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Pork is certainly a versatile meat and can be cooked and served in several ways. However, because of this, it can be challenging to know what to choose and how to cook it perfectly. From pork roast with crackle to ground pork and rice, the options certainly are endless. 

Below, we are going to discuss everything you need to know about cooking pork perfectly. Interested? Then let’s get started!

The Event

The first step in choosing the right pork is to think about what type of event it is being served for. While a roast is perfect for a family gathering, it isn’t going to be able to serve a huge amount of people. Alongside this, if you are having a BBQ, you are going to want to choose something that is easy to fry up. As a guide, try and follow this advice:

BBQ: While you can spend time marinating and applying rubs before a BBQ, you probably want something that cooks easily and quickly. Pork strips, fillets, cutlets, or even a nice kurobuta pork chop are excellent options both in a pan or on the BBQ. All of them taste delicious and can be paired well with other traditional BBQ foods.

Family: Pork roasts are a great choice for a nice family dinner; however, keep in mind they do take longer to prepare. Big cuts may require slow cooking and even drying out. That being said, the more effort you put into it, the more intense and tastier all the flavors will be. A leg, belly, or shoulder can be great options.

Feast: Hosting an event with lots of people? Pork can certainly be a great choice. Again, try choosing a bigger cut of meat, or even roast something whole. By putting it in a slow cooker overnight, you’ll have a wonderful selection to choose from that will have the whole neighborhood amazed. Pork belly tacos or burgers, anyone?

The Cut

The cut of meat you should choose depends on three factors; the cost, flavor, and cooking time. For example, cheaper pork tenderloins are tender and mild in flavor and don’t take a long while to cook. However, a more expensive shoulder is great when slow-cooked and is very flavorsome. Here are some of the best meat cuts you should consider:

Chops: Chops can be bought in various ways but do all come from the loin (meat running from hip to shoulder). They are a popular cut because of their juicy tenderness and can be served with many delicious pork chop sides. Alongside this, they have a very short cooking time, depending on thickness. 

Ham: Known for being served at Christmas, ham is part of the hind leg. Dry-cured or wet-cured, this meat is best served cold. You can buy it bone-in or boneless, but as a general rule, the bigger it is, the pricier it will be.

Ribs: Ribs are certainly one of the best cuts of meat and are perfect for the BBQ. Baby back ribs are a delicious recipe choice, but spareribs are full of flavor, and country-style ribs are certainly the meatiest. Because there are many options, it’s one cut that is perfect for everyone.

Bacon: Bacon is undoubtedly one of the most popular pork cuts, which is loved by many across the globe. Cut from the side of the belly, this meat can be served sweet, salty, spicy, or smoky. Whether you have it on top of pancakes or cooked with eggs for breakfast, it’s certainly a crowd favorite. 

Staying Safe

Just like most foods, pork is something that needs to be cooked and stored correctly. For fresh cuts, the safe internal cooking temperate sits at 145° F. It’s also important to never leave it at room temperature for more than two hours. 

When it comes to defrosting, the best way is to do it in the refrigerator. However, depending on the size, the time for this process can vary. The USDA also notes that once thawed in the fridge; it can be refrozen. However, this will damage the quality due to loss of moisture.

Final Thoughts

And that’s it !By following the above, you can make a delicious meal that will have everyone begging for more. Are you ready to get cooking? Before you begin, make sure you read up on a couple of tips so that you’re prepared and check out some different recipes. You would be amazed at what you can create with just a little bit of inspiration!