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What are Pork Rinds?

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

Pork rinds are the tough skin layer of pigs that remains after the meat has been removed. They are processed in a similar manner to beef jerky, with the raw skins receiving a generous slathering of salt before being placed in a commercial dehydrator at low heat for several hours. The dehydrated pork skins are then cut into small, hard pellets suitable for reconstitution later.

Some are placed in pickling solutions and marketed as "pickled pork rinds" in grocery stores. Unlike the snack food version, these remain soft and chewy, with a distinctive bacon-like flavor. Pickled pork rinds are perhaps not as popular as the crispy snack version, but they are flavorful and are relatively inexpensive. The pickling process also gives them a longer shelf life.

Pork rinds are made from the skin of pigs.
Pork rinds are made from the skin of pigs.

Pork rinds destined for the snack food aisle or county fair concession stand begin as hard, dry pellets. Meat processing plants sell these pellets in bulk to snack food producers and individual vendors. The dehydrated pellets are placed in vats of hot cooking oil, maintained at a temperature around 400°F (approximately 204°C). A consistent cooking temperature is crucial, since colder oil may not cause the pellets to puff out during the deep frying stage. The individual pellets are held down in the oil with a metal screen to ensure consistency.

Pork is high in protein and B vitamins, but also high in fat and saturated fat.
Pork is high in protein and B vitamins, but also high in fat and saturated fat.

After 60 seconds or so have elapsed, the pork rinds are usually suitable for eating. During that time, they change from hard pellets to puffy, irregular pieces. A denser version called cracklings may also be produced by cooking the pellets at a slightly lower temperature. The finished pork rinds may be served warm, or the vendor may add various spice blends such as barbecue, salt and vinegar, or chili powder to give them a different flavor.

Pork rinds became popular snack choices with the advent of high-protein food plans such as the Atkins diet. Unlike potato or corn chips, fried pork rinds have no carbohydrates at all. They are exceptionally high in protein, however, which makes them an ideal snack for those who want to avoid foods high in carbohydrates. The main concern about this snack, however, is their high sodium content. The processed pellets have already been brined in a salt solution, so the addition of salt-based flavors can cause them to have three times as much sodium as regular potato chips.

When consumed in moderation, pork rinds do make satisfying snacks despite their insubstantial appearance. Their high levels of protein put them in a snack category with meat jerky products and flavored beef sticks. While fried pork rinds may be high in sodium, they are often less greasy than other processed snacks. They have also become popular as fundraisers, since the investment in equipment and supplies is minimal and a bag of uncooked pellets can generate many bags of the puffy snack suitable for immediate sale at concession stands.

Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular DelightedCooking contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...
Michael Pollick
Michael Pollick

A regular DelightedCooking contributor, Michael enjoys doing research in order to satisfy his wide-ranging curiosity about a variety of arcane topics. Before becoming a professional writer, Michael worked as an English tutor, poet, voice-over artist, and DJ.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon149101

How much salt? Is it healthy for your heart to eat that much salt? I love them too.

anon117656

LOL. I just did a cartoon about pork rinds!

anon117036

i am eating some rinds right now!

anon76818

I love pork rinds and cracklings. they are the best .

anon74572

Do fried pork skins have corn in them?

anon55899

My question is, "What kind of oil are pork rinds fried in?" Cottonseed oil, as well as other seed and vegetable oils, are best avoided.

itsagr8lyf

What type of fryer (gas/electric) do you recommend to fry pork skins outdoors to sell at a flea market which would maintain a consistent temperature?

Is there a recommended pot size and maximum number of skins to fry each time to minimize temp loss? --Thanks, Stan

mrfun

As I stated in my initial message, you can Google "microwave pork rinds" (without the quotation marks) and find places to buy the pellets that puff up into pork rinds.

anon14046

Can you purchase dehydrated pork skins are then cut into small, hard pellets somewhere. If so, where can you purchase them? Thank you

mwilkinson

Would you consider port rinds a "chip"?

mrfun

This article is a very informative article about traditional pork rinds, but it doesn't touch on the far healthier version - microwave pork rinds. These are not deep fried like the traditional pork rind. Since they are cooked in a microwave they have 65% less fat, 33% less salt, 40 calories less, less cholesterol, zero carbs, and zero trans fat compared to the deep fried version of pork rinds. Plus, they are still crackling and popping fresh when you pour them out of the bag into the bowl.

They are a god send for low carb dieters and anyone else who wants to eat healthier snacks. If you search for microwave pork rinds on Google or Yahoo, you will find a few companies that sell microwave pork rinds online if you view the top 20 listings.

Jim Miller

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    • Pork rinds are made from the skin of pigs.
      By: Anatolii
      Pork rinds are made from the skin of pigs.
    • Pork is high in protein and B vitamins, but also high in fat and saturated fat.
      By: marrakeshh
      Pork is high in protein and B vitamins, but also high in fat and saturated fat.