Boar

Appears in
Professional Cooking: 10th Edition

By Wayne Gisslen

Published 2025

  • About

Boar is a type of wild pig. Its meat is somewhat similar to pork, except it is leaner and its flavor fuller and richer. Boar is now raised commercially on a few farms and is available in limited quantities.

Boar is somewhat more difficult to cook than venison and other game because, like pork, it must be cooked until well done. At the same time, it is leaner and less tender than domestic pork, so it tends to be somewhat dry and chewy. Special care must be taken to cook it adequately without overcooking. Because boar is usually tougher than farm-raised venison, its legs or hams are better suited for braising or slow roasting, while the loins can be used for roasts or cut into medallions and sautéed.