15# fresh side

[TNJAKE]

Not exactly the same. There is water extraction with dry curing, and in a bag that moisture ultimately gets reabsorbed, this kind of ex’s the whole point of dry curing. Dry curing originally was a partial drying process as well as salting, this made bacteria life difficult if not impossible, but this drying process also concentrated flavors of the meat and cure seasoning, giving a very distinct final flavor from the drying. Farther they then cold smoked, this is a process designed to further dry the meat ultimately making it shelf stable. The lowering of AW (available water) is the main player here, but all of this makes a very different product.
Today we dry cure in a vacuum bag or zip bag, this is contrary to the original methods and ways, and really produces a concentrated brine or wet cure.

I like to dry it out a bit in the cure process like the old ways. This makes a more original flavor profile, even though I really don’t need shelf stable, the flavor this way is old school, and I like it.

Gotcha I understand now. Similar to the ways of the salt box but with cure for safety. Salt box and a hang produced the dry cured bacon you are making. Might give that a go with the beef bacon or atleast half of it

 

[DRKsmoking]

I'm in for this and the conversation between you and Jake TNJAKE is making me want to have a big BLT,
and do up more bacon also

David

 

[SmokinAl]

Awesome looking belly!
Al

 

[Brokenhandle]

I'm with DRKsmoking ...both bellies look really good! TNJAKE it's close enough to the weekend...get that beef curing!

Ryan

 

[SmokinEdge]

The method you describe is exactly how they cure Pancetta in Italy. After salting, the bellies either go into a large bin and stacked 3-4 bellies high, or onto slanted HDPE boards with grooves cut into it. The bellies are massaged and rearranged every couple days.

Yes it is basically the same process. Difference being I am staying in refrigeration and using less salt percentage for less time, but the idea is the same.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Gotcha I understand now. Similar to the ways of the salt box but with cure for safety. Salt box and a hang produced the dry cured bacon you are making. Might give that a go with the beef bacon or atleast half of it

Very similar but using refrigeration and less salt. This will dry while curing for only 12-14 days then I warm smoke the finish.

 

[SmokinEdge]

I'm in for this and the conversation between you and Jake TNJAKE is making me want to have a big BLT,
and do up more bacon also

David

Thank you David.

Awesome looking belly!
Al

Thank you Al.

I'm with DRKsmoking ...both bellies look really good! TNJAKE it's close enough to the weekend...get that beef curing!

Ryan

There is no time like the present. Have to get after it to get it done.

 

[Bearcarver]

Yes it is basically the same process. Difference being I am staying in refrigeration and using less salt percentage for less time, but the idea is the same.

Don't stay in there too long!!!
You'll freeze your butt off, and I'll have to eat your Bacon!!
Nice Looking Belly!!

Bear

 

[SmokinEdge]

Don't stay in there too long!!!
You'll freeze your butt off, and I'll have to eat your Bacon!!
Nice Looking Belly!!

Bear

Thank you Bear. The fridge feels pretty good after all the summer heat, but yes sir the bacon will be delicious.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Cutting cure time short because of the constraints of time with work, I’m slammed and it’s stacking deeper every day it seems, the excavation business is good, at least for now.

9 days curing in the open air on a rack in the fridge. Will smoke both pieces in the morning in the smokehouse with pecan and cherry mix.

After trimming the dry edges.

Will post smoke shots tomorrow.

 

[TNJAKE]

Wow that's some amazing color

 

[SmokinEdge]

Wow that's some amazing color

Drying does that. The opposite of adding moister or just not removing any.

 

[tbern]

Looking good, will be following along!

 

[DougE]

That's gonna be some good bacon.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Couldn't you just add wood chunks on top of engine on excavator...take your bacon to work and smoke it day?

Ryan

 

[Fueling Around]

I love old school bacon.
That is the color and texture I remember from the meat case.
Was this a straight dry brine or did you inject with enhancements?

 

[DougE]

Was this a straight dry brine or did you inject with enhancements?

Unless he changed things up, straight dry brine. I do my bacon the same as he does.

 

[SmokinEdge]

That's gonna be some good bacon.

Thank you Doug. Oh it’ll be good but not my best. I had to rush this batch.

Couldn't you just add wood chunks on top of engine on excavator...take your bacon to work and smoke it day?

Ryan

Haha! I’ve cooked many a lunch on the turbo but never smoked bacon that way.

I love old school bacon.
That is the color and texture I remember from the meat case.
Was this a straight dry brine or did you inject with enhancements?

This is straight forward dry rub. Half was put into a zip bag and the other half just laying on a wire rack.

This batch was:
1.5% sea salt
.25% cure #1
.5% white sugar.
granulated garlic and white pepper by eyeball.

I do not rinse after curing, only blot dry with paper towels then back into fridge over night for pellicule. The air dried/cured piece only gets a little trim then all in the smokehouse.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Got just about 5 hours of pecan/cherry smoke. It’s still tough to keep the temps under 150F need colder weather.

 

[SmokinEdge]

The dry aged piece sliced.