If you’re tired of cooking the same cuts of meat every night, then consider giving pork belly a try. It’s so flavorful and tender that it can make dinner at home feel like you’re eating at a restaurant. And it’s perfect for the slow cooker, making it a winning weeknight meal.
If you’re curious about pork belly and want to know more, this is a great place to start. Read on for a pork belly primer with tips on how to cook it and a recipe for slow cooker ginger soy pork belly.
What is pork belly?
You can probably guess the origin of this cut of meat just by the name. Yes, pork belly is the boneless cut of a pig’s belly or underside after the loin and spareribs are removed. Pork belly is a fatty, thick cut of meat that can be very rich in flavor and is typically served in smaller cuts.
It is also the origin of one of the most popular breakfast foods of all time: bacon. For pork belly to become the bacon we see in the grocery store, the outer layer of fat must be removed so the meat can be smoked and then cured. Finally, it’s sliced thinly to create that cut of meat we love to eat with scrambled or hard-boiled eggs.
