Great Recipe for a Snack – Pig Wings

Pig Wings, also known as “pork wings,” or “grilled pig snacks” are an amazing idea for when you want grilled snacks that are different, innovative and delicious. Pig wings are different than other snacks because they are fun to eat and are a conversation starter on their own.

Moreover, they are perfect for meat lovers, as well as for people on high protein, low carbohydrate diets. Most importantly, they are delicious. Check out how you can handcraft your very own meaty, tender, and delicious pork wings.

What are Pig Wings/Pork Wings?

Pig wings, also known as pork wings, are portions of ham shank that are cut and trimmed to look like the traditional buffalo chicken wings you get at the sports bar.

You can cook pork wings however you want: deep fried, baked, pan fried, or smoked. However, the smoking method brings out the best flavor and consistency.

Since pork wings are part of the pork shank, they are meaty and tender. When they are cut the right way, pork wings hold about 1 to 3 ounces of meat in bone-in pieces that are eaten exactly like their chicken counterparts. They can also be slathered with BBQ sauce, dipped in blue cheese, or paired with any of your favorite sauces.

Where do Pig Wings Come From?

The creation of the pork wing is credited to Bob File, the president of a company called Pioneer Meats, based out of Vandalia, Michigan. In a statement to Bloomberg, File stated that around 6 million pounds of pig wings are sold each year. File also pointed out that the sales of this product may not be as lucrative as chicken wing sales, but that the popularity of pig wings is increasing, and the sales could “double” next year.

While they have not yet caught the entirety of the mainstream market, you can get pork wings from your local grocery store’s butcher, with an average cost of $.75 per wing.

Preparing to Cook Pork Wings

Pig wings are essentially pork shanks that are trimmed to a smaller size, to look like chicken wings.

An average pig wing can hold up to 3 ounces of meat. Some may look like chicken wings, while others may look like chicken legs. There are some that are trimmed to look almost as long as ribs. The whole point is to keep 1-3 ounces of meat with the bone sticking across of it. Therefore, if you want to cut your own pork wings, just get a pork shank and cut the meat from the fibula part of the pig until you get the desired shape.

Seasoning

Season your pork wings the way you would any other cut of meat. Our favorite choices are adobo, seasoned salt, garlic salt, and even an up and coming seasoning called “chicken salt” which is becoming very popular these days.

Marinating is probably one of the best choices because, just like with chicken wings, pork has the porosity needed to absorb liquid marinades. The texture of the meat also makes it great to keep rubs on the meat without the seasoning falling off.

Cutting Up the Pork Wings

Whether you cut the pork wings yourself, or get them frozen, the first step is to be sure that the wings are thawed and ready to cook. Cooking pork wings, in theory, follows the same process as cooking chicken wings: You want to fully cook the meat, and then get that crispy skin that makes eating wings so much fun.

The Step-by-Step Guide to Pig Wings

Here are the different ways that you can cook pork wings. The benefit of cooking pork is that the meat is versatile enough to be cooked in a variety of ways, and that each way of cooking always seems to work out well.

Baked pork wings: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Pork wings cook at that temperature for about 50 minutes, or until the inner temperature of the pork wing reaches 145 degrees using a digital thermometer. Be sure to cook both sides of the wings so that they acquire the toasty surface that makes the skin a bit crunchy.

Deep fried pork wings: In a deep fryer, or deep saucepan, get vegetable oil to 350 degrees. Carefully (mind the hot oil splattering) lower the pig wings one at a time. Leave the wings frying for about 2 minutes each, turning them on each side after one minute. Note: Never throw frozen wings into hot oil without proper protection

Air-Fried pork wings: Place your pork wings in the Air Fryer basket. Choose the “chicken” option, and let them cook automatically. Normally, this option runs at 370 degrees, for about 10 minutes. If the machine does not have those automatic settings, set them up manually.

Smoked pork wings: Set the smoker to 275 degrees. You want low temperature and indirect heat to make the most out of taste and texture. You can cook pork wings for half an hour or longer. Be on the lookout to ensure that they are not overcooking.

Always be sure to flip the wings so both ends get heat exposure. The internal temperature for pork is 140-145 degrees. Take a wing out to check whether they are cooking properly.