“BBBB”—Bear’s Buckboard Bacon (Pic Heavy)
NOTE: The following is how I do this particular Smoke. You can do it this way, or many other ways.
I'm posting this in Step by Step form in case anyone would like to follow it.
So I recently recovered from the Shock of finally seeing a decent price on Pork Butts at one of our regular shopping places.
“Weis” had Pork Butts @ 97¢ a pound, so we got 3 of them. I Smoked one for Pulled Pork, and froze one for another time.
Then I decided to turn the largest (10.2 lbs) of the three into Buckboard Bacon.
I had one problem I discovered the last time I deboned a Pork Butt.
I never used to have a problem deboning a Butt, until after my Botched Open Heart Surgery. Now my hands shake so much, especially the right one, that it’s not safe for anyone to be around me, including myself.
So I called the “Bear Jr”, and he said as long as I had a sharp knife he’ll do it for me.
So I got out my Sharpener, and touched up my favorite Fillet Knife.
Prepping (Day #1):
Bear Jr removed the bone from the 10.2 ounce Pork Butt, and cut it in half for me, to avoid a lot of bloodshed.
Then I cut each half in 2 pieces. Then I Weighed the 4 pieces to be cured.
Then Weigh proper amount of Tender Quick for each piece (1/2 ounce---One TBS per pound).
Rub TQ on first, trying to get it distributed evenly all over the piece of meat it was measured for.
Rub on about 2 tsp of Brown Sugar per pound of meat, and put the piece of meat in the bag.
Note: We fold the top of the bag over, like a pants cuff, so no salt or sugar grains get in the zipper parts.
Any cure that falls off before getting into the bag, I make sure I put in the bag, with the piece of meat it was designated to be with. That will ensure that the proper amount of cure will be with each piece of meat during the curing stage.
Calculating curing time:
The method I use for calculating curing time is simple. I learned it 9 years ago, and it has never failed me. The cure has always gotten to the center of all pieces, and I have never had any that were salty with my TQ.
Measure the thickest spot of all of the pieces of meat you plan to cure.
Figure how many "half inches" there are in that measurement.
Add 2 to that number. That will be the absolute minimum time to cure that piece of meat.
Then I personally like to add 2 or 3 more days to be extra safe (you can't over-cure, but you can under-cure).
Example:
My thickest piece was 2 1/2 inches. There are 5 "Half inches" in 2 1/2".
So that would be 5 Days plus 2 days = 7 days absolute minimum curing time, but I don’t cure anything for less than 8 days.
Then due to the fact that I wanted to smoke the meat on Monday, I added 3 more days to that number.
So I cured these pieces of Pork Butt for 10 days in my Meat fridge, at 37°. (flipping & pressing each day)
Note: I Never Fully cure anything for less than 8 days.
Day #10:
Rinse all the pieces off, and soaked them in cold water for about 20 minutes to remove surface salt.
I cut a slice from the Thickest piece, and checked the color inside to be sure it was cured to the center.
Then I did a Fry-Test to make sure it wasn't too salty. It was perfect.
So I rinsed the pieces all off again, and patted them dry with a lot of paper towels (Mrs Bear says I should buy a paper towel company!!)
Then I sprinkled on the CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder, and put the pieces on the Grill rack, without touching each other.
I put these pieces in my Kitchen Fridge for the night.
Day #11 (Smoking Day---Using MES 40 BT--6 Racks):
6:30 AM———————————-Pre-Heat Smoker to 150˚.
7:00 AM———————————-Fill first row of my AMNS with Apple Dust, and the 2nd & third with Hickory & light one end.
7:30 AM———————————-Put Meat loaded rack on 2nd position of my smoker, with top exhaust vent open fully.
9:00 AM———————————-Wipe probe with alcohol pad & insert into thickest place.
9:30 AM———————————-Internal Temp at 102°——Put Smoking AMNS on bottom rack, on right end. pull dumper 2” & rotate 180°.
11:00 AM———————————Bump heat up to 170°.
1:00 PM————————————IT was 126°.
2:00 PM————————————IT was 135°.
2:30 PM————————————IT was 140°.
