Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Please don’t try to do this in the oven ’cause you’ll just ruin it.

Ingredients

  • 2 quarts water
  • 12 ounces pickling salt
  • ¾ cup honey
  • 6–8 lb Boston pork butt, trimmed
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 2 tbsp black pepper
  • 3 tbsp dehydrated lemon peel
  • 2 tbsp cayenne pepper (more if you like)
  • 1 ½ tbsp dried rosemary
  • 3 tbsp dark brown sugar
  • Several lbs apple wood
  • Hamburger buns for serving
Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Photo: Dktue / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Procedure

  1. Combine water, salt, and honey in a 6-quart cooler. Add pork and refrigerate or place a large bag of ice on top for 8–12 hours.
  2. Remove pork from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Combine remaining seasonings and rub on pork.
  3. Light a few chunks of apple wood and place in the firebox of a smoker. Keep temperature in smoker around 210°F.
  4. Place in a smoker and cook for 8–12 hours, changing wood as needed. The meat should be tender at this point—if not, continue smoking.
  5. Let rest 1 hour, then shred with two forks. Serve on hamburger buns.