Meat

Tongue

Pork tongue is a whole muscle organ that becomes tender and sliceable after long simmering and peeling. Milder than beef tongue to many palates, excellent for sandwiches, tacos, and cold sliced platters. Simmer with aromatics until a skewer slides through, plunge to handle, peel the rough skin, then slice or crisp in a pan. Season the cooking liquid well—it becomes the flavour base. Undercooked tongue is rubbery; give it time.

Track this ingredient

Quantity

Unit

Kg Liters Whole

Note

Cuts & parts

Centre

Root

Tip

Characteristics

Preparations

BraisedCookedFreshGrilledPeeledPreparedPressedRoastedSliced

Traits

Butcher CutCulinary PartPeel After SimmerSlicedTongueVersatile

Nutrition

Typical values per 100 g edible portion. Nutrient names open the reference page.

Nutrition Facts

Per 100 g edible portion

Calories 253

Amount per 100 g

Total Fat 20.3 g
Saturated Fat 5 g
Trans Fat 0.2 g
Monounsaturated Fat 4.94 g
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.95 g
Cholesterol 85.6 mg
Sodium 59.7 mg
Salt 0.14 g
Total Carbohydrate 0 g
Dietary Fibre 0 g
Total Sugars 0 g
Complex / starch 0 g
Protein 19.3 g
Water 60.5 g

Detailed nutrients

Energy 253 kcal
Water 60.5 g
Protein 19.3 g
Fat 20.3 g
- Saturated Fat 5 g
- Monounsaturated Fat 4.94 g
- Polyunsaturated Fat 0.95 g
  - Omega-3 0.1 g
- Trans Fat 0.2 g
Vitamins 37.6 mg
- Vitamin A 15 µg
- Vitamin B1 — Thiamine 0.72 mg
- Vitamin B2 — Riboflavin 0.2 mg
- Vitamin B3 — Niacin 5.52 mg
- Vitamin B5 — Pantothenic Acid 0.6 mg
- Vitamin B6 0.39 mg
- Vitamin B7 — Biotin 2.4 µg
- Vitamin B9 — Folate 7.7 µg
- Vitamin B12 — Cobalamin 1.2 µg
- Vitamin C 2 mg
- Vitamin D 0.2 µg
- Vitamin E 0.28 mg
- Vitamin K 1.4 µg
Minerals 323 mg
- Major Minerals 322 mg
  - Calcium 41 mg
  - Sodium 59.7 mg
  - Potassium 221 mg
- Trace Minerals 1.5 mg
  - Iron 1.5 mg
Salt 0.14 g
Cholesterol 85.6 mg

Vitamins

vitamin-c: 2 · vitamin-b12-cobalamin: 1.2 · vitamin-a: 15 · vitamin-b1-thiamine: 0.72 · vitamin-b2-riboflavin: 0.2 · vitamin-b3-niacin: 5.52 · vitamin-b5-pantothenic-acid: 0.6 · vitamin-b6: 0.39 · vitamin-b7-biotin: 2.4 · vitamin-b9-folate: 7.7 · vitamin-d: 0.2 · vitamin-e: 0.28 · vitamin-k: 1.4 ·

Minerals

Sodium: 59.65 · Potassium: 221 · Calcium: 41 · Iron: 1.5 ·

Tongue is a fatty muscle with rich collagen when slow-cooked.

History

5000 BCE

European farmhouse cooking always found a pot for the pig’s tongue after slaughter.

1900

Mexican lengua tacos popularised braised tongue far beyond specialty delis.

1950

German and Eastern European cold cuts kept tongue as a mild sliced meat.