• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Mama Loves to Cook

  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About Me
    • Contact Me
    • Work with Me
    • Privacy Policy
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Resources
  • About Me
  • Work with Me
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Family Dinners » How to Cook Roast Pork with Crackling (step by step guide)

    Published: May 15, 2020 · Modified: Jan 26, 2023 by Marianne Rogerson · This post may contain affiliate links.

    How to Cook Roast Pork with Crackling (step by step guide)

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Learning how to cook roast pork with crackling for a family dinner or a casual dinner party is a great skill to have.

    A roast pork dinner is one of my favorite family meals. It is easy to prepare, delicious to eat and everybody loves it!

    Roast Pork with Crackling in roasting dish

    We serve this at least once a month in our house, getting the whole family around the table to dig into roast pork, roast potatoes, roasted vegetables, cauliflower cheese, apple sauce and topped off with gravy. Delicious!

    [optin-monster-shortcode id="l7c5raqwi7hccua5qbjj"]

    What is the best joint for roast pork?

    The most popular cuts of pork for roasting are the leg, shoulder and loin. These are often boned and rolled ready for roasting. You can usually buy all of these cuts in the supermarket, or of course ask your local butcher.

    How to Prepare a Pork Roast

    Preparing a pork joint for roasting is super simple. You don't even really need to season a pork roast. I just lay the join down on a bed of garlic and herbs.

    Seasoning for roast pork

    Rosemary is the classic herb for pork, and I often toss in a couple of sprigs of thyme too. Then scatter on some sliced garlic and lay the pork joint on top of it. That's it!

    I don't use a wire rack in my roasting tin, as I want all the juices to be absorbed back into the meat for maximum flavor and juicy meat.

    The most important preparation when cooking pork roast is the crackling. Read on for all our tips!

    Come join our Facebook Group!

    It's where we talk about cooking and baking and share recipes, tips, photos and more. Come join the fun!

    Click here to join the Facebook Group

    How to make Pork Crackling

    Getting the perfect pork crackling on your pork roast is like the icing on a cake. Sure you can have roast pork without crackling, but why would you want to?

    Roast pork crackling

    Crispy pork crackling is truly one of life's culinary pleasures and luckily making pork crackling is not difficult at all. But you do need to know a few important tips to make the best pork crackling.

    Firstly - you need to make sure that you have a good layer of fat under the skin of your pork.

    Secondly you need to make sure the skin is dried out. To do this, a few hours before you cook it, take it out of its packaging, dry it off with a paper towel, and put it on a plate, uncovered back in the fridge for a couple of hours or more.

    Scored skin for pork crackling

    Next, you need to make sure you score the skin really well. This means taking a sharp knife and cutting slices into the skin, but be careful not to go all the way through. The better the skin is scored, the better the crackling will be.

    Finally, right before you put the joint in the oven, you need to sprinkle it with a lot of salt. And by a lot, I mean at least 1 tablespoon of salt. More if you are ok with it being salty.

    Salt on pork cracklng

    This can be table salt or coarse salt. I have used both over the years and have they have both resulted in epic pork crackling.

    A lot of pork crackling recipes will tell you to rub oil into the skin before you sprinkle over the salt. I disagree. I have never put any oil anywhere near my pork crackling and it always turns out perfect.

    Perfect pork crackling

    Now to get the crackling to crackle, you first need to give it a blast of heat in the oven. So start your oven off super hot - 475 F or 245 C - and cook the pork at this high temperature for the first 20 minutes. After this you can turn it down to continue cooking the rest of the pork.

    The final rule for pork crackling is, you have to serve it with apple sauce! See below for more details.

    Cooking a Pork Roast in the Oven

    The best thing about cooking roast pork is that it is pretty much set and forget. Once you have given it that first blast of heat at a high temperature, you can turn the heat down to 375 F / 190 C and just leave it alone.

    Once it is cooked, leave it to rest for around 10-15 minutes to allow the meat to relax. Do not cover it with foil during this rest period, or all that hard work you put into that amazing crackling will be ruined!

    How Long to Cook Roast Pork

    Your pork roast cooking time will obviously depend on the size of your joint of pork. The rule I follow is this:

    After the initial 20 minutes at a high heat, continue roasting the pork for 35 minutes to the pound (450g).

    So if you have a 3 pound leg of pork, you will give it the initial 20 minutes at 475 F / 245 C, and then lower the heat to 375 F /190 C and continue to cook for a further 1 hour and 45 minutes.

    What to serve with a pork roast dinner

    Firstly, you have to serve apple sauce with your roast pork! Honestly, crackling and apple sauce is a salty-sweet match made in Heaven.

    You can buy a jar of apple sauce, but it's way better to make it yourself. Just take a couple of apples, peel, core and slice them.

    Put the apple slices into a saucepan and cook over a low heat with the lid on for around 15 minutes. Make sure you stir it often. Once the apple slices are really soft you can blend them into a puree.

    Roast pork dinner with roast potatoes

    Other ideas for roast pork accompaniments include:

    • Roast potatoes (of course)
    • Roast carrots or other root vegetables
    • A green vegetable
    • Cauliflower cheese
    • Yorkshire puddings
    • Gravy

    Are you hungry yet?!

    How to store leftover Pork

    Leftover pork can be wrapped in foil, plastic wrap or in an airtight container and will last in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Can you Freeze Roast Pork?

