Southern Recipe Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds – My First Animal Ear Shaped Snack

I have always been intrigued by pork rinds, but I can honestly say that I’ve never bought any. All I really know about them is that my grandpa had to sneak them into the house because my grandma couldn’t stand the smell or the idea of having such a “low brow” snack in her home, so I dove into this bag of Southern Recipe Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds with low expectations.

The bag is Ecto-Cooler green and filled with a highly texturized product. They actually look like little pig ears, which I found was more cute than gross – I mean they aren’t claiming to be a food for vegetarians or animal lovers. They are, however; claiming to be high in protein and made from real pork skins and “cracklins.” I don’t know what a cracklin is, but they are full of protein (28g in the 1.75oz package).

Upon opening the bag, the salt and vinegar odor rushed out. Southern Recipe Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds aren’t as full of flavor as the smell led me to believe, although the vinegar – and less so the salt – is enjoyable.

The rinds were airy and each one popped almost as soon as I put it into my mouth. From there, they were sort of bland and almost dusty. I felt a bit like I was eating an artifact that Indiana Jones had uncovered. The dust particles get stuck to the top of the throat, but surprisingly, I didn’t stop eating them.

My friend and I finished nearly the entire bag saying things like, “I wouldn’t buy them, but I wouldn’t turn them down if they were served at a party,” sort of like Kettle Brand Sea Salt and Vinegar chips. Keep Southern Recipe Salt & Vinegar Pork Rinds on hand for parties with lots of beer because the salty vinegar is a nice compliment and your guests will need something wash them down.  Maybe it’s a Southern thing, as Southern Recipe’s manufacturer, Rudolph’s research shows that’s where they’re most popular. I’m from New York and it’s possible the delicacy is just lost on me.

Tags: Made in the USA, Pork Rinds, salted, vinegar