What Is Pork Belly?

Pork belly is a richly flavoured cut of pork taken from the belly of the pig. It is known for its layers of meat and fat, which make it brilliant for roasting, slow cooking, BBQ recipes and crispy pork belly with crackling.

It is one of those cuts that rewards proper cooking. Cook it slowly and the meat becomes tender. Treat the rind properly and you can get crisp, golden crackling. Cut it into pieces and you have the makings of pork belly burnt ends, ribs, slices, strips and all sorts of proper pork dishes.

If you like rich, full-flavoured pork, pork belly is well worth knowing about.

Where does pork belly come from?

Pork belly comes from the underside of the pig, beneath the loin and ribs. It is the area that gives us the classic layers of pork meat, fat and, depending on how it is prepared, rind.

Those layers are exactly what make pork belly so useful. The fat helps keep the meat moist as it cooks, while the rind can be turned into crackling if left on and prepared properly.

At True Bites, our boneless pork belly is prepared by our butchers as a versatile pork joint, ideal for roasting, slicing, slow cooking and crispy pork belly recipes.

What does pork belly taste like?

Pork belly has a rich, savoury pork flavour. Because it has layers of fat running through the meat, it is usually more flavourful and juicy than leaner pork cuts.

That richness is part of the appeal. Pork belly is not trying to be a lean cut. It is a proper flavour cut, and it works especially well when cooked slowly, roasted until crisp, or paired with bold flavours like garlic, soy, chilli, apple, mustard, BBQ sauce or a good pork rub.

If you want lean, choose pork loin. If you want rich, tender, full-flavoured pork, pork belly is the one.

Is pork belly the same as bacon?

Pork belly and bacon are closely related, but they are not the same thing.

Pork belly is the fresh cut of pork taken from the belly. Bacon is usually pork belly that has been cured, and sometimes smoked, to turn it into bacon.

So, pork belly is the raw cut. Bacon is what can be made from pork belly after curing. That is why streaky bacon has those familiar layers of meat and fat; it comes from the belly too.

If you want to learn more about bacon cuts, our guide to where bacon comes from explains it in more detail.

Is pork belly the same as pork belly slices?

Pork belly slices are simply pork belly cut into smaller strips or portions.

A pork belly joint is usually cooked as one larger piece, often roasted or slow cooked. Pork belly slices cook more quickly and are useful for BBQ, grilling, tray bakes, stir-fries and quicker meals.

Boneless pork belly gives you more flexibility. You can roast it whole, slice it yourself, or cut it into cubes for recipes like pork belly burnt ends.

What is boneless pork belly?

Boneless pork belly is pork belly with the bones removed, making it easier to cook, slice and serve.

It is a very versatile cut. You can roast it as a joint, cook it slowly, cut it into slices, dice it for burnt ends, or use it in all sorts of pork belly recipes.

If the rind is left on, boneless pork belly can also be used for crispy pork belly with crackling. The key is drying the rind properly, salting it well and cooking it uncovered so the skin crisps rather than steams.

How do you cook pork belly?

Pork belly is usually best cooked with time and care. Because it contains both meat and fat, it benefits from slower cooking that allows the fat to render and the meat to become tender.

For crispy pork belly, start with a hot oven to get the crackling going, then reduce the temperature to cook the meat more gently. If the crackling needs more help at the end, finish with another short blast of heat.

For a full step-by-step method, read our crispy pork belly guide.

What can you make with pork belly?

Pork belly is one of the most versatile pork cuts if you like rich, flavourful cooking.

You can use pork belly for:

• Crispy pork belly with crackling
• Slow-roasted pork belly
• Pork belly slices
• Pork belly strips
• Pork belly burnt ends
• BBQ pork belly
• Asian-style pork belly
• Pork belly tacos or bao buns
• Pork belly casseroles
• Homemade bacon-style cures, if you know what you are doing

If BBQ-style pork is more your thing, try our oven cooked pork burnt ends recipe.

Is pork belly good for crackling?

Yes, pork belly can be excellent for crackling, provided the rind is left on.

The most important thing is to keep the rind dry. Moisture is the enemy of crackling. Pat the skin dry, score it if needed, rub with sea salt and cook uncovered.

If the rind is too wet, or the pork is covered during cooking, the skin is more likely to steam than crisp.

Is pork belly worth buying?

Yes, pork belly is worth buying if you want a rich, versatile pork cut with plenty of flavour.

It is not a lean cut, but that is the point. The layers of fat and meat are what make pork belly so good for roasting, slow cooking and BBQ recipes.

If you want something that can become crispy, tender, sticky, smoky or slow cooked, pork belly gives you loads of options.

FAQs

What is pork belly?

Pork belly is a cut of pork taken from the belly of the pig. It has layers of meat and fat, making it ideal for roasting, slow cooking, BBQ and crispy crackling.

Is pork belly the same as bacon?

No. Pork belly is the fresh cut of pork. Bacon is usually pork belly that has been cured, and sometimes smoked.

Is pork belly fatty?

Yes, pork belly is a fatty cut. That fat is part of what gives it its flavour and helps keep the meat moist during cooking.

Can you get crackling from pork belly?

Yes, if the rind is left on. Dry the rind well, score it if needed, rub with salt and cook uncovered for the best chance of crispy crackling.

What is boneless pork belly used for?

Boneless pork belly can be roasted whole, sliced, slow cooked, BBQ cooked, or cut into cubes for pork belly burnt ends.

Can you freeze pork belly?

Yes, pork belly can be frozen. Freeze on the day of delivery and defrost thoroughly in the fridge before cooking.