Cooking The Perfect Hog Roast

As much as we enjoy spending time together as a family in my home country I know that hubby misses his country and certain things about being there too.

I try and cook things that are British at least once a week – Sunday roasts, English breakfast, curry and thanks God we can actually buy British beer from our local supermarket now.

One of the things he is missing is eating hog roast. I can’t really buy a big pork and roast it every tome he misses it but i can always manage to cook a good replica in the oven.

But what do you do if you want to make the perfect hog roast properly or if you are simply looking for something to wow your guests?

If you are looking to make your event a special one then you should definitely consider a hog roast. After all, one of the main components of any successful party is the food that is on offer.

If you can wow your guests with your cooking skills then you can ensure that your event is one that people talk about for weeks and weeks to come. 

One of the best ways to delight your guests and set their taste buds soaring is with a hog roast. In a  recent blog, we brought you ideas for a Tudor-themed banquet, and a pig roast was a recommended serving suggestion.

However, it’s great for summer barbecues and get-togethers too! Not only is this delicious, but it is a dish that most people tend to like and therefore you can rest assured that the majority of your guests will be satisfied.

Not only this, but hog roast can be served with an array of different side dishes, and so this opens your options and makes planning the food for the event a lot easier too. If this sounds good to you, then read on to discover how to roast a hog on a spit successfully.

Finding the perfect hog to be roasted

First thing is first; you need to make sure you buy the best pig for the number of people you are entertaining.

In general, pigs tend to be available from the weight of 60 pounds to those that are as large as 120 pounds. When determining what size to go for, it is recommended that you have one and a half pounds of pig for each of your guests.

Nevertheless, whilst you can get pigs as big as 120 pounds, most people believe that those that are less than 90 pounds are the best especially when roasting on the spit. This is because the pork is a lot juicier whereas older pigs tend to have drier and tougher meat. 

It is so important to make sure that you buy a quality pig. Take the time to source one from one of your best local butchers. After all, when you take advantage of a hog roast, you are providing a dish that speaks for itself. The beauty of the food lies within the simplicity of it all.

You don’t need to add a lot of seasoning or spicing; it is all about the authentic taste of the pork. Therefore, because the taste of the pig is not masked, it is essential to purchase the best. And don’t forget; you will have to order your pig in advance. Therefore, make sure you don’t leave it until the last minute to place an order for a hog. 

Finding the best hog roast equipment

It goes without saying that you will need the proper equipment in order to cook your hog properly. Just as it is essential to source a quality pig, it is also vital to make sure the machinery you hire is of a good quality too.

After all, if you hire low-quality machinery then this can be detrimental to the cooking process and, therefore, the pork won’t taste as nice as it would if it was cooked with a higher level of equipment. You will also want to make sure you have some appliance spare parts in case anything breaks down on the day.

That would be a disaster, right? Don’t just think about the roasting of the pig itself. You’re going to need side dishes, so your oven is going to be on the go as well! Plus, if anything goes wrong with the spit, your oven is a viable back-up. 

How to cook your hog to perfection

There are lots of different recipes available when it comes to cooking a hog spit roast. However, most people tend to merely season the meat in kosher salt. The salt really intensifies the flavour of the pork and this is a fantastic option.

This is also a great idea for those who are cooking a hog roast for the first time. And you will be pleased to know that the process of cooking is as easy and simple as the seasoning is. 

The only thing you really need to concern yourself with is ensuring that the pig is securely fastened to the spit. After all, you need to ensure that the pig does not fall off when it is being turned around.

You will need to use proper strapping in order to guarantee that this is achieved. Once you have secured the pig, the process couldn’t be easier.

The great thing about a hog roast is the fact that it does not need much tending to. Therefore you can cook whilst your guests are there and you can still mingle and enjoy the occasion with everybody. The key to achieving beautiful pork is to cook the pig for a long time.

Take it slowly. You can tell if you are cooking the pig too fast and using too much heat if it starts to change colour too quickly. You should not note a burned effect taking place within the first hour that is for sure. 

Most people recommend that you turn the heat up towards the end of the cooking process as this is how you achieve the beautiful crackling on the outside of the pig. You will need to give the hog more of your attention to this part of the cooking process.

After all, you need to rotate effectively in order to ensure that every part of the skin gets to feel the mass amount of heat. The result will be a large amount of gorgeous crackling for all of your guests to enjoy.

If you use the advice that has been given in this article then you will have no problem cooking the perfect hog spit roast for all of your friends. Just remember to take the time to source a quality pig and a high standard of hog roast equipment.

And don’t forget to cook the meat in a long and slow manner. Follow this and you will be fine. In fact, the only problem is; they will be begging you to host a similar party again as soon as possible. After all, once your guests taste the succulent pig they will definitely want more!