What is a hock of bacon?

What is a hock of bacon?

Pork hock is also known as pork knuckle. Although a relatively cheap cut, slowly boiled /simmered produces the sweetest tasting bacon where the meat just falls off the bone.

What part of the pig is bacon hock?

Cut from the bottom half of the pork leg, it’s a chunky, 4-inch section of bone surrounded by collagen, connective tissue, and some meat, all encased in a thick band of fat and skin. Hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked, so they’ll lend a bacony flavor to whatever you add them to.

Is a bacon hock the same as a ham hock?

Bacon has a different texture than ham hocks, which makes it difficult to mimic. Yes, you can substitute bacon for ham hocks. However, I would recommend using a different cut of meat. The flavor profile of bacon is much stronger than ham hocks.

Where is the hock on a pig?

The ham hock is the part of the pig where the foot attaches to the leg, at the very bottom of the leg bone, on both the back and front legs. This is what a ham hock looks like!

How do I make bacon hocks?

Directions

  1. In a large saucepan, cover the hocks with water and simmer.
  2. Simmer till the meat starts falling away, topping up the water if it reduces.
  3. Keep the poaching water to add to the bones to make a soup base later.
  4. When cool enough to handle, shred the meat from the bones and throw away the outer skin.

Is ham hock same as ham bone?

In other words, it is the joint that attaches the pig’s leg to the foot. The hock is not part of the ham nor part of the foot, or trotter, but rather the extreme shank end of the leg bone. While a ham bone and a ham hock are two different parts of the pig, you can often use them interchangeably.

Are pork hocks healthy?

It also holds more linoleic acid, which is an unsaturated fat. Linoleic acid blocks out bad cholesterol, which clog up arteries. Pork hock is especially beneficial to women who gave birth, because it holds lots of vitamin B and protein that helps them produce breast milk.

Are pork hocks the same as pigs feet?

Pig’s trotters are, of course, the pig’s feet and largely comprised of skin, bone and sinew. The hock is the first joint of the pig’s leg – the bit up from the trotter. Cured, these joints are called ham or gammon hocks, or also sometimes knuckles of bacon.

What is the difference between a ham bone and a ham hock?

The hock is not part of the ham nor part of the foot, or trotter, but rather the extreme shank end of the leg bone. While a ham bone and a ham hock are two different parts of the pig, you can often use them interchangeably.

How many hocks does a pig have?

Ham hocks are most often taken from the front section of the leg of the pig, in the general area of the ankle. The slice or portion of the meat is generally a semi-thick cut that is packaged in groups of two or three hocks. They may be purchased raw or fresh, as well as smoked and cured.

Can you eat bacon hock?

You can buy them fresh, but hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked—that’s what gives them that delicious, bacon-y flavor.

Do I need to soak bacon hock?

It is not necessary to soak ham hocks before cooking. However, in some instances, it may be beneficial. For example, if you want to remove the excess salt from the ham hock, soaking in warm water for about 2 hours will be helpful. Most people cook ham hocks by boiling them in water or adding them to soups and stews.