While considering primarily the proper curing of pork for use on the farm and for home manufacture by farmers, it will not be out of the way to become acquainted with some of the leading cuts of meat as FIG. 29. MESS PORK.
MESS PORK.This standard cut, Fig. 29, is made from heavy fat hogs. The hog is first split down the back, the backbone SHORT RIBS.These are made from the sides, with the ham and shoulder taken off and backbone removed; haunchbone and breastbone sawed or cut down smooth and level with the face of the side. The pieces (Fig. 30) are made to average 32 lbs. and over. SHOULDERS.Regular shoulders (Fig. 31), or commonly called dry salted shoulders, are cut off the sides between first and second ribs, so as not to expose forearm joint. Shank cut off at knee joint. Neck bone taken out and neck trimmed smooth. Shoulders butted off square at top. Made to average 12 to 14, 14 to 16, and 16 to 18 lbs. On the wholesale markets can usually be bought at about the price per pound of live hogs. HAMS.American cut hams are cut short inside the haunchbone, are well rounded at butt and all fat trimmed off the face of the hams to make as lean as possible. See Fig. 32. Cut off above the hock joint. Hams are made to average 10 to 12, 12 to 14, 14 to 16, 16 to 18, and 18 to 20 lbs. PICNIC HAMS.This is a contradictory term, for the picnic ham is in truth a shoulder. Picnic hams (Fig. 33) are made WILTSHIRE CUT BACON.This cut (Fig. 34) is from hogs weighing about 150 lbs. Formerly the hair was removed by singeing, but this method is not so much employed now. The Wiltshire bacon is consumed almost entirely in London, Bristol and the south of England generally.
STANDARD LARD.The following is the rule in force at Chicago for the manufacture of standard prime steam lard: Standard NEUTRAL LARD.This is made at the big packing houses from pure leaf lard, which after being thoroughly chilled is rendered in open tanks at a temperature of about 120 degrees. The portion rendered at this temperature is run into packages and allowed to cool before closing tightly. Lard stearine is made from the fat of hogs which is rendered and then pressed and the oil extracted. The oil is used for lubricating purposes, and the stearine by lard refiners in order to harden the lard, especially in warm weather. |