Purchasing Meat and Game

Pork - Picnic Ham

 

         I choose to do pigs and I choose a picnic ham cut it is a cross section of meat from the shoulder of the animal. I choose this because my family loves pork and it’s generally a cheap and flavourful cut of meat.

 

        Pigs we eat today have been around for at least 11,000, with evidence of them as domesticated animals in central Asia and parts of eastern Europe. Pork is eaten world wide but in many religions like Judaism. Pork can be used for hundreds of different uses. All parts can be used, top to bottom, and nose to tail. There of tens of varieties cuts that can be derived from the the carcass of the pig. They can be cooked a variety of differentways which all vary based on what the muscle was used for. So muscles that work harder need to be cooked longer and have moisture added while less worked muscles it isn't as necessary.   

When purchasing pork you must consider these factors:

·         Fat content: Meat marbling -how fatty the piece is so you know how you need to treat it

·         Colour: The meat should be light red/bright pink, if it is grey or greenish, it has begun  to  go bad.

·         Slimminess: the meat should not be slimy if so its going bad

·         Firmness: The fresher the meat the meat is, you should not be able leave marks in the meat if you touch it.

·         Grading of meat: the letter grade given to get meat

 

          I choose a picnic ham cut it is a cross section of meat from the shoulder of the pig. Since this is a working muscle it is a tougher  cut of meat. I needed to use a method that going to soften and moisten the meat. So this cut can be roasted or cooked in liquid. I choose to braise mine, braising is a mixed cooking method, where you sear the meat and then add liquid for it to cook in  for a long period of time and to soften and become tender and to be able to pull apart.

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Explore your local market, retail grocer or butcher. While there, select an animal, and a specific cut from that animal. During this activity please complete the following:

• Identify your chosen animal, cut and reasons for this selection.
• Provide a brief 250 word background on the animal, cut, cooking methods, etc.
• Describe the cut and what part of the animal it is from. 
• Discuss cooking methods that can be applied to this cut and the reasons why these methods are suitable.
• Are there considerations you need to make when purchasing?

Please provide pictures and supporting resources as well. The purchase of this meat is not required.