The History of the American Pig Roast

The good, old-fashioned pig roast; an American classic, especially during the summertime. Pig roasts occur all over the globe, from Brazil to the United Kingdom. In the United States, pig roasts have been a tradition that’s been going on for over 200 years.

Today, we are going to take a look at where pig roasts began in the U.S., how to cook the entire pig, and what we have to offer at Grico’s.

An American Tradition

Pig roasts in American culture originated from the southern United States and are closely related to the type of barbeque that comes from that region today. From Virginia to the panhandle of Florida, and all the way into the middle of the country, pig roasts have been a popular tradition since the colonial times.

The popularity of pig roasts during that time is related to the lack of a need to handle or maintain the pig in a certain manner before eating it. Pigs were allowed to run off into the woods before being rounded up when supplies ran low and before colder temperatures arrived before winter. They were a prime choice for farmers, plantation owners, and those who lived in mountainous regions.

There are even records of George Washington attending barbeques featuring pig roasts in the mid to late 1700s.

Cooking the Pig

Here is the fun part — cooking the pig. A pig roast is practically a party. You can’t do it by yourself, and that’s what makes it so fun. You and your guests have to take on the pig together. As you do, you and your guests will most likely be enjoying yourselves with stories, yard games, and the occasional adult beverage or two.

The process begins. You are going to need one hog of a pig; often 80 – 120 pounds. One of the most popular means of doing a pig roast is the Hawaii-style pig roast. For this type of pig roast, you will need to dig a large pit into the ground and line it with banana leaves. Heated charcoal is then placed on top of the banana leaves. Finally, place the pig into the pit with additional leaves for more insulation. Now, you will just have to wait until your succulent pork is ready to eat.

If you can’t get your hands on any banana leaves or don’t feel like digging a giant pit into your yard, there are additional methods in which to roast an entire pig. You can go the American Cuban-style route, where you can put an entire pig in a roasting box for hours. It’s simple and easy.

Turn to Grico’s for your Pig Roast!

If either of these options that we provided isn’t appealing to you, Grico’s has the catering solution of your dreams! For your next event, we can provide an entire pig roast dinner for you and your guests. We will bring the pork, and you can bring your empty stomachs. To learn more, click here.