It appears to finally be cool enough in North Carolina to butcher the hogs. This year I want to give curing my own pork a try. There is a world of information on the subject but I have one question. Is it necessary to leave the skin on to cure the meat? I both scald and skin my hogs, depending on what mood I am in at the time and was wondering if it made a difference one way or the other.

-- Reggie T. Fletcher Jr. (r.fletcher.jr@worldnet.att.net), December 27, 2001

Answers

I've found thru curing my own,it does not make a difference,If you are going to skin,you do not have to scald.just doing double work for nothing!!!!

-- David R In TN. (srimmer@earthlink.net), December 27, 2001.

David, I think Reggie means sometimes he scalds and other times he skins, depending on his mood. I have cured pork both ways and I agree with you that either way, the finished cured pork is good. Good luck Reggie!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), December 27, 2001.