Meat
Brain
Pork brain is a soft offal lobe, delicate and rich, once common in rural European and Asian breakfasts and fritters. The texture is creamy when gently cooked; overcooking turns it grainy and grey. Soak briefly in cold salted water or milk to firm and freshen, then dry carefully before the pan. Dust lightly and fry crisp outside while keeping a custard centre, scramble with eggs, or fold into tacos where chilli and acid cut the richness. Handle gently—the tissue tears easily. Source only from inspected animals and cook thoroughly per local food-safety guidance for neural tissue.
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Characteristics
Preparations
Traits
Nutrition and pairings
Nutrition
Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g edible portion
Amount per 100 g
- Total Fat 30.9 g
- Saturated Fat 10.7 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.85 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 3.16 g
- Cholesterol 584 mg
- Sodium 60.8 mg
- Salt 0.14 g
- Total Carbohydrate 0 g
- Dietary Fibre 0 g
- Total Sugars 0 g
- Complex / starch 0 g
- Protein 12.5 g
- Water 53.7 g
- Energy 280 kcal
- Water 53.7 g
- Protein 12.5 g
- Fat 30.9 g
- Saturated Fat 10.7 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.85 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 3.16 g
- Omega-3 0.32 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
- Vitamins 35.7 mg
- Vitamin A 15 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.62 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.18 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 4.79 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.52 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.34 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.1 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 6.7 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 1.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 0.2 µg
- Vitamin E 0.35 mg
- Vitamin K 1.7 µg
- Minerals 370 mg
- Major Minerals 369 mg
- Trace Minerals 1.5 mg
- Iron 1.5 mg
- Salt 0.14 g
- Cholesterol 584 mg
Vitamins
vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 1.2 · vitamin-a: 15 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.62 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.18 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 4.79 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.52 · vitamin-b6: 0.34 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.1 · vitamin-b9-folate: 6.7 · vitamin-d: 0.2 · vitamin-e: 0.35 · vitamin-k: 1.7 ·
Minerals
Brain is unusually rich in structural lipids and cholesterol compared with lean muscle.
History
Farmhouse slaughter days often reserved pig brains for the family table as a soft, rich breakfast.
French and Italian fritter traditions featured brains as a thrift luxury of the head.
Nose-to-tail restaurants revived brain dishes for diners seeking classic offal textures.