Ground Pork

Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below. Use within 1-2 days of purchase or freeze immediately. Thaw in refrigerator, never at room temperature. Cooked ground pork keeps 3-4 days refrigerated.

Values for 80/20 ground pork (raw). Leaner blends have lower fat and calories.

Cook to internal temperature of 160°F for food safety

Don't overmix when making meatballs or dumplings—handle gently to keep texture tender

Brown in batches without crowding the pan to get proper caramelization instead of steaming

For juicier results, choose 80/20 or 70/30 fat ratio rather than extra-lean

Season generously—pork benefits from bold flavors like ginger, garlic, soy sauce, or fennel

Ginger, garlic, scallions (classic Asian trio)

Fennel, sage, red pepper flakes (Italian sausage flavors)

Soy sauce, sesame oil, rice wine

Cabbage, mushrooms, bok choy

Apples, onions, sauerkraut

Undercooking—pork must reach 160°F, unlike beef which can be eaten at lower temps

Buying extra-lean for dishes like dumplings or burgers where fat provides moisture and flavor

Overcrowding the pan, which causes steaming instead of browning

Not draining excess fat when making crumbly fillings, leading to greasy results