Pork chips, made from fried pork fat and skin, are a salty and meaty low-carb alternative to potato chips. Mexican-style pork chips, called chicharones, are often fried in pork lard. Homemade versions can use oil instead. Different flavors can be added, but they are high in fat and salt and should be consumed in moderation.
Pork chips, often called pork rinds, are simply pork fat and skin that have been fried together until very crispy. The results generally look like a cross between a potato chip and a fried piece of bacon. The flavor is usually very salty and meaty, especially if the cook uses cured pork skin to prepare them. Both homemade and commercial varieties can be a low-carb alternative to potato chips for those who like salty, crunchy snacks.
Many Mexican cooks make pork chips from the cleaned pork skin left over from killing and roasting other parts of the pig. Called chicharones in Spanish, Mexican-style pork chips are often fried in a large enamel pot. The cook generally melts several inches of pork lard in a pot, heats it until the lard boils and falls into the sliced pieces of pork skin. The skin bubbles and opens for a few minutes, cracking and turning golden brown in the process.
Those who want to make varieties of pork chips at home, but cannot find or do not like to use lard, can replace the melted fat with oil. Peanut, safflower, and grape seed oils all work well because they have a high smoke point. Olive or vegetable oil can burn pork skin before it has a chance to crisp and turn brown. Even oils with lower smoke points can start to smoke during the cooking process, as the name suggests. This doesn’t affect the cooking process, but it can set off smoke alarms or make the kitchen very hazy.
Fried pork chips can be made with pickled, lightly smoked, or uncured pork skin. The skin should only be clean and hairless when cooked. Adding extra flavorings generally changes the flavor of a pork patty, allowing cooks to experiment and see which flavors they like best. You could also try marinating the strips of skin in barbecue sauce, mesquite seasoning, or hot sauce before frying. Creating different flavors of pork shavings could be a tasty addition to a party snack or appetizer.
Although low in carbohydrates, pork potato chip varieties of all types contain a significant amount of fat. Consuming too much fat, oil and salt could also negatively affect your heart and arteries. Pork fries, while often tasty, may not be the best everyday snack. Those on a low-carb diet can successfully consume pork chips without weight gain, but those on a low-fat diet may consider consuming pork chips only occasionally.
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