Pork Carnitas: compare the 2 variations
Time, effort, key ingredients, diets, nutrition and cleanup side by side, so you can pick the one that fits tonight.
Which should I make?
- Fastest Dutch OvenReady in 3 hr 5 min; the other takes 8 hr 40 min.
- Easiest Slow CookerEasy, where the other is medium.
- Least cleanup Dutch Oven2 things to wash: Dutch oven, sheet pan.
Side by side
| Dutch Oven | Slow Cooker | |
|---|---|---|
| Total time | 3 hr 5 min | 8 hr 40 min |
| Prep | 20 min | 20 min |
| Level | Medium | Easy |
| Steps | 12 | 12 |
| Serves | 8 | 8 |
| Key ingredients | boneless pork shoulder, orange and limes | boneless pork shoulder, orange juice and chicken broth |
| Only in this one | orange and limes | chili powder, orange juice, lime juice and chicken broth |
| Dietary | ||
| Calories | 600 | 660 |
| Protein | 38 g | 42 g |
| Carbs | 28 g | 26 g |
| Fat | 37 g | 42 g |
| Cleanup | 4/5 2 things to wash | 2/5 4 things to wash |
| Kid helper | No | No |
Nutrition is per serving. Estimate from USDA FoodData Central; not medical or dietary advice. Dietary: Based on the ingredient list and estimated nutrition; check labels; not medical advice. Cleanup score: 5 means one thing to wash, 1 means six or more. We count pots, pans, bowls and appliances, not the knife, board and spoons.
How we pick
- Fastest: the shortest total time, at least 10 minutes ahead of the next.
- Easiest: the lowest level (easy, medium, hard), then at least 2 fewer steps.
- Lightest: the fewest estimated calories a serving, at least 15% and 40 calories under the next (only when two or more have an estimate).
- Kid helper: the variation where a child can do the biggest share of the steps (no knife, no heat), when that's not all of them equally.
- Least cleanup: the best cleanup score, a point ahead of the next.
- Make it ahead: the only variation whose notes say how to make it ahead.
- Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free or dairy-free: the variation that fits a diet the others don't, from the ingredient lines.
A pick needs a clear winner; close calls are left out.