Tips for cooking a hog in the ground

[J.Prince]

I'm looking to have a big get together this weekend, and want to try cooking a hog in the ground. What's some tips and things to watch for in the process.

One main question I have is, do I have to leave the skin on or can I just skin it and cook it like that? Also about how long should the cook time be on a 60-70 lb. Hog?

[Bowhunter1994]

Skin it and cook it like that.
I would cook it 8 hours

[ROCKIN ROO HOG DOGS]

Im no expert but I believe theres something in there about wrapping it in cheesecloth?? Maybe someone more experienced can elaborate.

[J.Prince]

From what I have gathered I think i'm going to wrap it in foil, burlap, and chicken wire as the lifting harness.

[Purebreedcolt]

Heres what I did. Dug a hole got good fire in there let it burn down good put in a pot of water in bottom with coals arount it  put some dirt over coals inch or so. Then put in a grate put pig on top of this covered pig with foil and most of grate put dirt on top then a hpur or so later built a fire on top not big but good fire. Mine was probally 30 40 pounds and he was in there 4 or 5 hours could have used just a little more probally to be falling appart done but was done enough and durn good

[J.Prince]

Did you line your pit with rock or bricks?

[Purebreedcolt]

I didnt

[charles]

We got a unit of chinooks from hawaii n they were talkn bout digin a hole 4x the thickness of the hog, pile wood up 2x the depth of the hole high. Let the wood burn down (should leave coals 2x the thickness of the hog), lay layer of dirt a couple inches thick, split n lay down 15-20 heads of cabbage or banana leaves, scape the hide or singe the hair off the hide, put any n all veggies in its chest cavity that u mite want to help flavor the meat, add ur seasonings inside n out on the hog, use foil or banana leaves n lay them in a cross hatch pattern n cover the hog up n leave an air hole on both ends for a breather n exhaust port. Cook for 8-12 hrs depending the size, 8hrs for a hog ur describing.

[hogdoggintn]

We have cooked one in the ground for the last 2 years for the 4th of July. We skin the hog, put whatever kind of rub you want, put vegetables inside like carrots and potatoes, then wrap in three or four layers of aluminum foil and wrap in aluminum fence wire to hold everything together.

Our hole is about four feet deep, five feet long, and three feet wide. It will take 6 to 12 hours to burn enough wood. You want around 10+ inches of hot coals in the bottom of the pit before placing your pig in it

We made a basket out of fence posts and chicken wire to place the wrapped pig in.

Wait until all wood is burned down to hot coals before you put the pig in. Then place the basket with the pig directly on top of the hot coals.

You will need to make some type of hook to lower the pig into the hole.

Lay metal bars, t-posts should work, place them cross ways across the hole. This is to support the tin.

Next lay tin long ways over the hole and overlap it a little then cover it with 4-6 inches of dirt. Make sure no smoke is coming out and the hole is completely sealed.

Let it cook 8+ hours then enjoy.

This is how we have been doing it and it seems to work pretty good.

[jimco]

I would love to cook one in the ground but in south Louisiana you cant dig a hole that deep without hitting
water. We cook them in a smoker or a Cajun Microwave. The Cajun Microwave is a box you stick the hog
in and you build the fire on top of the lid. I have lots of banana trees, I'd like to try wrapping in leaves as Charles mentioned next time. Here is a pic of a microwave for those who never seen one. J.Prince I hope
your get together goes well and y'all have a good time.

                     

[J.Prince]

Thank you Jimco and thanks for all the info, but now I'm thinking of trying rotisserie style. I think it'll be cool for everyone to see it cooking. So my question is. How's the best way to go about getting all the hair off? Also will having the head on with the brain in there effect anything or do you have to take the brain out. Logical thinking says it won't effect anything. Just making sure though.

[charles]

Scraping is the best way to get the hair off. Get u 30-55gal metal drum thats been cleaned out n bleached. Fill it full of water n build a good fire under it n let it get hot enough till the water on top starts to roll. Dip the hog in the water n let sit a couple secs, pull it out n immediatly start scraping the hide. U can also spot scrape by just pouring hot water on in small patches so u got time to get a good scraping before the folecules set again. As far as cooking with the gray matter still in the skull, im not sure about that, but like u said, probably wouldnt hurt anything.

[Fixitlouie]

I would love to cook one in the ground but in south Louisiana you cant dig a hole that deep without hitting
water. We cook them in a smoker or a Cajun Microwave. The Cajun Microwave is a box you stick the hog
in and you build the fire on top of the lid. I have lots of banana trees, I'd like to try wrapping in leaves as Charles mentioned next time. Here is a pic of a microwave for those who never seen one. J.Prince I hope
your get together goes well and y'all have a good time.

                    

thats cool, here is a woodburning pizza oven im working on

from me.....who else. tapatalk