Whole Hog Butchery Demo

[clb239]

Visited Colonial Williamsburg today and the Foodways team was demonstrating how whole hogs were butchered and salted for preservation during the 1700's. After salting the hams, shoulders, and belly they will be placed in barrels covered in salt for 6 to 12 weeks depending on the cut. Once the saluting process is complete they will be cold smoked and then hung up until they are used in cooking demonstrations. This was a very I formative and interesting demo.

[RonB]

That looks very interesting, but I doubt my wife would care to see it.

[clb239]

RonB my mom watched some of it but my sister would not even go close to it.

[Allon]

RonB

I never am really sure with my wife. Sometimes I think she won't but she will, she doesn't but she does, know what I mean?

[theroc]

That looks like a fantastic demonstration. I took a high butchering class from Valley Piggery in Buellton, CA a few years back. That was a great hands-on experience that taught us how every bit of the animal is used. I would love to see how it was done in the 18th century.

[clb239]

theroc I wish this had been a hands on program. Unfortunately it was just a demo and Q&A while they were doing the processing.

[bbqLuv]

Now that looks like so much fun.