5 Best Pork For Stir-fry: What Cut Of Pork Is Best For Stir-fry?

Pork stir-fries are easy to prepare and cook quickly in your skillet.

The key to having the best version of this dish will depend on the quality of the pork.

In fact, there are some cuts of pork that work better than others, and you can figure it out by reading our article.

Let’s get started!

How to choose pork for stir-fry?

Stir-fry is a great way to cook your pork.

The little oil and seasonings make the dish more flavorful.

However, it is essential to choose the right cut of pork so that your stir-fry is even more appealing and delicious.

Here are some tips that can help you pick the best pork for stir-fry:

1.     Choose a lean or well-marbled cut of pork

A stir-fry is best when using a lean to a well-marbled cut of pork instead of a fatty cut like pork belly.

A lean cut of pork should be thinly sliced and quickly cooked so that it won’t end up with a dry and chewy texture.

Meanwhile, a well-marbled pork cut seems to be a wiser choice because it is juicier and more flavorful thanks to the marbling fat content.

2.     Buy organic meat rather than conventional pork

Organic pork is typically pricier than regular factory-raised pork.

However, it is obviously worth the price.

An organic cut of pork can be bought in a local butcher shop, organic store, or in certain supermarkets throughout the country.

It produces a sweeter flavor and a more tender texture when properly cooked.

3.     You can also buy fresh pre-sliced or pre-ground pork for stir-fry

Pork for stir-fry can refer to slices of meat or ground meat.

Therefore, instead of buying a whole cut of pork and processing it yourself, you can buy fresh pre-sliced or pre-ground pork that is available in most butcher shops, grocery stores, or supermarkets to save time and effort.

5 Best pork for stir-fry

Now, it’s time to figure out what cuts of pork are the top choices for a stir-frying recipe:

1.     Pork tenderloin

Pork tenderloin is known as the leanest and most tender cut of pork.

It is cut from the center of the loin and has a long and narrow appearance.

Pork tenderloin can be ideal for stir-frying because of its tenderness.

However, don’t overcook your pork tenderloin or you are wasting one of the best cuts of meat.

2.     Pork loin

Pork loin can be another option for a stir-frying dish.

It comes from the loin section of the pork with very little fat.

Pork loin is a lean cut with a milder taste, therefore, it should be marinated with your favorite seasonings and some oil to tenderize and moisten the meat before cooking.

3.     Pork shoulder

You can also use pork shoulder for stir-frying.

This is an affordable and versatile cut that is perfect for many dishes.

Pork shoulder is prized for the marbling fat that helps add flavor to the meat and keeps it juicy while cooking.

Although pork shoulder is typically used for slow-cooking recipes like roasting or simmering, it will be great for stir-frying when thinly sliced.

4.     Boston butt

A Boston butt is a good cut to substitute for pork shoulder in any recipe, including a stir-fry.

Boston butt, or pork butt, is actually a cut from the upper shoulder of the pig.

It has a moderately tough texture that can become tender when thinly sliced and properly cooked.

This cut is also an economical choice to add protein to your diet.

5.     Pork ham

The last option of pork for stir-frying is pork ham.

Pork ham is a cut from the leg of the pig.

It is relatively tough because this cut comes from the part that the animal uses the most for work.

It has a lot of connective tissues rather than fat and should be thinly sliced, tenderized with a meat tenderizer, and marinated with some oil to make sure the dish is flavorful without sacrificing the texture.

The bottom line

With so many cuts of pork to choose from, you’ll want to know the best ones for a stir-fry.

In this article, we’ve covered some basics about how different types of meat work in your skillet and what ingredients go well with them.

We hope that by now you’re feeling confident enough to pick out which one is right for your Asian stir-fry dish.