Berkshire Pork

[smokingohiobutcher]

This was an interesting read...

http://www.cooksillustrated.com/tastetests/overview.asp?docid=30466

See what you think!

SOB

 

[chef jimmyj]

Finally after more than 25 years, people are figuring out the Pig Fat tastes GOOD and studies show may even be healthier than other fats. Berkshire is good but I want to try these Piggies...JJ

http://www.gourmet.com/food/2009/01/mangalitsa-pork

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/113047/pork-fat-may-not-be-all-that-bad

 

[diggingdogfarm]

It really is far superior to commercial pork that's fed cheap feed.

I use mostly Berks, with some Tamworth and Old Spot.

I have cured and smoked some Mangalitsa bacon which was excellent!


~Martin

 

[whistlepig]

I enjoyed reading this. Pork now isn't what it was when I was growing up. It is so lean now. I go out of my way to drive to a small grocery in Indiana just for their loin chops. Their chops are marbled with fat and are so much more flavorful than what I can buy at chain grocery stores. It's like I almost forgot what a pork chop should taste like until I found these.

 

[fatzak]

I've played around with different grades of beef my entire life but have never thought of asking the butcher about different grades of pork. I do like to run down to Dublin GA and hunt my own hogs tho ...  I always prefered wild to farm raised. Now it looks like I've gotta spend the rest of my weekends this summer tryin pork types!!! 

 

[jp61]

Thanks for the post SOB! I learned something new today...

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

At the store where I work we carry Certified Hereford Beef....a much better breed of beef than the usual grocery store beef. Our owner has always said if ther was a better breed of hog that was like hereford beef he was willing to try it. Looks like I may have found something I can present to him.

Now to find a supplier.

SOB

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Did you know that there are Hereford hogs? :biggrin:

http://albc-usa.org/cpl/hereford.html

http://www.nationalherefordhogassociation.com/


~Martin

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

NO I DID NOT!!!! WOW! Thanks Martin! Have you had any hereford Pork?

Has anyone out there in SMF land had a chance to taste hereford pork?

SOB

 

[smokinhusker]

I saw an Iron Chef episode with the Mangalitsa Pork...that was some major fat going on with those, but it looked so darn good!

I buy Certified Hereford Beef (when I have to buy it) at a little hole in the wall market about 10 miles from me. 

 

[alelover]

That's interesting. Never knew pH was so important to the flavor of pork.

 

[smokingohiobutcher]

I saw an Iron Chef episode with the Mangalitsa Pork...that was some major fat going on with those, but it looked so darn good!

I buy Certified Hereford Beef (when I have to buy it) at a little hole in the wall market about 10 miles from me. 

Annnnnd...What do you think of it?

SOB

 

[smokinhusker]

Oh I really like it but that's what we raised and slaughtered on the SE Ohio farm I grew up on. Looks so much better than the beef Safeway has.