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There comes a time when pets specially raised for meat have to be slaughtered and cut into pieces for further storage. Cutting pork carcasses is a responsible occupation that requires adherence to certain subtleties. Following the correct cutting patterns will produce quality products.
General rules for cutting carcasses after singing
The killed animal, which has already been bled and singed, is ready for further processing. Observance of the sequence will help with the correct cutting of the pig and will be the key to quality meat. First you need to select the necessary tools:
- a utility knife with a blade length of at least 18 cm;
- an ax for chopping bones;
- a hacksaw with fine teeth.
The ideal condition for further cutting is to hang the carcass. In this state, the muscles are stretched, which contributes to a more comfortable butcher's activity. In addition, this position allows you to more effectively get rid of excess blood when the head is separated. If hanging the pig is not possible, a deep drainage pan should be used. The carcass itself is placed on the ground on a thick tarpaulin fabric or on spread straw.
It is very important to remember that not all parts of a pig are consumed as food. Therefore, when cutting, it is worth removing the eyes and teeth. It is also worth getting rid of the animal's tail and hooves.
Pork carcass cutting schemes
There are several schemes for cutting pigs, depending on the further processing and purpose. Despite the variety of options, the muscles are considered the most valuable part of them, which during the life of the animal tensed less than others. The muscles of the spine are most often referred to as such parts of the body. Unlike cows, the cervical region of a pig is not so mobile during life, so this meat is highly valued. The lower parts of the animal have a tougher meat and are less valuable in later use.
Pork carcass cutting scheme
Butchering for personal use and for shipment to shops is technologically very different. There are four classic versions of cutting in the world:
- American;
- German;
- Russian;
- English.
Each has its own characteristics.
Cutting patterns for culinary use
The American method involves dividing the carcass into two longitudinal halves. Then each of them is divided into 6 parts. As a result, the consumer receives: ham, front ham, shoulder blade, fillet with ribs, side and head.
The German method involves cutting the carcass into two halves, each of which is further divided into eight parts. Each of the parts belongs to one of four grades. For example, the hind leg, cutlet and lumbar section are classified as the highest grade. The second includes the brisket, the front of the ham, and the neck. The German method includes the peritoneum in the third category. Finally, the head and hooves are the 4th category.
The Russian carcass cutting scheme has 8 different parts.This method is popular throughout the post-Soviet space. After processing, the following is sent to consumers:
- ham;
- cutlet part (back);
- suture (the place between the scapula and the head);
- cheeks, head and neck;
- scapula;
- brisket;
- middle leg;
- legs.
The English method is simple and straightforward. The whole pork carcass is divided into four large parts. After the English cutting, the farmer receives a head, a front part with a neck and shoulder blade, a central part with a spine and ribs, and a back leg.
How to butcher a whole pig
The most important part of cutting a pig carcass is the gut. First of all, you should separate the head from the body. Since a well-fed pig has a thick fat layer and a massive spine, it is necessary to take care of the sharpness of the knife and ax in advance. After separating the head, it is worth draining the excess blood into a previously prepared container.
The next step in cutting is the opening of the abdominal cavity. For correct execution, you need to find a point on the chest line. Cutting is done from it to the groin area. In order not to damage the internal organs, it is necessary to lower your hand just below the knife blade and do this operation with special care. After that, it is necessary to make an incision from the same point on the chest, removing the peritoneum along the line of the ribs.
Next comes a very important moment of removing the internal organs. Particular attention should be paid to the esophagus, since the liquid and enzymes contained in it, if they get on the meat, will require additional washing. After the esophagus, the remaining organs of the upper part of the carcass are removed - the heart, lungs, liver. Then the bladder and intestines with the stomach are carefully removed.
It is necessary to decide in advance whether some organs will be needed in the future. So, if necessary, use the intestines, it is carefully taken out and washed with running water. To use the heart in the future, it should be cut in half and the remaining blood drained from it. The rest of the offal should be lightly rinsed and put into the refrigerator.
The next part of the cut is to clean the inside of the carcass. In no case should you use plain water, since when it gets on the meat, it spoils its appearance and leads to a decrease in its shelf life. Internal surface treatment should be carried out with a clean towel, absorbing blood residues and wiping dry.
How to properly chop a pork carcass
The carcass is ready for the next part of cutting - cutting into half carcasses. The incision line should run along the spine, so the use of a knife is undesirable. Cutting takes place with a hacksaw or a well-sharpened ax. Beginners often fail to cut the spine correctly the first time. To avoid getting bone fragments into the meat, you can use the following secret - you should hit the butt of the ax with a heavy hammer.
Often the prepared carcass is not divided into two parts, but into four parts. Quarter means dividing a half carcass into two equal halves. To perform such an operation, it is necessary to cut it approximately in the middle of the lumbar part. Thus, it turns out 2 pieces of pork - the front part with the shoulder blade, neck, front leg, and the back part with the ham and cutlet part.
