ham shank, smells funny-help!!!!!

Poet_2

never made pea soup before, my mum has done for years but I never paid attention. I bought a hamk shank from a farmers' market on saturday, it's been in the fridge since then- weighs about 3lbs-just boiled it for 5 mins, chucked water away then boiled in fresh water for 2 hours- the shank and the water smell yukky-rang mum who reckons it's just the fat and told me to cut the fat off and she said the smell will go away when it's cooled down a bit.

I'm making pea soup with the water just now- is she right? Is it meant to smell funky when it's still got the fat on and it's hot? :eek:

elona

I would remove the fat from the shank and let it cool down and also let the water cool down so that you can skim the fat from it before you make the soup.

I usually take the fat off before putting the shank, water and peas, onions , potatoes and carrots in the slow cooker and cooking the shank in with the soup.

Poet_2

ah, too late for the water, already put all the stuff in it.

so, is it normal, the smell?

wendym

I would say it's a distinctly positive smell, but not enough to make you wonder whether it's OK to eat.

Which is a bit vague, I know.

Poet_2

it smells funky to me, I don't like it but phoned mum again (about the 50th time tonight, good job my calls are free) and she assures me it's normal- smells like sweaty pig to me, it's rank, yuk! LOL

vij

if you are unsure dont eat it!

ollyk

I read this expecting it to be a medical problem, and I am still not sure :rotfl:

Poet_2

no, it's fine, just smelt funky while it was hot and had the fat on- just finished the soup and it's gorgeous- just me panicking as per usual!

Made the soup with onions, yellow split peas and carrots then blitzed it with a hand blender and added seasoning-will add some chopped ham back in and have a bowl with some HM bread with DH when he gets home in a bit

however, I now have about 6 litres, perhaps more, of soup! Trip to supermarket for tupperware t'row to fill the freezer methinks!

Poet_2

ollyk wrote: »

I read this expecting it to be a medical problem, and I am still not sure :rotfl:

must you! I'm just about to eat haha