3 Best Pork For Tacos: What Cut Of Pork Is Best For Tacos?

Tacos are a simple but delicious meal that can be made from different kinds of meat, including pork.

However, not everyone knows how to make pork tacos properly.

It should start from the selection process, and choosing a cut of pork can break or make your tacos even more appealing.

Accompany us and figure out the tips to buy the best cuts of pork for tacos.

How to choose pork for tacos?

When it comes to tacos, most people typically think of chicken or beef for fillings.

However, if you want to change things up and try something new for your next tacos night, consider trying pork instead.

This versatile meat ingredient should be slow-cooked in a taco recipe so that it can be pulled apart easily and wrapped inside the corn tortillas.

However, pork is also the key ingredient that will decide if your tacos are successful or not.

Refer to our following tips to make sure that can always choose the best pork for tacos:

1.     Buy a fresh cut of pork from a reputable local butcher shop

The best place to buy a good cut of pork is from a local butcher shop.

It is even better if you have a good relationship with the butcher so that he or she can tell you if there are some great cuts of pork in the meat shop.

A fresh cut of pork is the one without any weird signs like dark spots, an unpleasant smell, and a watery consistency.

It should look glowy with bright pink color.

2.     Choose a lean or a cut with sufficient marbling fat for tacos

Another thing to keep in mind when choosing the pork for tacos is that a fatty cut like pork belly won’t work in this case.

Instead, you should opt for a leaner cut or a cut with a perfect amount of marbling fat.

This makes sure that your dish is flavorful and juicy enough without being too greasy or dry.

3.     You can buy fresh pre-ground pork to save time and effort

Pork tacos can not only be made from the whole pork cut that is then pulled apart but can also be made from ground meat too.

In case you don’t have time to grind pork yourself, there are many options of fresh pre-ground pork out there that can help save a lot of time and effort spent in the kitchen.

Ground pork also takes less time to cook than slow-cooking a whole cut of pork for tacos.

You should look for a package with an 80:20 or 70:30 meat-to-fat ratio for the best pork tacos.

3 best pork cuts for tacos

As already mentioned, in this case, a lean cut with little marbling fat is perfect for tacos rather than a fatty cut like pork belly.

So what exact cuts of pork are best for tacos? Let’s take a look at the recommended cuts below:

1.     Pork shoulder

Pork shoulder is an ideal cut for any slow-cooking recipe.

In this case, the cooked pork shoulder will be pulled apart and served as a succulent and delicious filling of tacos.

Pork shoulder is prized for its marbling fat content, flavorful taste, tender texture when properly cooked, and its affordability.

These are the reasons why pork shoulder is one of the favorite cuts of many people.

2.     Pork butt

Pork butt, or Boston butt, is a similar cut to pork shoulder and is often used to substitute for pork shoulder in case you cannot find this cut on the market.

The pork butt comes from the upper portion of the animal’s shoulder area instead of the butt as the name implies.

Pork butt can be roasted or simmered until tender to be easily pulled apart and served in corn tortillas with other veggie ingredients.

3.     Pork loin

If you are looking for a leaner cut of pork to cut down your fat intake, pork loin should be a consideration.

Pork loin is known as the leanest cut of pork with very little fat, making it healthier than other red meat cuts.

However, pork loin also comes with a milder taste so you should ensure to marinate this cut well before cooking pork loin for tacos or any other dishes.

The bottom line

When it comes to making pork tacos, the most common cuts of pork are pork shoulder, Boston butt, or pork loin.

No matter if you choose either one of these three pork cuts, you should ensure that your pork is fork-tender and can be easily pulled apart.

Hopefully, this post has helped guide you to choose a good cut of pork easier.