How to butcher a pig
To properly butcher a pig at home, you must follow the same processing rules as with adults.
If the purpose of preparing meat is not an adult fattened pig, but a small piglet, then the cutting method is slightly changed. Of course, from an anatomical point of view, the young and the adult do not differ, but there are a few nuances. When gutting a pig, you should not pay such great attention to the removal of the kidneys and genitourinary system.In addition, the bones of a young pig are softer, so in some cases it is even allowed to use a knife instead of an ax. The carcass is cut more easily.
How to cut a half-carcass of a pig at home
Each farmer has his own cutting scheme to suit his needs. Nevertheless, there is a classic correct option for cutting a pig carcass at home, which is able to satisfy the needs of the consumer. Some prefer to get more lard from one carcass, while others are chasing the purest meat, spending a huge amount of time on trimming and deboning. There are people who completely twist all the meat into minced meat. For the correct cutting of pork carcasses according to the canons of the Russian method, you should nevertheless pay attention to the fact that each part of the carcass is important and applicable in the future.
How to butcher the front or back of a pig
The front part of the half carcass is cut into the neck, shoulder blade, brisket, shoulder, loin and ribs. The front leg is initially chopped off. Then, using a hatchet, the ribs are removed. Next comes the turn of the loin - it is separated and optionally cut into portions. The remaining piece is conventionally divided in half into the upper neck and lower shoulder blade.
The back is represented by the large leg, the peritoneum and the back of the spine. First, the peritoneum is cut off, then the spine is cut off from the leg. The most tender part of the meat is cut from the spine - the tenderloin. The bones of the spine are also used as a base for broths.
How to cut a pig's leg
From the remaining pork leg, cut off the lower part - the shank. The remaining large piece with bone is often cut into large pieces or veined along the muscles. There are two large muscles in the leg that are conveniently separated from one another. The resulting meat from a large muscle will be devoid of fatty deposits and is perfect for preparing a huge number of dishes. The meat from the small muscle that is adjacent to the bone is tighter and is often left directly on top of the muscle for later use in soups and stews.
How to remove lard from a pig carcass
Many farmers breed pigs for lard and lard. In this case, the method of cutting the pork carcass changes slightly. The prepared half-carcasses or quarters are skinned with adjacent fat. With proper fattening, the fat layer can easily reach 10 centimeters or more. The most suitable parts for removing sebum are the peritoneum and sternum. Pure fat is obtained from the peritoneum, from the sternum - a product with a large amount of meat layers.
As for the bacon, it is a soft bacon intended for kindling or making various spreads. The greatest amount of fat is found above the ham in the tail area. In addition, fat can be cut from other fatty parts of the body, such as the shoulder blade or shoulder.
Which part of the pig is better: front or back
The debate about which part of the pork is better does not stop even for a day. On the one hand, the back is represented by the ham and the lumbar notch. These meats are low in fat and are great for diet meals. It is the absence of fatty layers that explains their special popularity.
On the other hand, the front of the mascara is more oily. At the same time, you should not think that all meat belongs to a lower category. On the contrary, in the front part of the carcass there is a brisket and a loin - the most delicate parts that have long proven themselves in cooking. The shoulder also contains a large amount of meat, excellent for cooking minced meat. Barbecue lovers also do not stand aside - the pork neck is the best area for preparing this dish.
Types of pork meat when cutting
According to the modern classification, trading networks offer various varieties of pork. There are three varieties depending on the quality of the meat, its tenderness and other characteristics. So, the first grade includes:
- back and sirloin;
- sternum;
- ham (rump, tail and perch).
Meat of the first grade, due to the least stress on the muscles during the life of the animal, has a soft structure. Pieces of ham and dorsum boast juiciness and almost no fatty layer. The sternum is valued in the culinary community for the ribs, and with proper nutrition of the animal, they are covered with a large amount of the most tender meat.
Second-class meat is no longer so tender. It contains a large amount of veins and fat. This variety most often includes the shoulder blade, neck, shoulder and arable land. Most often, such meat is processed into minced meat, since the living process does not pay off the labor costs.
The third grade includes poorly edible parts of pork, for example, a cut - a part between the head and neck of a pig, which, in terms of the structure of meat, differs significantly for the worse from the same shoulder blade. In addition to the notch, the head, front and rear shanks are also distinguished in this variety.
Pork pieces with name, photo, application
The end result of properly cutting pork carcasses is a specific set of meat products. Each of these parts differs both in appearance and in the set of its consumer qualities.
Brisket
Brisket is the thickest part of the belly cut at the loin. The meat, depending on the fattening of the pig, contains a rather large fat layer. Due to the inactivity of the pectoral muscles, the meat is very tender. According to Russian GOST, it belongs to the first category of pork.
Thanks to the fat layer, the brisket is excellent for frying. Moreover, both as an independent dish and as an addition to potatoes or cabbage. Also, the brisket is salted and pickled, getting excellent delicacies. One of the best uses for brisket is to smoke it - the resulting product has an unrivaled aroma and taste.
