is one of the popular and widely used meat in dishes in Vietnam. However, there are still many people who do not know much about the characteristics and differences between American and Australian pork. In this article, let’s explore these two types of pork to make the best and tastiest choice for your family’s meal.
1 Characteristics of American Pork Belly
Overview of American Pork Belly
American Pork Belly is a cut of meat from the beef flank, located near the neck of the cow. With a length of about 15-20cm, the thickness of the pork belly usually ranges from 2-3cm. American Pork Belly is taken from Angus, Hereford, or Wagyu cattle, which have high quality and good nutrition.
Features of American Pork Belly
American Pork Belly has a fresh and tender red color and even cooking. With a generous layer of fat evenly distributed among the meat fibers, when cooked, American Pork Belly brings a delicious and rich flavor. Due to being sourced from good cattle breeds, American Pork Belly is also of good firmness and elasticity, easy to cook, and suitable for many different dishes.
2 American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly – What’s the difference?
Origin
American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly are both imported meats in Vietnam and have origins from these two countries. However, American Pork Belly is imported from farms in the United States, while Australian Pork Belly is sourced from farms in Southeast Asia and Asia.
Farming and Preservation Process
American pork is raised with modern technology and strict processing procedures, which helps to preserve its fresh and nutritious taste. American pork is typically frozen and has a shelf life of up to 12 months at low temperatures.
Australian pork is prioritized for freshness and usually has a maximum shelf life of 45 days from the time of slaughter.
Price
Due to different import fees and production costs, the prices of American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly will differ. Generally, American Pork Belly is more expensive due to its higher quality and guaranteed branding.
Quality
Both American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly have high quality and meet nutritional standards. However, since American Pork Belly is sourced from good cattle breeds and well cared for, the meat will have better firmness and elasticity.
When cooked, Australian pork will change from a fresh red color to a golden yellow, while American pork will change from a deep red color to a dark yellow. In terms of flavor, Australian pork tends to be tender and juicy.
3 American and Australian Pork Belly – Which one is tastier?
To determine which type of pork belly is tastier, let’s consider the following factors:
In terms of quality
Both American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly have high quality and meet nutritional standards. However, with different origins and farming methods, American Pork Belly has better firmness and elasticity, as well as a richer color and flavor compared to Australian Pork Belly. Therefore, in recipes that require the firmness of meat, American Pork Belly will be a better choice.
In terms of price
Due to different import fees and production costs, the prices of American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly also differ. However, customers with limited budgets can choose Australian Pork Belly because it is usually cheaper (with a price difference of around 10,000 to 20,000 VND) compared to American Pork Belly.
Different cooking methods
Both American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly have their own characteristics in terms of cooking methods. American Pork Belly has a generous layer of fat, which is aromatic and rich, suitable for grilling or braising. On the other hand, Australian Pork Belly has a firm texture and is not overly fatty, making it suitable for lighter dishes or stir-fries.
Therefore, to choose a tastier pork belly, you need to consider the type of dish you want to cook.
With this article, we hope you have gained useful information about American Pork Belly and Australian Pork Belly to make an effective choice for your meal.