3:30 PM————————————IT was 147°.
3:45 PM————————————IT was 149°.
4:00 PM—————-——————-Check each piece, and remove as all were between 147° and 154° internal temp.
Allow to cool to about 100˚, put in big bowl & put in fridge for R & R.
Leave in Fridge over 2 nights for best flavor.
Put in freezer for 3 hours before slicing makes the slicing work much better.
I sliced this batch, and vacuum packed in small amounts, because I only eat a little at a time nowadays, so each pack is enough to go with about 4 or 5 days with my Breakfast Eggs.
I Also posted some Bacon & Eggs (Below) and a couple of Nice BLTs too.
That's all I can think of right now----Enjoy the Views!!
Bear
The one on the Right is Today's Target:
10.18 lb Pork Butt @ 97 Cents a Pound:
Had to tune up my Fillet knife Quick:
Butt Split in half & Bone removed (Bone laying on top):
4 Pieces of Butt getting rubbed with proper amount of TQ & Brown Sugar:
Bagged & ready for the Fridge for 10 Days @ 37°:
Ice Water for 20 minutes to remove Surface Salt.
Patting Dry after Curing & Rinsing:
Put on Smoking Rack:
Apply CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder:
One row of Cherry & 2 rows of Hickory, Cherry end lit:
The condensation on the inside of my Glass shows why we don't add water to the Water Pan.
There is no Water in my Pan, and there's still too much Humidity inside my MES:
Plywood blocks the Sun from hitting the MES Heat Sensor, & confusing the electronics:
Near the end of the Smoke, the Condensation is gone:
All Finished, with less than 2" of Dust in tray, left to burn:
Fresh out of Smoker:
In a big bowl, ready for the Fridge to Mellow out for two nights:
Slicing Time:
All Sliced up. Two bowls of Ends (Front & Back), mostly for Bear Jr:
Bear's Breakfast the next morning:
Plated:
Packed & Ready for Freezer & two front packs for Fridge:
Frying some up for Sammies:
Loading a couple BLTs with BBBB:
Bear's BBBBLTs for Supper:
NOTE: The following is how I do this particular Smoke. You can do it this way, or many other ways.
I'm posting this in Step by Step form in case anyone would like to follow it.
So I recently recovered from the Shock of finally seeing a decent price on Pork Butts at one of our regular shopping places.
“Weis” had Pork Butts @ 97¢ a pound, so we got 3 of them. I Smoked one for Pulled Pork, and froze one for another time.
Then I decided to turn the largest (10.2 lbs) of the three into Buckboard Bacon.
I had one problem I discovered the last time I deboned a Pork Butt.
I never used to have a problem deboning a Butt, until after my Botched Open Heart Surgery. Now my hands shake so much, especially the right one, that it’s not safe for anyone to be around me, including myself.
So I called the “Bear Jr”, and he said as long as I had a sharp knife he’ll do it for me.
So I got out my Sharpener, and touched up my favorite Fillet Knife.
Prepping (Day #1):
Bear Jr removed the bone from the 10.2 ounce Pork Butt, and cut it in half for me, to avoid a lot of bloodshed.
Then I cut each half in 2 pieces. Then I Weighed the 4 pieces to be cured.
Then Weigh proper amount of Tender Quick for each piece (1/2 ounce---One TBS per pound).
Rub TQ on first, trying to get it distributed evenly all over the piece of meat it was measured for.
Rub on about 2 tsp of Brown Sugar per pound of meat, and put the piece of meat in the bag.
Note: We fold the top of the bag over, like a pants cuff, so no salt or sugar grains get in the zipper parts.
Any cure that falls off before getting into the bag, I make sure I put in the bag, with the piece of meat it was designated to be with. That will ensure that the proper amount of cure will be with each piece of meat during the curing stage.
Calculating curing time:
The method I use for calculating curing time is simple. I learned it 9 years ago, and it has never failed me. The cure has always gotten to the center of all pieces, and I have never had any that were salty with my TQ.
Measure the thickest spot of all of the pieces of meat you plan to cure.
Figure how many "half inches" there are in that measurement.
