How Many Ham Hocks Are on a Pig? The Complete Guide

Ham hocks are an underappreciated but delicious cut of meat from the pig. Known for their intense flavor, ham hocks are essential for making soups, stews, beans, greens, and other soul food classics. But despite their popularity in Southern cooking, most people don’t know exactly what ham hocks are or where they come from on the pig.

In this complete guide, we’ll answer the question – how many ham hocks are on a pig? We’ll look at ham hock anatomy, how they’re used in cooking, and tips for choosing and preparing them. Read on for the inside scoop on this humble yet mighty ingredient.

What is a Ham Hock?

First, let’s start with what a ham hock actually is.

A ham hock is the lower portion of a pig’s hind leg, specifically the joint connecting the ankle to the shank. It’s essentially a pig’s ankle.

Unlike the ham itself from the upper leg, ham hocks contain a higher ratio of skin, fat, tendons, and ligaments. There is some meat, but it needs long cooking times to become tender and palatable.

When raw, ham hocks look kind of unappealing – mostly bones fat and weird textures. But when cooked properly, the collagen melts into irresistible richness. The skin crisps up into delicious little bites.

Curing and smoking amp up a ham hock’s flavor even more. This gives them that characteristic smoky, salty “hammy” taste.

How Ham Hocks Are Used in Cooking

If ham hocks look so unappetizing raw, why bother cooking with them?

It’s all about the intense flavor they impart. Ham hocks are simmered for hours in soups, stews, beans, greens, braises, and other dishes to infuse them with smoky, porcine depth.

As they cook, the fat renders and the collagen melts, adding body and silky texture. The meat shreds off the bones to mix into the dish. Bits of smoky skin also dissolve, leaving behind mouthwatering savor.

Ham hocks are essential for classics like:

• Split pea soup
• Collard greens
• Pinto beans
• Pork and beans
• Navy bean soup
• Pot likker
• Simmering sauces and gravies

They provide a richness and savory flavor that vegetarians have a tough time replicating.

Where on the Pig Does the Ham Hock Come From?

Now that we know what ham hocks are, let’s look at where on the pig they originate.

Ham hocks come from the lower portion of the rear legs, between the trotter (ankle/foot) and the shank:

[Diagram showing ham hock portion of pig leg]

• The trotter is the ankle joint and feet. These are often prepared as a dish on their own.
• The shank runs from the trotter to the knee. It’s loaded with bone, fat, and connective tissue.
• The ham hock comes from the bottom segment of the shank, right above the trotter. It’s the toughest part of the leg.

So the ham hock is essentially the pig’s heel/ankle region. It gets a ton of use supporting the weight of the animal, so it needs moist cooking to break down the collagen.

How Many Ham Hocks on a Pig?

Now for the question you’ve been waiting for – how many ham hocks are there on one pig?

The quick answer: There are 4 ham hocks on a pig.

Here’s how the math works out:

• Pigs have 4 legs
• Each leg contains 1 ham hock portion
• So in total, there are 4 ham hocks per pig

Some additional details:

• Commercial ham hock cuts sometimes include a bit of the upper shank too. This gives you more meat.
• The trotter (foot) may be left attached to the ham hock or removed. Trotters are often sold separately.

So each pig contains 4 ham hocks – 2 from the front legs and 2 from the hind legs. They provide incredible flavor for the amount of meat.

Choosing and Cooking Ham Hocks

Now that you’re a ham hock expert, here are some quick tips for buying and cooking them:

• Look for meaty hocks with a decent amount of fat. Avoid bony ones.
• Plan on simmering times of 2-3 hours for maximum tenderness.
• Soak salt-cured hocks before cooking to reduce sodium.
• For convenience, cook hocks then remove meat from bones.
• Estimate 1-2 hocks per person. Buy 4-8 for serving 4 people.

Put your new ham hock knowledge to flavorful use! Pick up a few of these underappreciated gems and transform pot beans, stews, greens, and more.

So now you know – there are 4 rich, meaty ham hocks on each pig. Use them to add soulful flavor to all your Southern classics!