My first try at bacon

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
SMF is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

brewerdave

Fire Starter
Original poster
Nov 29, 2014
65
15
So,

15 pounds of pork belly trimmed, cut into 5 pound slabs.

 ​5 pound belly recipe:

½ cup of salt

½ cup of brown sugar

1 TBS of black pepper

1 tsp of Insta-Cure #1

½ cup (or more) honey

Place mix and belly in 2.5 gallon zip-lock bags. Turn daily for 7 days. Cut a small slice to make sure cure has gone all the way through. If you like the taste, proceed.

Wash each piece and ready the smoker.

I set my smoker at around 165 degrees. I want my internal temp around 150 or better. I use the smoke incense for 2 rounds. That's about 90 minutes each.

After 4 hours, remove the bacon. Let it rest for 30 minutes, then wrap in foil and chill in the fridge overnight. Slice it thin and fry it up. Not too bad if I say so myself

Pictures soon

BD
 
Doing something wrong on the cooking side. Fried the bacon in a cast iron pan on med-high heat and it burned. So, I tried baking in the oven at 375 watched for a few minutes and semi-burned.

Then tried some more in the microwave and it was not burned but still close to over cooked. Am I missing something regarding natural bacon or am I a simple idiot?

Heres pics


Help?

DS
 
Dry cured bacon has a lot less moisture in it. Also, there is quite a bit of sugar in your cure mix (bit a bad thing). I put mine in a cold oven and st it to 325. Then I start checking on it when the oven reaches temperature. With hot smoked, which yours soars to be, you won't get that extra crispy texture we all love, but as I make my own more frequently I now prefer this style.
 
I agree alot of sugar. Sugar burns easy.

Try lower stove temps. Medium low.
 
SmokingMeatForums.com is reader supported and as an Amazon Associate, we may earn commissions from qualifying purchases.

Hot Threads

Clicky