Carnitas, Slow Cooker

also called taco de carnitas · carnitas taco · roast pork · slow cooker carnitas · crockpot carnitas · crock pot carnitas

Also written for Instant Pot (2 to wash), the plain way (1 to wash).

The table

The broiler is not optional: there is no colour to be had in a sealed crock at any hour. No water goes
4 lb(1.8 kg; cut in 2-in chunks)pork shouldertoss with the salt and spicebrown 12 min, in three batchesbraise on low, 8 hrshred, crisp under the broiler 10 min
1 Tbskosher salt
1 tspground cumin
1 tspdried oregano
2 Tbslard
1(halved, squeezed in and dropped in)orange
1(quartered)white onion
6 clovesgarlic
2bay leaves
Tap anything to cross it off.

What to lay out

Everything the recipe asks for, sitting under the step that eats it. Tick each one as you measure it.13 things to get out.

Pans and tools

Before anything else

2toss with the salt and spice

3brown 12 min, in three batches

goes in with what step 2 made

4braise on low, 8 hr

goes in with what step 3 made

Cooking it

Tap a step when it is done; the next one lights up.

The clock

Start to finish
at least 8 hr 22 min1 of 4 steps gives no time
Needs you
about 22 min
If you get it wrong
Narrow — the broiler leg is about four minutes wide, and once the shreds go from crisp to dry the fat is not going back in
What you'll wash
Three things — the slow cooker crock, the skillet, a sheet to crisp the pork on
Does it keep
3 days — the meat keeps and the crisp does not, and this one went in wetter; the broiler is the fix

  1. toss with the salt and spice

    not timedfrom the start

  2. brown 12 min, in three batches

    12 minneeds youfrom the start

  3. braise on low, 8 hr

    8 hrwalk away12 min in

  4. shred, crisp under the broiler 10 min

    10 minneeds you8 hr 12 min in

You'll need broiler · skillet · slow cooker

Goes with

See how it is written
>> title: Carnitas, Slow Cooker
>> category: Stews & Braises
>> tags: pork, mexican, tacos, braise, slow cooker, crock pot
>> counters: The Slow Cooker
>> dish: carnitas
>> kit: Slow Cooker
>> aka: taco de carnitas, carnitas taco, roast pork, slow cooker carnitas, crockpot carnitas, crock pot carnitas
>> pairs-with: corn-tortillas, salsa-roja, refried-beans
>> servings: 8
>> time: 8 hr 35 min
>> slack: narrow — the broiler leg is about four minutes wide, and once the shreds go from crisp to dry the fat is not going back in
>> washing-up: the slow cooker crock, the skillet, a sheet to crisp the pork on
>> capacity: 3 — the skillet, brown
>> keeps: 3 days — the meat keeps and the crisp does not, and this one went in wetter; the broiler is the fix

The broiler is not optional: there is no colour to be had in a sealed crock at any hour. No water goes in.

>> step: toss with the salt and spice
Toss @pork shoulder{4%lb}(1.8 kg; cut in 2-in chunks), @kosher salt{1%Tbs}, @ground cumin{1%tsp}, @dried oregano{1%tsp} and leave the surface dry.

>> step: brown 12 min, in three batches
Brown @&(~1)seasoned pork{} in @lard{2%Tbs} in a #skillet{} for ~brown{12%min}, in three batches — crowded, it steams, and steamed pork going into a steam box is a long day for nothing.

>> step: braise on low, 8 hr
Slow cook @&(~1)browned pork{} with @orange{1}(halved, squeezed in and dropped in), @white onion{1}(quartered), @garlic{6%cloves}, @bay leaves{2} in a #slow cooker{} on low for ~slow cook{8%hr}, lid on, no water added.

>> step: shred, crisp under the broiler 10 min
Shred @&(~1)braised pork{} coarsely, spread it on a sheet with a few spoonfuls of the fat from the pot, and crisp it under the #broiler{} ~broil{10%min}, watching it.