- Nov 15, 2012
- 1,025
- 105
Hello,
I just started defrosting a couple of 5 lb belly sections and will start curing them for bacon over the weekend. I had planned to cure one belly section using a 2.25% kosher salt and 156 ppm nitrite (+ sugar, spices, etc.) dry cure, and was planning to try Pop's wet brine (using 1/2 cup salt per gallon water) with the other section. I was figuring on a 14 day cure for both sections.
One of the belly sections is a plump one, around 2 - 3" thick. I'm planning to use Pop's wet brine on this belly section. I've got a few questions about this:
- Is this belly thick enough that I should also inject some wet brine into the belly?
- If I do inject brine, does anybody know what gauge needle is best to use? I was just planning on grabbing a plastic syringe and a needle from work (side note: I'm an R.N., not a drug dealer) rather than buying a special brine injector.
- If I do inject brine, can anyone explain or point me to a resource where I can learn where and how much to inject? Never injected brine before.
- And finally, I believe that Pop's brine is an equilibrium cure. Therefore I don't think I need to worry about "overcuring", so is a 10-14 day cure still appropriate in duration if I do inject brine as well?
Thank you in advance for any help!
I just started defrosting a couple of 5 lb belly sections and will start curing them for bacon over the weekend. I had planned to cure one belly section using a 2.25% kosher salt and 156 ppm nitrite (+ sugar, spices, etc.) dry cure, and was planning to try Pop's wet brine (using 1/2 cup salt per gallon water) with the other section. I was figuring on a 14 day cure for both sections.
One of the belly sections is a plump one, around 2 - 3" thick. I'm planning to use Pop's wet brine on this belly section. I've got a few questions about this:
- Is this belly thick enough that I should also inject some wet brine into the belly?
- If I do inject brine, does anybody know what gauge needle is best to use? I was just planning on grabbing a plastic syringe and a needle from work (side note: I'm an R.N., not a drug dealer) rather than buying a special brine injector.
- If I do inject brine, can anyone explain or point me to a resource where I can learn where and how much to inject? Never injected brine before.
- And finally, I believe that Pop's brine is an equilibrium cure. Therefore I don't think I need to worry about "overcuring", so is a 10-14 day cure still appropriate in duration if I do inject brine as well?
Thank you in advance for any help!
