Pig Stomach   -   [Pork Maw, Pork Tripe]
Pork Stomach

Recipes that call for tripe generally presume Beef Tripe, except in China and parts of Southeast Asia were Pork Stomach would be presumed.

In Pennsylvania (U.S.) and Louisiana (U.S.) pork stomachs are often stuffed so they can be found whole relatively easily, but in Southern California's Asian markets they are generally cut open as shown in the photo because cleaning is easier that way. Asians cut them into strips anyway so they aren't needed whole. The photo specimen weighed 1 pound and was purchased from a Filipino market where they are packaged two to a tray.

In Italy pork stomachs are stuffed to make a type of sausage and stuffed stomachs appear Central and Eastern European cuisines and in other ethnic cuisines worldwide (except in Jewish or Islamic areas, of courese).


Pork Stomach is a bit smelly so keep it off your cutting board and other absorbent surfaces until it's been well washed.

Yield: - you will end up with about 1/2 the weight you started with. Recipes should list the starting weight unless specifically stated otherwise.

Procedure: - for split stomach
This procedure presumes the stomach has been split and commercially cleaned before you bought it.

  1. Soak submerged in water with some citric acid or lemon juice and a teaspoon of salt added. Slosh around now and then for 15 minutes or more, then pour out and rinse.
  2. Put the stomach in a pot with water to cover, add some citric acid or lemon juice and a teaspoon of salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 10 minutes, then pour out and rinse.
  3. Repeat the above step with fresh water, salt and acid.
  4. Clean pot. Rinse the stomach and return to the pot. Cover with fresh cold water and bring to a boil. Simmer until tender but still "al dente", especially if there will be much more cooking in the recipe.
  5. Rinse the stomach which you will find has shrunk and thickened. Cut it into the size pieces required for thee recipe.

Procedure: - for whole stomach
This procedure presumes you will stuff the stomach and that it hasn't been thoroughly cleaned commercially, inside and out, before you bought it.

  1. Rinse the stomach thoroughly and turn it inside out throught one of its openings.
  2. Soak submerged in water with some citric acid or lemon juice and a teaspoon of salt added. Slosh around now and then for 20 minutes or more, then pour out and rinse.
  3. Repeat step 2 at least once.
  4. With the backside of your kitchen knife (presuming it has sharp edges), scrape the stomach all over until all gooey stuff is scraped off. Rinse thoroughly.
  5. Repeat step 2 twice more or until the stomach is no longer smelly.
  6. Turn the stomach right side out and rinse again. It should be ready to stuff now.
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