Pork shank vs. ham shank

Pork, also known as pork, is very popular in many parts of the world, especially China and many developed Western countries.

Some popular cuts are pork belly, pork cheek, pork shoulder, pork shank, and ham shank. But wait, aren’t pork shank and ham shank the same thing?

Well, for starters, you have to understand that while all ham is pork, not all pork is ham.

Pork is basically meat from any part of the pig, whereas ham comes from a specific part that has been preserved by salting, wet curing, or smoking.

Once this is clarified, let’s focus on the pork shank and the ham shank. The hock is the joint that joins the pig’s foot to the leg, which may be the anatomical equivalent of the ankle or lower calf region in the human body.

So what is the difference between pork hock and ham hock?

Although both are part of the “ankle” of the pig, ham hocks are made from the rear ankles, while pig hocks can come from the rear or front ankles of the pig.

But this is not the only difference. Read on to find out how pork shank and ham shank differ and how they are used in cooking.

What is pork shank?

Ham shank, also called pork knuckle, is obtained from the rear ankles of the pig, between the tibia/fibula and the metatarsals . It is often cured or smoked to preserve the meat and impart a bacon-like flavor to whatever is added to it.

What is pork shank?

Pork shank is made from either the front or rear ankles of the pig and is not cured or smoked. It differs from ham hock in that it is raw, is more versatile, and does not add a distinct flavor to any recipe to which it is added.

Difference between pork shank and ham shank

Aside from the part of the pig’s body from which the pork shank and ham shank come, there are other important differences between the two.

For starters, ham hocks are cured or smoked, while pork hocks are raw. For this reason, it is not ideal to substitute one for the other, as each one provides a different flavor and differs in the way it is used in recipes.

Since ham shank goes through a curing or smoking process, it is often used to flavor a dish by adding the meat or keeping it separate. The typical cooking time for the ham hock is about 4-5 hours.

Most often, knuckles are cooked on the bone, which means you can cook the knuckle in a soup or stew and remove it at the end to collect the meat to add to the recipe or enjoy on its own.

Some common recipes that pork shank works great with are potato and pork shank soup, pork shank and white bean stew, and pea and ham soup.

Pork shank is raw and uncooked, offering versatility and allowing it to be used in a wide variety of applications. It can be roasted, braised, or boiled, and typical cooking time is about 2-4 hours.

Pork shank is popular in Germany, where it is enjoyed at the October Festival in the form of a dish called Schweinshaxe. It is also popular in China, where it is often eaten during Chinese New Year in a dish called Ti Pang.

What can replace the hock?

Ham shank is a fatty cut of pork that has a rich, smoky flavor. If for some reason you can’t find it in the supermarket, there are several great meat options that you can use as a substitute.

Bacon is one of the best alternatives to use instead of ham, since it is a similar fatty cut. You just have to make sure that the bacon you use is smoked to get the same flavor.

For a non-pork alternative, you can use turkey thigh. Like the ham shank, it is fatty, has a lot of skin and is usually smoked. It is not only a good alternative to ham hock, but also a healthier one.