Pork trotters are a familiar food to everyone. You can prepare pork trotters into various dishes such as braised, stewed, or soup. When buying pork trotters, you should pay attention to distinguish between the front trotters and the hind trotters. These two types will have a slight difference in texture and flavor. Choosing the right type will make your dish more delicious.
Front trotters
When moving, pigs mainly use their front trotters to exert force on the surrounding objects. Because they mainly move with their front trotters, the hooves on the front trotters of the pig are usually larger than the hooves on the hind trotters. The meat on the front trotters will also be firmer and have more tendons. Front trotters are usually more flavorful and sweet. Therefore, if you want to make braised dishes, imitation shark fin soup, or boiled pork trotters, you should choose front trotters. When cooked, pork trotters will be tender, flavorful, and more delicious.
Hind trotters
The hind trotters mainly assist in movement and help the pig maintain balance. The hind trotters of pigs are less active, so the meat will not be as firm as the front trotters. The meat on the hind trotters is usually loose, with more fat and less sweetness compared to the front trotters. Hind trotters can be used in stir-fries, minced meat dishes, or porridge.
Distinguishing between front trotters and hind trotters
– Checking the tendons
As mentioned above, the front trotters of pigs usually have more tendons. The tough and crispy tendon part is the most delicious part of the pork trotters. If you want more tendons, you should choose front trotters. The main structure of the front trotters of pigs is muscle, tendons, and ligaments. The hind trotters of pigs are less developed in terms of muscle, tendons, and ligaments because they are less active.
When buying pork trotters, you should look at the cross-section. If you see tendons on the cross-section, it is the front trotters, and if you don’t see tendons, it is the hind trotters.
– Observing the ratio of meat and fat
Front trotters will have more meat and less fat, making it fragrant and not greasy when cooked. The hind trotters are less active, so the meat and muscle are more loose, and there is more interlaced fat. If you don’t like fat, you should choose front trotters.
Observe the cross-section of the pork trotters, if it looks plump, with a firm meat structure and more meat, it is the front trotters.
Notes when buying pork trotters
Whether buying front trotters or hind trotters, you should pay attention to the following points.
First, when touching the pork trotters, if you feel that the surface of the meat is moist, firm, and not sticky, it is fresh pork trotters. If the meat is sticky, it is not recommended to buy.
Pork trotters usually have a slightly ivory color. Avoid choosing completely white pork trotters as they may have been treated with chemicals.
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