Instant Pot Carnitas Recipe - The Cookie Rookie® (2024)

FAQs

What is the secret to good carnitas? ›

I've made carnitas many times using a completely different method and it turned out pretty good. But it is important to note that the traditional way to make carnitas is by slow cooking it in lard. I think it also gives it a more authentic taste. Seasoning- Salt, Mexican oregano, cumin, & black pepper.

The slow release will keep the meat tender. An immediate release can be why your Instant Pot pulled pork is tough.

The orange juice in the cooking liquid provides acidity that helps break down the meat so it's extra tender and juicy.

Step One: The trick to getting the most flavorful carnitas, is to sear the pork before allowing it to braise for hours. First, season the pork with a liberal sprinkle of salt and then sear the pork pieces on both sides until golden brown in avocado oil. Browning the meat helps to develop a rich deep flavor.

In other regions of Mexico, people add their own special seasoning to this dish, such as condensed milk, garlic, chicken broth, co*ke, orange juice, and/or beer. Not only do these ingredients give the carnitas their distinctive golden-brownish color, but they also help tenderize the meat.

Pork shoulder: Traditionally, carnitas is made with pork shoulder (also known as pork butt) because of its higher fat content. The fat helps to keep the meat extremely juicy and tender while cooking.

You want to use the tough cuts of beef or pork. When you cook via a pressure cooker, moisture is required. Combine that with a sealed lid, the steam can't escape. This is a moist cooking method and will breakdown a lot of the connective tissue, tenderizing the tough cuts.

Root beer would make a good substitute. If you don't want to use soda you can substitute another acid, like ½ cup apple cider vinegar mixed with one cup of apple juice. Store leftover pulled pork in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Cooking pulled pork for a longer time can help to break down the collagen and connective tissue, making the meat more tender, but there is a point at which the meat can become overcooked and dry out.

The sugar in the soda helps to caramelize the meat, and whatever else they put in the cola gives it that slight smokiness. Or maybe it's the smoked paprika that gives the smokiness.

What does evaporated milk do to carnitas? ›

A surprising ingredient here, sweetened condensed milk, helps the pork caramelize during cooking. Source a well-marbled pork roast for this recipe; the extra fat doubles down on the rich pork flavor.

As Nancy said, carnitas can be a dish by itself, or as an ingredient in tamales, tacos (made with two tortillas so they don't tear apart) or tortas. Depending on where you eat them, they can be served with chopped cilantro, diced onion, salsa, guacamole, tortillas, refried beans, lime and/or radishes.

Real carnitas are fried in lard, so it's basically pieces of pork, ribs, skin, offal, meat, all fried in pig fat. And to be really authentic carnitas you have to fry them in a copper pot. You'll find some recipes calling for Coca Cola or Pepsi, but you can also use brown sugar.

Slow Cooker Carnitas Recipe FAQ

They cook at the same temperature over several hours either way. Can you overcook carnitas in slow cooker? Any cut of meat can become overcooked, even in the crockpot.

You'll see the pork slowly cooked in a big pot of lard in many authentic recipes (Woah and yum!). However, to make our carnitas recipe a little more home-friendly, we slow-cook our pork with a few aromatics and a few tablespoons of oil to keep it moist.

For our carnitas, we want the temperature of the confit cooking fat to be about 200°F (93°C) or a little higher. At this temperature, we won't be drying out the surface of the meat cubes while we heat their centers.

To spice up bland carnitas, try adding extra seasoning such as chili powder, chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, or diced jalapeños for a kick of heat. You can also experiment with different herbs and spices to tailor the flavor to your liking.

FAQs About Carnitas

You can also use lime juice, lemon juice, or a combination of any of these.