Chicharon Vs. Chicharrones – What’s The Difference?

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If you haven’t tasted Chicaronnes before, you haven’t lived.

This Spanish delicacy has been around for a very long time, long before Christopher Columbus discovered the Americas.

They are a part of history in Southern America, so they are something that you really need to try!

Chicharron Vs. Chicharrones – What’s The Difference?

Chicaronnes might be something that you haven’t heard of before. If this is the case, then you are in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at the difference between Chicaronnes and Chicaron.

And tell you everything you need to know about this Southern delicacy. 

So, if you want to find out more about Chicharones, keep on reading! 

What Are Chicharrones?

Well, first things first, let’s take a look at the most important part of this guide and find out exactly what Chicaronnes are.

Chicharones are a Southern American classic that have been around for a very long time.

Essentially, “Chicharones” is the name given to what we would refer to as pork rinds in the USA. 

Chicharones are salty savory snacks, and they taste almost identical to the pork rinds that we enjoy here in the USA.

However, these foods are not identical, even though they actually taste very similar.

While they are made with similar ingredients, there are some subtle differences between the two.

We’ll take a closer look at these a little later on. 

How Are Chicharrones Made?

Just like pork rinds, Chicaronnes are deep-fried before being eaten.

However, before they are fried, they are not known as Chicaronnes. Instead, they are referred to as “pellets”.

They spend a considerable amount of time as pellets before they are cooked.

In order to achieve the delicious bacon flavor that we know and love. 

After they have gone through the process of being left to dry, the pellets will be added to a fryer.

This is when they are transformed from pellets into Chicharones.

The small squares of pork rind will expand in the fryer, almost like popcorn.

By the time they have finished frying, you will be left with larger, crunchy snacks that smell and taste exactly like bacon. 

Most people will choose to use a fryer to cook their Chicharonnes, however there are some modern alternatives to this.

For example, you may choose to fry your Chicharonnes in a small amount of sunflower oil, or even in an air fryer. 

Once they have been cooked, the Chicharonnes will then be seasoned.

There are a few different flavors that might be used to do this, some sweet, some spicy, and some salty.

Due to this, you will almost always be able to find a Chicharron flavor that is perfect for you.

What’s The Difference Between Chicaron And Chicharrones?

So now that we have taken a look at what Chicharrones are.

Let’s take a look at what the difference is between these and Chicaron. Well, in short, there is no difference. 

Both “Chicharrón” and “Chicharrones” are used to refer to the same thing.

One is simply the plural, and the other is the word used to refer to a singular chicharrón.

Both of these words are used to refer to fried pork rind that is processed and seasoned until delicious and crunchy. 

In Spanish, “Chicharron” is simply the singular version of “chicharrones”.

Much like how “pork rind” is the singular version of “pork rinds”.

So, you might see the words used interchangeably. If you do, don’t worry because they are the exact same thing. 

Are There Different Types Of Chicharrones?

Are There Different Types Of Chicharrones?

While they are traditionally a Southern American delicacy, Chicharrones are actually enjoyed in a variety of different countries.

Due to this, there are lots of different varieties of chicharrones. 

Even with traditional Chicharonnes, you will often find that you can get them in a range of different flavors.

From sweeter flavors that complement the tang of the bacon flavor.

To salty flavors that simply work due to the crunch of the chicharrones, there is simply no correct flavor for these treats.

They come in a range of flavors, and no singular one is necessarily better than any of the others.

They are all different and all delicious. 

Outside of South America, Chicharonnes differ on a much larger scale.

For example, in the Philippines, chicharrones are made using ingredients other than pork rind.

While some chicharrones will be made using pork rinds, others will be made using pork offal, chicken intestine, and even tuna skin. 

So, yes, there are different types of chicharrones.

Depending on where you are in the world, you should be a little more careful when ordering chicharrones.

Because you aren’t necessarily ordering pork rind chicharrones.

You could be ordering chicken or tuna chicharrones instead. 

Are Pork Rinds And Chicharonnes The Same?

So as promised, let’s take a look at the differences between pork rinds and chicharrones.

As we said earlier, these two treats are often made using the same ingredients.

However they are not the same as each other. So why is that?

There are a couple of small differences that make regular pork rinds different from chicharrones.

One of the biggest is the fact that all the fat is removed from the pork rind when preparing fried pork rind snacks.

Whereas when it comes to chicharrones, the removal of the fat isn’t so important.

Often the fat will be removed, but on occasion it will not.

Something else that is different between the two is the drying process.

Before they are transformed into chicharrones, the pellets will be dried.

This is an important step in the process as it allows the bacon flavor to develop.

Ensuring that the crunchy snacks have that strong bacon flavor when you bite into them. 

In contrast, pork rinds tend to be marinated rather than dried.

The marination process is very important as it gives the pork rinds their flavor ready for when they are fried.

This is why pork rinds tend to come in different flavors to chicharrones.

So while they are incredibly similar, they are not the same. 

Why Are They Called Chicaronnes?

Finally, let’s wrap this up by taking a look at why Chicharonnes are called chicharrones.

Well, the simple answer is that the reason behind this name is a little unclear.

Chicharrones have always been known as this in Latin America, and the name has been around for centuries.

As we said earlier, you can find lots of different variants of chicharrones all over the planet.

Yet in most countries they will hold this name.

There might be slight differences in terms of spelling, but the name itself is the same.

We know it isn’t the answer that you were hoping for, but sadly it is the truth.

This is simply the name assigned to this street food, and that isn’t likely to change at any point in the future.

So no matter where you are in the world, if you see something called “Chicharones”, there is a good chance that they will be a variation of this Latin American classic. 

Summary

In short, there is no difference between a chicharron and chicharrones.

Chicharron is simply the singular name for chicharrones. But the food itself is exactly the same. 

Thanks for reading!