What is the secret to pork crackling?

24, Jun. 2024

 

The secret to crispy pork crackling - myfoodbook

How to get crispy pork crackling

Anyone who's ever made a pork roast can tell you that the biggest disappointment is if the crackling doesn't come out crispy. Avoid soggy, chewy pork rinds and get crunchy crackling every time with these simple tips.

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1. Score the skin carefully

Score the skin every 1-2cm, just cutting through the skin. Avoid cutting all the way through the white fat and into the pink meat at all costs! Wherever you accidentally cut into the meat, the juices will bubble up and you'll have a soggy spot of skin. Avoid this by using a very sharp small knife, or ask your butcher to do it. You can leave the skin unscored too.

 

Note: Sometimes, supermarkets will pre-score the skin for you. This is great if done right, but if they cut too deep you won't know until you bring it home. Purchase at a butcher or at the deli section to make sure the skin is intact.

2. Dry out the skin

Unwrap your pork, pat it dry and it and leave it uncovered in a deep tray in the fridge ' skin side up. Do this at least two hours before cooking, or up to 24 hours ahead.

3. Season with oil and salt

For this step, it's best to get your hands dirty to ensure the oil and salt are evenly spread over all of the skin, including in the scores (if you've scored it). Use about two tablespoons of oil and one to two tablespoons of salt. This not only seasons the roast, but the salt helps to create puffy crackling, so make sure to coat every part of the skin thoroughly.

4. Properly preheat the oven

High heat is the final key to pork crackling. Don't rush the process at the final hurdle, let the oven preheat for at least 20 minutes to 230°C. Put the pork in quickly but carefully so the oven stays hot. Depending on the size of your meat, it can take between 30-50 minutes to crisp up completely. Watch to see when the crackling has puffed up, then turn down the oven to 160°C finish cooking. 

 

Extra tips: Calculate cook time by adding 25 minutes for every 500g of pork. The internal temperature will read 63-65°C once cooked.

 

The great thing about crispy pork crackling is how it contrasts with the juicy, tender meat. The recipe below includes a stuffing that not only helps keep the pork succulent inside, but it also adds amazing flavour. Plus, there are glazed apples and seasonal fruits to serve alongside the pork, which provide that delicious sweet and savoury balance that make pork roasts so fantastic.

 

GET THE RECIPE: Roast Pork with Chutney Stuffing and Glazed Fruits by Rosella

 

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How to make pork crackling

  1. Not enough salt - use the full amount specified in the recipe to cover the pork belly rind when dry brining as this is what causes the crackling to puff up and become crispy when the salt reacts with the fat. You can mix it with some oil to help it coat the pork if you need to. Rub it into the skin really well, including into the scored grooves.
  2. The skin wasn't dry enough. Make sure to pat the pork completely dry before rubbing in the salt and oil as excess moisture will stop it from crisping up.
  3. It's important to score the skin if you want it really crisp. You'll need a sharp knife for this, or ask your butcher to do it for you.
  4. Insufficient heat will make it hard for the skin to get really crisp. Make sure to take the pork out of the fridge 30 minutes before you cook it so that the meat reaches room temperature. A high starting temperature (240C/220C fan/gas 9 in this recipe) is essential for crisping up the pork. We recommend turning the oven on about 10-15 minutes (depending on your oven) before you're ready to start cooking.

What is the best way to cook pork crackling?

There are two schools of thought when it comes to cooking methods for the perfect crackling:

  1. Start with a really high oven temperature and then lower this down after around 25 minutes.
  2. The other is to start with a low temperature and then heat it up at the end.

We prefer to go with the first method as there's less chance of the meat drying out if you aren't heating it up at the end. Saying that, if the crackling is not perfect by the end of cooking, you can always turn the heat right up to allow the skin to blister.

For more inspiration, see how to make pork belly and how to cook pork shoulder. Discover easy dinner ideas with our pulled pork guide and pork chop recipes.

More like this

See our collection of ultimate pork recipes for more ideas.

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Find more crispy crackling recipes:

Spiced pork crackling straws
Malt-glazed roast pork & crackling
Italian-style roast pork with crispy crackling
Herb rolled pork loin with crackling

TIPS
PERFECT CRACKLING

If you find that the crackling isn't as crispy as you'd like near the end of the roasting time, turn the heat up and cook for a further 10-15 mins. Be careful not to overcook the meat though, as it will become dry.

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