R.I.P. Scout26
I'm not worried about getting flavor from the salt pork, its purpose is texture.I broke down and contacted Hormel (the brand of packaged salt pork my supermarket sells). Their advice was to simmer it for 30 minutes, then add to the beans. I also read that freezing salt pork for 20 days at 5 degrees F. kills trichina larvae, so I'll combine both. The package I have is going to get tossed. I'll grab a new package, freeze it for three weeks, then follow Hormel's advice.