Pork Leg Tip Roasts Delivery or Pickup

Pork leg tip roasts, also called leg knuckles and sirloin tips, come from the rear legs of pigs, just below the thighs. People often call pork legs fresh ham, and pork legs make excellent roasts or salted, smoked hams. Pork leg tip roasts come from weight-bearing muscles, so they're leaner than many other parts of the pig. They also have more connective tissue. This makes them flavorful, but they can be tough if they're not cooked correctly. Pork leg tip roasts are also more affordable than many other cuts of pork.

You can buy pork leg tip roasts as part of a whole pork leg with bones or buy a separate pre-cut pork leg tip roast. When pork leg tip roasts are separate, they look short and cylindrical. The shank end is a cut of pork that includes the lower leg, and it's usually covered in a thick layer of fat. Sometimes, stores simply label pork leg as ham or half ham. You can tell if a half ham contains the shank and the pork leg tip by looking for its tapered shape.

Pork leg tip roasts taste great after braising, slow cooking, or roasting. Before you start cooking, let your whole pork leg or pork leg tip roast come to room temperature for around an hour or two on your counter. If the pork leg tip roast is fresh, sprinkle it with salt before you start cooking.

To roast pork leg tips, cook them uncovered in your oven. You can add olive oil and seasoning before cooking, and people often sear the meat to brown the surface and add flavor. If you don't want to sear the meat, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and then bake the pork leg tip roast on a rack in a shallow pan.

To sear your pork leg tip roast, bake it at 450 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 minutes until the outer surface turns brown. Then, turn the oven temperature down to 325 degrees and continue cooking. Remove the pork leg tip roast from the oven when its internal temperature reaches 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Transfer it to a plate, cover it with aluminum foil, and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. During this time, the internal temperature should continue to rise. Your pork leg tip roast will be done when it reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit.  

The amount of cooking time needed depends on the size of the cut and whether it's tied with butcher's twine, bone-in, stuffed, or boneless. If you're cooking more than one roast, make sure you have a uniform amount of space around them for even cooking. When the pork is done, the juices should be clear, and the meat should look white. Cut your pork leg tip roast in thin slices before serving for more tenderness. You can use the drippings from the roasted pork leg tip for stock, sauce, or gravy.