Canadian Turkey Bacon (Qview)

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Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Sep 12, 2009
45,279
18,182
Macungie, PA
Canadian Turkey Bacon:

Had a Turkey Breast in the freezer that Mrs Bear had gotten for free with points accumulated at Giant Food Store. The price marked was $18.

I did a bunch of searching, came up with a plan, and double checked with Pops, to make sure my plan was as safe as I thought it was.

Pops gave me the thumbs up with a warning to not let it dry out too much.

Thanks Pops!

Day #1

Since my plan was to slow smoke these breast halves just like I do Canadian Bacon, except to 165˚, instead of 160˚, the only change I made due to Pops' warning was to bump the temperature up a little faster than I had been originally planning.

So I filleted the breast meat off the chest cavity in two pieces. I must have done a pretty good job, as one piece was 1 pound 5 ounces, and the other was 1 pound 4 3/8 ounces.

Then I rinsed them off, patted them dry, rubbed a little over 5/8 oz of Tender Quick and 1 TBS of Brown sugar on each piece, and put them in their own individual Zip Lock home. Then into the fridge for 7 days at 37˚/38˚, and massage & flip every day.

Day #8

On Day 8 remove from bags, rinse well, soak for 1/2 hour, cut a couple little slices off & do a salt test fry. A little too salty----rinse again & soak for another 1/2 hour in ice water. Test again----a little salty, but good enough! Rinse again, pat dry, sprinkle CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder on both sides of each (patting it on), put on smoking rack, and put back in fridge (uncovered) for an overnight drying.

Day #9

6:45---Pre-heat MES to 130˚

7:30---Put breasts on rack in smoker (2nd position from top). Load with Cherry Dust, and light "A-MAZE-N-SMOKER". Get cup of coffee.

8:00----AMNS burning pretty good----Put in to left of chip drawer, on little bar supports.

9:30----Bump heat to 140˚

10:00---Bump heat to 160˚

12:00---Bump heat to 180˚

1:30----Bump heat to 190˚

2:30----Bump heat to 200˚

3:30----AMNS stopped smoking after 7 1/2 hours of very nice Cherry Smoke.

4:30----Double check internal temps, and pull both breasts at slightly over 165˚ internal.

Cool for awhile at room temp, while stealing a few taste sample slices---GREAT!

Wrap in plastic wrap & put in fridge over night.

Day #8

Slice both breasts, give one small pile in baggie to Son, keep one small pile in baggie for me, and vacuum freeze 3 small packs for a later time.

Sure was a lot of work for such a small amount of product, but excellent flavor!

Qview below,

Bearcarver

In Cure & Brown sugar & into fridge:

943301aa_DSC01380.jpg

Testing for salt content:

1abc7328_DSC01383.jpg

Soaking to remove extra salt flavor:

91e619b5_DSC01385.jpg

Ready for Smoker:

89e78624_DSC01387.jpg

Cherry Dust lit in AMNS, and smoking my coffee:

45d9779d_DSC01392.jpg

Fresh out of Smoker:

340ba38b_DSC01397.jpg

Slicing first Breast:

23146aa6_DSC01405.jpg

All sliced up---minus a few pieces
icon_rolleyes.gif
:

b2f06666_DSC01407.jpg

Thanks for lookin',

Bear
 
Last edited:
As usual, great step by step and pics. I assume this is the same Principal for pork? I wanted to give that a shot since I have a few loins in the freezer.

Thanks Bear
 
As usual, great step by step and pics. I assume this is the same Principal for pork? I wanted to give that a shot since I have a few loins in the freezer.

Thanks Bear
Basically the same for pork loins, with adjustments for size and finishing internal temp. See "[color= rgb(24, 24, 24)]Boneless Smoked Pork Chops (or Canadian Bacon)" in my signature.[/color]

Bear
 
Great job on the turkey bacon, it looks absolutely delicious!  The secret would to put down 20 or more halves at a time to make it worthwhile.
 
Great job on the turkey bacon, it looks absolutely delicious!  The secret would to put down 20 or more halves at a time to make it worthwhile.
Thanks Pops,

Maybe chicken breasts next time---a whole bunch of 'em.
 
Thats why I love this place, I would have never thought of curing poultry. Thats looks just incredible. Pops, thanks for advising Bear. Bear thanks for that smoke job. Now I know what I'm curing next since I'm almost out of CB. AWESOME!
points.gif
 
Wow - Awesome Job, Bacon Cing!

You blow me away with your creativity when it comes to curing.  The Mrs's has been on me arse about all the bacon, and CB... I'm thinking this turkey thing would fit a lot better in the "healthy" category! 

So I gotta know - does it taste like bacon or turkey?  I'm thinking either way it's got to be delicious.

Keep up the good work, Bear.
points.gif
 
Wow - Awesome Job, Bacon Cing!

You blow me away with your creativity when it comes to curing.  The Mrs's has been on me arse about all the bacon, and CB... I'm thinking this turkey thing would fit a lot better in the "healthy" category! 

So I gotta know - does it taste like bacon or turkey?  I'm thinking either way it's got to be delicious.

Keep up the good work, Bear.
points.gif
Thanks Tracey,

It is Great!

The best description I can give the flavor would be in between well smoked Turkey & Canadian Bacon. One less day curing would have been enough, but I had that BDay party to go to.

Bear
 
 
Thats why I love this place, I would have never thought of curing poultry. Thats looks just incredible. Pops, thanks for advising Bear. Bear thanks for that smoke job. Now I know what I'm curing next since I'm almost out of CB. AWESOME!
points.gif
Thanks Meateater,

Any questions, let me know.

Bear
 
Man that looks good, yet another one I'll have to try     An Oldie but a Goody       
points1.png


Gary
 
 
All that turkey is making my gout flare up!!

Looks great Bear!
Thank You Pete!

Sorry about that Gout---Got a Buddy who has that, and he says it's painful !

Bear
 
Man that looks good, yet another one I'll have to try     An Oldie but a Goody       
points1.png


Gary
Thanks Gary!!

And Thanks for the Points!

Bear
 
So, I was curing 2 turkey breasts to do this and wouND up curing then for almost 3 weeks (circumstances). Will they be ok if I soak them long enough? I he done it with pork belly and loin and never had a problem, just wasn't sure due to it being poultry. Thanks KS in advance!
 
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