    Yes you can! Wrap it in foil then place in a freezer bag or airtight container. It will keep for up to 2 months.

    What to do with leftover roast pork

    Leftover roast pork is very versatile to use. Here are some great ideas:

    • Make a Roast Pork and Apple Sauce Sandwich
    • Chop it up and use it in Fried Rice
    • Make Cuban Sandwiches
    • Slice it up for using in an Asian Noodle Soup
    • Make Pork Rice Paper Rolls
    • Chop it up fine for using in Pork and Vegetable Spring Rolls
    • Slice it up for Vietnamese Banh Mi sandwiches
    • Make Leftover Pork Tacos or Quesadillas
    • Use it on Pizza
    • Make a Pork Curry

    Looking for more quick and easy family meals? You may like these recipes:

      • Shrimp Creole in a pan
        Easy Shrimp Creole
      • salt and pepper chicken wings on plate
        Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings
      • Toad in the Hole on table
        Thermomix Toad in the Hole
      • Thai red fish curry
        Easy Thai Red Fish Curry

      Did you try this recipe? Please leave me a ⭐ review below!

      Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @mamalovestocookblog and follow along on Pinterest and Facebook! Enjoy!!! 

      Pin it for Later!

      Roast Pork with Crackling Pinterest pin

      Mama Loves to Cook is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

      Roast Pork with Crackling

      Roast Pork with Crackling

      This Roast Pork with Crackling is perfect for a family dinner or a casual dinner party. Everyone will love it!
      5 from 5 votes
      Print Pin Rate
      Course: Family Dinners
      Cuisine: British
      Prep Time: 10 minutes
      Cook Time: 2 hours
      Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
      Servings: 1 Roast Pork
      Calories: 400kcal
      Author: Marianne Rogerson

      Ingredients

      • 3 lb / 1.5kg leg shoulder or loin of pork
      • 2 cloves garlic
      • 3 sprigs rosemary
      • 2 springs thyme
      • 1 tablespoon salt

      Instructions

      • At least two hours before cooking the pork, remove it from its packaging, dry thoroughly with a paper towel and return it to the fridge, uncovered to dry out.
      • Pre-heat the oven to 475F / 245C.
      • Take a very sharp knife and score the skin of the pork. You want it to cut the skin but not go all the way through. The better your skin is scored, the better the crackling will be.
      • Lay the rosemary and thyme sprigs onto the bottom of a large roasting tin.
      • Peel and slice the garlic and lay it on top of the herbs.
      • Now place the pork on top of the herbs.
      • Right before you put it in the oven, sprinkle the skin of the pork with at least 1 tablespoon of salt.
      • Place the roasting tin into the hot oven and cook for 20 minutes at this temperature.
      • Then turn the temperature down to 375F / 190C and leave the pork to cook undisturbed for a further 35 minutes per pound (450g) of meat. So for a 3lb / 1.5kg leg of pork, this will be for a further 1 hour and 45 minutes.

      Nutrition

      Serving: 1g | Calories: 400kcal | Carbohydrates: 1g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 1258mg
      Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @mamalovestocookblog or tag #mamalovestocook!
      « Pancake Cereal
      Leftover Chicken Pasta Bake »
      • Facebook
      • Twitter

      COPYRIGHT 2020 MAMA LOVES TO COOK

      Reader Interactions

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      Hi I'm Marianne and I'm a Mama who Loves to Cook! Come share in the cooking fun as I search for recipes for easy family dinners, lunch box fillers, baking, cookies, cakes and more..

      More about me →

      Easter Recipes

      • Chocolate Cornflake Easter Nests
        Chocolate Cornflake Easter Nests
      • Thermomix Hot Cross Buns.
        Thermomix Hot Cross Buns
      • Thermomix Chocolate Tart
        Thermomix Chocolate Tart
      • Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
        Easy Chocolate Cupcakes
      • Mini Carrot Cakes Thermomix
        Mini Carrot Cakes Thermomix
      • Thermomix Chocolate Cake
        Thermomix Chocolate Cake

      Thermomix Recipes

      • Thermomix Gingerbread Recipe.
        Thermomix Gingerbread Recipe
      • homemade thermomix baileys bottle
        Thermomix Baileys Irish Cream
      • Thermomix chocolate mousse.
        Thermomix Chocolate Mousse
      • Thermomix pavlova with berries
        Thermomix Pavlova
      • Thermomix Chocolate Tart
        Thermomix Chocolate Tart
      • Thermomix Strawberry margaritas
        Thermomix Strawberry Margaritas

      Footer

      About Mama Loves to Cook

      Hi I'm Marianne and I'm a Mama who Loves to Cook! Come share in the cooking fun as I search for recipes for easy family dinners, lunch box fillers, baking, cookies, cakes and more. Read More…

      Web Stories

      See latest web stories here.

      My Favorites

      Thermomix Christmas Shortbread Bites on white plate.
      Thermomix pinwheel Cookies.
      Halloween gingerbread men.
      Thermomix fruit pizza decorated with colourful fruit
      Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting
      Thermomix Caramel Slices on table

      stay connected

      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • About
      • Privacy Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Contact

      • Contact

      As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

      Copyright © 2020 Brunch Pro on the Brunch Pro Theme

      Copyright © 2023 Mama Loves to Cook on the Brunch Pro Theme