In cheap chinese food, why is the pork always reddish/pink?

Question

Pork chops aren't pink when cooked. If its food coloring, what are they covering up?

Answer 1

For bbq pork and the bbq ribs, the color on the outside is from the tomato based marinades.

For other pork dishes where it's still pink on the inside, I think it has to do with marinading the meat. The marinade cures the meat (similar to ham) so a pinkish color remains.

Answer 2

Man, you folks need some BBQ education - when pork is smoked, the meat turns a healthy pink color. Pork chops aren't smoked, so they stay white. Your Chinese place must be using smoked pork.
Either that, or the sauce it's in taints the color.

Answer 3

Whey you have Ham, it's pink. The pork leg is pumped with brine, it is made up of a special salt, mixed with water and then cooked , that's why it's pink.
What may have happened is that the seasoning used, contains some salt that may cause it to look pink (especially if they pre-season it). It probably is cooked and is not raw despite the look of it.
Vinegar or any acidic may also cause that look too (ribs etc.)

Answer 4

They often use BBQ pork. The BBQ sauce sometimes dye the pork pink. I'm not sure what the BBQ sauce is made of at the lesser expensive places.

Answer 5

Its smoked

Answer 6

Maybe it's not cooked enough.

Answer 7

Truthfully, I wouldn't trust that it's actually pork. I'm not trying to be gross or anything.. but you never know what kind of 'meat' they may use.

Answer 8

Maybe it's the MSG that they add.

Answer 9

may b it's undercooked ................or may b they wanted 2 save money so they re-heated it .....................idk that's y i make my own food .............................................lol