Wouldn't soaking before smoking make your bacon uncured? If you find your bacon to salty for your taste, try changing your brine recipe, slice and soak before eating or if it needs cooking before cooking.
Thanks, that gives me some hope! I'll know to soak it before smoking next time.
Paul-
Country hams are soaked for a short time prior to smoking to remove any surface salts, not to desalinate. Desalination is done after smoking and aging and is done prior to cooking
YEP.. country ham is also soaked so it is edible and it come out delicious.. go for it
Next batch, adjust the salt content in the brine or rub to 1.5 - 2.0 % salt.... I like 2% myself..... Less than that and the flavor diminishes.......Just fried up my first homemade bacon after smoking it, and it's pretty salty. Can I soak it to reduce saltiness or is it too late?
RHill welcome.... If you added 0.25% pink salt, and 1.8% kosher salt and 1% sugar.... all by weight.... you wouldn't need to soak out the salt... just rinse, dry to form a pellicle and smoke... 2 weeks recommended for the fridge curing because the sugar molecules are larger than salt and take longer to penetrate the meat....
I smoke half belly EVERY month and have for years. There's all kind of options what to do and what not to do. Here's what I do and have done for twenty-five years. First remove skin, cut belly into 2-3 lb pcs (2gal zipbag SZ)
1 1/2 tsp pink salt per 5lb of meat
1 cup any rock salt per 5lb of meat
1 cup sugar or brown sugar per 5lb of meat
pepper corns
rub bellys no need to go crazy here the brine will be liquid real soon lightly rub with each daily turn. Place in bags refrigerate 10 days turning everyday.
Remove from bags rinse off under water and let the bacon soak for at least 1 hr up to 3 depending on the saltiness checked by frying a small sample. Pat the bacon dry and place in the frig for min 24 hrs to give the bacon a pellicle. Place bacon in smoker with low heat (175deg) until internal temp reaches at least 160 degs remove bacon lightly rinse to remove soot or ash pat dry and let it hang a few hours then vac wrap and freeze.
I have a 4 hams that was hung 6 mos ago that will be ready for Turkeyday for family and friends that takes a little more detail but not that hard either.
It's not rocket science and anyone can do it. My 8yr grandson just did his first ham this year.
Just fried up my first homemade bacon after smoking it, and it's pretty salty. Can I soak it to reduce saltiness or is it too late?