10 Things to Make With Pork Mince (Beyond Bolognese)
Pork mince is cheaper than beef, cooks faster, and carries flavour beautifully. Ten fast dinners plus how to buy pork mince online in Australia.
Pork mince is one of the best-value proteins on the butcher's counter and it takes on marinades and aromatics far better than beef. If you only ever make bolognese with it, here are ten reasons to keep a pack in the fridge.
Fast weeknight dinners
- San choy bau — pork mince, garlic, ginger, water chestnuts, oyster and soy, spooned into iceberg cups. 12 minutes.
- Thai basil pork (pad krapow) — high heat, fish sauce, chilli, a fried egg on top. The definitive 15-minute dinner.
- Pork and fennel ragu — brown the mince hard, add fennel seed, white wine, milk and tomato, simmer 40 minutes. Pappardelle.
- Bao / steamed buns — pork mince, hoisin, spring onion. Freeze the filling in portions.
- Larb — Lao/Thai salad: pork mince cooked dry, toasted rice powder, lime, mint, shallot.
- Wontons and dumplings — pork mince with cabbage and chives is the standard filling; make 100 and freeze on a tray.
- Meatballs in tomato — pork mince stays more tender than beef; add fennel and parmesan for a porchetta note.
- Pork and prawn spring rolls — a small amount of prawn meat folded through lifts the whole roll.
- Sausage rolls from scratch — pork mince, breadcrumb, sage, nutmeg, wrapped in puff. Our sausage roll guide has the full method.
- Pork burgers — 80/20 pork mince, apple, sage; better than a beef burger on a lazy Sunday.
Buying pork mince
Ask for lean pork mince (around 90/10) for stir-fries and dumplings where you don't want a greasy result, or standard mince for burgers and ragu. Ours is Australian, ground fresh, no fillers. You can buy pork mince online with the rest of your order, or grab a bulk pack if you batch-cook.
Handling
Pork mince spoils a touch faster than beef — use within 2 days or freeze in flat 500g packs. Always cook pork mince through (no pink juices); it's quick, so it's rarely a problem.
Frequently asked questions
What fat content is pork mince?
Standard Australian pork mince is around 80/20. Lean pork mince is closer to 90/10 and is the better choice for dumplings, san choy bau and stir-fries where you don't want fat pooling in the pan.
Is pork mince cheaper than beef mince?
Usually yes — pork mince typically sits a few dollars per kg below beef mince, which makes it a strong value protein for family dinners and batch cooking.
Can you freeze pork mince?
Yes. Portion it into flat 500g packs, press out the air and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and cook it through — never refreeze thawed raw mince.
Does pork mince need to be fully cooked?
Yes, cook pork mince until no pink remains and juices run clear (72°C). Because it's finely ground it cooks in minutes, so this is easy to hit without drying it out.