Technically the USDA says that pork is safe for human consumption once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees. If you’re making a pork tenderloin or grilling up some thinly sliced pork chops that’s pretty much all you need to know. You can dust off your hands, smack your mouth-watering lips and get ready to dig into some tender premium pork.
If you happen to be dealing with a Boston Butt pork shoulder, or a pork hock and you try to bite into the meat once it hits an internal temperature of 146 degrees, you won’t exactly be sinking your teeth in. If you’re lucky, you might be able to get a small bite off without loosening some dental work, and you’ll be treated to a mouthful of dry, pork-flavored rubber bands.
So what gives? Why are some cuts of pork tough and/or not truly done at 145 degrees?
Why Are Some Cuts of Pork Tough Even When Done?
With a lot of pieces of pork and big, tough cuts of other meats connective tissue remains completely intact at 145 degrees. Most of the fats and intramuscular marbling will barely start to render at 145, which further adds to the toughness.
You could put a Boston Butt pork shoulder in a 145-degree sous vide for hours and it would still be tough. Most connective tissues like collagen just barely start to render and break down into gelatin at 140 degrees. Even then they need time for all the protein structures to release and the fluids to redistribute into the meat fibers.
This can take even longer for bone-in cuts like pork shoulder, thick-cut pork chops, and pork hocks. When working with these cuts it’s often a matter of time and temperature.
Can I Cook Tough Cuts of Pork with High Heat?
If you simply try to heat them as fast as possible the connective tissue and marbled fat won’t have time to render. At the same time, the meat fibers start to contract rapidly, expressing moisture. Not to mention the very real risk of burning the outside of the meat into a black, bitter crust before the inside finally reaches a minimum safe temperature.
So, even if you get the internal temperature up to 140 degrees or more with high heat or boiling, you’re still likely going to end up with a tough cut of meat.
Best Temperature Range to Cook Tough Cuts of Pork
When we look beyond pork chops, pork tenderloin, and other thin, cuts of pork with little connective tissue and intramuscular fat, time becomes just as important as temperature. This is especially true for some traditional barbecue cuts like Boston butt pork shoulder and pork spare ribs.
You can use the following tips as a helpful guide to get these tougher cuts of pork cooked to the right temperature, while still being succulent and tender.
Boston Butt Pork Shoulder
Boston Butt pork shoulder should be slow-cooked or smoked to an internal temperature of at least 180 to 190 degrees. This typically takes several hours to allow all the connective tissue and intramuscular fat to render into succulent gelatin.
Around 190 degrees is the point where the scapula bone will wiggle out and pull free of a pork shoulder. By 200 degrees it slides right out with ease.
It’s perfectly fine to cook or smoke a pork shoulder to 200 degrees. There are some people who insist that’s the perfect temperature. However, going past 200 degrees the meat starts to get so tender that you might lose some trying to slide it onto the serving platter!
Pork Spareribs
With pork ribs, whether they’re spare ribs, St. Louis ribs, or even pork riblets, you want an internal temperature in the meat of at least 185. Though 190 to 200 might be needed to get them perfectly tender.
The more trimmed the ribs are, the sooner they will get tender. So, you can expect pork riblets, to be fall-off-the-bone tender at around 185 to 190 degrees internal temperature. Whereas a full “Cheater Rack” or untrimmed pork ribs might need to go all the way to 195 – 200 degrees to fully render the fat and connective tissues.
The goal is to get them to the point where the bone will wiggle in the meat, but won’t immediately fall off on their own.
Pork Hocks
There’s some debate about the proper internal temperature to cook pork hocks to. If you’re willing to roast or braise them all day, you will get a tender piece of meat with an internal temperature of 150 to 160 degrees. Though the amount of gelatinous fat still inside might not be everyone’s cup of tea with this method.
If you want to render the fat down more and build the flavor a higher internal temperature of 175 to 185 might be better. This is true for smoked pork hocks. Though if you want to make traditional Schweinshaxe, then you might want to roast the pork hocks until they reach an internal temperature of 170, then fry them with high heat to crisp the skin.
Pork Belly
Pork belly is essentially the whole primal bacon cut from before it’s cured and smoked. While you can cook it to a safe internal temperature of 145 degrees and get a pleasant-tasting bite, I think you’ll be more pleased with the end product if you take it to a higher internal temperature.
