Perfect Pork Roast Recipes (Instant Pot or Slow Cooker) (2024)

FAQs

Is it better to pressure cook or slow cook pork roast? ›

Slow cooking the meat means it never has the chance to toughen up and will be extra silky and tender. Pressure cooking is faster, though you may lose a little bit of the tenderness. If you're going for the pressure cook method, be sure to get a pork shoulder or pork butt, as opposed to a pork loin.

Overcooking any meat dries it out. A pork loin roast is more tender and juicy when cooked to medium than when it is well done. If you're talking about a pork shoulder or pork butt, it is best braised low and slow to let the collagen soften. As soon as the meat pulls apart with a fork, it is done.

You can make this flavorful pulled pork in the crock pot or an Instant Pot. The recipe is very simple. I love the convenience of a crock pot but the Instant Pot accomplishes the same result in about an hour. Either way, you are going to love this tender pork!

It is more common to undercook pork in the Instant Pot than overcook it. If the meat seems tough, it is most likely undercooked and needs additional time.

The pork roast is done after about 3 hours on high or about 6 to 8 hours on low. To avoid overcooking the pork, check the temperature with an instant-read thermometer. If overcooked, the pork can become dry and could be difficult to slice.

Traditionally cheaper cuts of meat always slow cook better. Slow cooking breaks down the connective collagen in meat, which turns into unctuous gelatine. This creates that soft and tender mouth feel we all crave.

Each slow cooker meal's cooking time differs depending on the meat and its weight. The low setting is important so you don't overcook it, potentially leaving you with a dry or tough meal.

At around 2 hours, your pork chops will be cooked through (145°F) and have a texture similar to chicken breast — tender, but firm. Between 3 to 6 hours, the chops will have a texture closer to pulled pork; it will be easy to cut with a fork and will pull easily from the bone.

Pull the pork from the fridge to take the chill off while you chop a few onions and smash garlic cloves. Transfer everything to a large slow cooker and add a splash of liquid — water is great, but so is broth, apple juice, or beer if you have them handy.

While the Instant Pot is best known for its pressure cooking function, it can do much more: slow cooking, steaming, searing/sauteing, rice cooking, yogurt making, and more. The best Instant Pot, the Duo Crisp, can even air fry and sous vide.

Why did my Instant Pot pulled pork come out tough? ›

An immediate release can be why your Instant Pot pulled pork is tough. It will cause the meat to seize and toughen. Avoid Using Pork Tenderloin. Don't use pork tenderloin, which is far too lean for pulled pork.

Unfortunately, once you overcook a piece of meat in the pressure cooker, there's no going back. You'll be left with a pile of dry, crunchy, tasteless fibers and no amount of additional pressure cooking is going to put that moisture back into the meat.

Low and slow is always the go for a tender pork roast. Depending on the size of the roast and the type of slow cooker, a pork roast is best cooked on LOW for 6-8 hours. If you prefer an oven method, a typical roast will take 3-4 hours in a low (160°C) oven.

Brine the pork to maintain moisture by soaking it in a mixture of salt and water, baking soda, vinegar or even milk. You can also pour hot water over the loin to shrink the rind, which can enable better absorption of brine, milk, oil or marinade.

It becomes tough, chewy and dry when it's cooked for too long or at too high a temperature.

Slow cookers are much better for cooking root vegetables and tough cuts of meat because the long, low-temperature cooking process is great for adding moisture and breaking down fat. Pressure cookers can get hot enough for meats and vegetables to brown in them when cooking, but slow cookers can't.

The pressure cooker can tenderize the most stubborn cut of meat and turn tough chewy fibers into gelatin, but a few wrong moves can turn meat into a shriveled tasteless lump.

Cooking time for Pork Loin in Crock Pot

Pork loin is a very lean cut of meat so it should be cooked LOW and slow. Please do NOT cook your pork loin on high in the crock pot. Cook on LOW for 2-4 hours.