How to Cook Tocino (Cured Pork)

How to Cook Tocino or Cured Pork is indeed very easy. This is about cooking a store bought tocino and not making tocino. That would be another post. There are times when it is just easier to buy something already made just like tocino or longanisa.

In short, I am lazy today. All I want to do is chill out and R&R. This week we ate out, ordered food and today nothing sounds really good.

That is the reason why I stock up on tuyo (dried herring), tinapa (smoked herring), dried squid, tocino (cured pork),  longanisa (Filipino sausage), spam and corn beef.

These are my go to food when not in the mood for anything else. Last night, we had tuyo. It was so good. Thank God our house has very good ventilation.

Today and the next few days will be cloudy and rainy in my area which is great, since we don’t always experience this. We seem to love these types of food during rainy days.

I can actually hear thunder and lightning while writing this post. For some reason, I love the Monsoon season. I always wait for these season.

Once in a while, I’ll hear a house got struck by lightning or a tree fell on a house but other than that I am fascinated by lightning.

Pair tocino with cubed tomatoes.

How to Cook Tocino or Cured Pork

I digress again. You can get tocino at any Asian store in the frozen section. There are different brands of tocino. If you prefer hot and spicy – they have that too.  One requirement with good tocino is fat.

I would admit the store bought tocino is way better than my homemade tocino because I use a leaner meat.

Store bought tocino and longanisa is loaded with fat and that’s the reason why they are so good. Once in a while it’s OK, but when I make it I go lean.

Cooking tocino is very easy. In a pan over medium heat add one package of tocino and ¾ cup water. Let it simmer until water is reduced.

Check to see if you need to adjust your stove setting between medium – low. It will get sticky due to sugar content. At this point be close to your stove, it can easily burn.

Remove tocino from heat depending on your cooking preference – rare, medium or well-done. I love well-done and a bit crispy on the edges.

If my setting is medium-low I would raise it to medium so I get that crispy edges. Again, don’t leave your stove or it will burn. Once the edges are charred then it is ready, if you like well-done.

Cooking Pork Tocino

Serve for breakfast, lunch or dinner with white rice.

For a healthier meat, try my Chicken Tocino recipe. It is delicious as well.

How to Cook Tocino or Cured Pork

Cooking store bought tocino is very easy. Just add water and oil and let it simmer.

5 from 2 votes

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Course: How to, Main Course

Cuisine: Asian, Filipino

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Servings: 3

Calories: 269kcal

Ingredients

• 1 package Tocino
• ¾ cup water
• 3 tablespoons oil

Instructions

• Cook in a pan over medium heat.
• Add tocino and water. Simmer until water is reduced. Add oil.
• Once water has evaporated it will start frying.
• Depending on your stove you might need to adjust heat between medium-low.
• Turn occasionally. It will burn easily due to sugar content.
• From here on, remove it from heat depending on your cooking preference – rare, medium or well-done.
• I like well-done so I raise my setting from medium-low to medium to get crispy and charred edges. I fry it for another 1 to 2 minutes.
• Remove from heat. Serve with chopped tomatoes or atchara. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 269kcal | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 21mg | Sodium: 287mg