Pork includes the bones, muscles, and other parts of a formerly living pig. Once upon a time, people used nearly every part of the pig, though not all for food.

 

The bladder made a good balloon to keep small kids occupied during butchering and initial cooking.

 

The bristles on their body were used in brushes.

 

Bones became tools.

 

 

Pig hides were used for clothes and canvas. 

​

In some places, people still eat the internal organs, roast the tail, and know how to make headcheese.

 

While uncommon, and mostly seen at historical gatherings today, this knowledge once helped feed, energize, and clothe people.

 

Scientifically, pig skin and muscle density closely resemble that of a human. Therefore, dead pigs are often a human analog, especially in car accident testing, where the pig carcass may fly through a windshield. Pig carcasses appear in many scientific documentaries to show how falls, weapons, and even sport accidents affect the human body.

 

There are all kinds of interesting pork dishes that are uncommon and use pork parts many don't generally think of. I'll only share dishes that I enjoy cooking and eating. A good web search will find recipes for more specialized dishes, such as pig's feet or headcheese.

​

Pork is one meat that must be cooked thoroughly for safety. It often harbors tapeworm and other invisible parasites that can be killed by cooking. Ingesting raw or undercooked pork can be deadly, so be sure it's fully cooked!