Common Pork Cuts

Part of the Hog Description Different cuts you can use
Shoulder (Butt) Most of the shoulder is used for ground pork & sausages, but the Blade Roast (Boston Butt) can be cut from here also
  • Blade (Boston Butt) Roast
  • Sausage
  • Ground Pork
Picnic Shoulder This cut is below the Shoulder and is normally ground up. Sometimes it's preserved like a ham, however the Picnic Ham needs more baking time
  • Picnic Ham
  • Sausage
  • Ground Pork
Ham This is from the hind legs of the pig and is cured/smoked as ham
  • Ham
  • Ham Steaks
  • Ground Pork
  • Sausage
Side This part is the side/stomach of the pig. The spare ribs come from the top part and the bacon comes from the bottom part
  • Spare Ribs
  • Bacon
  • Ground Pork
  • Sausage
Loin This is where the most cuts come from. It can be cut into porkchops or left whole for roasts. This is also where the back ribs come from
  • Rib Roast
  • Center-Cut Loin Roast
  • Top Loin Roast
  • Tenderloin Roast
  • Sirloin Roast
  • Pork Chops
  • Baby Back Ribs
  • Country-Style Ribs
  • Pork Rack
  • Crown Roast
  • Pork Cutlets
Hocks These are most often either ground up or used in soups
  • For soup
  • Ground Pork
  • Sausage
Cut Description Price
Roasts
Pork Blade Roasts (Boston Butt/Shoulder) This roast is fattier than other roasts, but has great flavor. $
Pork Sirloin Roast This cut is similar to the Top Loin Roast, but it's leaner & tends to be tougher $$$
Pork Rib Roast: (When bones are removed, this is a Center-Cut Loin Roast) This is the pork equivalent of the beef Prime Rib. It's fattier than a tenderloin, but very juicy and flavorful. (This is where the pork chops are from.) $$$
Center-Cut Loin Roast This is the Rib Roast with the ribs removed. It's less flavorful than the Blade Roast, but they can be cooked interchangeably. $$$$
Pork Top Loin Roast This cut is made of 2 loins tied together with the fat sides out $$$$
Pork Tenderloin The Tenderloin Roast is very lean, moist, and flavorful. It's great for grilling, roasting, or broiling. However, it's also the most expensive pork roast $$$$$
Ribs
Spare Ribs These are the least meaty ribs, but are popular because of their tender-chewy texture. Low, slow cooking is the key. $$
Country-Style Ribs (Loin Ribs) These are the meatiest, fattiest ribs, but they are hard to eat with your fingers $$
Back (Baby-Back) Ribs These are meatier than spare ribs but not as meaty as loin ribs. These are one of the most popular rib cuts. $$$


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