FAQ · Pork Crackle ·

What Oil Is Pork Crackle Cooked In? Ours Is 100% Lard

What oil is pork crackle cooked in: Penny's Pork Crackle from The Salami Man

Our pork crackle is fried in 100% pork lard, with no seed oils — and it's a custom batch made exclusively for us by Penny's. Penny's produce a range of pork crackle, and not all of it is cooked in lard; the 100% lard spec exists specifically for The Salami Man & Co. If you want to confirm that, you're welcome to ask Penny's directly. Pork crackle from other brands can be cooked in anything from lard to vegetable oil, so if it matters to you, the ingredient list is the place to check. Here's what's in ours, and how to read any crackle label in about ten seconds.

What Is Pork Crackle Made From?

A tub of Penny's Pork Crackle beside a bowl of crackle and a cold beer on a timber bench in an Australian backyard

Pork crackle is made from pork skin that's seasoned, then cooked until it puffs up light and crunchy. Penny's Pork Crackle starts with Australian pork skin, marinated in soy using a family recipe that's been handed down for generations, then fried in pork lard for a light, airy crunch rather than tooth-breaking pieces. It comes in 140g packs in three flavours:

MildChilliBBQ

Lard vs Seed Oil: What's the Difference?

Pork crackle on a timber board beside a bottle of vegetable oil and small dishes of lard, tallow and oil

LardRendered pork fat. The traditional choice for frying crackling, and what ours is cooked in.
TallowRendered beef fat. Used by some makers for its flavour.
Seed oilsOils pressed from seeds, such as canola, sunflower or cottonseed. Often listed as "vegetable oil".

People choose one over another for flavour, tradition or their own dietary preferences. We're not here to tell you which is better for you. We're here to tell you exactly what's in ours, so you can decide.

Why Ours Is 100% Lard

We asked Penny's to fry our crackle in lard only, and they've agreed. The Penny's Pork Crackle we sell is cooked in 100% pork lard, with no seed oils, and that's how it will stay. It's a spec made just for The Salami Man, so you won't find this exact crackle anywhere else.

A note on our bags: the packaging is still the old design while we wait on updated labels, and the old label still lists vegetable oil. What's inside is the 100% lard crackle. Once the new labels arrive, the bag will say so too.

How to Check What Your Crackle Is Cooked In

Flip the bag over. In Australia, ingredients have to be listed in descending order by weight, so the biggest ingredient comes first (FSANZ on ingredient lists). The cooking fat will be in that list. Look for:

Lard or pork fatTallow or beef fatVegetable oilCanola, sunflower or palm oil

While you're there, check the allergens. Gluten-containing cereals have to be declared on Australian labels (FSANZ on allergen labelling), and plenty of crackle seasonings contain wheat.

What's in Penny's Pork Crackle

The short version: pork skin, a soy marinade, 100% pork lard, and salt or seasoning depending on the flavour (Mild, Chilli or BBQ).

Allergens: contains gluten and soy. Our pork crackle and our jerky are the only products we sell that contain gluten. All of our salami is gluten free.

Got a question about an ingredient? Get in touch and we'll give you a straight answer.

How to Eat It

A bowl of pork crackle beside sliced salami, aged cheese, pickles and rosemary on a timber board at a bar

Straight from the bag with a cold beer is hard to beat. It also adds a salty crunch to a grazing board: put a bowl next to the salami and watch which empties first. Our charcuterie board guide shows where it fits.

Quick Questions

What oil is it cooked in?
100% pork lard.

Is it seed oil free?
Yes. Our pork crackle is fried in lard only, with no seed oils.

Why does the bag still mention vegetable oil?
The packaging is still the old design while updated labels are on the way. The crackle inside is cooked in 100% lard.

Is your pork crackle gluten free?
No. It contains gluten.

Is it made in Australia?
Yes, from Australian pork skin.

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