Is pork good if it has a gamey smell

Pork with a gamey smell is not necessarily good pork. The gamey smell may be related to the breed, feeding method, or storage conditions of pigs, or it may be a signal of meat spoilage. Some local breeds of pigs, such as black pigs and Tibetan fragrant pigs, may have a natural gamey taste due to their high content of special fatty acids in their fat. These types of pork usually have delicate muscle fibers and a rich flavor, making them high-quality ingredients. Pigs fed through traditional free range feeding methods may accumulate more flavor compounds in their muscles due to sufficient exercise, and may also produce a slight gamey taste, but their meat is more compact. In such cases, the gamey smell is often accompanied by the distribution of marbled fat, which can be transformed into a unique meat aroma after cooking. If ordinary white striped pork has a noticeable gamey taste, it is necessary to be alert to quality issues. Failure to castrate boars can lead to the accumulation of hormones such as testosterone, resulting in a strong fishy odor. Excessive amounts of raw materials such as fish meal and rapeseed meal in feed may cause fat oxidation and produce unpleasant odors. Improper refrigeration or prolonged storage after slaughter can lead to abnormal odors such as rancid and rancid fat oxidation, often accompanied by loose meat and dark color.

When purchasing, you can observe whether the pork color is bright red and shiny, whether the fat is white and firm, and whether it should be elastic and free of mucus when pressed. Fresh pork has a mild gamey smell and weakens with washing, while the odor of spoiled meat is stubborn and difficult to eliminate. It is recommended to purchase quarantine qualified fresh meat through formal channels, and soak it in ginger and scallion water or cooking wine before cooking to help eliminate odors. If it has a pungent odor or other abnormal characteristics, it is not suitable for consumption.