Neck
Neck is part of the shoulder-neck cut. Due to the physiological characteristics of pigs, this part is inactive compared to other animals. This leads to the content in it of a large amount of fatty layers and the complete absence of tendons. The meat is very juicy and tender.
The boneless neck belongs to the second category of pork, but is one of the favorite parts of pork carcass. It remains the ideal part for barbecuing - thanks to the fatty layers, the meat will turn out to be very juicy. The neck is also used to cook fatty steaks. Minced pork neck is an ideal choice for making cutlets.
Entrecote
An entrecote or loin on the bone - the upper part of the back cut. It includes tenderloin and ribs. Such meat belongs to the first category due to the most delicate pulp. Cut into pieces, the entrecote is a bone-in cutlet highly prized by gourmets.
Thanks to its juicy meat and bone, which gives an extra flavor when grilling, entrecote is the king of pork steaks. The dishes are juicy and delicate in taste. Often this portion of the pork is removed from the ribs, resulting in a clean piece of tenderloin. The ribs are used for soups and stews.
Schnitzel
Schnitzel, aka boneless loin - pork tenderloin from the lumbar part of the carcass. This part of the carcass is the most valuable due to the complete absence of fat in its structure. For value it belongs to the first category of pork. As a consequence, the price for this portion of pork is often the highest.
When you cut this part, you get the same beautiful pieces of meat. Schnitzel is used to prepare a variety of chops and steaks. In addition, this part is used for the preparation of dietary meals.
Scapula
Shoulder-cut is divided into a shoulder blade with bone and a shoulder blade without bone. This type of meat falls into the second category due to its high fat and tendon content. The shoulder blade is stiffer than the ham or sirloin, so its prices are more affordable.
The boneless scapula is usually cut into cubes for frying and goulash.The more sinewy part on the bone requires serious processing and careful trimming. Often this part of the pig is used to make minced meat. However, this portion is still quite good for making various stews.
Ham
The ham is the pig's hind leg. It is often cut into two parts - an upper and a lower one. The upper part of the ham is a highly valued first-class meat, tender, with a little fat. The lower part contains less meat and is used for making broths and jellied meat.
When it comes to culinary use, the top of the ham is a great find for all kinds of dishes. Boiled pork, chops, goulash, various roasts and kebabs. This meat has proven itself well for minced meat. The cutlets are tender and juicy.
Which parts to apply where
The entire history of pig farming is closely intertwined with the development of the culinary arts. Over the centuries, experienced chefs have formed general rules for the use of different parts of the carcass. Not all chunks are equally perfect for both jellied meat and chops. To learn how to cook real culinary masterpieces, you need to follow a few simple rules:
- Head - an ideal choice for making brawn and jellied meat. It can also be used for saltison and stuffing. Piglet and pork ears are also great in jellied meat. In addition, pork ears in various variations are ideal as a beer snack.
- Cheek piece used for smoking. In order for the finished product to have excellent consumer properties, it must be cut into small pieces and subjected to prolonged heat treatment. After several days, the cheeks will smoke more and become incredibly tasty. Some cooks advise to bake the cheek in the form of rolls.
- Tenderloin, aka loin and chop, is pure meat. Served both neat and with ribs. Low-fat meat is often used in chops, kebabs, and steaks. The use of ribs allows for the perfect soup.
- Top of the ham - the rump, which is separated from the femur. This huge piece of boneless meat is perfect for baked pork and boiled pork. The rump makes an excellent juicy minced meat. The meat of the ham is suitable for goulash or roasting. Ham bone is great for making borscht or pickle.
- Scapula most often used to make dumplings. The minced meat obtained from this part of the carcass has a small layer of fat that makes the dumplings juicy. Also, minced meat from a shoulder blade is often used as a basis for homemade sausage.
- Brisket can be used both in pure form and with adjacent ribs. It is most often used to make smoked bacon or as an addition to fried eggs and fried potatoes. Made from brisket, bacon is a delicacy of the highest quality.
- Peritoneum - one of the most fatty parts of pork carcasses. Undercale is great as an addition to fried potatoes or stewed cabbage. Delicious rolls are also made from the peritoneum.
- Legs - the best choice for making jellied meat. In addition, European chefs use them to prepare traditional dishes. So, in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic, shank with beer and stewed cabbage is a national dish.
- Many people often underestimate pork tail... In fact, due to its cartilaginous structure, it is an excellent addition to jellied meat or brawn. The broth will become richer and harden faster.
Culinary experts have long proved that there is no unnecessary meat, you just need to find the right area of its application. Even the unused parts of pigs such as intestines, heart and liver can be used to make real culinary delights.
Conclusion
Cutting pork carcasses is a laborious process that allows you to get a variety of products for the preparation of culinary masterpieces. Properly cut meat and its selection allows you to achieve impressive results in the preparation of familiar dishes.
