Last Updated on October 10, 2022

Are Pork Hocks The Same As Ham Hocks?

Pork hocks and ham hocks are two different cuts of pork that have many similarities but also a few key differences. Pork hocks are cut from the lower part of the leg while ham hocks come from up higher on the back legs.

Can you substitute pork hock for ham hocks?

For starters, ham hock is cured or smoked whereas pork hock is raw. Due to this reason, it is not ideal to substitute one for the other since they each impart a distinct flavor and differ in the way they are used in recipes.

What are pork hocks used for?

Ham hocks are smoked, and require a lot of cooking to make them palatable as a stand-alone dish; they are not often served on their own but instead are used as an ingredient to enhance soups, stock, and pots of beans, adding a smoky, meaty, and rich essence.

What can I use instead of ham hock?

Ham Hock Substitutes If you can’t get your hands on ham hocks, or are in a cooking pinch, you can use bacon, pancetta, guanciale, or smoked pork sausage in place of them. You can also use other parts of the pig that are packed with flavor but less prized like jowl bacon, pig trotter (the feet), or the ears.

Is a pork hock the same as a ham shank?

Ham hocks tend to be bonier and have less meat on them because they come from the area of the leg that is closest to the foot of the pig. Ham shanks, on the other hand, are meatier because they come from the area just below the shoulder or the hip.

Are smoked pork hocks already cooked?

If you’re in the market for ham hocks, you get to choose from raw or smoked and cured varieties. While cured or smoked ham hocks can be incorporated into any dish without further preparation, raw ham hocks need to be properly cooked before they’re safe for serving.

Are pork hocks good to eat?

Unlike bacon or pancetta, hocks are not especially meaty, which is why they’re a great addition to long-cooked things—soups, of course, but also pots of beans, braised greens, and beef or poultry stocks. They need all of that time to get nice and tender.

Is ham hock and pork shoulder the same?

A pork hock can be taken from either the front leg or the back leg. That differentiates it from the ham hock. It is that knuckle joint where the pig’s foot attached to the leg. Pork hock is rich in fats and can be the hardest part of the pork meat.

Are pork hocks healthy?

Smoked ham hocks are a good source of protein, providing 17 g per serving. Protein serves a secondary source of fuel for your body and it also plays other critical roles in keeping your body functioning well.

Do you eat the skin of ham hocks?

A hock is not fatty but can be made tender from all the collagen that breaks down during cooking. Best of all, the whole thing is covered in skin, and as I always say, the more skin, the better.

Can you eat smoked ham hocks raw?

While cured or smoked ham hocks can be incorporated into any dish without further preparation, raw ham hocks need to be properly cooked before they’re safe for serving.

Is pork hock unhealthy?

Smoked ham hocks are a good source of protein, providing 17 g per serving. Protein serves a secondary source of fuel for your body and it also plays other critical roles in keeping your body functioning well.

Do you eat the skin on smoked ham hocks?

A hock is not fatty but can be made tender from all the collagen that breaks down during cooking. Best of all, the whole thing is covered in skin, and as I always say, the more skin, the better.

Are pork hocks good to-eat?

Unlike bacon or pancetta, hocks are not especially meaty, which is why they’re a great addition to long-cooked things—soups, of course, but also pots of beans, braised greens, and beef or poultry stocks. They need all of that time to get nice and tender.

Are pork hocks high in cholesterol?

Pork, cooked, pig’s hocks contains 6.7 g of saturated fat and 119 mg of cholesterol per serving.

Should ham hock be soaked before cooking?

Soak out the salt: Soaking the ham hocks in cold water for at least half an hour or more before cooking them will help draw out excess sodium so they don’t overwhelm your palate with salt. Go low sodium: If you plan on braising your smoked ham hocks, use a low sodium broth or the salty taste may be too much.

Should you rinse ham hocks before cooking?

To make sure that the meat is clean before boiling, rinse each of the ham hocks with cold water in your kitchen sink. This will help remove any impurities from the meat and cut down on the fatty residue that will float to the top while the ham hocks boil.

Should you rinse ham hocks?

Smoked ham hocks (also called pig knuckles) do not need any special prep like rinsing. They’re already smoked and therefore lightly cooked, but don’t serve them as is. They need to be cooked low and slow to render all of the fat and collagen, which flavors the dish.

How long do you boil a ham hock for?

Bring the pan to the boil and turn it to a low simmer straight away. For this joint I left it for 3 hours gently bubbling away. It really is as simple as that, slow and long cooking and the meat is really tender.

How long do ham hocks take to cook?

How long does it take to cook ham hocks? For most recipe that use ham hocks in some form or another, you want to boil the meat for 2-3 hours until very tender.

Do you wash ham hock before cooking?

To make sure that the meat is clean before boiling, rinse each of the ham hocks with cold water in your kitchen sink. This will help remove any impurities from the meat and cut down on the fatty residue that will float to the top while the ham hocks boil.