I am in LOVE with my slow cooker. There. I said it. I do, I mean really, my slow cooker is a lifesaver in our house, and at least two nights a week, the sole reason we have a hot, homemade meal on the table. I love to make shredded chicken tacos, pulled pork sandwiches and even cook my chicken in there to make chicken salad. But with these sorts of meals, I need to shred the meat and had been using two forks to do this – while that worked, if I tried to do it with the meat still in the slow cooker (my preferred method), I would either burn my hands at least once in the process, scratch the bottom of slow cooker or both. Not to mention I would get tired of shredding after awhile and end up with hugely inconsistent shreds of meat and some areas not shredded at all. I recently received a product in exchange for my honest opinion that has revolutionized my recipes that require shredded meats!
What did I think?
As I mentioned, we enjoy recipes that require shredding meat – using my slow cooker all winter long and then in the spring and summer while we barbeque to our hearts’ contents. If love to barbeque, you need a pair of Bear Paws meat shredders! These unique plastic “claws” literally extend your hand so that you can shred the meat with ease, as though you were a grizzly bear (without all the hair!). These nylon meat handlers are BPA-free and made with 100% FDA-approved materials, which makes me feel at ease when using them! They have stay-cool handles that are comfortable to hold, and all you to quickly shred the meat in small spaces, without burning yourself (unless you are getting really crazy – it does not encase your hand, just extends your reach!).
I love that the Bear Paws company is family-owned and operated, with all their materials and packaging being made right here in the United States. I know that when I think of classic American food, for me, BBQ is at the top of the list!
I have already used my Bear Paws many times and cannot imagine how I was getting things done before I had them! I made a simple pulled pork recipe and was able to shred the pork roast in less than one minute, whereas it would have taken me considerably more time and created more frustration had I been shredding it with forks.
Easy Winter Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
What do I need?
- 2-3 lb boneless pork shoulder roast
- 1 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce (I make mine homemade and can it in the fall – stay tuned for my “secret recipe”!)
- Gluten-free Buns
- Coleslaw (optional)
- Bear Paws meat shredder
What do I do?
Place pork roast into the slow cooker (you can even throw it in frozen!), pour BBQ sauce over the top and then cook on low for 8-9 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. Turn heat down (mine has a “warm” setting) and then using your Bear Paws meat shredders, shred the meat in one minute or less! Serve shredded pork on your gluten-free buns and top with coleslaw if desired.
The Verdict
The Bear Paws meat shredders are a wonderful and functional addition to my kitchen. I am looking forward to finding more uses for the Bear Paws – I am already envisioning how quickly I could shred a head of lettuce with them for fast salads in the summer! I have also found that the Bear Paws are perfect for lifting meat out of pans and roasters and moving them to serving platters or to other pans. In 2013, Bear Paws introduced the Mama Bear paws in a great pink shade and they donate 10% of the profits on the Mama Bear Paws to the Susan G Komen Foundation! So not only do these Bear Paws do good in your kitchen, they are doing good in the community, too! Learn more about the National BBQ Association’s 2013 Best BBQ Tool award winner on their website, or purchase your very own set on Amazon!