I would guess that it is cured; an old fashioned name for curing is pickling (but technically, from Wikipedia, "
Pickling is the process of
preserving food by
anaerobic fermentation in
brine to produce
lactic acid, or
marinating and storing it in an acid solution, usually
vinegar(
acetic acid). The resulting food is called a
pickle. This procedure gives the food a
salty or
sour taste.
In South Asia, edible oils are used as the pickling medium with vinegar.[sup]
[1][/sup]
Another distinguishing characteristic is a
pH less than 4.6,[sup]
[2][/sup] which is sufficient to kill most bacteria. Pickling can preserve
perishable foods for months.
Antimicrobial herbs and spices, such as
mustard seed,
garlic,
cinnamon or
cloves, are often added.[sup]
[3][/sup] If the food contains sufficient moisture, a pickling brine may be produced simply by adding dry salt. For example,
German sauerkraut and
Korean kimchi are produced by salting the vegetables to draw out excess water. Natural fermentation at room temperature, by
lactic acid bacteria, produces the required acidity. Other pickles are made by placing vegetables in vinegar. Unlike the
canningprocess, pickling (which includes fermentation) does not require that the food be completely
sterile before it is sealed. The acidity or salinity of the solution, the temperature of fermentation, and the exclusion of oxygen determine which microorganisms dominate, and determine the flavor of the end product.[sup]
[4][/sup]
When both salt concentration and temperature are low,
Leuconostoc mesenteroides dominates, producing a mix of acids, alcohol, and aroma compounds. At higher temperatures
Lactobacillus plantarum dominates, which produces primarily
lactic acid. Many pickles start with
Leuconostoc, and change to
Lactobacillus with higher acidity.[sup]
[4][/sup]
[sup]But in all terms, it is referring to vegetables or roots, not to meat.[/sup]
For meat, it is a derivation of "brining"; which today is "curing".
If possible, call her back and see if there is ingredients listed in the pickle, that would confirm it for sure if it lists either TQ or sodium nitrite.
If so, do a fry test to determine the saltiness, then soak if necessary, changing the water every half hour under refrigeration until the right salt content is found to be acceptable with fry tests. You can toss in some potatoes too to absorb the salt if necessary.
However, if there are no curing ingredients listed, you would have to mix up a brine solution with curing salt like you would with fresh picnic, inject and brine from the start.
The other possibility is that they are pickled like a pickle, with vinegar, pickling spices, etc. If so, then smoke them for a pork version of pastrami. Be wonderful for boiled dinner!