Salt Pork
In Appalachian and Southern speech, "salt pork" means pork belly or fat that’s been heavily salted to preserve it. It was a kitchen staple before refrigeration, used to season beans, greens, and country dishes.
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I didn't hear about 'salt pork' until I was older, so it may be regional. A couple counties over, it seems more like an old staple. I didn't hear about 'salt pork' until I was older, so it may be regional. A couple counties over, it seems more like an old staple. Pronunciation
Meaning & Usage
- Pork belly or fat preserved with salt (noun)
What’s in that bag?Salt pork for the greens.- A traditional flavoring meat (noun, cultural)
Tastes smoky.That’s the salt pork talkin’.Origin and Etymology
Salt-preserving pork goes back centuries in Europe. In America, salt pork became a cornerstone of rations during colonial times, the Civil War, and rural life before refrigeration. It remained especially common in Southern and Appalachian cooking.
Usage Notes
Still used in traditional recipes, though less common today. Many cooks now substitute bacon or fatback, but salt pork has its own salty punch. See also: fatback.
Say It Like a Southerner
Said plain: "salt pork." Often shortened in country talk: "sawl’ pork."