BACONFEST 2013

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tjohnson

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Dec 29, 2009
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Savage, MN
I decided to pick up a case of bellies, and make some belly bacon

Cost $1.94/lb for skin on bellies at Restaurant Depot

5 slabs total, weighing about 60#

I cured and smoked 35# total = 3 slabs

Thanks for looking!

Todd

One of the slabs....Skin on bellies....Very Meaty!!!

 

Skin was trimmed.  Only 10% of the weight was actually skin

This was saved for a later project...Lucky Dog!


Slabs were cut into pieces small enough to fit into 1 gallon zip bags


Country Brown Cure, Kosher Salt, Sugar and Spices


Each was coated in a mix of cure, salt, sugar and spices


35# total bellies resting for 8 days in cure


Because of limited space in my smoker, I had to smoke in 2 batches

Here are the slabs after 8 days in cure

Forming the pellicle with a fan


AMNPS smoking with a mix of Pitmaster and Apple Pellets


11+ hours in the smoker at 100°....AMNPS is just running out of smoke!!

  

Slabs going into the smoker....(2) peppered Bacon Slabs on the right


Smokey Enough For You?


And....The Money Shots!!!!!

 
Pitmaster and apple pellets!

It's fun to know what flavors of wood Mr. Amazen chooses to use.  Gorgeous looking bacon and smoke color!  Some happy bacon eaters in your house, for sure.  
 
Thanks Guys!!

Apple is by far my favorite wood for bacon and cheese

Hickory is a little strong for the kids

I've also used Pecan, and it throws some really nice color

The combination had nice color and great smokey flavor

In warmer weather, I would not use any heat whatsoever

Since the ambient temp was below freezing, I decided to set my MES to 100° for the entire smoke

I really like the results

TJ
 
Looks-Great.gif
 
That looks awesome Todd. I need to make some bacon but I checked a local place and they wanted 3 bucks a lb for bellies and I refuse to pay that
 
Great Bacon! Is that your regular recipe?...JJ
 
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