How to distinguish types of pork

To choose the right part of pork, you need to know how to distinguish and understand the basic characteristics of each type of pork.

Filet

Tenderloin, also known as lean tenderloin, is a lean meat that does not contain any fat. Therefore, tenderloin is very soft and has a characteristic aroma, often used to make floss and pork rolls. You can even choose tenderloin to use for grilled dishes, which is also very delicious.

Cutlet

Pork chop is the back meat of a pig, consisting mainly of lean meat and often accompanied by the ribs, so it is also called pork chop chop. In the South, pork chop is grilled to eat with broken rice. Meanwhile, in the North, people often use pork chop to braise salty or make floss.

Head meat

Head meat is the meat from the head, not including the snout, ears and cheeks of the pig. Therefore, you will feel the characteristic crunchiness and toughness of the head meat, with both fat and skin, but the fat is almost not boring when eaten.

People use pork head to make pork roll - famous in the North of our country, including many other ingredients such as wood ear, pork nose, pork leg, etc.

Pork leg meat

Ham, also known as ham hock, is the meat in the pig's thigh and the hoof is removed. The characteristic of ham hock is that many muscle fibers are rolled together and are very popular for processing into dishes: smoked ham hock, salted ham hock, stewed ham hock, etc. In Western countries, people use ham hock to process cold cuts and are used in many dishes.

Pig's feet

Pig's trotters are the part of the leg attached to the hoof of the pig, so they have a lot of tendons, crispy skin and fat that does not cause fat. This part of the trotter is often processed into dishes that help gain weight or help stimulate milk production for postpartum mothers. In addition, there are many attractive dishes made from trotters such as: stewed trotters, braised with turmeric or cooked with fake dog meat...

Pork belly

Pork belly is located in the belly of the pig, consisting of layers of meat and fat stacked on top of each other. This area of ​​meat has a lot of fat but is also quite popular because eating lean meat alone is a bit dry, so a little fat makes it more delicious.

Lean shoulder meat

Lean shoulder meat is the meat located in the shoulder of the pig, so it is tough and crispy, containing both lean and fat. Lean shoulder meat is often ground to prepare other dishes such as: ground meat porridge, meatballs...

Rump meat

The rump, also known as the rump, is the meat at the end of the pig's body (rump), consisting of lean meat and fat interwoven together. Sometimes you can even see the fat, meat and skin clearly separated, not mixed with tendons, cartilage or bones. The rump can be boiled, stir-fried or grilled.

Lean meat

Lean meat is the part of meat with layers of fat interspersed inside the meat but not clearly separated, so when cooked the meat will not be too dry. You can use lean meat to fry lemongrass or braise, both are delicious.

Sparerib

Pork ribs, including baby ribs and old ribs. Specifically, baby ribs are small ribs with flat bones, containing a lot of meat and cartilage, often processed into grilled dishes, stir-fried with lemongrass and chili, braised and sweet and sour.

While old ribs are the ribs with larger bones, contain less meat and need more time to cook because they are tough. Therefore, old ribs are suitable for stews.

Double chin

Pork cheek, also known as pig cheek. Pork cheek is often sold with pig nose and ears to make fried pork head cheese. Therefore, pork head cheese is soft and crispy, slightly fatty, so it is very delicious.

Neck meat

Neck meat is a part consisting of lean meat and pork bones, in which the meat is interspersed within the bones. Therefore, neck meat can be used for grilling, pan-frying or simmering to make broth for hot pot, porridge and soup.

Thigh meat

Thigh meat is the meat removed from the pig's thigh, consisting of 3 layers - skin, fat and meat are clearly separated, in which the lean meat layer is thicker. You can use thigh meat to make delicious grilled, braised, fried or stir-fried dishes.