Pulled Pork

If you decided to freeze pulled pork and are now ready to use it in a recipe, making sure it’s thawed properly is key. Edwards says thawing under refrigeration and then reheating is the easiest way to thaw pulled pork. 

  1. Place frozen pulled pork in a glass container or dish and place inside your refrigerator and allow the pork to defrost over time.
  2. Once thawed, pork can be reheated for consumption.
  • Put cooked pulled pork in a vacuum sealed bag and sous vide the pork to maintain the tenderness during the reheating process.
  • Reheat pulled pork in the oven, microwave, or slow-cooker as well.

How Long Can You Store Pork?

The USDA recommends the following:

  • Raw Pork should be used within three to five days or freezing it.
  • Cooked pork should be consumed within three to four days.
  • Frozen pork should be consumed within six months for best taste.

“If you buy pork in an airtight bag at the store, use it within a few days of the sell by date,” Edwards says.

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