Costco pork bellies -- Skin On?

[mneeley490]

If you only knew how sharp those knives are in that video... My knives are very sharp but nothing like that...

Yeah, that guy's knife is laser sharp. Cuts with minimal effort; even the point seemed to go thru with ease. Hardly any fat left on the skin side.
Pork skin, scraped of all fat, cut into strips and smoked at a higher temp until it's crisp, makes for great dog treats.

 

[Hijack73]

Yeah, that guy's knife is laser sharp. Cuts with minimal effort; even the point seemed to go thru with ease. Hardly any fat left on the skin side.
Pork skin, scraped of all fat, cut into strips and smoked at a higher temp until it's crisp, makes for great dog treats.

I think it might make a decent hijack73 treat lol

 

[Fueling Around]

I caught another video and the butcher said to keep the knie blade angled up toward the skin to keep from plunging into the fat or (gasp) meat.

...
Pork skin, scraped of all fat, cut into strips and smoked at a higher temp until it's crisp, makes for great dog treats.

I think it might make a decent hijack73 treat lol

I was thinking the same. Cracklin's or a quick fry for chicharones.

I also recall Keith indaswamp has some Cajoon recipes that need so pig skin.

 

[DougE]

Watched the video Al posted, yeah, I can do that. Not overly complicated to remove the skin from a skin on belly with a good knife.

 

[indaswamp]

I also recall Keith indaswamp has some Cajoon recipes that need so pig skin.

Boudin and hogs head cheese..... or Sous....both very similar. Though Sous has the addition of a little vinegar.

 

[cptnding]

Pork skin, scraped of all fat, cut into strips and smoked at a higher temp until it's crisp, makes for great dog treats.

I'd call that a me treat lol

 

[forktender]

I was complaining about this a while ago in another thread. Costco is one of the only places around here to get pork belly and really the only reason I have a membership anymore. I used to use the pharmacy for my last dogs meds as it was drastically cheaper than the vet.

Did you know that you do not have to be a member to use Costco's Pharmacy?
Just thought I'd that out there, although I'm pretty sure that they have a discount for members.

 

[forktender]

Thanks for posting that @SmokinAl I did a bit of searching for videos and found nothing like that.

Toss the belly in the freezer for 10–15 minutes before skinning, then start cutting like you filet a fish, hog skin is tough, you won't cut into it unless you try to. They are simple to skin out.

 

[mr_whipple]

Did you know that you do not have to be a member to use Costco's Pharmacy?
Just thought I'd that out there, although I'm pretty sure that they have a discount for members.

I did not know that. Thank you!

 

[mneeley490]

Did you know that you do not have to be a member to use Costco's Pharmacy?
Just thought I'd that out there, although I'm pretty sure that they have a discount for members.

Not sure how that works now, as you now have to scan your membership card just to get in the door.

 

[rexster314]

I bought over 300 lbs of skinless bellies at my Costco @ $3.49/lb Tuesday

 

[fxsales1959]

We make a LOT of bacon this time of year for our own supply and to give friends and family around Christmas. Usually 6-8 bellies.
It's getting time for us to start the process so I stopped by Costco for some bellies today. Much to my surprise they were all skin on. And the price is still $3.99/lb. I've been buying them from Costco for years and have never seen a skin on one before. Are you guys seeing this as well?
I bought a skin on belly a few years back from somewhere else and after a lot of frustration getting the skin off said never again. Admittedly my knife skills are not very good.
There are a couple of local butcher shops around that carry them skinless but the price is twice that of Costco.

I never knew you could buy it skin off. I've been buying whole skin on at the latin market from $2.99/$3.99. it is a pain in the ass to cut off.

 

[Smoke-Chem BBQ]

The local Costco in Coeur d”Alene, ID is still selling it skin off. 3.99 lb. And for the first time in a long time they had prime packer briskets, though at $4.99:lb

 

[SmokinEdge]

If you warm/hot smoke to 145-150F IT then you don’t have to skin first. You can cure the belly then smoke it and remove the skin once out of the smoker, it will peel right off. Many commercial companies do this, you do lose some smoke flavor from that side but not enough to make a huge difference.

 

[indaswamp]

If you warm/hot smoke to 145-150F IT then you don’t have to skin first. You can cure the belly then smoke it and remove the skin once out of the smoker, it will peel right off. Many commercial companies do this, you do lose some smoke flavor from that side but not enough to make a huge difference.

Hmmmm....now thinking how adding that smoked skin to boudin for making smoked boudin......

 

[SmokinEdge]

Should be delicious in boudin. I’ve never used it in sausage but we affectionately refer to it as “cuerito(s)” and use it often when pressure cooking, boiling or deep frying. If cooked in sauce or liquid long enough the skin becomes very soft almost mushy but has wonderful flavor if cured first. I know they say skin doesn’t “cure” but the curing and smoke change the flavor into something amazing, and it’s not the same just salted and smoked imo.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Hmmmm....now thinking how adding that smoked skin to boudin for making smoked boudin......

Also, if pulled off the bacon it will be leathery in texture, so further cooking needs to be done potentially buy cooking in a wet environment, although we like it straight off of a double smoked ham, my kids used to beg for bites when they were little. It was soft but sticky in texture but so good.

 

[forktender]

Not sure how that works now, as you now have to scan your membership card just to get in the door.

You can get in, all you have to say is Im going to the pharmacy, eye center, concessions area. It's part of their deal that those places have to open to the public. I have a cousin that has been a manager for them for 20+ yrs. I get some killer deals on returned idems from him, literally pennies on the dollar.
He just recenly bought a returned hot tub for his house for $600, the tub was sold for $6800, and it works perfectly.

 

[mneeley490]

I went into my local Costco on Saturday. They still had the Swift skinless bellies, but they were $3.99 lb.

 

[JckDanls 07]

but they were $3.99 lb.

Love to find that price here... especially already skinned...