In this article, we will answer your questions about the nutritional benefits of wild boar meat.
- Is wild boar healthy to eat?
- How does wild hog meat compare to domesticated pork?
- What are some of the wild hog meat cuts you should consider?
- How do I cook wild boar meat?
- What does wild hog taste like?
- Is wild boar meat safe to eat?
- Where can I source wild boar meat?
- Wild Boars In The United States
With several different names, Wild boars, hogs or pigs can be traced back to the 1500s in the United States.
They were introduced as a source of nutritional food by the early explorers. Wild hog populations have exploded in the United States since and their numbers continue to grow.
The wild boar population is spread throughout the country. With the largest populations found in the southern states. The climate there is perfect for wild hog breeding – warm and wet.
Read this post about 11 Of The Best States For Hog Hunting
Is Wild Boar Healthy To Eat?
In a word:- YES.
Nutritional Benefits of wild boar meat include:-
Very low in bad cholesterol because wild hog meat is lean ie not fatty. Bad cholesterol or low-density lipoprotein takes the cholesterol to your arteries. Here it collects and that’s one major factor in heart disease. Good cholesterol or High-density lipoprotein takes the nasty cholesterol to your liver to be processed out of your body.
Very high in protein. Proteins are made up of amino acids. Your body uses protein to build and maintain your bones, muscles, cartilage skin, and blood. Protein is also what your body uses to repair damaged tissue. The benefit of wild hog meat is it contains all the essential amino acids (proteins) your body requires.
Plenty of vitamins are found in wild hog meat providing even more health benefits.:- Thiamin, Riboflavin, and Niacin. Vitamins are required by your body for several reasons. Your body does not produce these naturally so they must be obtained from the food you eat.
These vitamins are used by our bodies to convert the food we consume into energy. This improves our metabolism. A person’s nervous system and brain function are also dependent on these vitamins. Vitamins help regulate our moods and reduce stress and improve our immune systems. All round good stuff!
Zero sodium (salt) in raw wild boar meat. Compare that to 69 mg of sodium found in raw farmed pork chops or roasts.
We probably all know we all eat too much salt in our daily diet. We also are aware, or at least should be, of the negative impacts this has on things like our hearts. The increased risk of a heart attack from too much salt is all too real.
Another nutritional value of wild hog meat is it is also high in monounsaturated fatty acids. It is low in saturated fatty acids. Once again more of the good stuff and less of the bad.
Basically, monounsaturated fats are liquid at room temperature and harden when chilled. Saturated fats instead are solid at room temperature.
The monounsaturated fats help lower the bad cholesterol helping to reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack.
Infographic Wild Boar Meat v Traditional Pork
Why Does Wild Boar Meat Have Nutritional Benefits?
Wild hogs have a very wide-ranging diet compared to farm-raised pigs. A wild hog is constantly on the move. Foraging and rooting around compared to the more sedentary farmed pig kept in a pen.
This gives the wild boar meat a leaner quality due to the higher muscle-to-fat ratio. The result is much more nutritional meat and a deeper more complex flavor.
Finally, because the animal is wild in the true sense, there are no added hormones, additives steroids, or antibiotics contained in the meat.
What Are Some Of The Cuts Of Wild Hog Meat To Eat?
The cuts of meat from wild boar are largely the same as a farmed pig.
- Shoulder roasts are a great cut and one of my favorites.
- Wild boar ribs make a delicious bbq.
- So to wild hog steaks.
- Ground or minced wild boar meat makes awesome burgers, meatballs, and sausage.
- Backstraps are very tasty and great when put in the smoker.
- Wild boar shanks are superbly cooked low and slow.
- Bacon?- Yes Please. However, I should point out I personally think it is not quite as not as good as a farmed pig. Wild boar is much leaner and we all know bacon only tastes good because of the fat content.
How Do I Cook Wild Boar Meat?
Wild hog meat can be: Roasted, Smoked, Cooked on the bbq, Fried, Stewed, Ground Up as Mince or Sauteed.
Much like regular old pork.
A couple of points to note are that:-
It will generally cook quicker than traditional pork due to its lower fat content and higher moisture content.
Secondly, it should always be cooked fully, do not eat your hog meat rare or even medium rare.
One of the best ways to cook your wild boar is on an outdoor grill. For a quick and easy way to do this, you can not beat a propane gas grill.
If you have been in the market to buy a new grill, you will know there is a huge range of types and models available across a very wide range of prices.
What Does Wild Boar Meat Taste Like?
Due to living a much more active lifestyle wild boar meat is a more complex flavor compared to farmed raised pigs.
Why?- wild hogs move their muscles a lot more.
The meat is darker in color, in fact, it is red meat not pink. There is nothing I know of that you could accurately compare it with. I suggest you simply go and try it for yourself.
I can say it is not have a strong ‘game meat’ taste, but would rather describe it as “rich”. This is largely due to the wider variety in diet a wild hog has. In fact, the taste will even vary depending on that particular wild hogs environment and diet.
Overall it is very flavorsome.
Is Wild Boar Meat Safe To Eat?
Yes
The concern sometimes is that wild hogs may carry disease which is true – they may. Then again so do many wild game meats because they are not injected and fed with chemicals throughout their lives like farmed raised animals.
The real risk of any disease transmission comes when butchering and field dressing the animal. This can be mitigated by wearing appropriate clothing such as gloves as well as using the right equipment such as a sharp knife.
Following basic hygiene practices such as not storing cooked and raw meats together will minimize any risk. Washing your hands before and after food preparation is also to be advised – but that is the same when you cook anything. Isn’t it?
The most important thing that will ensure any possible disease is not transmitted when eating is to cook the meat fully. Do not eat raw or undercooked wild boar meat.
Sourcing Nutritional Wild Boar Meat
If you are a hunter then it is obvious. Go shoot one! Eat the wild boar meat you harvest.
Looking for a guide on The Best Place To Shoot A Hog.
And here is the 11 Of The Best States For Hog Hunting Link again.
Most states require any supplier of wild hog meat to follow certain guidelines and dress the meat under inspection.
You can find suppliers easily enough by doing a quick google search.
Or alternatively, have Amazon deliver it straight to your door.
Another option is to check your local restaurant guide for a chef smart enough to be using this fantastic ingredient.
Side Benefits Of Wild Hog Meat
Apart from the amazing nutritional benefits wild hog meat, there are many other positive outcomes from eating this type of pork.
Feral hogs cost the United States over $1.5b per year in damages and management programs. It is estimated there are over 6 million of these porkers running around the country.
Wild boars damage existing farmed crops through their constant foraging and digging. They have negative impacts on local ecosystems and destroy the habitats of native species.
So help the environment and your health
Eat A Wild Boar Today.