You see pork belly is a combination meat that is sometimes just as much fat as it is lean pork meat. There isn’t really much in the way of connective tissues. The longer you let it cook, the more fat will render out of it. This will release flavor that the lean meat fibers and any potential outer crust will pick up.
As you approach 165 to 170 degrees the fat starts to render more vigorously. Though there is certainly an argument to be made for taking it all the way to 190 to 195 degrees to caramelize the skin and outer fat like chefs do with crispy pork belly.
The Best Thermometers to Check the Temperature of Pork
There are a few different ways to test the internal temperature of pork. If you’re grilling a tender, thin cut of pork like pork chops or pork tenderloin, then all you need is an instant-read probe thermometer.
If you’re going to cook a thicker piece of pork, then a leave-in meat thermometer is probably the better option. You insert it halfway through the cooking/smoking/roasting process and leave it there. It then lets you know what the internal temperature of the pork is without having to leave a massive hole in the meat that lets the succulent precious juices out.
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MEATER Plus | Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer | 165ft Bluetooth Wireless Range...
- [The ideal choice for indoor and outdoor cooking enthusiasts] MEATER Plus is 100% wire-free, allowing you to cook with complete freedom and flexibility. With its innovative technology, the Long Range Model is the world's first truly wireless meat thermometer. Plus, you can easily monitor your cooking progress using the free app, which is available for both iOS (version 12.2.0 and later) and Android (version 8.0 and later) smartphones and tablets. Please note that the smart phone is not included in the package.
- [The ideal choice for indoor and outdoor cooking enthusiasts] MEATER Plus is 100% wire-free, allowing you to cook with complete freedom and flexibility. With its innovative technology, the Long Range Model is the world's first truly wireless meat thermometer. Plus, you can easily monitor your cooking progress using the free app, which is available for both iOS (version 12.2.0 and later) and Android (version 8.0 and later) smartphones and tablets. Please note that the smart phone is not included in the package.
- [2 Sensors, 1 Probe] The dual temperature sensors on this meat thermometer enable you to monitor both the internal meat temperature (up to 212°F) and the ambient/external temperature (up to 527°F) at the same time. This means you can achieve the perfect level of doneness for your meat, while also ensuring that your grill or oven is operating at the right temperature. And when it comes to cleaning up, you'll appreciate the fact that this thermometer is dishwasher safe.
- [Say goodbye to guesswork with our Guided Cook System] This innovative feature walks you through each stage of the cooking process, ensuring perfect and consistent results every time. And if that's not enough, you can even set up custom alerts and notifications based on temperature and/or time to keep you on track. But that's not all - our Advanced Estimator Algorithm is also on hand to help you plan your meal and manage your time. It can estimate the ideal cooking and resting times for your food, taking the stress out of meal planning and allowing you to sit back and relax while your meal cooks to perfection.
- [Extend your wireless range over WiFi with MEATER Link] All you need is a 2nd smart phone/tablet to bridge the connection to your home WiFi network.
- [Probe Spec] Stainless steel, water resistant, and easy to clean. Bluetooth 4.0 wireless connection up to 165 ft. Max internal temp: 212°F. Max ambient temp: 527°F.
- [Rechargeable] Over 24 hours of continuous cooking per charge. LED indicator: shows charger battery state and probe connection status.
- [Charger Spec] Real wood to match any kitchen or outdoor decor. Built-in Bluetooth Repeater to extend range. Store and charge your MEATER probe. Portable and charges MEATER up to 100 times with 1 AAA battery.
- [Magnetic Backing] Attach your MEATER Plus to any magnetic surface.
- [Alexa Skill Enabled] Just ask "Alexa, ask MEATER how long until my food is ready.
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ThermoPro TempSpike 500FT Truly Wireless Meat Thermometer, Bluetooth Meat Thermometer for Grilling...
- 500-Ft Ultra-Long Range: Connected via the most advanced Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless thermometer for grilling can monitor your cooking from up to 500 feet away, make it outstand from other smoker accessories, truly wirelessly tracking your meal from anywhere!
- 500-Ft Ultra-Long Range: Connected via the most advanced Bluetooth 5.2, this wireless thermometer for grilling can monitor your cooking from up to 500 feet away, make it outstand from other smoker accessories, truly wirelessly tracking your meal from anywhere!
