Ham hock Facts for Kids

A ham hock is a part of a pig's leg.

A ham hock (also called a pork knuckle) is a special cut of meat from a pig's leg. It's the joint that connects the lower leg bone to the foot bones. Think of it as the part of the leg that's not quite the main ham, and not quite the foot (which is called a trotter). It's the very end of the leg bone, just above the foot.

What is a Ham Hock?

This part of the pig's leg has a lot of skin, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons connect muscles to bones, and ligaments connect bones to other bones. Because of this, ham hocks need to be cooked for a long time to become soft and tasty.

How Ham Hocks Are Used

Ham hocks are often cooked slowly by stewing (cooking in liquid) or braising (browning first, then simmering in liquid). This long cooking makes the meat tender and delicious.

Adding Flavor to Dishes

Ham hocks are great for adding a rich, smoky flavor to many dishes. They are often cooked with vegetables like collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage, green beans, and navy beans. They are also a key ingredient in soups, such as pea and ham soup. Sometimes, the meat is taken off the bone and served on its own.

Ham Hocks Around the World

Ham hocks are used in many different types of cooking:

American Southern Cooking: They are very important in soul food and other types of cooking from the Southern United States.
Pennsylvania Dutch: In parts of the Mid-Atlantic States, people use ham hocks to make a meat loaf called scrapple.
Germany and Austria: In northern Germany, a roasted ham hock dish is called Eisbein. In Bavaria, it's called Schweinshaxe, and in Austria, it's known as Stelze.
Poland: A popular barbecued dish called Golonka uses this cut of meat.
Italy: In Italian-American cooking, ham hocks are often boiled with a leafy green vegetable called escarole (also known as endives). In northern Italy, it's called stinco and is often roasted whole with sauerkraut.
Sweden: A Swedish dish called Fläsklägg med rotmos features cured ham hocks with a mash made from rutabaga and potatoes, served with sweet mustard.
Canada: Especially in Montreal, ham hocks are called "pigs' knuckles" and are served in restaurants with baked beans.

Gallery

Chinese-style ham hock with bok choy in gravy
Schweinshaxe served with roasted potatoes and Sauerkraut in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Roasted Austrian style Stelze
Pickled Eisbein, with Sauerkraut
Ham hocks stewed in soy sauce and five-spice powder at a street stall in Chiang Mai, Thailand
Ham hock (golonka) with grilled oscypek cheese, horseradish and a slice of beetroot in Poland