14

I found this video of a butcher carving up a half adult pig (not gory) really interesting and would like to learn how to do this on my own. However, I could never eat a whole adult pig.

Would a suckling pig have all the same cuts of meat that an adult would? I'm wondering for example if you'd still be able to make bacon from the meat, or if there just wouldn't be enough fat there.

Improve this question
2
  • Most people I know would consider it waste of a baby pig. They are meant to be skewered and turned slowly over open flame, or at the least slow baked in a very big oven on a bed of vegetables. If they don't need to do that, they let the pig grow up before butchering it.
    – rumtscho ♦
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 19:28
  • @rumtscho - I think the question is why though. I suspect its too lean personally. And the meat is probably already fairly tender, as opposed to an adult pig which needs the super long, whole day roasts to tenderize and the fat keeps it moist - but I don't have enough personal experience to say for sure. You could probably use it, but would have to drastically change cooking methods.
    – rfusca
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 19:32

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

A suckling pig would have the same cuts as an adult, but they would obviously be much smaller and thus fiddlier to butcher.

Wikipedia reports that suckling pig meat is also quite gelatinous, so you might take all the time to butcher the thing and end up with meat you don't want to eat.

You could always start with half a pig, since they are obviously symmetrical, joint it up and then freeze and/or give away the various cuts. Cuts like the belly could be cured, and other cuts could be ground/minced or turned into sausage.

Improve this answer
2
  • "end up with meat you don't want to eat"? Sounds like you are knocking gelatin. Don't do that. It is precisely the gelatin that makes suckling pig so juicy and delicious.
    – Henrik Söderlund
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 21:10
  • If you like gelatinous meat :)
    – ElendilTheTall
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 21:28
0

I feel the need to extend @ElendilTheTall's answer; where HE says

"A suckling pig would have the same cuts as an adult"

This is true with one exception, the 'belly' is simply not suitable to be sliced for bacon (or even salt pork). There just isn't enough there to end up with anything worth calling bacon. However, the belly, such as it is, does make an excellent addition to any sausage you want to make. The fat will help with some of the cuts you might want to anchor a sausage with by adding both fat and flavor. Another factor to remember is that because it everything is proportionally undersized the pork loin is also too small to use for most common application; BUT it does make excellent Canadian Bacon, if properly cured.

Improve this answer
5
  • Ahahahahaha where "she" says. Ahahaha! Just fyi, wrong gender. :)
    – Jay
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 20:34
  • Thank you Jay. Cos, I did mention that the cuts would be smaller, with the intended implication that some would be essentially unusable in the same way as cuts from an adult pig. :)
    – ElendilTheTall
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 20:42
  • Is that the English translation of "fiddlier to butcher"? :) I just wanted to set a specific expectation for OP as I remember being a bit disappointed to have gotten no bacon out of a small pig... that is until I tasted the sausage and the Canadian bacon.
    – Cos Callis
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 22:27
  • oh.. and I apologize for misplacing your gender, Mr. ElendilTheTall. I forget where I picked up the impression that you were a lady, but I shall not make that error again.
    – Cos Callis
    Commented Mar 9, 2012 at 22:34
  • I forgive you - but not your ignorance of the lore of The Lord of the Rings, whence comes my nick ;)
    – ElendilTheTall
    Commented Mar 11, 2012 at 8:34

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.