Pork prep/storage question

[WolfMcCallister]

Hi all,

I'm smoking some pork shoulders for my employees for a group party. I'm smoking the shoulders on Sunday the 9th, and the party is Wednesday the 12th, and I won't have any time in between to smoke it. How do you recommend I preserve the meat between Sunday and Wednesday?

Thanks!

 

[02ebz06]

Personally, I would vacuum seal and freeze in small enough amounts so they will thaw overnight.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I would smoke it to pull then I would pull it apart in larger pieces not huge just chunks, then vacuum seal and freeze. To warm you can drop them into 170* water or thaw and heat in a large crock. Of course once warmed you can finish pulling the meat. Keeping the pieces larger for storage keeps the meat more moist and better flavor I think.

 

[smokerjim]

I would pull it after smoking and put in ziploc bags and put in fridge, personally I wouldn't worry about freezing over a couple days but that's me.

 

[mosparky]

I'm with smokerjim on this one. 3 days to me is no big deal for refrigerated leftovers.

 

[chilerelleno]

If it was just my family and I I'd not worry about it.

Bag it, quick cool in a cooler of ice and then into the fridge or freezer.

But with other people, it's getting vac packed, frozen and reheated sous vide style.
Vac pac it flat, about an inch thick for quick defrost / reheat.

 

[WolfMcCallister]

If it was just my family and I I'd not worry about it.

Bag it, quick cool in a cooler of ice and then into the fridge or freezer.

But with other people, it's getting vac packed, frozen and reheated sous vide style.
Vac pac it flat, about an inch thick for quick defrost / reheat.

Do you have a vacuum sealer to recommend?

 

[Brokenhandle]

I'm with the no freeze camp. Especially if you don't already have a vac sealer.
If smoking Sunday, it won't be done and cooled till late Sunday. Just to pull out Tuesday to start thawing.

Ryan