Cassell's dictionary of cookery

' Pork. — Pork, more than any other meat, requires to be chosen with the greatest care. The pig, from its gluttonous habits, is particu- larly liable to disease, and if it is killed and its flesh eaten when in an unhealthy condition, those who partake of it ^\ill probably have to pay dearly for their indulgence. It is gene- rally understood that dairy-fed pork is the best. "^Tien it is possible, therefore, it is always safest to obtain pork direct from some farm where it has been fed and killed. When this cannot be done, it should either be purchased from a thoroughly respectable and reliable person or dispensed with altogether. Pork is best in cold weather. It is in season from November to ]\Iarch. It should be avoided during the summer months. The fat should be white and fii-m, the lean finely grained, and the skin thin and cool. If the skin is thick, the pig is old ; if it is clammy, it is stale ; if any kernels are to be seen in the fat, the pig was diseased at the tinie it was killed. Pork should not be allowed to hang more than a daj' or two before it is cooked, as it will not keep unless it be salted. If cooked quite fresh, however, it will be hard. The head, heart, kidneys, liver, &c., should be cooked as soon as possible. Care should be taken that pork is thoroughly cooked, as it is most indigestible when under-dressed. A porker, or pig which is to be cut up for fresh pork, is generally killed when it is from six to nine months old. A bacon pig is allowed to grow older and bigger. The manner of cutting up the pig varies in different parts. A porker is generally divided as follows : — 1. Spare- Eoasted. To be lOd. to lO^d. rib. cooked whilst per pound, fresh. 2. Hand. SUghtly salted and 8d. to 9d. boiled. Gene- per pound. rally too fat for roasting. 3. Belly, or Slightly salted and 9d. to lOd. spring. boiled, or salted jjer pound, for bacon. POR POR 4. Fore To be jointed and 9i|d. to 10,|d. loin. roasted. Cut into per pound, chops, used for curry or for pies. 5. Hind Ditto, ditto. lid. per loin. pound. 6. Leg. Eoasted, or salted lOd. to lid. and boiled. Most per pound. e c 0 n o m i c a 1 joint. Head. StufEed like a 5d. to 6id. sucking-pig and per pound. roasted, or cheeks salted and boiled. The rest of the head, vvith the tongue, feet, and ears, salted and made into brawn. Fry, in- To be cooked as 5 d . per eluding soon as possible. pound, the liver, heart, kidneys, &c. Feet. Salted, boiled, and Ud. to 3d. served with each.