Italian Phrase
A che temperatura per la spalla di maiale?
Meaning
The speaker is asking for the recommended cooking temperature for a pork shoulder. It’s a practical question you’d hear in a kitchen or when following a recipe.
When to use
Use this sentence when you’re preparing a pork shoulder (spalla di maiale) and need to know the oven or grill temperature. It’s common among home cooks, chefs, and anyone discussing Italian barbecue or roast dishes like porchetta.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Achetemperaturaperlaspalladimaiale?
A che
The combination "A che" introduces a question about a specific value (e.g., time, temperature, price). It works like “at what” in English.
temperatura
A feminine noun meaning “temperature”. In questions it often follows "a che".
per
Preposition meaning “for” or “in order to”. Here it links the temperature to the cooking process.
la spalla di maiale
A noun phrase: "spalla" (shoulder) is feminine; "di maiale" specifies the meat type (pork).
question mark
Italian questions can be written with only a final question mark when the interrogative word is at the beginning.
🗨In Conversation
A che temperatura per la spalla di maiale?
At what temperature should I cook the pork shoulder?
Di solito la cuoci a 150 °C per due ore, poi alzi a 200 °C per gli ultimi 20 minuti.
Usually you cook it at 150 °C for two hours, then raise it to 200 °C for the last 20 minutes.
✕Common Mistakes
A che temperatura per la spalla di maiale?
Learners sometimes use "per" when they actually need the verb "cuocere". The phrase is fine as a short question, but a fuller version would include the verb: "A che temperatura **cuocere** la spalla di maiale?"
A che tem**pe**ratura per la spalla di maiale?
In spoken Italian the stress is on the second syllable: "tempe**ra**tura". Misplacing the stress can make the word sound foreign.
A che temperatura per la spalla del maiale?
Avoid adding an extra article before "maiale" (e.g., "del maiale"). The correct construction is "di maiale" to indicate the type of meat.
↔Alternatives
A quale temperatura cuocere la spalla di maiale?
At what temperature to cook the pork shoulder?
Qual è la temperatura ideale per la spalla di maiale?
What is the ideal temperature for the pork shoulder?
A che temperatura devo cuocere la spalla di maiale?
At what temperature should I cook the pork shoulder?
Cultural Tip
In Italian cuisine the pork shoulder (spalla di maiale) is the star of dishes like porchetta, arrosticini di maiale, and slow‑roasted pork. Traditional Italian ovens often run at lower, steady temperatures (130‑160 °C) for several hours to keep the meat juicy, then finish with a hotter blast to crisp the skin. Knowing the right temperature is key to achieving that classic, crackling crust.