- 100% Wire-Free: Meat thermometer digital wireless removes all the tangled wires, makes it a versatile tool for electric rotisserie, smoker, oven, grill, pan-fry or sous vide; Enjoy 100% wire-free cooking and the convenience of no-hassle setup and cleanup
- 1 Probe, 2 Sensors: Bluetooth thermometer for smoker features a meat temperature probe that can simultaneously measure internal meat temperature and ambient pit temperatures, while still reading highly accurately in just 3 seconds, so you’ll never overcook or undercook again!
- Easy-to-Use, Multifunctional App: Get real-time alerts on the go with the smart meat thermometer App; Supports custom timer and temperature graphs; USDA-recommended preset temperatures elevate your cooking like a pro every time you fire up your grill with our bluetooth thermometer for grilling
- Smart Alarm Effectively Manage Your Time: Wireless grill thermometer App takes the guesswork out by estimating how long to cook; Set up ambient pit temperature alarms and cooking pre-alarms that trigger within 5°F/10°F/15°F of the target temperature, and both your smartphone and the booster will beep to remind you, never overcook!
- Rechargeable & Waterproof: The Signal Booster for this wireless meat thermometer for grilling and smoking can last up to 3 months on a full charge with low battery indicator; probe can run for 36 hours on a full charge; Wireless meat probe features IP67-rated stainless steel that is easy to clean, allowing you to always keep your space tidy, dishwasher-safe
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ThermoPro Wireless Meat Thermometer of 500FT, Bluetooth Meat Thermometer for Smoker Oven,...
- 500-Ft Bluetooth Range: ThermoPro meat thermometer wireless features advanced Bluetooth 5.0 technology that can provide a strong, effective connection to track temperatures from 500 feet away; Just leave this grilling thermometer beside your grill or oven and remotely monitor the cooking progress using your smartphone
- 500-Ft Bluetooth Range: ThermoPro meat thermometer wireless features advanced Bluetooth 5.0 technology that can provide a strong, effective connection to track temperatures from 500 feet away; Just leave this grilling thermometer beside your grill or oven and remotely monitor the cooking progress using your smartphone
- Easy-to-Use, Multifunctional App: Receive real-time alerts on the go with the ThermoPro BBQ App; Set your desired food temperatures, customize alarms and timers, and view graphs on your phone; USDA meat presets help you to cook to perfection
- Effectively Manage Your Time: Equipped with an advanced estimator algorithm, this smoker thermometer wireless can estimate proper cooking time to help better plan your meals; Pre-alarm settings (5/10/15°F) ensure your meat is removed from the heat at the perfect time
- Highly Accurate Dual Meat Probes: Wireless thermometer features dual BBQ temperature probes which can simultaneously monitor internal meat temperatures and ambient temperatures up to 572°F with an accuracy of ±1.8°F
- Rechargeable Transmitter with Backlit LCD: This rechargeable Bluetooth thermometer can hold a charge for 8 months, providing worry-free operation that doesn’t require frequent battery changes; Large backlit LCD display shows temperatures for both probes, allowing this meat thermometer for smokers to easily convey important info with just a quick glance
- Bluetooth Certification: Meat thermometers provide flawless wireless operation based on the official Bluetooth SIG standards
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ThermoPro TP20 500FT Wireless Meat Thermometer with Dual Meat Probe, Digital Cooking...
- Extended Remote Range: Wireless thermometer with dual probes optimizes its wireless range from up to 500FT to monitor your food or oven/grill/smoker temperatures, enabling you to enjoy the company of your guests without continuously excuse yourself
- Extended Remote Range: Wireless thermometer with dual probes optimizes its wireless range from up to 500FT to monitor your food or oven/grill/smoker temperatures, enabling you to enjoy the company of your guests without continuously excuse yourself
- Hassle-Free Setup: With no synchronization required, say goodbye to the tedious setup steps; Upgraded receiver clearly displays both food and oven temps simultaneously; Backlit display allows use in low-light condition
- Kitchen Timer: Food cooking smoker thermometer features count up and countdown setting that is perfect for long-time cooking or vegetable side dishes; Receiver will beep and flash once reaches preset temperature
- USDA-Recommended Temperature Settings: BBQ thermometer comes with preset temperatures for 10 types of meat and their respective doneness levels recommended by the USDA; All the preset temps can be reset to your desired tastes
- Durable & Accurate Probes: Wireless meat thermometer for grilling and smoking features food-grade stainless steel probes with step-down tip design allow users to get readings more precisely and quickly, acurrate to 1.8°F; Probe wires can withstand up to 716°F
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ThermoPro TP25 500ft Wireless Bluetooth Meat Thermometer with 4 Temperature Probes Smart...
