Smoked Bacon ( step by step with Qview )

Bearcarver · Mar 2, 2016

Curtis9 said:
I just got a pork belly tonite and followed your recipe for the cure. My only question is was it ok that the skin was still on the one side? Also would it be ok to leave it cure till next weekend which would be 11 days.

Yes---No problem leaving the skin on. I like to Cure & Smoke it without the skin, because I don't plan on eating the Skin, and I figure no reason to cure & smoke something I'm not going to eat.

However it doesn't hurt anything having the skin on.

I don't know how thick your Belly is, but I'm sure 11 days won't be too long. Be sure to rinse it real good after curing, and give it a Salt-Fry Test before smoking it, just in case it has a little extra salt flavor.

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 6, 2016

Got me some belly yesterday. Cheapest I could find was $3.69/lb at a local butcher. Since the meat is frozen solid I had them cut me 1-lb pieces +/- a few ounces. Can't really get going on the curing until my scale gets here. So in the meantime I'm just going to leave it all in the freezer. I'm using Prague Powder #1 so I'll use digging dog farms cure calculator to help me figure how much cure, salt, and sugar I need one I CAN get things going. See below.

What I've figured out for cure for each block of belly:

image.jpeg

cajuncpo
Mar 6, 2016

cajuncpo · Mar 6, 2016

Is there a particular reason to use an A-MAZE-N Smoker to smoke the belly pieces? I've got a 30" electric MES Smoker and usually don't have an issue regulating the temperature or the smoke. With the built-in wood chip trays I've found that it's not hard to keep the smoke going at a good rate. Want to do this right - the first time - and not waste $20+ of pork. I know I'm REALLY new at this, but this smoking stuff is fun! Addictive, actually!!

Bearcarver · Mar 6, 2016

CajunCPO said:
Is there a particular reason to use an A-MAZE-N Smoker to smoke the belly pieces? I've got a 30" electric MES Smoker and usually don't have an issue regulating the temperature or the smoke. With the built-in wood chip trays I've found that it's not hard to keep the smoke going at a good rate. Want to do this right - the first time - and not waste $20+ of pork. I know I'm REALLY new at this, but this smoking stuff is fun! Addictive, actually!!

Most MES users run the AMNPS because you can get up to 11 hours of perfect smoke without touching it.

When you use the MES chip burner, you generally get a variation of smoke amounts between Zero smoke & smoke that is too heavy.

This is not to say that it can't be done, but I quit the headaches of the MES chip burner over 6 years ago, and have enjoyed perfect smoke ever since, with very little effort.

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 6, 2016

Just ordered me 6x6 A-Maze-N smoker! Y'all convinced me. Thanks.

Bearcarver · Mar 6, 2016

CajunCPO said:
Just ordered me 6x6 A-Maze-N smoker! Y'all convinced me. Thanks.

Just so you know---The 6 X 6 AMNS is only for Dust (Not Pellets), and not good for Smoker temps much over 200°.

You might want to change your order to a 5 X 8 AMNPS (good for Dust or Pellets & any temp to 275°)

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 7, 2016

Cntacted them this morning and got things switched out. No problems at all. Great group of people to deal with.

Bearcarver · Mar 7, 2016

CajunCPO said:
Contacted them this morning and got things switched out. No problems at all. Great group of people to deal with.

That's Great-----That's the best place there is to deal with----Todd is Awesome!!

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 9, 2016

Woo Hoo...my scale arrived this afternoon, per my wife. So now I can go home and get my pork belly prepped and start aging it!

Bearcarver · Mar 9, 2016

CajunCPO said:
Woo Hoo...my scale arrived this afternoon, per my wife. So now I can go home and get my pork belly prepped and start aging it!

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 19, 2016

1st batch of bacon done!
Five pounds of bacon after about 8' hours of smoking at 115* to 120*. That A-Maze-N smoker is the bomb!! Meat smells good. Will test it tomorrow for breakfast. Thanks for all the help. Especially you Bear.

image.jpeg

cajuncpo
Mar 19, 2016

Bearcarver · Mar 19, 2016

CajunCPO said:
1st batch of bacon done!
Five pounds of bacon after about 8' hours of smoking at 115* to 120*. That A-Maze-N smoker is the bomb!! Meat smells good. Will test it tomorrow for breakfast. Thanks for all the help. Especially you Bear.

Looks Great Chief!!

Mighty Tasty!!

For first time Bacon making!!!

Tip: You might want to make it bigger pieces next time. Makes it easier all around.

Bear

cajuncpo · Mar 19, 2016

Bearcarver said:
Looks Great Chief!!:drool

Mighty Tasty!! :points: For first time Bacon making!!!

Tip: You might want to make it bigger pieces next time. Makes it easier all around.

Bear

Thanks. I originally had a 5l lb piece they I figured was too big son in if it down. Next time I'll just buy more and keep the pieces larger.

Bearcarver · Mar 20, 2016

CajunCPO said:
Thanks. I originally had a 5l lb piece they I figured was too big son in if it down. Next time I'll just buy more and keep the pieces larger.

FYI: I like to cut my bellies into the sizes that will fit nicely into the size Ziplock I'm going to use, and the size pieces that will fit nicely on my MES racks (Leaving room between the pieces for proper air flow through my smoker).

That's what controls the sizes I cut my bellies to.

Bear

Smoked Bacon ( step by step with Qview )

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Fire Starter

Gone but not forgotten RIP

Similar threads

Hot Threads

Featured A couple thick strips please!