How to Cook a Juicy, Flavorful Pork Leg Joint

As someone who loves cooking and eating pork, learning how to prepare a perfect pork leg joint has been an essential skill in my kitchen Pork leg, also known as pork knuckle or ham, can be an intimidating cut to cook, especially if you’ve never done it before But have no fear – with a few simple tips and techniques, you’ll be making succulent, fall-off-the-bone pork leg joint in no time.

Choosing the Right Joint

There are a few different options when it comes to pork leg joints:

Bone-in leg – This is the whole leg with the bone still in. It has the best flavor but takes longer to cook.
Boneless leg – The bone has been removed so it cooks faster. You lose a bit of flavor though.
Rolled leg joint – A boneless leg tied into a roll shape. Quicker cooking but less surface area for crispy crackling.

For beginners, I recommend a 2-3 lb boneless or rolled leg joint Boneless cooks the fastest Aim for one with a good layer of fat.

Prepping the Meat

If the leg has skin on, score the skin deeply in a crosshatch pattern. This helps the crackling crisp up.
Pat the skin or outer layer completely dry with paper towels.
Rub the scored skin liberally with salt and pepper. Salt is key for flavorful crackling.
Poke holes all over the meat with a knife and insert garlic cloves and herbs. Great flavors!
Rub the meat itself with oil so seasonings stick. Salt, pepper, paprika and rosemary are nice.
You can also marinate the pork in something acidic like lemon, vinegar or yogurt. This tenderizes.

How to Cook Pork Leg Joint

Preheat your oven as high as it can go, at least 425°F.
Place pork on a rack in a roasting pan, skin-side up if it has skin.
Roast for 20 minutes at high heat to get the skin crackling.
Reduce temperature to 300°F and continue roasting about 15 minutes per pound, until meat reaches 145°F internally.
Baste occasionally with pan juices for extra moisture and flavor.
Rest at least 10-15 minutes before slicing and serving.

Pork Leg Cooking Times

Bone-in leg joint: 18-24 minutes per lb
Boneless leg joint: 15 minutes per lb
Rolled leg joint: 15 minutes per lb

A meat thermometer takes the guesswork out! Roasts carry over cook so remove it before it hits the target temp.

Juicy and Flavorful Pork Leg Tips

Cook to 145°F for safe, moist pork. 160°F is overcooked.
Lower temp roasting around 300°F gives you the juiciest meat.
Baste periodically with juices, stock or sauce to prevent drying out.
Let rest before cutting so juices redistribute. 15 minutes minimum.
Carve against the grain for tenderest texture.

How to Get Crispy Pork Crackling

If your joint has skin on, crispy crackling should be your goal! For ultimate crunch:

Choose a joint with a good layer of skin and fat.
Thoroughly dry the skin and score it.
Generously salt and spice the skin. This flavors and dries it out.
Start roasting at very high heat, 425°F or higher.
After the initial roast, you can optionally broil the skin to finish. Watch closely to avoid burning.
Let crackling cool slightly before breaking into pieces. Enjoy on its own or with the pork.

Flavoring Ideas for Pork Leg

There are endless ways to infuse pork leg with flavor. Get creative!

Dry Rub Ideas: Smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, brown sugar, chili powder, mustard, fennel
Fresh Herb Ideas: Rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, marjoram
Wet Marinades: Apple cider vinegar, yogurt, lemon juice, wine, soy sauce, Worcestershire
Aromatics: Garlic, shallots, onions, ginger
Fruits and Vegetables: Lemon, orange, apples, pears, onions, garlic

What to Serve with Pork Leg

Pork pairs beautifully with sweet, sour, creamy, and acidic flavors. Consider:

Roasted or mashed potatoes
Rice or quinoa
Roasted vegetables like carrots, parsnips, Brussels sprouts
Fresh salad or slaw with vinaigrette
Applesauce, cranberry sauce, or chutney
Gravy – try apple cider, mustard, or pan sauce gravies

A nice white or rose wine like Riesling or Pinot Noir work well too. And don’t forget dessert! The sweetness balances the pork.

Leftover Pork Leg Ideas

Leftover roasted pork leg is fantastic for easy meals throughout the week. Here are some tasty ways to use it up:

tacos, burritos, or quesadillas with salsa
pork fried rice or stir-fried noodles
soup – ramen, pho, miso, tomato
salad topping on greens or grain bowls
sandwiches like banh mi or po boys
breakfast hash with eggs and potatoes
pasta tossed with a cream or cheese sauce

Slice, dice or shred the pork and add to anything! It will keep refrigerated for 4-5 days.

Freezing Pork Leg Joint

You can absolutely freeze any extra pork leg for longer storage. Here’s how:

Portion pork into freezer bags or airtight containers. Remove as much air as possible.
Add some of the cooking juices or sauce to keep moist.
Freeze for up to 3-4 months.
Thaw overnight in fridge before using.

Cooking a pork leg joint is easier than you think. With the right prep, seasonings and roasting method, you’ll have tender, juicy pork and crispy crackling in no time. What’s your favorite way to flavor pork leg?

How To Roast Pork | Boneless Pork Leg | Crispy Skin Pork

FAQ

What is the cooking time for a leg of pork?

As a rough guide, calculate 25-30 minutes per 500g of pork leg, plus an additional 20 minutes. In truth these times diminish with smaller joints, far more reliable to use a good thermometer to monitor internal temperature.

Is pork leg joint good for roasting?

Pork leg and loin joints are excellent roasting joints with lean meat and good crackling, and a rack of pork is an impressive looking roast. If you prefer something richer, then shoulder joints and pork belly are ideal. They have a higher fat content that renders down during cooking to give lovely tender meat.

Is pork leg tender?

This succulent leg of pork roast just melts in your mouth — it’s that tender.

How do you know when pork leg joints are cooked?

The safe internal pork cooking temperature for fresh cuts is 145° F. To check doneness properly, use a digital cooking thermometer.

How do you cook a pork leg?

1. Take your pork leg out of the fridge, remove it from the vacuum packaging, and pat dry any moisture with a paper towel. 2. Allow the leg of pork joint to come to room temperature. 3. Preheat the oven to 220ºC/Fan 200ºC/Gas 7. 4. Ensure the rind is completely dry and sprinkle over a generous pinch of salt.

How long do you cook a 3 lb leg of pork?

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.

How long do you cook a pork leg in the oven?

Slow-cook the leg for 3.5 hours, or until the meat is easily pulled apart. When the time’s up, pick and dress the sage and rosemary leaves with oil and scatter them over the pork. Pop it back into the oven and cook until the herbs are crispy. Remove the leg to board, cover with tin foil and allow to rest while you make the gravy.

What is pork leg?

Pork leg is the uncured back leg of a pig. It’s the same cut of meat we dry-cure to give our ham its distinctive dark pink colour and complex depth of flavour. Excellent slow-roasted for a relaxing Sunday feast, Swaledale’s pork leg joints have a healthy covering of fat, a key difference compared to commercial pork.