The savory smell of bacon sizzling or a pork roast in the oven usually makes our mouths water. But sometimes pork can give off a foul offensive odor when cooked that makes you want to hold your nose instead. If you’ve encountered stinky pork and wondered why it smells bad when cooking, you’re not alone.
In this article we’ll explore the possible reasons behind pork’s unpleasant smell, look at the science involved, and provide tips to prevent cooking foul-smelling pork yourself. Let’s find out what makes pork stink and how to avoid it!
What Causes That Bad Smell in Cooking Pork?
There are a few potential culprits behind pork’s bad cooking smell
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Spoiled meat – Pork gone bad gives off adistinct sour, acidic odor when heated.
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Boar taint – Compounds in uncastrated male pigs cause strong odors.
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Poor handling/storage – Pork stored incorrectly can spoil and smell rotten during cooking.
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Packaging smells – Gases from packaging materials can give pork an ammonia-like smell.
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Injuries – Unhealed injuries on pigs can affect meat smell.
So foul odors usually arise from spoiled, poorly handled pork, or natural compounds in boars. It’s not harmful, but makes pork unappetizing.
The Science Behind Pork’s Unique Smell
The strong scent mainly comes from two compounds:
Androstenone – A pheromone produced in boars’ testes. Found in fat.
Skatole – Produced by manure bacteria. Found in guts/fat of all pigs. s can smell these in tiny amounts. Heating pork makes them more volatile so they’re very noticeable when cooking spoiled or boar meat (1).
A gene called OR7D4 determines smell sensitivity. Those with two copies find androstenone extremely offensive. With one or no copies, it smells weaker or pleasant (2).
So pork smell perception depends on your genetics!
Why Improperly Handled Pork Smells Bad
Mishandling and storage is another cause of foul pork odors:
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Storing above 40°F allows bacteria growth and spoilage.
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Ages-old leftover pork reheated smells rancid. Fresh pork lasts 3-5 days in fridge.
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Frozen pork not wrapped airtight takes on odors from freezer burn.
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Cutting boards and utensils need disinfecting after raw pork contact.
Following food safety guidelines prevents many cases of stinky cooked pork.
Tips to Avoid Bad Smells When Cooking Pork
Here are some tips to prevent pork smelling rank while cooking:
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Buy fresh – Inspect packaging and raw pork. Avoid any meat with an off or sour smell.
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Store properly – Raw pork needs refrigerating below 40°F. Freeze extra; thawed pork should be cooked within days.
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Don’t overcook – Well done pork can smell unpleasant. Opt for just cooked to safe internal temperature.
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Trim fat – Exterior fat that may harbor boar taint compounds can be trimmed off.
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Mask odors – Marinades, rubs, and charring help cover and neutralize smells.
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Ventilate – Running kitchen exhaust fans while cooking pork can help remove odors.
With proper selection, storage, and preparation, you can circumvent stinky pork and enjoy delicious meals!
What to Do if Your Pork Smells Bad During Cooking
Uh oh, you’ve started cooking that pork roast and are hit with a horrific stench. What should you do?
Don’t eat it! Cooking spoiled pork won’t eliminate bacteria or toxins. The resulting foodborne illness can be dangerous.
Safely discard the bad pork in an outdoor garbage bag. Bleach any surfaces and utensils it touched. Open windows to air out the kitchen.
Don’t worry about wasting food – nasty pork is not worth risking your health over. Use it as a lesson to freshen up your meat inspection, storage, and handling practices.
Next time, reference this guide to avoid stinky pork ruining dinner!
Understanding Why Your Pork Smells Bad
While unappetizing, pork’s occasional bad smell when cooking has logical origins. Tracing it back to boar taint, poor handling, or plain old spoilage helps you pinpoint how to prevent it in the future.
Apply proper storage times, temperatures, and packaging. Select fresh-smelling cuts at the store. With care in the kitchen, you can keep your pork smelling delicious from fridge to fork!
So embrace the savory aroma of sizzling bacon or roasting pork loin. And say goodbye to stinky, spoiled pork ruining appetites. A few precautions go a long way to pork perfection.
References
(1) https://www.verymeaty.com/fresh-meat/pork/why-does-pork-smell-bad-when-cooking/
(2) https://www.reddit.com/r/AskCulinary/comments/2186kj/strong_smell_of_pork/
(3) https://academic.oup.com/jas/article/90/1/213/4716987
(4) https://cgta.ilsi.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/2018/02/ILSI_BoarTaint_Report.pdf
How To Tell If Pork Has Gone Bad
Why does pork smell bad?
One of the most common reasons is that the meat has gone bad. Pork that has spoiled will often have a sour or acidic smell, which intensifies when exposed to heat. Another reason for the unpleasant smell could be boar taint. Boar taint is a natural compound found in male pigs that can cause an unpleasant odor in the meat.
What does bad pork taste like?
Spoiled pork may have a sour smell, slimy texture, and grey or green coloring. If you notice any of these signs, it’s best to discard the pork immediately. Cooking bad pork will not make it safe. It will increase the unpleasant smell and taste of it and make you sick. What Happens If You Eat Bad Pork?
Why does pork smell sour?
Sausages and ground pork should also be checked for a sour odor. The reason why your meat smells sour is that the meat is breaking down, and bacteria have grown into a large population as the pork spoils. It’s possible for the harmful bacteria on pork to survive cooking, so don’t take any chances!
Why does pork smell like ammonia?
Lastly, some packaged pork may have a faint smell of ammonia due to the processing and packaging methods used. While this smell may seem sour, it’s not necessarily an indication that the meat has gone bad.