Trimming belly for bacon?

simple

Smoke Blower

Original poster

Jun 27, 2011

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• Aug 23, 2011

• #1

I never considered this when I started messing with making bacon, but I've seen it mentioned a number of times lately.

What/why exactly are we trimming?  Are we just squaring the chunk up to make slicing easier?  Removing excess flavor--I mean fat?

I'm konfused...

 

meateater

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• Aug 23, 2011

• #2

The rind, skin whatever you call it. That's what you want to remove, after all you are makin bacon. Leave it on and the smoke will not penetrate that side. However don't toss it, cracklins are awesome. 

 

pops6927

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #3

A pig's skin is as porous as it's fat or lean - smoke will penetrate it fine, just the color won't - think of it as a particle filter, not a barrier.  We left the skin on all bellies and removed some of it after taking out of the smokehouse while still hot, no problem with having smoke flavor in your bacon.  We'd remove about half of it, the other half we sold as 'rind on' - many older folks preferred it that way, chewing on the rind was half the fun of eating bacon, lol!  (We did bellies in 300 lb. batches, 2 - 55 gal. barrels worth at a time).

 

roller

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #4

Now that brings back some good memories...

 

boykjo

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #5

 

SmokinAl

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #6

boykjo said:

Click to expand...

X2

 

Last edited: Aug 24, 2011

alblancher

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #7

I guess that is a "Can of Worms"   HeHe

I leave the rind on because it is easier to remove after smoking and I use the smoked rind for flavoring other dishes.  I also hang the bacon in the smoke house with stainless steel wire and the rind goes a long way to making me comfortable that it won't end up on the floor of the smokehouse.

But I did appreciate Pop's explanation, learn something new everyday.

 

Bearcarver

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #8

Great explanation by Pops!!

I think it's a matter of personal preference.

I prefer to smoke my Bacon without the rind, because I don't eat the rind.

It takes less time curing (dry curing), and more smoke gets to the part I want to eat without it on.

I figure if the rind tastes smoky, that's because some of the smoke stopped along the way.

Of course this is only my opinion, and my preference----Try it both ways.

Bear

 

meateater

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #9

The bellies i get don't have the skin on, if they did I'd cut it off and smoke separate from the bellie. But that's just my opinion. 

 

venture

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #10

Great memories, Pops!  I haven't seen rind on for a long time, but when I was a kid it was very common.

Good luck and good smoking.

 

chef jay

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Aug 7, 2011

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Toronto, ON

• Aug 24, 2011

• #11

The last belly I bought with skin on had nipples. I'm not saying that it wouldn't be tasty, I've just never smoked them...

 

alblancher

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #12

The nipples come right off when you skin them,   don't say that again or my wife will never eat my bacon again!

 

venture

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #13

Drunk farmer went to the hog house instead of his home.

He wondered why is wife's nightgown suddenly had two rows of buttons?

Enjoy the nipples.  One of the finer things in life!

Good luck and good smoking.

 

alblancher

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #14

Venture,  you may need help.  

 

DanMcG

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #15

alblancher said:

Venture,  you may need help.  

Click to expand...

 

   

 

 

venture

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• Aug 24, 2011

• #16

I see big trouble coming?

Looking out my window for black helicopters to shoot down?

Good luck and good smoking.

 

meateater

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• Aug 25, 2011

• #17

Venture said:

I see big trouble coming?

Looking out my window for black helicopters to shoot down?

Good luck and good smoking.

Click to expand...

No don't fire up the posse! 

 

Bearcarver

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• Aug 25, 2011

• #18

Merv,

I have to agree with Al & Dan---You may need some help!

 

alblancher

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• Aug 25, 2011

• #19

Venture,  your friends have gathered to help you with your pig nipple problem.  The first step is to admit that you have a problem and then we can see about getting you the professional help you need.  It is perfectly normal for a man to be attracted to a pair of nipples, a single pair of nipples, maybe even multiple single pairs of nipples but not 10 pair in the same place.

This has to be the first on-line pig nipple fetish intervention.

Sorry,

Just had to get one last observation in.

 

Last edited: Aug 25, 2011

slownlow

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Jun 17, 2011

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Hamilton, NC

• Aug 26, 2011

• #20