Add 2 to that number. That will be the absolute minimum time to cure that piece of meat.
Then I personally like to add 2 or 3 more days to be extra safe (you can't over-cure, but you can under-cure).
Example:
My thickest piece was 2 1/2 inches. There are 5 "Half inches" in 2 1/2".
So that would be 5 Days plus 2 days = 7 days absolute minimum curing time, but I don’t cure anything for less than 8 days.
Then due to the fact that I wanted to smoke the meat on Monday, I added 3 more days to that number.
So I cured these pieces of Pork Butt for 10 days in my Meat fridge, at 37°. (flipping & pressing each day)
Note: I Never Fully cure anything for less than 8 days.
Day #10:
Rinse all the pieces off, and soaked them in cold water for about 20 minutes to remove surface salt.
I cut a slice from the Thickest piece, and checked the color inside to be sure it was cured to the center.
Then I did a Fry-Test to make sure it wasn't too salty. It was perfect.
So I rinsed the pieces all off again, and patted them dry with a lot of paper towels (Mrs Bear says I should buy a paper towel company!!)
Then I sprinkled on the CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder, and put the pieces on the Grill rack, without touching each other.
I put these pieces in my Kitchen Fridge for the night.
Day #11 (Smoking Day---Using MES 40 BT--6 Racks):
6:30 AM———————————-Pre-Heat Smoker to 150˚.
7:00 AM———————————-Fill first row of my AMNS with Apple Dust, and the 2nd & third with Hickory & light one end.
7:30 AM———————————-Put Meat loaded rack on 2nd position of my smoker, with top exhaust vent open fully.
9:00 AM———————————-Wipe probe with alcohol pad & insert into thickest place.
9:30 AM———————————-Internal Temp at 102°——Put Smoking AMNS on bottom rack, on right end. pull dumper 2” & rotate 180°.
11:00 AM———————————Bump heat up to 170°.
1:00 PM————————————IT was 126°.
2:00 PM————————————IT was 135°.
2:30 PM————————————IT was 140°.
3:30 PM————————————IT was 147°.
3:45 PM————————————IT was 149°.
4:00 PM—————-——————-Check each piece, and remove as all were between 147° and 154° internal temp.
Allow to cool to about 100˚, put in big bowl & put in fridge for R & R.
Leave in Fridge over 2 nights for best flavor.
Put in freezer for 3 hours before slicing makes the slicing work much better.
I sliced this batch, and vacuum packed in small amounts, because I only eat a little at a time nowadays, so each pack is enough to go with about 4 or 5 days with my Breakfast Eggs.
I Also posted some Bacon & Eggs (Below) and a couple of Nice BLTs too.
That's all I can think of right now----Enjoy the Views!!
Bear
The one on the Right is Today's Target:
10.18 lb Pork Butt @ 97 Cents a Pound:
Had to tune up my Fillet knife Quick:
Butt Split in half & Bone removed (Bone laying on top):
4 Pieces of Butt getting rubbed with proper amount of TQ & Brown Sugar:
Bagged & ready for the Fridge for 10 Days @ 37°:
Ice Water for 20 minutes to remove Surface Salt.
Patting Dry after Curing & Rinsing:
Put on Smoking Rack:
Apply CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder:
One row of Cherry & 2 rows of Hickory, Cherry end lit:
The condensation on the inside of my Glass shows why we don't add water to the Water Pan.
There is no Water in my Pan, and there's still too much Humidity inside my MES:
Plywood blocks the Sun from hitting the MES Heat Sensor, & confusing the electronics:
Near the end of the Smoke, the Condensation is gone:
All Finished, with less than 2" of Dust in tray, left to burn:
Fresh out of Smoker:
In a big bowl, ready for the Fridge to Mellow out for two nights:
Slicing Time:
All Sliced up. Two bowls of Ends (Front & Back), mostly for Bear Jr:
Bear's Breakfast the next morning:
Plated:
Packed & Ready for Freezer & two front packs for Fridge:
Frying some up for Sammies:
Loading a couple BLTs with BBBB:
Bear's BBBBLTs for Supper: