Pork chops are versatile and popular because they can be cooked quickly by frying or grilling. They can also be slow-cooked in the Instant Pot or oven in a sauce. They are great brushed with a marinade or served with apple sauce.
The meat is known for its tenderness and mild taste. However, you may not wish to serve them as whole chops and might be wondering if you can shred them for use in dishes like stir-fries. Keep reading because we’ve got the answers for you.
Pulled pork is usually juicy, soft, and melt-in-your-mouth tender. It’s so good eaten on top of rice, in a burger bun, or on sandwiches. It is especially delicious if first mixed with a sweet and tangy barbeque or sweet and sour sauce.
However, pulled pork is usually made with a whole pork roast. If you only have chops though, it’s no problem as you can easily shred them. The trick is to cook them in the marinade or sauce to keep them soft and moist.
Can You Shred Pork Chops?
Should You Even Do It?
Yes, pork chops can certainly be shredded and used in any recipe calling for pulled or shredded pork. Once cooked, the meat is fairly dry and firm, so it may be best to use them in dishes that include gravy or sauce.
One popular dish which uses pork chops is the delicious Cuban shredded pork. Other recipes are pork tamale pie. Alternatively, you can use your shredded pork chops as a pizza topping or for filling tacos.
How to Shred Pork Chops
Shredding pork chops is a useful way of using up leftover pork chops. Once cooked, remove the bones and rind plus fat until you are left with just the meat.
Then cut the meat up finely using a sharp knife, food processor, or even a box grater. Some people like to use two forks to pull the meat fibers apart.
Tips
- It’s easier to shred or pull the pork when it is still hot.
- You can store the shredded pork in its sauce for three to four days in the refrigerator. It can also be frozen.
- Pork chops are low fat and therefore a healthy protein source. Just be careful of using sauce recipes that contain a lot of added sugar or oil.
The Bottom Line
Can you shred pork chops? Yes! Try our yummy recipe below and let us know what you think.
Easy Shredded Pork Chops
Ingredients:
- 18 ounces bottled barbeque sauce
- 1 small punnet of button mushrooms
- 1 can chopped tomatoes plus their juice
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tablespoons brown wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup apple juice
- 2 pounds of pork chops
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celcius.
- Put the barbeque sauce, sliced mushrooms, canned tomatoes, chopped onion, sugar, garlic, vinegar, apple juice and seasoning into your food processor. Pulse until chopped but chunky.
- Put the pork chops in a single layer in an oven dish and pour the sauce mixture over the top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for about 2 hours until the meat is very soft.
- Remove from the oven and shred the meat using two forks. Keep it in the sauce and serve in tacos or burger buns with slaw on the side.