pulled

The word “pulled” means describing cooked meat that has been shredded into fine strands, usually after slow cooking. In plain terms, slow-cooked meat shredded apart by hand or forks.

“Pulled” is pronounced puuld (/pʊld/ in IPA).

Here is “pulled” used in a sentence: “We had pulled pork sandwiches at the barbecue.”

“Pulled” is an adjective.

“Pulled” is a fairly common word in modern English.

Pulled describes meat that has been cooked slowly until tender, then shredded into soft strands rather than sliced. The classic example is pulled pork, where the meat is torn apart with forks. Slow cooking breaks down the connective tissue, so the meat falls into strands easily and soaks up sauce.

The two are very close and often mean the same thing. Pulled specifically suggests meat cooked low and slow, then torn into strands, often by hand or with forks. Shredded is a broader term for any meat separated into thin pieces, whether by cooking, a fork, or a machine.

Pulled meat is made by cooking a cut low and slow, by smoking, roasting, or braising for hours, until it is so tender the fibres separate. The meat is then pulled apart into strands with two forks or your fingers, often mixed with sauce. Pork shoulder is the traditional choice.

Pulled pork is the best-known example, a barbecue staple made from slow-cooked pork shoulder. Pulled chicken, pulled beef, and pulled jackfruit, a plant-based stand-in, follow the same idea: cook until tender, then shred into strands. It is popular in sandwiches, tacos, and wraps.