- Extended 500ft Range & Bluetooth 5.0 Certificate by SIG: Rechargeable bluetooth thermometer adopts advanced bluetooth 5.0 technology that provides food thermometer with the strongest, most reliable connection; With the out of range alert function, you'll never miss the moment to remove your meat from the grill
- Extended 500ft Range & Bluetooth 5.0 Certificate by SIG: Rechargeable bluetooth thermometer adopts advanced bluetooth 5.0 technology that provides food thermometer with the strongest, most reliable connection; With the out of range alert function, you'll never miss the moment to remove your meat from the grill
- 4 Different Color Coated Probes: 4-probes smart meat thermometer allow you to conveniently monitor 4 different meats and ambient temperature while being highly accurate; Meat probe thermometer winders are perfect to neatly store your wireless thermometer for cooking after use
- Simplistic, Multi-Functional App: ThermoPro meat thermometer wireless app contains editable preset temperatures for 9 meat types and their various doneness levels recommended by USDA; Keep your smoker in that ideal range with HI/LOW temp range feature to allow you easily monitor your cook from up to 500 feet away
- Timer & Smart Alarms: Smoker thermometer lets you program up to 4 timers to assist with monitoring your side dishes; Stay alert with alarms for both passing your target temp or running out fuel for your smoker; Kitchen thermometer features pre-alarm to notify you when the temp is 5/10/15 degrees away from target temp, so you pull the meat off at the perfect time
- Advanced Cook Time Estimator & Temp Track Graph: Better manage your time with the help of the intelligent cook time estimator, which informs you how much time until target temp is reached; Bluetooth grill thermometer records a history of your probes' temperatures, then creating a chart in real time
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Govee Bluetooth Meat Thermometer, 230ft Range Wireless Grill Thermometer Remote Monitor with...
- Monitor Your Grill Wirelessly: With this wireless grill meat thermometer, you can keep an eye on your grill, smoker, or oven from up to 230ft away. Spend less time waiting and more time multitasking while your food cooks to perfection.
- Monitor Your Grill Wirelessly: With this wireless grill meat thermometer, you can keep an eye on your grill, smoker, or oven from up to 230ft away. Spend less time waiting and more time multitasking while your food cooks to perfection.
- Get Smart Alerts: Never overcook your food again. This smart Bluetooth meat thermometer will beep and send an instant notification to your phone via the Govee Home App when your food temperature is out of your preset range.
- Cook Like a Pro: The Govee Home App offers USDA-recommended food temperatures for various doneness levels of meat, including turkey, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, and more. Whether you're a beginner or a pro, you can grill more efficiently with this thermometer.
- Reliable and Accurate: Our food grade 304 stainless steel thermometer probes have an accuracy of ±1.8°F/1°C to reliably monitor the doneness of your food (under 302℉). Please remember not to touch the temperature probes immediately after use.
- Easy to Use: This Bluetooth meat thermometer has a strong magnetic back and a folding stand, making it easy to place on your grill, smoker, or oven. The large backlight screen makes it easy to read, even at night.
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MEATER Block | 4-Probe Premium Smart Meat Thermometer | Bluetooth to WiFi...
- Longer Range: With built-in Bluetooth to WiFi range extension, you can keep tabs on your food from up to 165ft away. And if you prefer to cook without your smart phone, our Stand-Alone Mode has got you covered.
- Longer Range: With built-in Bluetooth to WiFi range extension, you can keep tabs on your food from up to 165ft away. And if you prefer to cook without your smart phone, our Stand-Alone Mode has got you covered.
- Four Probes: Each probe features dual temperature sensors, allowing you to monitor both the internal meat temperature (up to 212°F) and the ambient/external temperature (up to 527°F) simultaneously.
- Guided Cook System: Our step-by-step system will guide you through the cooking process, ensuring that your food is cooked to perfection every time. You can also set up custom alerts and notifications based on temperature and/or time to keep you on track.
- Advanced Estimator Algorithm: Take the guesswork out of meal planning with our algorithm, which estimates the ideal cooking and resting times for your food.
- Convenient Power Source: MEATER Block features a Micro-USB port, which allows you to power it without the need for AA batteries. Please note that the Micro-USB connection does not charge AA batteries, and the Micro-USB cable is not included in the package.
- Handy Accessories: To help you get started right away, we've included four probe clips in the package.
Tags: How To ArticlesPork