Cooking Pork

Maplewood Meats Pork Cooking Tips

At Maplewood Meats, we pride ourselves on offering premium cuts of meat. To help you get the most out of your purchase, here are some expert tips on how to cook various cuts using a variety of techniques. Whether you're roasting, braising, grilling, or using the reverse sear method, we've got you covered!

Pork Butt

Roasting

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F 
  2. Season the pork butt generously with salt, pepper, and any preferred dry rub.
  3. Place in a roasting pan, fat side up, with about 1 cup of broth or water at the bottom.
  4. Cover with foil and roast for 4-5 hours, or until the internal temperature reaches 190°F for fall-apart tenderness.
  5. Remove foil for the last 30 minutes to allow the top to crisp up.
  6. Let rest for 15 minutes before shredding or serving.

Slow Cooking

  1. Rub pork with seasoning blend and place in a slow cooker.
  2. Add 1-2 cups of broth, apple juice, or a favorite BBQ sauce.
  3. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, until the meat is tender and shreds easily.
  4. Remove from slow cooker, shred, and mix with the juices for added flavor.

Smoking

  1. Preheat smoker to 225°F 
  2. Rub pork butt generously with seasoning.
  3. Smoke fat side up for 8-10 hours, until the internal temperature reaches 195-205°F for pulled pork.
  4. Wrap in foil halfway through if a softer bark is preferred.
  5. Let rest for 30 minutes before shredding.

Pork Rib Chops (1.5" Thick)

Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Season rib chops with salt, pepper, and fresh herbs if desired.
  3. Place in a baking dish, adding a splash of broth or apple cider to keep moist.
  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 145°F 
  5. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Reverse Sear

  1. Preheat oven to 225°F 
  2. Season chops and place on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  3. Bake for about 45-60 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 130°F 
  4. Heat a skillet over high heat with a small amount of oil. Sear chops for 1-2 minutes per side to caramelize the crust.
  5. Rest for 5 minutes, then serve.

Boneless Pork Loin Roast

Roasting

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F 
  2. Season pork loin generously with salt, pepper, and any preferred herbs or spices.
  3. Place in a roasting pan and cook for 45-60 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F
  4. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Reverse Sear

  1. Preheat oven to 225°F 
  2. Season the pork loin and place it on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  3. Roast until the internal temperature reaches 135°F, about 1.5-2 hours.
  4. Sear on a hot skillet for 2-3 minutes per side, until browned.
  5. Rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Pork Crown Roast

Roasting

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F 
  2. Season the crown roast with salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary. Optional: stuff with a savory bread stuffing.
  3. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and cover rib tips with foil to prevent burning.
  4. Roast for 2-3 hours, or until the internal temperature of the thickest part reaches 145°F
  5. Rest for 15 minutes before carving.

Pork Tenderloin

Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Season tenderloin and sear in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until browned on all sides.
  3. Transfer skillet to the oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F 
  4. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Reverse Sear

  1. Preheat oven to 225°F 
  2. Season the tenderloin and place on a wire rack over a baking sheet.
  3. Roast until the internal temperature reaches 130°F, about 25-30 minutes.
  4. Sear in a hot skillet for 1-2 minutes per side to develop a crust.
  5. Rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing.

Baby Back Ribs

Baking

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F 
  2. Remove the membrane from the ribs, then season with a dry rub.
  3. Wrap in foil and bake on a baking sheet for 2.5-3 hours, until tender.
  4. Unwrap, brush with BBQ sauce, and broil for 5 minutes to caramelize.

Grilling

  1. Preheat grill to medium heat (about 275°F).
  2. Season ribs and wrap in foil.
  3. Place on the grill and cook for 2-3 hours, flipping halfway through.
  4. Remove foil, brush with BBQ sauce, and grill over direct heat for 5-10 minutes to caramelize.

Smoking

  1. Preheat smoker to 225°F
  2. Season ribs and smoke for 3 hours.
  3. Wrap in foil with a small amount of liquid (like apple juice) and return to smoker for 2 hours.
  4. Unwrap, brush with sauce, and smoke for an additional hour to set the sauce.

Enjoy your perfectly cooked pork with these methods, each designed to bring out the best in every cut!

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