There seems to be no end to this debate; Memphis style, Southern style, North Carolina style, or South Carolina style. Even Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, and Florida have gotten into the game! We're talking here, of course about the vast array of pulled pork crockpot recipes that make these claims.
Officially speaking, there seems to be no consensus at all. You can compare pulled pork crockpot recipes from now until Hades freezes over and you won't find a clear cut answer anywhere. There are as many variations to this recipe as there are barbecue sauces and dry rubs. Let's look at a few common ingredients and cooking methods that keep crossing state lines.
Vinegar - Most homemade versions of barbecue sauce for a pulled pork sandwich will include vinegar. Memphis may claim this belongs to them, but South Carolina cooks say the same thing. The tangy element of vinegar seems to be a sticking point for almost all recipes in which you make a classic barbecue sauce.
Brown Sugar - In order to make a homemade barbecue sauce you need something sweet. Brown sugar is a good choice and is actually used in many recipes for both barbecue sauce and dry rubs. As a matter of fact, there are places that swear by using just brown sugar mixed with vinegar and a dash of cumin to season the pork. Some claim that this is strictly a South Carolina recipe, but I've heard folks claim that this simple recipe could only come from a place like Florida.
Dry Rub - Here again the boundaries blur. South Carolina recipes often stake claim to this method of seasoning the pork. The rub is made up of a variety of spices, usually including paprika, cayenne, and lots of black pepper. Some folks say this is the only only flavoring you add to the pork. That means no barbecue sauce is mixed in with the pulled pork, only served on the side as a condiment. As a matter of fact, some folks in Memphis shudder when someone refers to this beloved sandwich as a pulled pork barbecue.
Condiments - There are several standard condiments found on most every table serving pulled pork sandwiches. A bottle of barbecue sauce is a must. Then, some people like a little red hot sauce, mustard, and salt and pepper. I have yet to see a bottle of ketchup! That just seems wrong... and it probably is. Memphis holds the honor in most people's opinion of being the cole slaw condiment originator. If you get a "slap of slaw" on top, you're probably enjoying a real Memphis pulled pork sandwich.
Cooking Methods - Even though using your slow cooker to make pulled pork sandwiches isn't a brand new idea, it isn't like the old fashioned methods, either. Your family's cooking method depends on how you learned to cook pork. Perhaps you have an outdoor grill pit or a smoker. You may have always braised the pork or just oven roasted it. Any one region would find it difficult to claim that a certain style of cooking is their own and no others. If you're walking Beale Street, you'll most likely see lots of smoky grills going, but you'll see those same scenes in other regions, as well. It's hard to pin a cooking method down to one place.
If you're reading this and thinking that debating over a bunch of pulled pork crockpot recipes is all a bunch of nonsense, you're probably right. There you are sitting in South Carolina or Memphis or Georgia thinking "I know darn well that my Granddad created that dry rub" or some such thought, and you're probably right. The fact is if your family has a recipe you've used for years, that's your recipe and your region. Don't let the debate dissuade you from making your recipe truly YOURS!
Officially speaking, there seems to be no consensus at all. You can compare pulled pork crockpot recipes from now until Hades freezes over and you won't find a clear cut answer anywhere. There are as many variations to this recipe as there are barbecue sauces and dry rubs. Let's look at a few common ingredients and cooking methods that keep crossing state lines.
Vinegar - Most homemade versions of barbecue sauce for a pulled pork sandwich will include vinegar. Memphis may claim this belongs to them, but South Carolina cooks say the same thing. The tangy element of vinegar seems to be a sticking point for almost all recipes in which you make a classic barbecue sauce.
Brown Sugar - In order to make a homemade barbecue sauce you need something sweet. Brown sugar is a good choice and is actually used in many recipes for both barbecue sauce and dry rubs. As a matter of fact, there are places that swear by using just brown sugar mixed with vinegar and a dash of cumin to season the pork. Some claim that this is strictly a South Carolina recipe, but I've heard folks claim that this simple recipe could only come from a place like Florida.
Dry Rub - Here again the boundaries blur. South Carolina recipes often stake claim to this method of seasoning the pork. The rub is made up of a variety of spices, usually including paprika, cayenne, and lots of black pepper. Some folks say this is the only only flavoring you add to the pork. That means no barbecue sauce is mixed in with the pulled pork, only served on the side as a condiment. As a matter of fact, some folks in Memphis shudder when someone refers to this beloved sandwich as a pulled pork barbecue.
Condiments - There are several standard condiments found on most every table serving pulled pork sandwiches. A bottle of barbecue sauce is a must. Then, some people like a little red hot sauce, mustard, and salt and pepper. I have yet to see a bottle of ketchup! That just seems wrong... and it probably is. Memphis holds the honor in most people's opinion of being the cole slaw condiment originator. If you get a "slap of slaw" on top, you're probably enjoying a real Memphis pulled pork sandwich.
Cooking Methods - Even though using your slow cooker to make pulled pork sandwiches isn't a brand new idea, it isn't like the old fashioned methods, either. Your family's cooking method depends on how you learned to cook pork. Perhaps you have an outdoor grill pit or a smoker. You may have always braised the pork or just oven roasted it. Any one region would find it difficult to claim that a certain style of cooking is their own and no others. If you're walking Beale Street, you'll most likely see lots of smoky grills going, but you'll see those same scenes in other regions, as well. It's hard to pin a cooking method down to one place.
If you're reading this and thinking that debating over a bunch of pulled pork crockpot recipes is all a bunch of nonsense, you're probably right. There you are sitting in South Carolina or Memphis or Georgia thinking "I know darn well that my Granddad created that dry rub" or some such thought, and you're probably right. The fact is if your family has a recipe you've used for years, that's your recipe and your region. Don't let the debate dissuade you from making your recipe truly YOURS!
About the Author:
Grab your old slow cooker pulled pork recipes, search for a few new recipes, and brush up on your slowcooker cooking methods. It's time to get started and get serious saving money with your slowcooker!
