A Guide to Preparing Your First Suckling Pig: Buying Tips and Cooking Techniques

A suckling pig is a delicacy in many parts of the globe. Since time immemorial, humans from all kinds of cultural backgrounds have been roasting whole pigs to honor festive days, celebrate milestones, and bring large groups of people together. 

Often considered a key item in a large spread, the suckling pig is the star of the show in many celebrations. As delicious as it sounds, making your first suckling pig can seem like a hugely daunting experience. With this in mind, we have written today’s blog post to help you simplify the process as you attempt it on your own.

What is a suckling pig?

In case you are unfamiliar with what a suckling pig is but are curious to know, then here is your primer! A suckling pig is typically a young pig known for its succulent and fresh meat. The pig is usually seasoned with a range of spices and herbs (depending on the type of cuisine) and then roasted for hours to create a smoky, delicious meat experience. Due to the time and effort it generally takes to make, a suckling pig is not an item prepared for everyday consumption. Often, it is saved for special occasions. 

What do you look for when buying a suckling pig?

The first step of the process is to buy your suckling pig. You cannot make a good suckling pig without having bought the right one. But there are certain measures you must take to ensure you pick a good suckling pig. 

1. Find a good seller – The suckling pigs for sale in your area should come from a reputed farm and an experienced butcher. The best thing to do would be to try and find someone who specializes in the selling and sourcing of suckling pigs. They should run a clean and hygienic business with all the necessary safety standards in place.
2. Plan the size of your suckling pig – Depending on the number of people who will be eating it, you need to plan the size of the pig you will be cooking. Ask your butcher for his input on this.
3. Request the right cuts from your butcher – To save time and effort, your butcher can make certain cuts and removals of portions that are not needed for your suckling pig cooking process.
4. Check the color of the meat – The right pig will have pale pink meat. Do not accept meat of another color.

How do you cook your suckling pig?

It is now time to put on your apron and get cooking! Here are the steps to cook up a delightful suckling pig:

1. Thaw out your suckling pig – In the event that your suckling pig is frozen, keep aside time for it to thaw. This can take several hours (or even days), so be sure to plan in accordance.
2. Clean the suckling pig – If your supplier has not already cleaned the suckling pig for you, you need to do so. Remove any entrails, dirt and slime.
3. Make a marinade – A delicious marinade will make or break your suckling pig. Mix up herbs, spices and sauces of your choice to create a rich, flavourful marinade to douse the suckling pig with.
4. Allow it to rest – After soaking it in the marinade, let the pig soak for a couple of hours or, ideally, overnight so that it can absorb the full range of flavors and taste absolutely scrumptious.
5. Cook the pig – And here is the most exciting part! Actually cooking your suckling pig. There are a range of culinary methods that you can employ to cook the suckling pig to your preferences. These include:

• Spit-roasting: Cooking the pig over an open fire using a spit (or some type of rotisserie). This is a highly visual way of cooking the pig and can also be done while your guests are at home to blow them away at your party.
• Oven-roasting: Since most people do not have the tools or equipment to spit-roast a suckling pig, cooking it in an oven is also a perfectly acceptable option. Remember to keep an eye on the oven as it cooks to avoid burning the suckling pig too much.

Cooking a suckling pig is no mean feat, but one that you can definitely achieve with a little patience. Cook up a feast, serve it with some mouthwatering accompaniments, and you are guaranteed a fabulous dinner that your guests will never forget.