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Cooking for big groups

Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 15:23
by Backyardsmoker
Ive just dine a search but didnt come up with anything,

If you was cooking for a lot of people, and you was doing a shed load of pulled pork what woukd the best way to stop it drying out be?

Keep it in some kind of chicken stock on a low heat?

I was thinking about staggering the cooking start time so there was a joint or two ready every 30-60 minutes...


Ben :ugeek:

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 17:02
by CyderPig
When I cooked for my local pub the Pork was ready an hour and a half before kick off, I vented the pork whilst it was still in the tinfoil leaving it in the cooking jus, then wrapped in another layer of foil and placed in a coolbag wrapped in towels.
Come time to serve I pulled adding the jus and kept in a chafing dish on very low heat.
I served up 96 pp rolls in one hour, no chance to get cold.

Si

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 14 Mar 2013, 18:04
by Toby
As Si said. The pork will hold for hours so no need to worry about staggering the cook unless you are worried about capacity.

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 08:38
by Backyardsmoker
Ive got to cook for about 80 people for my son's christening. Doing a nice curry some pulled pork and stuffing and maybe a chilli.. its not til 21st april so got lots of time to sort it.. cheers for your advice.


Ben :ugeek:

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 14:08
by aris
80 people is *alot* of food. If it were me i'd be looking at hiring a hog roaster and doing a whole hog.

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 18:04
by Backyardsmoker
There's gonna be more than just whats on the smoker. That includes children which there will be sandwiches.. I'll let you know how it goes


Ben :ugeek:

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 18:06
by keith157
Backyardsmoker wrote:There's gonna be more than just whats on the smoker. That includes children which there will be sandwiches.. I'll let you know how it goes


Ben :ugeek:

You're making children into SANDWICHES :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: .............................welcome to the childcatchers club ;) :lol:

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 15 Mar 2013, 19:52
by Backyardsmoker
Yeah they're the best kind haha :lol:

What was the child catcher from? Chitty chitty bang bang?

I have the bfg with bone crusher :?


Ben :ugeek:

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 16 Mar 2013, 15:00
by RobinC
I've cooked for 100 before now and am doing a party for about 140 next month. As other people have commented the pork will hold very well so serve it in batches. I normally spray it with a finishing sauce (basically apple juice + worcestershire sauce) just to add a little moisture into the serving dish. The thing I've found for bigger cooks is to restrict the number of different dishes that you are cooking and preferably don't grill. Good luck.

Re: Cooking for big groups

Posted: 16 Mar 2013, 21:34
by Backyardsmoker
Definately keeping it simple. Going to do just two maybe three hot dishes, a curry, pulled pork and stuffing cobs and maybe a chilli then the usual snacks and sandwiches. They'll be plenty of beer because its in my local. Looking forward to the challenge.


Im appreciating all the help and tips.

Ben :ugeek: