Pork Cuts Hocks and trotters

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Date Published:

18/12/2008

In case you’re unsure, every pig has four trotters and four hocks - or two fore hocks and two hind hocks, depending on how you view your pig!

These pork extremities can be ridiculously cheap to buy. And the reason why? Demand is low because we’ve lost the cooking confidence of our grandmothers, who knew how to create something tasty with them (though they were a bargain in her day too). So now’s your chance to get to grips with these little blighters!

How to buy

Your local butcher is the best bet for buying hocks (the lower part of the pig’s legs) and trotters (which are the feet). Butcher’s stalls on local markets are a good source too – you could find trotters for as little as 40p each and hocks from £2.50 - £5, depending on their size. Trotters are usually sold fresh, whereas hocks can be bought fresh, brined or smoked (like bacon) in which case they are called ham hocks.

Think slowly

Both hocks and trotters need long, slow cooking to tenderise them. During the pig’s life, these muscles have worked hard, so they need slow, moist methods of cooking to make them succulent and full of flavour. You won’t find masses of meat on a trotter, though they make wonderfully gelatinous stock for soups, casseroles and stews. Hocks are marvellous for hearty soups like pea and ham, or try lentil broth, which is exceptional made with a smoked ham hock.

Taking stock

To make great stock, buy a couple of pig’s trotters or a hock (smoked, brined or fresh) and place in a very large saucepan. Cover with plenty of cold water and add a whole peeled onion, 2 celery sticks, 1 roughly-chopped carrot, a few black peppercorns, a few parsley sprigs and a couple of bay leaves. Only add salt if the meat is fresh (i.e. not brined or smoked). Heat and simmer over a very low heat for 2-3 hours, checking the level of the water occasionally. Cool and strain, then strip any meat off the bones and return this to the stock. Use in bean, pea and lentil soups, stews and casseroles – or anywhere that would benefit from a bit of hamming up!

Top hocks and trotters recipes

Bacon, bean and cabbage soup

Chinese-style pig's trotters

Crispy pig's trotters on radicchio salad

Ham hock and foie gras terrine

Ham hock, split pea and mint stew

Spiced potted pork with peasepudding

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