Things You\’ll Need
-
Crock-pot or slow cooker
-
Cooking spray
-
Wild pig ham
-
Seasonings
Pineapple serves as a sweet complement to wild ham\’s sultry saltiness. Image Credit: Jupiterimages/liquidlibrary/Getty Images
Wild pig can be cooked exactly like its domestic counterpart. The meat of wild pig is leaner than that of domestically raised, and possesses a wider, more pronounced range of flavors — from mild to pungent — depending upon factors including age, size and diet. Cooking wild pig ham in a Crock-Pot or other brand slow cooker is a great way to tenderize the meat and infuse the ham with seasonings of your selection. Like domestic ham, wild pig lends itself well to savory and sweet so don't be afraid to experiment with flavor.
Video of the Day
Step 1
Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray to prevent the ham from sticking. Place the wild pig ham inside the slow cooker and add seasonings, if desired. For example, go sweet and add brown sugar and pineapple juice. Alternatively, try savory seasonings such as salt and pepper or herbs such as thyme and rosemary.
Step 2
Cook the ham on high for about 4 to 6 hours. Alternatively cook it on low for 8 to 12 hours. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the ham. The larger the piece of meat, the longer it will take to cook.
Step 3
Remove the ham from the slow cooker and let it rest for at least 3 minutes before carving.
Tip
Add starches such as potatoes or sweet potatoes and vegetables such as carrots and onions and you'll have a complete meal when the wild pig ham is finished cooking.
Warning
Wild pigs can carry trichinosis so the ham should be cooked to a minimum of 165 degrees Fahrenheit before consumption.
Removing the lid on your slow cooker during cooking lets the heat escape and prolongs the cooking process. Try to only remove the lid near the end of cooking to check the doneness of the ham.
If your wild ham takes up more than two-thirds of the space available in your slow cooker, it may not cook properly as heat needs to be able to circulate around the meat.
