Pulled Pork: 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 Pressure CookerReady in 2 hr 5 min; the other takes 8 hr 30 min.
  • Easiest Slow CookerEasy, where the other is medium.
  • Lightest Slow CookerAbout 620 calories a serving, against 760 calories for the other (an estimate).

Side by side

Pressure CookerSlow Cooker
Total time2 hr 5 min8 hr 30 min
Prep20 min15 min
LevelMediumEasy
Steps146
Serves810
Key ingredientsboneless pork shoulder, chicken broth and barbecue sauceboneless pork shoulder, onion and barbecue sauce
Only in this oneNoneNone
DietaryDairy-FreeHigh-ProteinDairy-FreeHigh-Protein
Calories760620
Protein44 g36 g
Carbs43 g39 g
Fat45 g35 g
Cleanup4/5 2 things to wash4/5 2 things to wash
Kid helperNoNo

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.

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