A pig's (nose to) tale - Dry cured, cold smoked bacon

[atomicsmoke]

I finally got to the most awesome part of this pig. One of the two.

I cut it in 4 for easier handling (aprox 11lbs). I removed the skin from two of the 4 pieces.
I won't be slicing those with the skin on but will dry them a little longer for use in carbonara and other delicious dishes.

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 2, 2016

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 2, 2016

Everything we have eaten so far from this pig (traditionally raised) tasted so great. I can't wait to sample the bacon.

 

[atomicsmoke]

Vacpacked.

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 2, 2016

See you in two weeks.

 

[atomicsmoke]

There were some threads on bacon colour after curing. So when I vacpacked these I thought I could do an experiment:one was packed tight, one had little air left inside the bag, and one was really loose.

Here are the colours after 11 days( from bottom to top: loose, some air, no air)

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 13, 2016

There is the 4th one, packed tight, bright red in colour.

 

[ak1]

Looks good so far.

 

[atomicsmoke]

Made a mistake. The tightly packed bag is at the top. Mistake corrected now.

 

[atomicsmoke]

After about 60h of smoke

Skin on version

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 23, 2016

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 23, 2016

Skin off

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 23, 2016

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 23, 2016

 

[atomicsmoke]

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 23, 2016

Hand cut...


I am no purist....just don't own a slicer.

 

[mowin]

That looks great. How did it taste?

 

[whistech]

Wow, that bacon looks awesome!     Did you smoke over several days and if so, did you put the bacon back in the fridge at at night?     This is something I would really like to do and that is the reason for my questions. 

 

[atomicsmoke]

Just had some. Tastes good...like bacon. :-) better than store bought but can't say it's better than what I get from my farmer (same great meat, bacon made by butcher).

Whistech,
I smoked it alsmot continuously for 60h.

 

[mowin]

Well, if it tastes better than store bought, then it's a success.

 

[atomicsmoke]

Another package opened today

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 27, 2016

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 27, 2016

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• atomicsmoke
• Feb 27, 2016

 

[mowin]

Sure looks good. Thumbs Up