why do people boil pork first before they cook it ?

Answer 1

To kill the trichina worms.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trichinosis

Answer 2

I think this practice was more common in times before good refrigeration - and lean pork. Obviously, boiling kills organisms. It also lifts some of the fat out of the meat. If you are older than about 35, you might remember when pork was much more fatty than it is today. I agree, boiling is one way to make sure your ribs are cooked thru before grilling, but I can't think of any other reason to boil pork today.

Answer 3

Good Lord, who boils their pork before they cook it?

I have no idea why anyone would destroy their pork as such...do not follow their advice. Truly boiling any cut of meat will only make it tough!

Omg...worms are no longer a common issue in pork...here is some more info...

What about trichinosis? Because of modern feeding practices, trichinosis is a no longer a concern. Although trichina is virtually nonexistent in pork, if it were present, it would be killed at 137 degrees F. That’s well below the recommended end cooking temperature for pork, which is 160 degrees F. Many outdated cookbooks, commonly found in the home, were written many years ago, when trichinosis was a concern, and will instruct, even warn that pork must be cooked until there is absolutely no pink in the meat (to an internal temperature of 170 degrees to 185 degrees!); or as one popular cookbook put it, “The meat must be white or grayish throughout, without a trace of pink, even in the very center of a large roast.” This is not at all necessary today. Nor is it good.

The best restaurants cook their pork with a bit of pink in the center, sometimes needing to reassure those guests that are used to the old way that it is perfectly safe and much more appetizing. So if you have been disappointed with pork that you’ve eaten in the past, because it was dry and difficult to chew, you need to try today’s pork cooked the right way. You will be pleased to enjoy a juicy, tender and delicious piece of pork, possibly for the first time in your life!

Seriously, do NOT boil your pork.

Answer 4

Yum! Soft boiled pork! What a treat!

Answer 5

Actually I have only heard of this being done for spareribs too make them tender before finising on the grill and boiling bratwurst in beer for flavor.
I do boil beef ribs before grilling or smoking because they are so tough.

Answer 6

Pork tends to have more bacteria then other meats and it has thicker tougher skin. This is a common and good process for cooking pork.

Answer 7

if the pork came straight from the slaughter,yes the boiling is for worms.if it is from meat house,we steamed it for tenderness and as first step to marinate or season it.

Answer 8

I usually brown it in evo and than slow cook it all day
boil I dont know.maybe back in the days when they
fed pigs wrong.now days the fda standards are better.

Answer 9

for tenderness and to get a jump on the cooking process if grilling

Answer 10

pork has alot of bad stuff in it worms etc
but is good with bbq sause huh