Goin' whole hog: what you need to know to roast a hog or suckling pig?
First "Never eat more than you can lift." as Miss Piggy is saying... and then... Hog cooking is an ancient tribal ritual practiced around the world. Practically every society has celebrations and ceremonies surrounding the sharing of whole a beast (see sidebar). There's a lot of meat between rooter and tooter so that means you don't undertake the ritual unless the whole tribe is coming.
But before you commit, keep this in mind: It is a lot of work. If you screw up you are embarrassed in front of a large crowd, and it is easy to screw up. But most importantly, keep in mind that this is not the best way to cook pork. There are lean tender muscles like the loin and tenderloin that are best at about 145°F, and tough sinewy knots of muscles like the shoulders and hams that won't get tender until they hit 200°F or so. What you end up doing is cooking everything to the higher number and then shredding it, dousing it with sauce, mix in some crunchy skin, and have a massive pile of pulled pork.
The best way to cook pork is to... Goin' whole hog: what you need to know to roast a hog or suckling pig
First "Never eat more than you can lift." as Miss Piggy is saying... and then... Hog cooking is an ancient tribal ritual practiced around the world. Practically every society has celebrations and ceremonies surrounding the sharing of whole a beast (see sidebar). There's a lot of meat between rooter and tooter so that means you don't undertake the ritual unless the whole tribe is coming.
But before you commit, keep this in mind: It is a lot of work. If you screw up you are embarrassed in front of a large crowd, and it is easy to screw up. But most importantly, keep in mind that this is not the best way to cook pork. There are lean tender muscles like the loin and tenderloin that are best at about 145°F, and tough sinewy knots of muscles like the shoulders and hams that won't get tender until they hit 200°F or so. What you end up doing is cooking everything to the higher number and then shredding it, dousing it with sauce, mix in some crunchy skin, and have a massive pile of pulled pork.
The best way to cook pork is to... Goin' whole hog: what you need to know to roast a hog or suckling pig
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| WHOLE HOG: ROAST A HOG OR SUCKLING PIG |
