How to Get Rid of Annoying Hairs on Pork Belly Skin

As home cooks, we’ve all been there – excitedly unwrapping our just-purchased pork belly only to find it covered in coarse hairs. While the hair itself is harmless, no one wants to bite into bristly pieces while enjoying perfectly crispy pork belly.

Luckily, removing the hair from pork belly skin is easy to do at home with common kitchen tools In this article, I’ll walk through the four best methods to cleanly remove hairs from pork belly skin, along with tips for safety and avoiding cross-contamination.

Why Does Pork Belly Have So Much Hair?

First, let’s discuss why pork belly tends to be so hairy in the first place.

Pigs naturally grow coarse hairs on their skin to protect against sunburn and insect bites while roaming around outdoors. Most of the hair remains intact through the slaughtering process until the carcasses are broken down into primal and retail cuts at the butcher shop.

Since pork belly is one of the fattiest cuts, butchers often focus on trimming the fat and don’t pay as much attention to shaving the skin. This leaves many stubborn hairs behind on the skin that make their way to our kitchens.

While inconvenient, rest assured that the hairs are totally harmless if accidentally ingested. The goal is simply to remove them for better texture and appearance

Method 1: Scalding

The most common approach is scalding the pork belly skin with hot water to loosen up the hair follicles. Here are the steps:

• Fill a large pot with water and heat to 150°F – 180°F. The water should be hot to the touch, but not boiling.

• Using tongs, completely submerge the pork belly in the hot water for 1 minute. This will soften the hairs.

• Remove the pork belly and immediately submerge it in an ice bath for 2-3 minutes to stop the cooking process.

• Finally, use a sharp boning knife to scrape off the loosened hairs. It may take a few rounds of scalding and scraping to remove them all.

Safety tips:

• Use potholders when handling the hot water.

• Avoid splashing hot water or touching the submerged pork.

• Wash hands, utensils, and surfaces after to prevent bacteria spread.

Method 2: Shaving

For a more controlled approach, you can simply shave the hairs off the chilled pork belly using a razor. Here’s how:

• Place the pork belly in the freezer for 30-45 minutes until firm but not completely frozen.

• Remove the pork belly and coat the skin with a thin layer of oil – this helps the razor glide smoothly.

• Holding the belly steady, use short, gentle strokes to shave off the hair. A safety razor or straight edge works best.

• Rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Rewash if needed to get a smooth skin.

Safety tips:

• Use a dedicated razor and discard after to avoid bacteria spread.

• Work slowly to avoid cuts to the skin.

• Wash hands thoroughly after handling raw pork.

This gives you more control than scalding and less mess to clean up afterwards!

Method 3: Blow Torching

For the pyromaniacs out there, you can use a basic culinary torch to singe off the hairs. Here’s the process:

• Hold the blow torch 6-8 inches above the pork belly skin.

• Moving continuously, wave the flame back and forth across the skin surface.

• Work in short 5-10 second bursts until the hairs burn off. Avoid holding the flame in one spot too long or you may burn the meat.

• Wipe the skin clean with paper towels once cool. Repeat if any stubborn hairs remain.

Safety tips:

• Work in a well-ventilated area away from flammables.

• Keep a fire extinguisher on hand.

• Tie back loose hair and clothing that could catch the flame.

This method works quickly but requires more safety precautions than the other options. Supervise children closely.

Method 4: Searing

If you don’t have any specialized tools on hand, you can use a simple cast iron skillet to sear the hairs off. Here’s how:

• Heat a cast iron skillet in a 500°F oven for 30 minutes until piping hot.

• Using oven mitts, remove the skillet and immediately press the hot surface onto the pork belly skin, rocking gently.

• Work in 10 second intervals, reheating the skillet between presses.

• Avoid direct contact between the meat and skillet to prevent cooking.

Safety tips:

• Use extreme caution when handling the hot skillet.

• Work quickly to avoid overheating the meat.

• Keep your kitchen fan on to ventilate.

While quick, this method requires care to avoid burns. An adult should oversee teens.

With these four techniques, you can easily remove unwanted hairs from pork belly skin using common kitchen tools. While not mandatory, smooth skin makes for easier eating and a prettier presentation.

I recommend trying out scalding and shaving first, moving on to blow torching or searing only if needed for thick, stubborn hairs. Always keep safety top of mind when handling hot water, heat sources, and raw pork.

Now you can enjoy perfect pork belly however you prefer – sliced thin for bacon, diced up for burnt ends, or with a beautiful sheet of crackling. Let us know if you have any other clever tricks for hair removal! We’d love to hear your experiences.