Por-fectly Summer

Bacon, sausage, ham, bbq pulled pork, pork chop, pork loin, etc. Wow what a list; one no more delicious than the next! It's all pork and it is all scrumptious.

 Pork is the world's most widely consumed meat, maybe because it is also the most versatile meat. You can marinate it or you can use a dry rub for added flavor. It can be roasted, baked, grilled, pan-fried, boiled, roasted, baked or smoked. While some cooking methods like baking and roasting are very similar, each one will produce a different texture and flavor. Now, this largely depends on the cut of meat you are using.

Benefits of Pork

Pork can be as lean as (or leaner) than a skinless chicken breast as well as higher in protein. In fact, six pork cuts are USDA approved for "lean" with less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per serving. If you're wondering what the lean cuts of pork are, think "loin" and "chop", as in a pork tenderloin or pork chop.

Why is this a good thing, you might ask? If you meal prep for fitness and health reasons or just enjoy closely monitoring what you eat, it can break up the monotony of your potentially limited diet. Pork can be a fantastic meat source while trying to build and maintain muscle mass. Plus, after a few weeks of eating a boring chicken for most meals, it can be a welcome change for your taste buds. Lastly, it is a fantastic source of nutrients including thiamin, zinc, vitamins B12 and b6, niacin, phosphorus, and iron.

Safe handling of pork is essential. Here’s a simple list of how-to’s:

Thawing

· The best way to defrost pork is in the fridge in its wrapping.

· If microwave thawing, follow the microwave manufacturer’s guidelines. Just be sure to cook meat immediately after.

Making Ahead

Never brown or partially cook meat for later.

Fresh Pork: When Is It Done Cooking?

 Like most meat, cooking times can vary depending on its thickness. However, as a general rule, it should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 150°F and allowed to rest for 3 minutes before carving or consuming. Why? Well, it ensures that it is perfectly cooked and most importantly, is tender and juicy.

Home Storage of Fresh Pork

Follow this simple rule: “When in doubt, throw it out.”

What's for dinner?

With all this talk of how versatile pork is, you're probably wondering what kind of recipes you can whip up! What if you don't have the time to create a kitchen masterpiece? You should think about Smithfield Marinated Fresh Pork. 100% fresh pork cuts are slow-marinated (more time for the flavor to sink in, umm yes please!) oh-so perfectly seasoned so you can have a hassle-free, delicious dinner any night of the week. Simply grill, roast or sauté and you’ve got a delicious dinner ready in minutes.

Roasted Garlic & Cracked Black Pepper Marinated Fresh Pork Tenderloin

Roasted Garlic & Herb Marinated Fresh Pork Tenderloin

Roasted Garlic & Herb Marinated Fresh Pork Loin Filet

Applewood Smoked Bacon Marinated Fresh Pork Loin Filet

Hickory Smoked Brown Sugar Marinated Fresh Pork Chops