This beautiful ham was smoked by one of our pork share customers. Nice work, Pete!
Okay… so let’s talk about buying a pork share. A “share” is one term used when talking about buying a whole or half animal.
It’s a lot of meat (About 70lb in a half share). Which can be intimidating. But also pretty awesome. Like you, I am busy, and it is a huge stress reliever to have a freezer stocked with nutrient dense pork. It means I don’t have to worry about whether the meat I’m buying is ethical and clean every single time I go the grocery store. It also means that I am getting the healthiest meat at a more economical price. Which means we can afford to eat more of it. This is especially important for people who follow a paleo or keto diet because replacing grains and beans with quality proteins and fats can get pretty pricey.
Are you worried about getting stuck with cuts you don’t know how to cook or ones that you just don’t like? I get that. But I’m also here to tell you that these concerns need not get in the way of your having a delicious supply of pork.
With a little guidance it’s pretty easy to design a pork share that is just right for you. We do have to work within the limits of the pig. There is only so much belly to make into bacon. But any cuts you aren’t interested in can be made into ground pork or sausage. This is my go-to for last-minute weeknight meals. It defrosts quickly and is delicious made into burgers or browned in a skillet with whatever veggies you have on hand.
You don’t have to take home pork loin or ribs or ham steaks or liver. But if you do, I’m here to help you learn how to cook them. If you are interested in expanding your culinary skills, selecting a more varied pork share can be a fun way to push yourself in the kitchen. Sliced backbone is a cut I never would have bought in the grocery store, but having it in my freezer gave me the motivation to figure out how to cook it. And Hello Delicious-Melt-in-Your-Mouth-Acorn-Finished-Pork-Fat; I’m so glad I did!
If you’ve bought a share with us before you know that navigating the processor’s cut sheet can be a little confusing. For the Pork Share Newbies- the cut sheet is a form you fill out that tells the processor how you want your meat butchered. In an effort to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible, I’ve created a document you can download here. This is our Grass Fat Farm Cut Sheet. It outlines your options and provides a couple notes on each possible cut.
As your farmer, it is my job to demystify the process of buying pork shares. If you still have questions, please ask them in the comments below! Or, as always, feel free to shoot me an email at GrassFatFarm@gmail.com. I absolutely love helping you eat well!
