what does ham hock look like

Is a ham hock and ham shank the same thing?

Is ham hock the same as ham shank? Culinarily, the ham shank and the ham hock can be used interchangeably. The shank refers to a fairly meaty part just below the pork shoulder (if it is the front of the hog) or the hip (if it's from the back of the hog). The hock refers to a much bonier cut taken from just above the feet.

Are ham hocks and pork hocks the same thing?

Pork hocks can come from either the front or the rear. You can use them the same. Both are the same cut of meat, but the ham hock is cured and smoked. How long should you cook ham hocks? Place ham hocks, onion and garlic into a large cooking pot. Add enough water to fill the pot about 3/4 full. Boil 1 to 2 hours or until the hocks are tender.

Is pork hock and ham hock the same thing?

Yes, there is a difference between a pork and a ham hock. Ham hocks are the fore leg bones of a pig. They weigh around 1 pound each and are usually sold in pairs 2 pieces. Ham hocks are used for making sausages. Pork hocks are also called pork knuckles. They weigh around 2 pounds each and are usually sold singly.

Does a ham hock come from a pig?

Ham hocks, commonly used to season vegetables, are taken from the ankle area of the pig. As a cut of meat that is often used for seasoning purposes, ham hocks are a cut of pork that is found around the ankle joint of a pig.

What can I use in place of a 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.

What is a ham hock at the store?

Ham hocks are also known as pork knuckles. They come from the bottom of the pork leg, and they're mostly bone, fat, connective tissue, and some meat. Ham hocks need to simmer for a long time in order to soften and impart flavor, so they're best used in dishes that cook low and slow.

What part of pig is the ham hock?

pork legOkay, but what is a ham hock? Cut from the bottom half of the pork leg, it's a chunky, 4-inch section of bone surrounded by collagen, connective tissue, and some meat, all encased in a thick band of fat and skin.

Do ham hocks have meat on them?

More specifically, a ham hock is a chunky portion of bone surrounded by connective tissue, collagen and a bit of meat, all of which is encased by a thick band of fat and skin.

Do ham hocks taste like ham?

What Do Ham Hocks Taste Like? Ham hocks have a rich, smoky, and porky taste similar to bacon. They add a meaty essence to any dish, and even if the actual pig knuckle isn't consumed, the flavor remains in whatever it's cooked with.

Is ham hock cheap?

Ham hocks are usually dirt cheap (often just a few dollars per pound).

Are ham hocks healthy to eat?

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.

How long does it take to cook ham hocks?

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.

How do you get the meat out of a ham hock?

0:001:20Remove Meat From Ham Hocks for Bean Soup Recipe - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipHere like that and it starts to pull off after a little bit. You see then we got a nice big piece.MoreHere like that and it starts to pull off after a little bit. You see then we got a nice big piece. Here. Okay and then you can just kind of cut.

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.

How do you eat a ham hock?

It should be cooked low and slow until the meat is falling off the bone, then shredded and eaten hot or cold. Ham hock is also used to infuse soups and vegetable dishes with extra flavour. Again, this cut benefits from slow cooking, and should be simmered in soup, or braised with veggies for as long as possible.

Should ham hock be soaked before cooking?

If you're worried about the salt content of the ham hocks, soak them in water for at least half an hour before cooking. This will help remove some of the salt.

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.

Can you use ham instead of ham hock?

While a ham bone and a ham hock are two different pig parts, you can often use them interchangeably. Hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked and will impart a bacony flavor when adding it to whatever you cook.

Is ham hock the same as 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.

Is ham hocks same as pork hock?

So, what is the difference between pork hock and ham hock? While both are a part of the pig's “ankle”, ham hocks are made from the rear ankles, whereas pork hocks can come from either the rear or the front pig ankles.

Buying, Cooking, and Recipes

Linnea Covington has been writing about food for over a decade. From farmers' markets to award-winning restaurants, if the eats prove good, she's there, often trailed by her two young boys.

What Are Ham Hocks?

Ham hocks, also called pork knuckles, are cut from the bottom part of the swine's leg. They are thick, approximately four inches long, and part of the leg that's encased with collagen, connective tissue, and a bit of meat, all surrounded by a thick layer of fat and skin.

How To Cook Ham Hocks

The best way to cook ham hocks is low and slow, such as in a slow cooker, which allows the meat to cook in its own juices and become tender and pliable. The pork can then be shredded or minced and used in soups, quiche, or on top of a salad. Braising also brings about the same results, though it's a more hands-on approach.

What Do Ham Hocks Taste Like?

Ham hocks have a rich, smoky, and porky taste similar to bacon. They add a meaty essence to any dish, and even if the actual pig knuckle isn't consumed, the flavor remains in whatever it's cooked with.

Ham Hocks vs. Bacon

Both ham hocks and bacon can be used to enhance a dish with smoky, salty flavors that add richness to just about anything they are mixed with. But unlike bacon, ham hocks have less rendered fat and more collagen, a direct result of having a bone.

Ham Hock Recipes

Whether using ham hocks as a main dish or an ingredient mixed into a soup or pot of beans, this smoky, umami-rich food is a great addition to many recipes. Use ham hocks to enhance greens, serve it glazed with honey and beer, or cook low and slow to get every meaty morsel off the bones.

Where to Buy Ham Hocks

Any good butcher will have ham hocks, and many well-stocked grocery stores will also carry the pig knuckles. Look for fresh or frozen ham hocks in the meat department, often pre-packaged in pairs. Don't be surprised, however, if ham hocks are out of stock as they're not a popular cut of meat.

What Is Ham Hock and Where Is It on a Pig?

A ham hock, or pork knuckle, is the joint that attaches a pig’s foot to its leg. While a hock is not technically an ankle, its anatomical location corresponds to that of a human ankle or lower calf region.

Where to Buy a Ham Hock?

You can buy them fresh, but hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked—that’s what gives them that delicious, bacon-y flavor.

Ham Hock Substitute

If you can’t find a ham hock, don’t worry. You can easily substitute pork shank, smoked bacon, or smoked sausage without affecting the recipe too much.

Ham Hock Recipes

Ready to try your hand at cooking with ham hocks? Check out a few of our favorite recipes that call for the cut of pork:

Uses

Since this piece generally consists of much skin, tendons and ligaments, it requires long cooking through stewing or braising to be made palatable. The cut of meat can be cooked with greens and other vegetables or in flavorful sauces. It is often added to soups, such as pea and ham soup, with the meat being added to the soup prior to serving.

Gallery

Ham hock cooked with pinto beans, served with white rice and cornbread.

What Is Ham Hock and Where Is It on a Pig?

A ham hock, or pork knuckle, is the joint that attaches a pig’s foot to its leg. While a hock is not technically an ankle, its anatomical location corresponds to that of a human ankle or lower calf region.

Where to Buy a Ham Hock?

You can buy them fresh, but hocks are typically cured with salt and smoked—that’s what gives them that delicious, bacon-y flavor.

Ham Hock Substitute

If you can’t find a ham hock, don’t worry. You can easily substitute pork shank, smoked bacon, or smoked sausage without affecting the recipe too much.