My first attempt was not how I wanted it to go. I bought strips instead of a slab. SO Now I have bought a slab of pork belly. I also bought a scale and measured with exact weight. Plus I had the time away from work to make this happen...
I have 2- 5lb slabs curing in the fridge. They were weighed and the calculated cure#1, plus salt & sugar was added. I have one slab made that I put bourbon in (to try out) and the other is just Cure, S&P.
My initial plan was going to cure them and pull after 7 days. Dry and back into the fridge for a 24hr period to form the pellicle, and then smoke. Here's where the problem is, I was called out of town and have to leave this coming Sunday. Saturday was going to be my 7th day of curing and I was going to pull and smoke of Sunday. This is where I need your help. I'm thinking of pull the meat on Friday, wash and back into the fridge to get the pellicle and smoke on Sat. OR just keep the meat curing....
So my question is this: Can I leave the belly in the cure for 14 days (until I get home) and then pull and wash, then back into the fridge to form the pellicle?
Will 14 days in the cure hurt the meat? How long should I keep in the fridge after I wash them? I plan on smoking the belly at 140°-150° for about 6hrs.
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated....
I have 2- 5lb slabs curing in the fridge. They were weighed and the calculated cure#1, plus salt & sugar was added. I have one slab made that I put bourbon in (to try out) and the other is just Cure, S&P.
My initial plan was going to cure them and pull after 7 days. Dry and back into the fridge for a 24hr period to form the pellicle, and then smoke. Here's where the problem is, I was called out of town and have to leave this coming Sunday. Saturday was going to be my 7th day of curing and I was going to pull and smoke of Sunday. This is where I need your help. I'm thinking of pull the meat on Friday, wash and back into the fridge to get the pellicle and smoke on Sat. OR just keep the meat curing....
So my question is this: Can I leave the belly in the cure for 14 days (until I get home) and then pull and wash, then back into the fridge to form the pellicle?
Will 14 days in the cure hurt the meat? How long should I keep in the fridge after I wash them? I plan on smoking the belly at 140°-150° for about 6hrs.
Any help you can offer will be greatly appreciated....
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