Pork--The Cheap, Versatile Meat

One cut or another of pork seem to be on sale all the time at the grocery store--pork roast, pork shoulder, pork loin, pork chops, pork ribs...

Here are some things to do with those cheap cuts of pork.

1. Buy a full pork loin when on sale (or 2 or 3!). This is my favorite cut--lean, no waste from bones, and it is very versatile. The sale price is usually around $1.99 or a little under, and for an entire loin of about 6 lbs, the cost will be somewhere around $12.  This can be used for all sorts of meals.  Trim off the fat and silverskin (that tough, shimmery coating under the fat) and find the lean end with the lighter, pinker meat and slice that into 1" slices to make several boneless pork chops.  The remaining pork loin can be used as a pork roast, or  for pulled pork.

2. Pork shoulder and other unweildy cuts with lots of bone and fat--use for pulled pork.

3. Pork chops--these can become tough and chewy if even slightly overdone.  Before you cook them, let them soak in a brine (large bowl or large Ziploc bag filled with water, 1/2 cup of salt, peppercorns if you have any, and a few slices of onion.) for a few hours.  This will help the flavor and moisture retention dramatically!  Discard the used brine, then pat the chops with a paper towel to dry, lightly salt and pepper them,  and quickly brown them in a skillet with a mix of a little olive oil and butter over medium high heat.  Once both sides are golden brown, place the skillet in the oven at 350  (if an oven proof skillet) and bake until the temp is 160, or there is no pink. Serve with any pan sauce or toppings you like (teriyaki, sauteed onions, chunky tomato sauce...)

4. Ribs--these can be browned and thrown into the crockpot for a long, slow cook, or cooked in the oven on low.  I also use them for pulled pork.

5. I keep mentioning pulled pork, because it in itself is versatile, and so easy to make with virtually any cheap cut of pork.  Just quickly sear any pork you want to use until golden brown, then toss into the slow cooker with a 1/2-1 cup of water (more water for more pork), a teaspoon of salt, 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, a couple of cloves of crushed garlic, 1/2 teaspoon or so of black pepper, a 1/2 teaspoon or so of paprika, one quick splash of worcestershire sauce (optional), and a teaspoon or so of onion powder (or one small chopped onion).  Cover your crock pot and let it all cook on low for 8-10 hours, or high for about 5 hours.  The pork should be easily pulled/shredded.  Make sure to carefully check for bones and discard them. 

You can use this pulled pork for many dishes:
- serve on toasted buns/rolls as is or with barbeque sauce, sauteed onions, and cheese
- prepare a pizza crust, and substitute barbeque sauce for the pizza sauce.  Top with lots of shredded pork, then cheddar cheese.  Add diced green peppers or scallions if you like.  Bake at 450 on the lowest rack until the cheese is melted and the crust is browned.  Yummy!!
- use the shredded pork for enchiladas
- add to omelettes with potatoes
- make a jambalaya
- or just freeze it for another time

So, next time you are at the grocery store, see if there is any pork on sale--it is yummy, can be used for a ton of meals, and is cheap!