Discover different cuts of pork

Pork is an incredibly versatile meat available in more than 20 different cuts. Before shopping for pork, decide what you plan to cook with it and choose the best cut for your needs and budget.

Budget-friendly pork cuts like pork hock infuse tonnes of flavour into broths and soups but have little meat content. Pork mince or sausages are perfect for family midweek meals and if you’re entertaining, pork fillet or tenderloin is the perfect choice for a special meal.

Choosing the best cuts of pork and what to cook with them

Whatever you’re planning to cook, there’s a pork cut that should fit the bill. This guide explains the different cuts of pork available in New Zealand, from the cheapest to the most expensive and what you can cook with them.

Pork Cut	Cost Per Kilo	Qualities	Best Cooking Methods
Pork Leg	$9.49	Pork legs typically have the most meat due to their larger size.	Roasting, grilling, braising
Pork Hock	$9.99	High in protein and saturated fat. Very tasty	Slow cooking to infuse flavour in soups and stews
Pork Spare Ribs	$22.99	Bone in, very meaty and juicy	Slow cooking, BBQ grilling
Pork Loin Chops	$16.99	Bone in, tender with edge of fat perfect for crisping up	Grilling, air frying, pan frying
Pork Sausage	$18.87 - 30.55	Seasoned, ground pork shoulder and leg combined with seasoning. Sold in packs of 5-6	Grilling, frying, baking, BBQ, air fryer
Pork Shoulder	$11.99	Best value pork cut. High meat content. Well-marbled, flavourful, versatile	Slow roasting, braising, stewing, BBQ
Pork Mince	$16.99 - $22.48	Ground meat, very versatile	Meatballs, burgers, stir fries, stuffing
Ham	$24.90 - $59.90	Ham is a processed pork cut and pricier due to the curing and smoking process.	Slice for sandwiches and salads, dice for omelettes and soups
Pork Slices	$26.99	Thin, quick to cook strips of pork very versatile.	Stir frying, grilling, sauteing
Diced Pork	$19.99	Versatile, uniform pieces, quicker to cook	Stir-frying, stewing, casseroles, curries, kebabs
Bacon	$10.49 - $48.76	Vary from lean and meaty to juicy smoked bacon	Grill or fry
Pork Belly	$26.95	Pork belly is the fattiest and juiciest cut due to its high-fat content. Fat renders down during slow cooking keeping meat moist and succulent.	Roasting, braising, BBQ, slow cooking
Pork Tenderloin	N/A	Pork tenderloin is the healthiest pork cut. It’s very lean with a high protein content, is tender and quick to cook	Grilling, pan-searing, roasting
Pork Fillet	$24.99	Lean and tender pork fillet is the most expensive pork cut and melts in the mouth	Grilling, pan-searing, roasting