Main CourseHow to Roast a Pig
Roasting a pig in your backyard can be a fun and exciting summer tradition, but it is not easy or cheap, so make sure you know what you are getting into once you take those first steps. Here is a guide for how to roast a pig.
The very first step is ordering your pig. Youò€™d be surprised at how many butcher shops have a connection to getting you a pig, just know that they wonò€™t just hand you a dead pig when you hand over the cash, instead, they will have to order and pick up the pick (probably from a farm outside of town) and then they will (or should) thoroughly clean the pig. When your pig arrives it should be hairless and of a good size. The rough rule of thumb when planning out your pig roasting is to factor in 2-3 pounds of pig per person, so let your butcher know how big of a pig you are looking for.
The next step is to find a location already suitable to pig roasting or set up your roaster yourself. If you donò€™t want to have it in your backyard and go through the trouble of setting up your roaster search online and see if there are any sites near you that would be conducive to your even size and uniqueness. If you want to create your own pig pit, one way is to set up concrete blocks in a wide rectangle about two-high. Some people also place a sheet of aluminum foil on the ground below the roaster to reflect the heat. Another thing to remember is that burnt grass will give your pig a bad flavor so rip out any grass below the pit to avoid that.
If your pig arrived frozen, give it a few days to thaw out. The trick is to keep it warm enough to thaw but cold enough that it doesnò€™t spoil. Once ready for preparation, here comes the fun part, butterflying the pig. You will need to cut the pig from pelvis to skull so the pig lies open and flat. Once butterflied, you can then season the pig with your preferred rub or salt and place the pig on the rack.
Now youò€™re ready to relax on some wooden bar stools and watch your hard work simmer! Some people swear only by hardwood fire, some people have no problem with charcoal, thatò€™s up to you. Roasting your pig will take somewhere between four to nine hours depending on how large it is so make sure you time your day accordingly. And thatò€™s it. Relax while your pig is roasting, crack a beer and tell some jokes. Youò€™ve done it and soon enough youò€™ll be able to taste the result of all your work.