Pork Cheek

So I ordered some pork cheek from my butcher last week and I'll pick it up today. Thing is, the pork cheek used in the chefsteps dish looks nothing like the pork cheek I know, which looks like this:

http://www.donaldrussell.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/p/o/pork-cheeks-01_3.jpg

Am I missing something? Is it a different part of the cheek? I'll be doing a dish with it this weekend but I'm still not sure which cut I'm gonna get.

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Afonso_Tito_de_Morais_164825

After some research I found out that what Chefsteps uses is actually called Pork Jowl, or Pork "Chin" as it's known here in Portugal. Oh well, cheek is still pretty bomb, I'll roll with it! \m/

Afonso_Tito_de_Morais_164825

Taking in account that Pork Cheek is probably not as tough as jowl, I'll cook it at 62C and reduce the cooking time to 24h, checking periodically. Any advice is highly appreciated!

tshewman

You should be fine at 62 for the 72hrs. Did them at 60 for 72 and brined prior to cooking (salt, brown sugar, liquid smoke, paprika, sliced garlic and marmite). Though I was doing a hot dog version so was trying to recreate childhood flavors (which worked fairly well) but the cooking times of 72 hrs should be fine (48 would also work well I suspect-have done beef cheeks for that time).

Afonso_Tito_de_Morais_164825

Sweet! I'll probably brine them too, but I'll probably increase the temp +5C as suggested in the recipe to cut down on the time needed. 72h for a pot & stove method would be very exhausting!

Edit: just picked them up at the butcher's and they look like the ones Chefsteps uses! Hurray for my butcher. Now brining until tomorrow, and then into the waterbath until melt-in-your-mouth tender!

DiggingDogFarm_65362

Yes, there's some confusion in terms of the definition of "pork cheek" which has been discussed on this forum in the past.

Afonso_Tito_de_Morais_164825

Yea some people were really bummed in the comment section of the Pork Cheek dish. It's all sorted though! Onto some great pork cheek for tomorrow!

Jack_Mayer_85396

Hi Martin, nice to hear from you! I hope all is well ...

DiggingDogFarm_65362

Thanks Jack! How are you?

Jack_Mayer_85396

Doing great, thanks! Happy Halloween!