When cooking pork shoulder in a slow cooker, one of the most common questions home cooks have is whether or not you need to flip or rotate the meat during the cooking process. With most roast meats cooked in an oven, flipping halfway through is recommended to promote even cooking. But do the same rules apply when using a slow cooker? Let’s take a look at the reasons for and against flipping pork shoulder in a slow cooker.
The Argument For Flipping
There are a few reasons why you may want to flip or rotate pork shoulder when cooking it in a slow cooker:
- Promote even cooking – Flipping the roast halfway through may help the top and bottom cook at the same rate, preventing either side from over or undercooking.
- Avoid dryness on top – The top of the pork roast is more exposed to air during slow cooking, which can lead it to dry out faster. Flipping the meat could help keep the top portion moist.
- Prevent burning on bottom – Conversely, the bottom of the pork is in direct contact with the hot crock pot and may be prone to burning or overcooking. Rotating could prevent this.
- Redistribute juices – Turning the roast over can redistribute any juices that have pooled at the bottom, helping to baste the meat.
For these reasons, some cooks recommend flipping or turning your pork shoulder at least once during the long slow cooking time, typically halfway through. This can promote more even results.
The Argument Against Flipping
On the other hand, there are also good reasons why flipping may not be necessary when slow cooking pork shoulder:
- Moist environment – The trapped steam and moisture within a covered slow cooker creates an environment that promotes uniform cooking, unlike drier oven heat.
- Low, even heat – With oven roasting, flipping helps compensate for hotter and cooler spots. But slow cookers heat gently and evenly across the whole interior.
- Self-basting – The melting fat and collagen from pork shoulder creates juices that self-baste the meat during cooking.
- Falls apart – Pork shoulder cooked low and slow becomes so tender it falls apart, so searing on one side is not a concern.
- Disturbs seasoning – Flipping can disturbance any seasoning or rub applied to the exterior of the meat.
For these reasons, many cooks argue that flipping pork shoulder in a slow cooker is completely unnecessary and can actually disrupt the cooking process. As the meat cooks low and slow, it essentially bastes itself in its own juices without any intervention needed.
Should You Flip Pork Shoulder in a Slow Cooker?
So when all the factors are considered, should you flip pork shoulder when slow cooking it or not? Here are some guidelines to help you decide:
- Bone-in roasts – Rotating bone-in cuts like a shoulder roast once halfway through can promote even cooking of the thicker bone side. The bone conducts heat slower than meat.
- Boneless roasts – Flipping is less crucial for boneless cuts, since they cook more evenly to begin with. But you can still rotate for peace of mind if desired.
- Smaller cuts – Small pork shoulder cuts like 2-3 lb roasts or country style ribs benefit more from flipping than a giant 8-10 lb roast.
- Add liquid – If cooking without much added liquid, flipping helps redistribute juices. For roasts cooked fully submerged or with ample sauce, flipping is less important.
- Brown before – Browning the pork before slow cooking can reduce the need for flipping since searing adds deeper flavor.
- High heat – If cooking on high, rotating once halfway through may prevent scorching on the bottom. On low, this is not a concern.
In most cases, occasional flipping or rotating of pork shoulder during slow cooking is not strictly necessary but also usually does no harm. Many cooks recommend checking and flipping the meat once midway through for peace of mind and marginally better results. But skipping flipping altogether when slow cooking pork on low in plenty of liquid will still produce fantastic pulled pork.
Tips for Flipping Pork Shoulder
If you do decide to flip or rotate your pork roast when slow cooking, follow these tips:
- Use tongs or spatulas – Use sturdy, long-handled utensils to easily maneuver the meat.
- Flip gently – Carefully flip to avoid tearing the surface or splashing hot juices.
- Allow resting – After flipping, let the roast rest and reheat for 15-20 minutes before re-covering.
- Flip once only – Flipping more frequently disrupts cooking. Once midway through is sufficient.
- Check doneness – Use flipping as a chance to check meat for doneness using a thermometer.
- Add more liquid – Take the opportunity to add more water or sauce if needed.
- Adjust seasonings – Add any extra seasoning or herbs as desired while meat is exposed.
Exercising care when flipping pork shoulder will allow you to rotate the roast with minimal disruption or cooling of the meat. Then you can let the slow cooking continue undisturbed.
How to Tell When Pork Shoulder is Done
Since opening the slow cooker lid allows heat to escape, you want to minimize how frequently you check pork shoulder for doneness. Here are some ways to test if the pork is fully cooked and tender without constantly lifting the lid:
- Temperature – Insert a meat thermometer to check if the internal temp reaches 200-205°F.
- Fork tender – Use a fork to test if the meat shreds and pulls apart easily.
- Toothpick tender – A toothpick or thin skewer should slide into the thickest part with no resistance.
- Visuals – Check if the meat has pulled away from the bone or has very darkened outer bark.
- Time – Cook for 1-1.5 hours per pound, then check for doneness.
If the pork shoulder is not yet fully tender, re-cover and continue cooking until it passes one of these doneness tests. Roasts cooked properly in a slow cooker to the right internal temperature will be fall-apart tender.
How Long to Cook Pork Shoulder
The total cook time for pork shoulder in a slow cooker can vary quite a bit depending on variables like:
- Size of roast – Larger roasts take longer (allow 1-1.5 hours per lb).
- Bone-in or boneless – Bones conduct heat slower, adding time.
- High or low setting – Low heat takes longer than high.
- Frozen or thawed – Frozen meat adds hours.
- Amount of liquid – More liquid cooks faster.
- Altitude – Higher altitudes increase time.
Here are some general time ranges for pork shoulder in a slow cooker:
| Pork Shoulder Size | Cook Time on Low | Cook Time on High |
|---|---|---|
| 2-3 pounds | 6-8 hours | 4-6 hours |
| 4-5 pounds | 8-10 hours | 6-8 hours |
| 6-8 pounds | 10-12 hours | 8-10 hours |
After the minimum cook time, always check pork shoulder for doneness before removing it.
Troubleshooting Pork Shoulder in Slow Cooker
Even when followed correctly, pork shoulder recipes can sometimes run into issues. Here are some common problems and how to prevent them:
- Dry or overcooked meat – Add more liquid, use lower heat, or cook for less time.
- Not tender enough – Cook longer until fork-tender. Or, flip roast and add liquid.
- Too much liquid – Remove cover and turn to high to reduce liquid.
- Burned bottom – Use lower heat setting, flip meat, or elevate on vegetables.
- Bland flavor – Season more aggressively with spices, herbs, sauces.
- Greasy result -Trim excess fat before cooking. Skim fat after cooking.
- Didn’t cook overnight – For 8+ hour recipes, start early evening before bed, not morning.
Paying attention to cook times, temperature, and amount of liquid are key to avoiding most pork shoulder problems. Don’t be afraid to add more seasoning or liquid to correct overly dry or flavorless roasts either.
Conclusion
While there are valid arguments on both sides of whether or not to flip pork shoulder during slow cooking, the consensus is that an occasional gentle flip midway through cooking is unlikely to harm the end result. For larger bone-in roasts or high heat cooking, rotating the meat promotes more even cooking. But for well-seasoned and submerged pork cook on low, flipping is not strictly necessary. As long as the pork cooks low and slow to tender, shred-apart perfection, the exact flipping method is flexible to cook’s preference and peace of mind.