How To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

How To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill? Pig roasts have been really famous for years, but barbecue lovers in the South and the Cuban population in Miami like to cook entire pigs. Find a huge, covered barbecue before trying this feat. The tiniest pigs may weigh up to 75 pounds, which is estimated to be four times the mass of a fully packed Thanksgiving turkey.

Find at least one strong friend to assist you in turning the beast after you’ve found a grill. Trust a pig farmer with pig preparation skills, a meat locker, or a specialty butcher to clean and dress the pig. It’s now only a matter of grilling.

Recipe And Steps To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Step 1 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Carry the pig home in a heavy-duty plastic bag — some vendors sell “body bags” for this purpose. Keep the pig chilled until it’s time to light the fire, then set it out to warm up.

• Adding Flavor To Your Pig

You will have to season your pig. The meat will be tasteless if you roast your pig without first adding seasoning. Pork is great for bringing and marinating, which is great news. You’ll also need to safeguard your pig’s more vulnerable parts. The ears are one of the most popular and delectable components of the animal. They will burn if you do not safeguard them.

Using a nonstick oil or spray on parchment paper is the best method to protect both the ears and the nose. Cover the sensitive areas with this. Cover the parchment with a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil to hold it in place. This will ensure that your pig is soft, crispy, and juicy throughout, with no burnt spots.

For roasting a whole pig, there are a variety of recipes to choose from. Brining is one of the most common methods. You will use a solution of water and salt for this approach. This will tenderize your beef while also retaining moisture in the muscle fibers. If you choose to brine your pig, lay it in a big tub, cover it with your brine solution, and let it rest overnight.

Brining your pig will infuse it with flavor while also keeping it moist and succulent. Your meat will not grow tough or dry due to this process. Add lots of herbs, spicy peppers, oranges, or lemons to your brining solution to enhance the flavor.

Step 2 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Allow the charcoal or wood to burn down to an ash-gray color on the grill.

If your grill runs on propane or natural gas, set the temperature between 200 and 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 3 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Rub oil on the pig’s back and place it on its belly. Turn it over and thoroughly season the interior of the pig with salt.

Step 4 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Place the pig ribs down on the grill rack, no closer than 12 inches from the fire. Cook the pig for 6 to 8 hours at 225 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on its weight. Close the cover of the grill.

Step 5

About an hour before the pig should be done, check the temperature in its ham (the thick hindquarter). Slit the skin on the back along both sides of the backbone when the temperature reaches 160 F.

Step 6 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

By carefully sliding the pig over while grabbing beneath the ham and shoulder, you may flip it. Two individuals are needed for this, one at the beginning and one at the finish. Each turner must reach beneath the pig and stabilize it with one hand over it. Repeat the action with the second half of the pig if it divides along the backbone. It’s not a good initiative to try to turn a pig by holding its legs.

Step 7 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Pour a combination of cider vinegar, brown sugar, and a splash of spicy sauce into the rib cavity. Brush the vinegar sauce all over the pig.

Step 8 To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Baste the pig several times until the internal temperature of the ham and shoulder reaches 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 9

Pull the grill out of the cooker with the pig and flip it over onto the serving board. To cut up the hams and shoulders on the chopping board, pull them apart. Pull the remaining flesh off the carcass after removing the tenderloins that sit along the backbone.

What You Will Require To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

• Grill for pigs
• 1 1/2 to 2 pound cleaned and dressed pig per diner
• Rack for pigs
• A thermometer for pig meat
• A thermometer for the grill
• Pork rub or kosher salt
• Two or more pairs of grill gloves that can withstand high temperatures
• Sauce for basting
• Brush for basting
• Board for serving
• Chopping board
• Knives (cleaver and big)
• Roasting pans or platters made of aluminum

Tip To Cook A Whole Pig On A Grill

Pigs that have been dressed weigh barely 70% of their live weight. Several individuals can handle a 75- to the 125-pound pig. Make the necessary adjustments. For grilling, pigs should be butterflied. By shattering the beast’s backbone down its length, you may either ask the butcher or butterfly the beast yourself.

A pig rack makes it easy to flip the pig and keeps it together until it’s thoroughly cooked. Weave strong wire into a two-sided fence-like basket to make your pig rack.

Conclusion

To produce a spicy rub, combine chili powder, black pepper, cumin, oregano, paprika, thyme, or any other combination of pork spices with garlic. As a basis for the rub, rub the meat with yellow mustard.

When you think your pig is done, use your meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. Check the shoulders and hams since these will be the last to complete roasting. One hundred sixty degrees Fahrenheit is the optimal internal temperature.