Meat is an amazing item, and pork is just one of the most delicious meats out there. Similarly, there are various cuts of pork that have delicious flavors and tender textures. Some of these cuts include fresh ham vs. pork shoulder, and we will be talking about them in this article!
Pork Shoulder vs Fresh Ham
Pork Shoulder
To be honest, the name of this cut pretty much explains where it’s cut from. Pork shoulder is cut from the shoulder area of the forelimb and is often referred to as picnic roast and picnic shoulder. It can be cooked with different cooking methods, such as roasts and braised. It can be cut up for making stew and is suitable for making ground pork as well. When pork shoulder is roasted, they have to be properly covered, and there must be sufficient liquid in the roasting pan.
Pork shoulder tends to have a triangular cut that’s cut from right above the pig’s leg. As far as the price point is concerned, it has a reasonable price tag and is sold with a fat layer, and the skin is left on. When the pig is alive, the shoulder gets too much activity which adds flavors and deliciousness. However, this excessive exercise results in tough meat and fat marbling will be much less. On the other hand, the texture can be made softer if you know the correct cooking tips.
When it comes down to cooking, pork shoulders cook better with slow and long cooking as it tenderizes the meat, and fat will melt as well. If you ask us the best cooking methods, it’s suggested to opt for stewing and braising, but some people also bake and fry when it’s grounded. As far as the braised pork shoulder is concerned, it can be sliced and served. As for the ground pork shoulder, it can be used to add more flavor to meatloaf and meatballs.
Pork shoulder tends to have a meaty flavor, and the texture is similar. When it is cooked for extended time periods, it will also have a somewhat sweet flavor profile. If you compare pork shoulder to other pork cuts, it’s better for cooking rather than preparation methods. In addition, it has fat marbling all around the cut, which improves the tenderness when the meat is cooked. Pork shoulder is easy to find in the meat aisle of grocery markets, but you can also check out the butcher shops. For the most part, it’s available in five-pound to eight-pound pieces.
Fresh Ham
Fresh ham is also known as uncured ham, and it doesn’t have any chemical brine, flavoring, and smoke injected into the meat. Fresh ham tends to have a natural and slightly different color as compared to the usual color of the meat. This is basically because the cured meat has nitrates injected into it which leads to darker red and pink colors. However, the most surprising fact is that fresh ham is cured, but the curing method is much more natural and different as compared to conventional curing methods.
If you don’t know what curing is, it’s a well-known method for preserving meat with the use of sugar, acid, and salt. It is responsible for removing excess water from ham and eliminates the chances of spoiling. When the fresh ham is cured, it actually enhances the flavor of the meat. Also, when you go shopping for fresh ham, we suggest that you buy the one that’s free from sodium nitrate (it will be written on the label, so have an eye for that).
Fresh ham is actually safe to eat because when you buy the ham, it has been cooked and cured already. This means that you can just put the fresh ham into the oven, warm it up, and serve it. The best thing about fresh ham is that it’s a healthier option, and if you opt for natural and organic meat, you won’t be consuming any synthetic materials.
Fresh ham is cured with natural ingredients, such as sea salt, beets, and celery. Also, if you are someone who likes to follow a keto diet, fresh ham can be used if you follow the right cooking method. Lastly, it can be found in the supermarket pretty easily, but the organic ham might be a bit too expensive.